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Daniel Hernandez

635

Bold Points

1x

Nominee

1x

Finalist

Bio

I’m a lifelong student, of anything I am passionate about, and a pianist with intense discipline and dedication in my life. Each day is a battle to spend even more time on my studies. My motivation for that lies in the fact that there is always someone working harder than me somewhere, and a need to make up for all the time in my past when I have not been as efficient. As a result, there is never a time in the day when I am not actively doing something productive to benefit my life, in reality, it has become a serious passion to spend my time in such a manner. When I first arrived in college, my total lack of piano experience pushed me to work twice as hard as my classmates and catch up, so I’ve lived like that ever since. My dream was and still is to live each day making and performing beautiful music I can truly be proud of. Another major interest includes the study of languages, which led to learning my third language. Although my study of languages is just beginning, I have already fallen in love enough to become a polyglot within the next two years. Just like my dreams in music, I have plenty in foreign language. I will someday develop an app to help people all over the world practice and learn whatever language they choose. What I love about learning languages is that like music I can never master it, the process is always as endless and challenging as the first day. Although my career is in music, my passion lies in all aspects of self improvement. Therefore, one of my dearest dreams is to be fortunate enough someday to be a scholarship donor myself.

Education

University of Houston

Bachelor's degree program
2024 - 2026
  • Majors:
    • Music

Lone Star College System

Associate's degree program
2021 - 2023
  • Majors:
    • Music

Conroe High School

High School
2017 - 2021

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

    • Music
    • Religious Music and Worship
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Music

    • Dream career goals:

      Music creator & performer

    • Group Piano Instructor

      Conroe Music & Art Academy
      2023 – 20241 year
    • Piano Instructor

      Guitar Center
      2023 – 20241 year
    • Piano Instructor

      Ethos School of Music
      2024 – Present12 months
    • Group Piano Instructor

      Spring School of Music
      2024 – Present12 months

    Sports

    Track & Field

    Varsity
    2015 – 20216 years

    Basketball

    Club
    2012 – 20164 years

    Cross-Country Running

    Varsity
    2015 – 20216 years

    Arts

    • Bonterra Singers & Musicians

      Music
      2023 – Present

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Volunteering

    Philanthropy

    Entrepreneurship

    James B. McCleary Music Scholarship
    I arrived on campus with no real sense of direction or idea for my life. However, during this drifting period, I realized that music brought me great comfort where nothing else could. I knew I wanted music to be a big part of my life, but I had no previous musical experience. Nonetheless, I felt music calling me and hoped it might be the next chapter in my life. So after an encouraging discussion with the department chair, I was fully convinced and bursting with hope. On that day I became a piano major and got straight to work. There was no question I had to outwork everyone around me to compete, so I welcomed a newfound motivation to my life. I began my journey with a course on piano basics and gradually gained confidence with scales. In music, I found that more time is spent practicing than anything else. Therefore, I had to quickly foster a sense of discipline in myself like never before. These changes were much easier to make after witnessing the abilities of my professors on their instruments. I was inspired to be as great, professional, and knowledgeable as all of them. At the end of my first semester, I was a completely different person. By my second semester, I went from constantly asking questions, to being approached by my classmates with questions. That gratifying feeling only fueled the fire under me and I pushed on even harder. The second semester I had my first piano recital, and my only goal leading up to it was to make sure no one could tell I had never played before. I was overjoyed to be told by instructors that the only indicators were my trembling hands on stage. Despite this, I still refused to call myself a musician at that point, because I knew I would let off the gas if I did. The third semester was perhaps the most significant. It was during this time that I made it my mission to become the hardest-working person I knew. As well as that, I recognized my immense gratitude for the music program that had given me a purpose I sought my whole life. Every course on my schedule was rigorous and made me an infinitely better musician than the previous semester. I was rounding out my musicianship by reading, writing, analyzing, singing, and performing all kinds of music. Only a year after beginning myself, I was teaching my very first piano student. It was a feat I was very proud of, though I still had to face my stage fright. So with the help of my professor, I set up some mock performances. Those opportunities gave me great confidence and valuable feedback. As a result, my second recital was a success and I was even offered a job accompanying a violinist at a wedding. Those achievements propelled me into the busiest summer of my life, full of practice and even more motivation. When I returned for my fourth semester, the LSC environment had completely altered my mindset. I now saw each day as an opportunity to improve, rather than something to get through. Thanks to all the performing on campus, it was now a passion, and I knew where I wanted to take my career. Throughout this improbable journey of mine, no instructor ever told me my aspirations were unrealistic. Instead, I was always reminded the job would take plenty of hard work. That kind of atmosphere shaped who I am today.