Forced Introspection on My (college app) Self

’tis the season for college applications! fa lalalala lala la la.

We seniors are in the midst of college applications. And within this stress, interviews, and deeply uncomfortable humble bragging, I have been forced to introspect. I am forced to look back at tiny details that I barely remember yet represent a resounding impact. I am looking at the choices I’ve made that have led me down this unplanned path. I am looking at the whole picture that my actions paint.

So what am I? Through interviews, resumes, and essays, I can conclude that I am a lot of things. And this has worried me quite a bit. Am I a dilettante? Am I too well-rounded and not angular enough? Subconsciously, have I just been trying to pad my resume? Deep down, I know that the answer is no. I got into my activities because of curiosity and innate love for staying active. But, try as I might to avoid it, college applications have led me to second guess why I am interested in so much.

Well, in defense of myself, here is my case for the benefits of participating in varied activities.

For many people, I am first and foremost a dancer. However, I have been involved in musical theatre from an early age and train in voice and drama. So does that make me a triple threat with a specialization in dance? I do not think so. To me, they are not separate activities. Telling the story is necessary in singing. And so is a constantly engaged core. I swear my vocal lessons are ab workouts. And what is dance without emotion, expression, and a story? What is drama without an awareness of poise and vocal intonations?

Further, my STEM interests have a symbiotic relationship with my creative pursuits. Physics is real life and applies extremely well to dance. Dancers deal with the physics problems that textbooks usually exemplify with ice skaters. Dancers just have more friction. I have dance to thank for the angular momentum unit of my physics course. Additionally, music and physics go hand in hand, thanks to harmonic motion. In STEM fields other than physics, many dancers study physical therapy, and psychology draws actors.

Once I started examining these crossovers, I found several other examples in my life:
I sing to manage asthma attacks.
I sketch for fun, which improves my physics diagrams.
I read and write because effective communication is hugely important, even in the science world.
I take part in three different robotics activities that create diverse experiences yet allow me to contribute more fully to each.
I am homeschooled yet still am hugely influenced by my traditional schooling history. (This deserves a whole ’nother post.)

I am made up of so much more than one field. And this has helped me. Though efficiency in economics demands specialization, and some classmates have argued that art classes and/or courses outside of a student’s interest should not be forced on a student, too much specialization closes us off to the potential crossovers and benefits of having many interests.