I’m currently a high school Freshman. I want to attend an Ivy League. I have a 4.2 GPA, am on all the advanced pathways, etc. Extracurricularly, I love running, and am very good at XC/Track. I plan on running in college, so I want to run D1. I’m also a strong writer, and have won a lot of writing competitions, etc. I played French Horn through middle school and I’m pretty good at it. I’ve gotten 1st in several state/regional bands. However, music takes up a lot of time, and I haven’t practiced much because of how much I’m involved in running. Also, it takes away from writing. I’d say I love running and writing and really like French Horn. But, is it worth it to keep spending as much time on French Horn? Should I focus just on running and writing?
Yes, music takes up a lot of time, especially if you want to do it well. You can only truly excel in so many talents. When my DS2 was young, we had to deal with the same issue you’re now faced with. He was about equally talented in music (violin and piano) and chess. Although he became a state scholastic chess champion from early on, we decided to give up on his competitive chess due to so much time that both activities demanded of him. We felt that pursuing his music would offer him much better chance at college admissions later. In fact, after 10 years in both violin and piano, he also dropped piano, as well, in order to establish quality time commitment to violin. He dropped competitive swimming, as well, even though his ranking was fast improving with each meet. Dropping swimming was particular a tough decision for me because I coached and trained him for three years. He also dropped competitive Taekwondo. The only EC that he didn’t drop along the way was his high school varsity tennis, because he loved the team camaraderie and his older brother was and still is a tennis fanatic and both enjoyed the sibling rivalry.
Don’t be afraid to drop anything in your given activities if you feel that you’re spreading yourself thin. Even if the decision is tough. No one cares about how many activities you’ve been busying yourself with in high school. Rather, it’s the quality of each of your activities. You said you love running and you excel at it. Great, prioritize that first and foremost. Writing, too. If you think you have enough time to pursue your other interests while maintaining academic excellence, as well, then add them.
Thank you, that’s really helpful. It is important to do what you love, first and foremost.
thoughts;
To be awesome at french horn, you probably will have to practice a bunch.
But would you be okay being okay at French Horn? It is fun to be in band and you get to make friends there.
I played Varsity Soccer/Basketball/Softball and also Flute in band…but I was happy not trying to be first chair in band.