Journal #1 - Evolution (Follow Up)

After listening to some music for a while and coming back to my previous post to read it again. Much like Hampl, I realized I did in fact fictionalize a few aspects of it to make it continuous. For example, I didn't always want to take on the job as president. I just felt like it was something I should try and do. My sister was in the group years before me. She was the class secretary. I felt I should try and be president because she was something substantial when she was in it. Also, I seemed to make the position of president as a king's chair. People didn't ever "look up," to me--they respected me, yes, but I wasn't some kind of big kahuna. It is interesting how the "truth" can come out in words as false information.

I did find it difficult to pick an experience to write about. I probably cycled back and forth through about 5 or 6 different memories that I could have written about. I finally decided to go with the President story because I could just run with it. Looking back, it seems like I ran too far with it, subconsciously altering parts of the truth to make the story flow better.

As far as language goes, I used a typical narrative type of voice. I simply just wrote down what happened, no flair whatsoever. But that is how a first draft goes for me. I took on the Hampl style of writing a first draft that was not too careful. If I were to go back and edit I would rework the entire piece.

Journal #1 - Evolution

(Me playing in Jovert at Disneyland, May 2010)

The moment that really defined me as the student I am, was when I took on the job of being president of Jovert, the steel drum band at Tucson High School. I always knew I wanted to try and take on this job, but I had no idea it would change the way I looked at myself. Before being president, I had never had any sort of leadership position in clubs, etc. Opportunities rose from all around me to be pro-active, and I took every one that I could. I was able to design the T-Shirts, I coordinated some of the gigs we played, and most importantly, I became comfortable to interact with all the students around me. I don't mean to sound arrogant or narcissistic, but it is a nice feeling to be looked up to. I was able to give instruction, and no one would challenge my "authority," so to say. I felt a kind of respect that I had never received before. Before I was president, I was just a part of the band, playing steel drums with other students to form a group. When I was president, I still served a part of the band; however, I was able to have a voice, a voice that has always been mine, but never got the chance to be let out.