Allen Jorgensen
I have lived in Salt Lake City my entire life attending Dilworth Elementary, Hillside Middle School, and Highland High. I live with my two parents, Doug and Sharon Jorgensen, and have three brothers and a sister-in-law: Michael and Amy, Steven, David. I have worked hard through my years in school and have an accumulative GPA of 3.93. I have always been athletic and have participated in a variety of sports throughout my life including baseball, basketball, football, and tennis. I recently won a region tennis championship doubles match for Highland. I also have an interest in music. I have taken two periods of music each of my four years at Highland, have been in Madrigals during my Junior and Senior year, have successfully completed an AP Music Theory class, and was chosen as the Deseret News Sterling Scholar in Music from Highland. I have written over 50 songs in the last two years. Last November I won a songwriting contest with Fox13 News and will be performing one of my songs at Highland’s graduation at the Huntsman Center. I have participated in community service through my involvement as a Student Body Officer, as a member of the National Honor Society, as well as various LDS Church organizations. I have achieved the Boy Scout rank of Eagle. I plan on attending the Salt Lake Community College where I will get an Associates Degree and then onto the University of Utah for a Bachelors Degree. Because of my love of music I would like to pursue my studies in music performance and composition and make it part of my career.
My dad was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis six years before I was born. Those first years were difficult with many ups and downs that I never saw first-hand, but I can see that those struggles have helped make my dad the man he is today. Just after I was born my dad was invited to part of an experimental drug study for Copolymer I – now known as Copaxone. According to my parents they received two healing miracles that year – Copaxone and me. I’ve had the privilege of attending a high school where my dad teaches science. He is so loved and respected by students and teachers alike. No one there would ever guess that my dad has MS because he is doing so well, but I know there are still struggles and limitations. I’ve never seen my dad act like a victim, or like the world owes him something. I’ve only seen how he uses his life experience to inspire, lift and teach others, and he does that better than anyone I know. During my sophomore year I received a bad concussion during a varsity football game that ended my years playing football. It was devastating for me. In addition to the disappointment, I went through 1 ½ years of headaches. My dad’s example and strength helped me and inspired me. Music also became a way to deal with the discouragement, pain, and stress. My parents helped me understand that sometimes in life doors will close, but others will always open up to new opportunities never dreamed of.