So here's my summer English assignment essay, that will eventually be used for at least one college application, probably more. And I thought y'all might like to read it. And if you don't, kiss my booty. Not really. If you're tired of my talking about this, just don't read it. If you do decide to read it, let me know for sure what you think. And tell me if the last paragraph seems to wander some. That is all.

Only July 19, 2003, I had the opportunity to attend a performance of Erik Satie�s Vexations, a 14-hour long piano piece. Since it started at 9:30 and continued through the night until noon the next day, my friends and I went prepared to do homework and sleep after listening for a while. Sometime around midnight, I sat up, awoken by a subconscious realization that the music sounded like the soundtrack to a movie. It was the music that would be played during a film�s climax. At that moment, I had something that many people only dream of; my life was like a movie. What I didn�t realize however, was that if my whole life was a movie, then the 5 weeks prior to and the week proceeding that concert the climax.
I spent those six weeks of the summer after my junior year of high school at North Carolina�s Governor�s School West. Simply put, it was the most amazing experience of my life. After spending all fall and winter applying, taking tests and auditioning for the orchestra, I was accepted in the spring. I was prepared for, and expected my viola skills to improve greatly. I wasn�t quite prepared for and certainly didn�t expect the effect that GSW had on the rest of my life.
I played with an orchestra that played challenging music and played it well. I went to seminars on architecture in suburban American homes, existentialism and stem cell research. I watched videos on vegetarianism, globalization and �The Merchants of Cool�. I went to a drama performance about capital punishment and a dance concert about communication. I had to opportunity to attend the Vexations concert, learn to ballroom dance and do yoga. I met people from all different backgrounds and walks of life, and thoroughly enjoyed their friendship. I spent most of my time with people that I never would have talked to at home. I had a roommate who kept her side of the room messier than I kept mine, who epitomized the type of people I try to stay away from and yet, was a fun and wonderful girl.
GSW didn�t completely change my life. It didn�t show me that I can be myself despite what others think. It didn�t help me see that education is about more than grades. But it was an amazing experience, one that I�ll never forget. And it did show me you can find peculiar treasures in all different types of people. And it did help me realize that I�m interested in so much more than I thought I was. It broadened my view of the world, of life, of people. Many people have told me that smart kids can�t have fun. I used to feel the same way from time to time. But I spent my summer with 400 of North Carolina�s smartest and not only did we have incredibly interesting discussions, debates and arguments on everything under the sun, we had a ton of fun too.

- thoughts provided by Katey Orr @ 6:01 PM