Personal Statement Example

I am a confident, self-driven and determined person. However, these are not qualities I have had throughout my life. They have been a result of different experiences and different engagements. One of the engagements I have been most consistent in is playing Persian drums. This started out as a hobby and it has since become a major preoccupation. It has opened doors to greater opportunities which I would gladly say have made me a better person. Looking back, I also appreciate the important role my family and friends have played in making me a better person. It is through family that I have learned to invest in simple things such as happiness and respect, prerequisites to every good life.

Playing Persian drums requires both physical and mental skills. Physically, one needs to develop a listening ear, it is through listening that one learns how and what to play. Any missed part means a lost rhythm that waters down the efforts of other instrumentalists and that of the lead singer or singers. Secondly, one needs a sense of rhythm and timing, one has to identify a rhythm fast enough to be able to play and aid the other performers. This also means that as a Persian drummer, you have to have a fast response in order to coordinate well with the rest. The last physical skill is hand and foot coordination. One has to be able to coordinate their hands and feet to create the required rhythm. This level of coordination should be top-notch to ensure a stable rhythm throughout a performance.

Physical skills and engagements may spell one’s prowess on the drums; however, it is the mental skills that allow one to develop the requisite physical skills. The most important mental skills are a positive mindset, self-discipline, and patience. A positive mindset helps one’s patience and resilience as one learns how to play drums. This is because it is a process and without a positive mindset then one will undoubtedly give up. Self-discipline is also another skill this is greatly informed by a positive mindset. Self-discipline ensures that a drummer becomes committed to his act and manages his time well to provide adequate time for practice. Just like in any other engaging activity, patience is paramount. One has to continually resist the urge to walk before one can crawl, a drummer must learn to make the small steps that ultimately build up the necessary skills.

As evident, playing Persian drums is an involving engagement. Taking the learning process and being able to stay focused has required a lot of determination. Thankfully, the level of determination has been translated to multiple other activities and in other spheres of life. Another great quality resulting from playing drums is confidence. Prior to playing drums, I was a shy person, I would hardly stand up to a crowd. However, continuous performances in large audiences have helped me become a more confident person.  Besides these great qualities playing drums has helped nurture, it has also built enthusiasm. Enthusiasm about my culture, I feel more connected to my people. This is because drum playing represents a way of life and is a major part of our culture.