The 18th century French philosopher Denis Diderot said, Only passions, Essay

The 18th century French philosopher Denis Diderot said, Only passions, great passions can elevate the soul to great things. Describe one of your passions and - Essay Example I am so fortunate to have found this great passion early on in my life. It has made me a better student, a better listener, more compassionate and has given my life direction and purpose. I can stay focused better, and have a more in depth understanding of the benefits of diligence and dedication. In many ways it has made me a better person. When I am not actively listening to music, I am absorbing as much technical information as I can find pertaining to the history and theory of the particular piece that I am studying. By doing this I can truly get to know a piece. These insights have helped me to better understand nuances I might otherwise have overlooked. Seeing music from various perspectives has also helped me to develop cognitively. Music is so much more than just a series of notes to me. It is an aesthetically complex and multifaceted art form that requires a lifetime of devotion to be fully appreciated. Although I have only studied music for four years, my intense desire has been to consume as much knowledge as I can get my hands on. This has led me to complete several rigorous and demanding advanced music theory courses in an exceptionally short period of time. In challenging myself this way I have become more aware of my full potential. I have never been very proficient at sports like baseball or hockey. Likewise, my older brother used to always beat me when playing video games. These types of activities never inspired me. When I finally found my passion, however, I embraced it with an undivided focus that I never dreamed possible. I am proud of what I've been able to accomplish in such a short period of time, and it's exciting for me to know that this is just the beginning. Beethoven was quoted as saying, "Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." For me, it is the revelation of finding my passion in music. Until I found that passion I didn't believe my soul was really capable of being elevated to great things just as Diderot believed. Since then, however, I see promise of a future full of wonderful and amazing things. I can no longer imagine a life without music, where my friends' tastes become my own. Not only do I have my own tastes, but I have a command over music that only one with true passion can possess.