As my second year at Baylor comes to an end, I’ve been thinking about all of the amazing opportunities that I’ve had here at Baylor. I can’t express how grateful I am to be here. I knew I wanted to come to Baylor in seventh grade because my pastor had gotten his undergrad from Baylor, and he sort of changed my life. Then in ninth grade my Algebra teacher was a Baylor bear, and she turned my hatred of math into love, thus sending me on my way to become an accounting major. The next year I got a new clarinet teacher who revolutionized my view of the clarinet, and got me practicing more than ever. This led to success in my high school band, with whom I performed in Carnegie Hall, and eventually went on to make the Texas All State Band. Because of him, I am minoring in music.
These Baylor grads all had major roles in shaping the direction my life has taken and will take, so I have come here hoping to one day extend that same hope to someone else. My time here has been extraordinary, and now I’ll count down my top 5 favorite Baylor experiences.
5. Performing for the Texas State UIL finals in 2011 was exhilarating. After performing our traditional half time show, one which was modeled on Spanish melodies and racing rhythms, we came forward in concert arcs to perform Word Up! The crowd absolutely loved it, and I’ve never had more fun in a marching band performance.
4. I’ve been studying and performing music for twelve years now, but I have never had the opportunity to perform with a string orchestra before. Until I came to Baylor of course! Dr. Espinosa sent an email to some members of Concert Band asking those who are interested to sign up to help out Campus Orchestra in their last concert this semester. So of course I replied as quickly as I could. My favorite song was Valse Triste; a haunting melody with such dissonance and purity from the strings that it gave me chills. I also was able to perform on an A clarinet, as well as my usual Bb.
3. I love accounting. I don’t know why, I just do. Every year PricewaterhouseCoopers holds their nation-wide XTax competition. Basically we are given a fictitious entrepreneur who we have to advise on the tax ramifications of transferring intangible assets to foreign subsidiaries. (What tax differences will their business face in other countries). I worked with a team of other accounting students, and my team captain is in his fifth year, following the Master’s in Taxation program, exactly what I want to do! I learned so much in the short two weeks. Even though we didn’t win, I am so glad I participated. I met and presented to partners of PricewaterhouseCoopers, and also got free Ninfa’s afterward :)
These Baylor grads all had major roles in shaping the direction my life has taken and will take, so I have come here hoping to one day extend that same hope to someone else. My time here has been extraordinary, and now I’ll count down my top 5 favorite Baylor experiences.
5. Performing for the Texas State UIL finals in 2011 was exhilarating. After performing our traditional half time show, one which was modeled on Spanish melodies and racing rhythms, we came forward in concert arcs to perform Word Up! The crowd absolutely loved it, and I’ve never had more fun in a marching band performance.
4. I’ve been studying and performing music for twelve years now, but I have never had the opportunity to perform with a string orchestra before. Until I came to Baylor of course! Dr. Espinosa sent an email to some members of Concert Band asking those who are interested to sign up to help out Campus Orchestra in their last concert this semester. So of course I replied as quickly as I could. My favorite song was Valse Triste; a haunting melody with such dissonance and purity from the strings that it gave me chills. I also was able to perform on an A clarinet, as well as my usual Bb.
3. I love accounting. I don’t know why, I just do. Every year PricewaterhouseCoopers holds their nation-wide XTax competition. Basically we are given a fictitious entrepreneur who we have to advise on the tax ramifications of transferring intangible assets to foreign subsidiaries. (What tax differences will their business face in other countries). I worked with a team of other accounting students, and my team captain is in his fifth year, following the Master’s in Taxation program, exactly what I want to do! I learned so much in the short two weeks. Even though we didn’t win, I am so glad I participated. I met and presented to partners of PricewaterhouseCoopers, and also got free Ninfa’s afterward :)
2. Last spring I was in the Baylor Symphonic Band, and it was truly one of the best ensemble experiences I’ve ever had. I learned so much more than I thought I would, I loved the music we played, and we traveled to San Antonio to perform for the College Band Directors National Association. We had the privilege of performing for the composer of one of our pieces, who afterward said that was the best live performance he had heard of it! On our way to San Antonio, we stopped in Austin to perform for a high school. That night we stayed with host families, and I had so much fun. We also performed for and with Waco’s University High School. It took a lot of hard work and long hours of practicing, but it was worth every minute.
1. This Christmas I spent in San Diego, California at the Bowl Game. I was admittedly disappointed to not be able to work for that extra Christmas pay at my job, but of course the trip was way more fun. Sea World, the San Diego Zoo, a pep rally, the game (complete with fireworks, a win, and two performances of Word Up) made for the best Christmas break ever! The drive was long, but there were amazing sights along the way. I grew closer to my BUGWB family, and finally got to see California. The only travel opportunities I’ve had are with band, and I cherish every one of them.
<3 ITB
Hillary
Hillary
