Archives for October 2005

In this week’s headline news, Al Capone has been sentenced to 11 years in prison and fined $50,000 for evading the payment of his Federal income tax. He was said to owe $215,000 in taxes from his underworld profits. The Government has been trying to rid Chicago of its gangsters and for a few years now. The plan is to send undercover agents into the ring of gangsters and find proof to convict them of evasion of income tax. Capone was the seventh and most important victim. He had been the objective of the plan since day one. During the sentencing, Capone seemed very nervous. He fiddled with his fingers and laughed oddly. Perhaps his days of crime are over.

In other news, Amelie Earhart became the women to complete a flight over the Atlantic ocean. The President sent a message to Earhart saying “You have demonstrated not only your own dauntless courage, but also the capacity of women to match the skill of men in carrying through the most difficult feats of high adventure.” She completed the voyage exactly five years after Charles Lindbergh his transatlantic flight. The flight did not go exactly as planned according to Earhart. Her gasoline gauge broke, causing a leak. She was forced to land prematurely in Londonberry instead of her destined target, Paris. In any case, this truly was a great feat.

On a more somber note, Charles Lindbergh’s 20 month old baby has been stolen. According to the story, the baby was taken during the night right from its crib while it was sleeping. There was no trace of evidence left by the thieves, only a note demanding a $50,000 ransom for the return of the infant. Law enforcement has had no luck finding the kidnappers, and they fear that any knowledge of exposure to thieves would lead to child’s peril. Mrs. Lindbergh is very worried about the baby because it was recovering from a cold. With the weather the way it has been the past few days, she is not sure if the baby could survive in these frigid conditions.

Franklin D. Roosevelt was just elected President in a landslide. It was the most decisive Democratic victory in the history of the country. Republican nominee Herbert Hoover was a distant second in voting. The electoral vote totaled as follows: Roosevelt – 472, Hoover – 59. The total amount of electoral votes needed to win are 226, so as you can see, Roosevelt won by a gigantic margin. The only states that Hoover won were Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Connecticut. Roosevelt is eager to step in and do his best to serve the country.

In one last bit of news, the television was first demonstrated at an Associated Press meeting. The broadcast show was titled “Looking at Tomorrow.” The television showed a picturized review of world affairs from a National Broadcasting Company studio. It was the first time a mobile televisor had been used to depict the news and keep the press informed of new happenings. The program was transmitted to monitors several blocks away from the NBC station. One can only wonder if this new technology will expand to common folk.

Playing the saxophone and music have been some of the biggest joys of my life. I first started playing in fourth grade, which is the earliest the school would let you begin band. There were many instruments to choose from: trumpet, trombone, clarinet, and drums among others, but the saxophone was the instrument for me. I had listened to my Pop-pop play his saxophone for me when I visited, and I wanted to be able to play along with him. He was very good because he had been playing since he was my age. I hoped, and still hope, to some day be as talented as he was.

When I first got my saxophone from the school, I was eager to play, but I had no idea how to even put it together. My band instructor gave me and my fellow saxophonists our first lesson on how to assemble the saxophone, how to hold it, and how to blow into it. I went home and practiced with minimal success. I practiced everyday, and with the help of Pop-pop, I could play a few simple songs like “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” and “Mary Had a Little Lamb”.

Over the months I became better and better. I breezed through the lesson books we had in school. I was really proud that I learned how to play so quickly. I was the best saxophone in the band. I could even play some easy jazz songs with Pop-pop. I continued my success over into the middle school, and then in seventh grade I had the chance to play in jazz band.

Jazz band was what I had been working hard for. Pop-pop, as most old people, was enthusiastic about jazz. I wanted to make him proud and be jazz band. I knew it would mean a lot to him if I made it in. There were auditions to get in, and I was fairly nervous beforehand. I had practiced the audition music for hours, so I really had no reason to worry, but I did nonetheless. The audition went really well and I made lead alto saxophone! I was very excited, I had not only made jazz band, but I was also lead saxophone. Pop-pop almost had a heart attack he was so happy. I did well in jazz band during seventh and eight grade; I even had a couple solos. I always got very nervous during solos, but I played through my anxiety. Our jazz was exceptional and we won awards from competitions we entered.

Also during middle school, I was asked to join a band with some kids I knew. I wasn’t the best friends with them at the time, but I thought it would be fun and that I’d eventually get to know them better. I wasn’t familiar with the type of music they wanted to play, but I soon learned. Ska is a type of music that is a mix of jazz, punk, reggae, and rock to put it best. It is very upbeat sounding. Most ska bands have vocals, electric guitar, bass, and a horn section comprising of a combination of trumpet, trombone, and saxophone. I loved the music when I first heard it, and I still do. I agreed to join the band, which was called “Six Foot Smurf”.

We covered a few songs to get started, and then we eventually made a few originals. We practiced fairly regularly, so within a year we were ready to play shows. Our first show was at the school dance, which I couldn’t attend because I had to go to a wedding. I was angry at my parents for making me go to the wedding and missing our first show. We played a few other small shows in garages and churches. We started to get better and finally played a real show in West Chester when we were freshmen. We had to open the show, but we were glad we had the chance to be a on a real stage.

Up to this point, I had become less and less interested in the band and the saxophone. Finally, one practice things were just not going well and I quit the band. I was fed up with the whole band experience. I thought I would eventually become good friends with the band members, but it just didn’t happen. I never did anything with them outside of the band. I was never told about practices or upcoming shows. So, abruptly I quit.

After that, I had no drive musically. I still participated in concert band and jazz band, but I wasn’t really into the music. I just played because my parents made me. I became totally separated from the music I had loved. I didn’t listen to music or really practice my saxophone for two years.

About a year ago my Pop-pop died. When he died, something kicked in and I realized that I had gone two years without music. Music was a monumental part of his life, and his death made me realize how music was once a huge part of my life. My friends had been going to concerts and finding new bands to listen to while I was in a daze. I couldn’t believe that I had missed out on so much. I frantically listened to all the new ska music my friends had found. I started to practice for jazz band again. I started to practice for fun.

That is where I am today. I am in the process of starting a new ska band with some friends. I am lead alto in jazz band again. I listen to music every chance I have. I am happy again. Hopefully I will never again stray from my love of music. I don’t know how I ever lived without it.

Recommended Personal Statement: Rutgers University is a vibrant community of people with a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. How would you benefit from and contribute to such an environment? Consider variables such as your talents, travels, leadership activities, volunteer services, and cultural experiences. You may draft your statement in another word processing program and then paste it below.

Playing tennis has been an important part of my life. When I first started playing, I was not very good. I wanted to become better, so I practiced whenever I could. Eventually after many long hours of hitting balls (many of which went into the net), I finally became a decent player. Tennis taught me that if I put hard work into anything I do, I will be successful. I have also made many friends playing tennis. At school, I sometimes had trouble making new friends, but playing tennis I was able to meet new people easily. My self esteem went up and I was able to socialize with more people at school.

I will be able to benefit from the diversity at Rutgers University. There will be many different people who have hobbies similar to mine, like tennis. Meeting new people will lead me to new friends and interests. It should be easy for me to feel comfortable and socialize with new people. I will also benefit from simply being in that vibrant community of people with a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. I think it will give me new outlooks on life. I believe this will be important when I am finally out in the real world.

With all the different people attending, I hope that I can add some culture from my life to their lives. I listen to ska music, which is a type of music most people do not listen to. I also have some uncustomary hobbies, like hacky sac and the Pokemon card game. I hope to contribute my interests to the pallets of other students. I will also contribute to Rutgers University with my hardworking attitude. I will try to spread my outlook on life and help other students succeed. I have shown my current friends how hard work can lead to success. Now they try to take that view on their endeavors. I will do all that I can to add to the community at Rutgers University.

During my junior year, I took calculus for the first time. I had heard it was difficult to grasp, but I felt confident I would succeed. The year started and I already had trouble understanding some of the simplest concepts! I struggled most of the year, but towards the end of the year my grades started to improve. It was then time for the AP test in May. I was aiming for a three out of five; I thought the test would be very difficult. After all, it was on all the subjects we had covered (and I had struggled with) the whole year. I took the test and I wasn’t very confident coming out of it. I was unsure if I would get a three. During the summer, I received the results in the mail. I held my breath as I opened the letter, and to my astonishment I had earned a five! After the arduous year, I had actually excelled at the subject I struggled with. I knew then that I could succeed in any of my endeavors, no matter how difficult they seem.

Playing tennis has been a big part of my life. When I first started playing, I was not very good. I wanted to become better, so I practiced whenever I could. Eventually after many long hours of hitting balls (many of which went into the net), I finally became a decent player. Tennis taught me that if I put hard work into anything I do, I will be successful. I have also made many friends playing tennis. At school, I sometimes had trouble making new friends, but playing tennis I was able to meet new people easily. My self esteem went up and I was able to socialize with more people at school. Tennis has had a very positive impact on my life.

Education

Great Valley High School, Malvern, PA. Expect to graduate June 2006.

Academic Achievements

• Distinguished Honor Roll, average GPA 3.971, 2002-present
• Advanced Placement: BC Calculus, French, Physics, and Computer Science
  • Advanced Placement Results: 5 on BC Calculus exam

Activities

• Concert Band, Saxophone, 4 years, 1^st part junior and senior
• Jazz Band, Saxophone, 4 years
• Junior Varsity Tennis, freshman
• Varsity Tennis, sophomore and junior
• Interclub Tennis program at the Upper Main Line YMCA, Berwyn, PA
• Pokemon Trading Card Game, Delaware State champion, Delaware Gym champion, 27^th (2004) and 38^th (2005) World Championships

Community Involvement

• Member of St. Patrick Church, Malvern, PA

Work Experience

• Worked at Target as cart attendant collecting carts, organizing shelves, and assisting guests, May 2004 to September 2005

During my sophomore year at Great Valley High School, I made the varsity tennis team. I played third doubles, which is last on the team, but nonetheless I was proud to be on the varsity squad. During the season, my partner and I won all the matches we were supposed to win and lost all the matches we were supposed to lose. We never pulled any upsets. Our team was second in the league going into the last meet. For our final match, we played against league leading and undefeated Unionville.

Unionville had been the dominant team in our league for a number of years. When I was a freshman, Great Valley lost to them 7-0. No one on our team won a set, let alone a handful of games. Most of the team went into the meet with a pessimistic attitude. I, on the other hand, was very excited for the match; I wanted to prove myself. My coach had moved me up to second doubles because I had been playing well leading up to the match. I didn’t want to let my team down.

Before the match started, we went through our normal warm-up drills with our opponents. They didn’t seem that impressive to me. The match started. Before I knew it the first set was over. We had lost 6-0. None of our shots worked; the Unionville players hit the ball back faster and more accurately than us every time. My partner and I went back to our coach discouraged, but not defeated. Our coach told us simply to keep a positive attitude and try a different strategy: “Do nothing but lob shots.”

My partner and I went back out for the second set. We put the plan into action, and our invincible opponents seemed to have a chink in their armor. They were mystified by our constant barrage of lobs; they didn’t know what to do. They became flustered and started to make errors. We ran down every ball they hit and lobbed everything back. We started to rack up games and eventually won the set! This was the first time in recent memory that Great Valley had taken a set against Unionville.

By the time we had started the third and final set, the rest of the team had already lost. We were the only ones still playing, and all eyes were on us. Our team could not win the meet, but my partner and I wanted to win our match. We kept up with our strategy of lobbing the ball and outhustling our opponents, but Unionville recovered and raised their play to a higher level. We were down match point. I did not want to lose. The ball was hit towards me, but barely within my reach. I dove, sacrificing my body, to return the ball. I made contact with the ball and fell, scraping my knuckles. I looked up, but the ball didn’t make it over the net. We lost.

I was exhausted and hurt, but I still felt like a winner. I gave the match my best effort, and though we did not win, we did something the rest of the team could not do; we won a set and played a highly competitive match. I learned that in the face of any great challenge, there is always opportunity for success. Ultimately hard work and aspiration will pay off, and it will be possible to achieve all my goals.

Guidelines: At Villanova we believe that an educational experience should transform hearts and minds. Please explain why you seek to become a part of the Villanova community and the reason(s) behind your choice of academic major. (500-750 words)

My first visit to Villanova was when I was five years old. I went to my first basketball game at the Pavilion to watch the Wildcats. I remember feeling an amazing energy in the air. The stands were filled with thousands of people all cheering and yelling for Villanova. I had never felt that kind of energy before, and I knew that I someday wanted to be part of that electric environment.

Since that first visit, I have made several summer outings to the Villanova campus, and I always felt a positive atmosphere. On my campus tour this past spring, everyone seemed excited to be there. All the students and personnel were friendly and in a good mood. They went out of their way to make me feel comfortable by smiling and saying a quick “Hello” and asking if I needed any help. It was refreshing to be at a place that is so welcoming. I want to be part of that cheerful upbeat spirit.

That kind atmosphere is great for learning. When everyone has a positive attitude, it becomes very easy to look forward to going to class everyday. I will be able to enjoy myself, and in turn, that will motivate me to do well in class. I know that I could thrive in a setting like that. It would be very easy for me to fit in right away and begin my collegiate career. I believe I would be able to have great success in my education at Villanova.

My mother went to Villanova and it had a great positive impact on her life. She earned a B.S. in nursing, which set up her successful nurse practitioner career. She would still be working today if it were not for all my siblings. My mother also made friends at Villanova that are still her friends today. Her Villanova friends, Louise who became a civil engineer and Gabby who became a lawyer, have also had very rewarding careers. In addition, my two uncles are also Villanova alumni. They majored in engineering and math, which resulted in good careers. All of these people I know have been positively affected by a Villanova education. I know Villanova would also lead me to a successful life full of opportunities.

I am most interested in studying engineering. I have always had fun applying my knowledge in order to solve problems. For example, in elementary school we had a math contest throughout the school. Every week we would get a new sheet of word problems to complete in class. Even when I was young, I had a lot of fun trying to crack to the problems. I ended up getting the highest score in the school and winning the contest. Engineering deals with strategic problem solving. I believe I will really enjoy this aspect of engineering. I also think it’s important to help other people. I believe engineering helps people in their everyday lives. One time I designed an automatic dog food dispenser. It didn’t work very well, but I thought it was something that could make life easier for people. A dog food dispenser could only help people on a small scale, but things engineers design can help people on a much bigger scale. Thus, I would be doing something that I enjoy and helping others at the same time. Engineering would be a great major for me. It suits my interests very well.

Villanova has a great engineering program, but most importantly a great setting to learn in. This is what draws me toward Villanova. The atmosphere is unmatched anywhere else. I will be able to flourish in that environment and achieve high goals. I will feel very comfortable and have a good attitude about school. I want to not just be part of, but participate in and contribute to the Villanova community.