William Sullivan Brown's Page

Below is a writing sample I used for a general scholarship. Enjoy!

Personal Statement
My transition from kindergarten to first grade was a difficult one. Whenever I was presented an assignment that was to be completed on paper, I was presented an opportunity for distraction. I loved expressing my knowledge on paper; only I didn’t do it in the form of solutions to math problems or short answer questions. Instead I would cover my entire paper with various doodles. I would spend the whole time, designated for the assignment, drawing cartoon characters, fantasy creatures, and epic battle scenes. Not a single problem would be answered.
Being seven years old, I could never have too much fun, and I was too young to realize the importance of education. Since I was stuck sitting in a desk with only a pencil and paper, drawing was the only entertaining activity that could keep me occupied until the next recess bell. My teacher however was not happy with my attitude towards school and felt the need for direct intervention.
I sank into my chair as my teacher showed the incomplete but heavily doodled upon worksheet. She explained to my parents my drawing habit in class and told them that if I continued to behave this way in class, I would have to repeat the first grade. If my friends moved up to second grade while I was left behind who would play with me at recess next year? As far as I knew, it was mandatory for second graders picked on the first graders, and I the thought of being picked on by my best friends was terrifying.
For the rest of the year I completed every assignment my teacher gave me. My performance in school sky rocketed and my parents were pleased with my success. This however did not stop me from doodling on my worksheets. Whenever I completed a worksheet early I would draw as much as I could in the margins of the paper. My teacher however was not upset since she recognized my transition to becoming a strong student in the classroom and realized that the effort to stop me from doing my passion was a lost cause, and at the end of the year I had performed well enough in school to pass the first grade.
My change in my attitude towards school helped me realize the importance of balancing my passions with my work. There will always be things in life that may seem uninteresting that you must do in order to succeed. Thanks to my realization in first grade, I was able to mature, and make my transition from fun loving kindergartener, to a time managing grade school student. It has been one of the many steps I have taken in to becoming a contributing member to society. I hope to continue my growth as an individual through my hard work and passion for film and art so that I can share what I have learned and the skills I have developed in order to benefit others.