I am something rare, something that, according to South Park, can’t exist. I am a ginger with a soul. Over the course of my life, I was shocked to discover that being a red head actually has nothing to do with having a soul! (Just kidding!)
However, in all seriousness, keeping my soul intact has not always been easy. Giving up myself in the rat race for success would have been all too easy. Upon entering high school, I had to make a decision that could make or break me. I had to choose between being in the running for academic number one and giving up my passion for music or staying true to myself by taking band and losing all hopes of becoming valedictorian. I thought about how important band really was to me and if I should ditch it to take as many advanced AP classes as I could like several other kids I knew. I thought of all that my friends, family, and society expected of me. It was only when I asked myself what I expected of myself that I was able to come to a decision. I knew that I always wanted to stay true to my own personal integrity. I realized that to stay true to myself, I not only shouldn’t forego band, but that I couldn’t really. Giving up band would be giving up a piece of myself, and I wasn’t willing to make that exchange.
So I stayed in band in both high school and college. In high school I’d become a section leader, played in the symphony band for three years, helped start the steel drum band at our school, competed at Solo and Ensemble and state band competitions, had an amazing experience, and enjoyed a wonderful group of people. In college, I’ve just begun my band experience and I love every moment of it!
I don’t regret my decision to stay in band because I believe in having a soul. And by that I mean I do what I care about and I care about what I’m doing. What I care about and how I act on my heart’s desires is what makes up my one-of-a-kind soul. I’m proud to have a unique set of hopes and dreams, and I’m not ashamed of being different. The first thing that pops into my head that makes me different is what is on my head. My red hair has been a source of pride for me, breaking the ice when meeting people and helping my friends and family alike spot me from a mile away. It is something that helps me stand apart physically, that’s for sure. However, what truly makes me and everyone else different is my soul and what I do with my life.
When it comes to who we are, actions speak louder than words. I can say that I am one person on paper, but the person I truly am and the values that I hold dear are defined by what I do. That is because I do what I care about and I care about what I’m doing. I drum. I study engineering. I run and do Pilates. I tutor elementary school kids every week. I call my family every week and still help my younger sister with her homework and give her advice. I message my close friends who go to different colleges every day. I read for fun. I hang out with my new friends here at UC. I eat only banana flavored laffy taffys. I love these things that fill my life, and every day over and over again, I consciously and carefully choose to do them. Every day over and over again, I choose to have a soul.
-Karissa Schroeter, 2012
However, in all seriousness, keeping my soul intact has not always been easy. Giving up myself in the rat race for success would have been all too easy. Upon entering high school, I had to make a decision that could make or break me. I had to choose between being in the running for academic number one and giving up my passion for music or staying true to myself by taking band and losing all hopes of becoming valedictorian. I thought about how important band really was to me and if I should ditch it to take as many advanced AP classes as I could like several other kids I knew. I thought of all that my friends, family, and society expected of me. It was only when I asked myself what I expected of myself that I was able to come to a decision. I knew that I always wanted to stay true to my own personal integrity. I realized that to stay true to myself, I not only shouldn’t forego band, but that I couldn’t really. Giving up band would be giving up a piece of myself, and I wasn’t willing to make that exchange.
So I stayed in band in both high school and college. In high school I’d become a section leader, played in the symphony band for three years, helped start the steel drum band at our school, competed at Solo and Ensemble and state band competitions, had an amazing experience, and enjoyed a wonderful group of people. In college, I’ve just begun my band experience and I love every moment of it!
I don’t regret my decision to stay in band because I believe in having a soul. And by that I mean I do what I care about and I care about what I’m doing. What I care about and how I act on my heart’s desires is what makes up my one-of-a-kind soul. I’m proud to have a unique set of hopes and dreams, and I’m not ashamed of being different. The first thing that pops into my head that makes me different is what is on my head. My red hair has been a source of pride for me, breaking the ice when meeting people and helping my friends and family alike spot me from a mile away. It is something that helps me stand apart physically, that’s for sure. However, what truly makes me and everyone else different is my soul and what I do with my life.
When it comes to who we are, actions speak louder than words. I can say that I am one person on paper, but the person I truly am and the values that I hold dear are defined by what I do. That is because I do what I care about and I care about what I’m doing. I drum. I study engineering. I run and do Pilates. I tutor elementary school kids every week. I call my family every week and still help my younger sister with her homework and give her advice. I message my close friends who go to different colleges every day. I read for fun. I hang out with my new friends here at UC. I eat only banana flavored laffy taffys. I love these things that fill my life, and every day over and over again, I consciously and carefully choose to do them. Every day over and over again, I choose to have a soul.
-Karissa Schroeter, 2012