Seniors Journal #1: The Common App Essay "Warmup" due Tuesday, September 8
Many of you will have to write an essay as part of your college application process, and some of you, for sure, will have to submit an essay written on one of the five Common App prompts. Regardless, all of these prompts can inspire effective personal essays that will help tell your "story" to a college admissions counselor.
NOTE: Much of what follows comes directly from the Common App website
For the Common App, you must choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don’t feel obligated to do so (the Common App organization won’t accept a response shorter than 250 words).
For this blog response at Schoolsville, choose an option and write a response of 250 words or more as a "warmup" or first draft of the "real thing." One advantage to having a small English class is that I can work more closely with all of you to make your essay even more effective. This blog response "warm up" is due Tuesday, September 8.
Here are the 2015-2016 Common App Essay Prompts. New language (updated from 2014-2015) appears in italics:
- Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
- The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
- Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
- Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma-anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.
- Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.
Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response.
Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don’t feel obligated to do so. (The application won’t accept a response shorter than 250 words.)
Follow this link to read the responses of 77 seniors from the Class of 2015.
Follow this link to read the responses of 77 seniors from the Class of 2015.
posted by JTF @ 9:29 PM
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8 Comments:
When I look back at my past couple years I begin to see a lot of change in my life and improvement. I have come a long way in the past couple years and have gained a lot of responsibility. In the past few years I have entered adulthood with the help of these responsibilities. The main event that really struck me as a turning point in my life was when I became the President of my Church's Youth Group and when I became very involved in multiple clubs at Saint Mark's High School. The responsibilities associated with these positions forced me to become very organized and grow up in a way that I did not know was possible. The people in these groups helped guide me along the route that led me to where I am today. During this transition from childhood to adulthood I became more than I thought was physically possible for me. I really broke out of my shell and grew into a very outgoing and responsible student. I personally have loved being involved at Saint Marks High School and I enjoy being a part of my Church's Youth Group because I get to be able to help others and improve the life of others. When looking back, I can really see a difference in my happiness. Being busy and having multiple responsibilities in the end really helped improve my grades and I ended up getting more done when I knew I had all of these different responsibilities and duties. Also having people rely on you for certain tasks really helped push me into adulthood and gave me a chance to really show others what I am capable of and what I can do to help better those clubs and organizations. I am genuinely thankful for what life has thrown my way and I believe everything happens for a reason and because of that I am who I am today.
Individuals in their lifetime strive to find at least one thing in life that makes them happy. They spend so much time searching they do not realize what makes them happy is often right in front of them. I never realized how important dance was to me until it was all taken away. Leaping effortlessly across the dance floor turned into gliding over hurdles in the blink of an eye. Making the transition from dance to track and field is something I never would have imagined. It later made me realize that dance was the most important thing to me. For me, a year without dance was like a year without food. Dance is what had been feeding my soul. I found that the effortless, elegant motion had been my only means to express myself. I would consider myself a quiet individual and dance had been my way to communicate. For that year of my life when I was not dancing I felt as if there was something missing. The day I started dancing again, was the same day that empty void was filled. I realized it was easier for me to show my emotions than it was for me to say how I was feeling. The combination of movement and music is what tells the story and dance told my story. It allows me to express every side of my personality as I portray the different styles. While track and field was not my thing, it was the one activity that made me want to dance so much more. In order for me to find that happiness I was looking for, I had to move away from it. This only made me appreciate dance more once I returned. Without dance I would have no outlet. All of my thoughts and worries go away when I enter the dance studio. It brings me the kind of happiness that no one can take away from me. Dance will forever be the most meaningful talent that I have.
Buttonwood is a trailer park on the Elk River. This is the place where I have learned life’s many lessons. If I get hurt I have to get back up and brush it off. It I fail I have to try again no matter what it was, whether if it was doing a back flip in the pool or backing a boat trailer down the ramp. Having this place has been my second home, “My home away from home”. I have made some life long friends at this place. Even though I only see my Buttonwood friends during the summer we are all always able to pick up right where we left off. This place has shaped me into the person I am today. I am able to make friends easily and see the good in everyone. Buttonwood is the place I go to when I’m sad, when I’m overthinking or when I just need to escape reality for a little bit. It’s the perfect escape because there is always something to do. I was shaped by this place. Some of the best memories I’ve ever had were down there. This is the type of place I feel everyone needs just because it’s the best thing that has happened to me.
As a student who had been to three schools in two countries, I believe the world that made me become who I am is a combination of three segments of my high school career. Each of these three segments shaped me from a different aspect and helped me become a diligent and multicultural person with clear moral value. After three years’ experience, I aspired to use my talent in math to become a faculty and make contribution to the academic exchange between America and China.
The first school I attended was one of the best high school in China, which taught me how to find pleasure in a diligent life. This school is famous for its intense competition, because everyone wants to get good grades in the high school entrance exam and goes a great high school. During this year, I worked very hard and learned a lot on how to find pleasure in busy life by using some methods in studying and doing some sports. The most helpful method I learned was to plan everything ahead. This habit helped me to finish everything on time and I always feel proud when I put a check on my memorandum after I had finished something. In this year, I did not only get a great grade in the exam, but also find my talent in math.
In order to pursue my dream, I took a chance to come to America with my dad who is a Fulbright Scholar and attended a great public school called Newark High School. Students in this school are very diverse, because there are people with different races, religious and some of them are even from other countries such as Tunisia and Iran. It was not common for me to have this kind of experience when I was back in China. This experience is very important for me because it can help me how to work and live in a diverse environment. It is always interesting to talk with people sharing different kinds of culture. I still remember how surprised I was on the first day when I saw some students using table to make beats and singing rap during lunch time. I felt like a new world just open its door to me. In this year, I met my math teacher, Mr. Koliss who found out my math talent and introduced me to AP Calculus BC and Math league team. I became an important member of the team and found great interest in working with other smart students. I learned how to solve academic problems with other people and we wined first place regional.
After a wonderful year as “Fulbright Scholar Junior”, I transformed to a Catholic high school called Saint Mark’s High School because of my visa. In this year, I took a great course called computer science which helps me decide that I want to major in algorithm in college. But my greatest harvest is from theology class. In the morality class, I learned how to make right choice in some specific dilemmas. Moreover, I found out that it is really important for people to understand cultural differences in morality if they want to communicate effectively with people from another country. I learned that a person has a lot of responsibilities to the world. I feel it is my responsibility to use my talent helping the world as a computer scientist.
My background and talent has not only shaped my dream and career path, but also helped me become capable of doing what I want to. I will major in computer science while attending college and become a faculty in the future. I will be an important member of international cooperation projects and bridge the gap between Chinese and American academic circles. I hope I can make great contribution to the development of computer science.
My Youth
My friends and I, we’ve all heard it. That our generation won’t amount to anything. That our people, our culture, the young folks of my generation, will just be another number in the historical timeline. It seems everyday we hear, “How are these kids going to lead our world?” or “Kids these days just aren’t how they used to be.” Well in a sense, they’re right. My youth, my generation, we are the most creative and free-willed group of individuals that mankind has ever seen. We haven’t seen a world war or gone through economic depression, but we challenge common ideas and strive to stand up for our beliefs. We are never afraid to express ourselves or speak up. We are fueled by a blend of the melody of our intuitions and the tune of our passion for a change in the world. So, because I am part of this change, I decided to stand up as well. I started to notice the belittlement of my adolescence at a pretty young age. Whether it was on the news or at a family dinner party, people older than me were speaking poorly of my generation. Eventually I was jaded by their comments and began to speak up and tell the doubters that this was the greatest generation. Sooner or later, just arguing was getting old so I began to combine passion with hobby and started to think of something my generation could get behind. A movie. I never filmed it, edited it, directed it, or anything. This movie was never made to describe my movement, my youth, but I planned the whole design. Even though it was never made, this “movie” gave me an even better appreciation for my free-willed group. It also gave me pride to be among the pilgrims of the 21st century. I am proud that we have made our mark like every other generation before us. From our own unique culture to our achievements, we have made a contribution instead of a discoloration in the art of history. The perfect part about this is that we are just getting started.
Some of the most memorable moments in your life happen during your childhood. In my life, I still remember my days enjoying school before learning became a chore. This is why I would like to pursue a career in elementary education. I absolutely loved attending school when I was a child. My teachers had a way of distracting us with games so we would think we were just having fun, but we were actually learning while playing. I love working with children and also helping people understand new concepts they previously had trouble with. Not everyone enjoys going to school like I did. I want my students to learn as much as they can every time they enter my classroom, but have fun while doing so. I chose elementary education and not middle school or above because while I can help them learn, the children can also help me too. Conversations with a child can be more amusing and enlightening than talking with anyone else. Children see the world from a whole different perspective. Some of my best conversations have been with my little cousins or the kids I babysit. People today get too caught up in stressing about their lives but kids just like to have fun. I can do what I love, helping kids learn, while also listening to and learning from the children. This career takes a lot of patience but I could not see myself be any happier becoming anything other than an elementary school teacher. I hope to expand the minds of young students while building relationships and memories that the students will keep with them forever. All of my past teachers have been my inspiration and hopefully I will become as great of a teacher as all of them were to me.
Two For One
On a quaint little silver shelf contrasting against my periwinkle wall, a picture sits of two little bleach blonde babies in a plastic pool. The girl in the Tinker Bell bathing suit would be I, and the little boy would be Andrew, my brother. The resemblance is uncanny between us, except for the fact that Andrew was a tad more rotund in his face; in other words, he had chubby cheeks. We both had little turned up noses, and smiles as big as the sky. Some might say we look like twins…they would be right.
My mother and father have always treated us as equally as they could. We were brought up in a crazy, somewhat complicated household. We have two half brothers, Anthony and Brandon, and as much as we loved and looked up to them, we also learned what not to do from them. I guess that is why my parents are hard on both of us, but we bond over that.
Andrew and I have done everything together; we have the same friends, go to the same parties, have some of the same classes, and have most of the same interests ever since I can remember. We can finish each other’s sentences (no we do not have “twin telepathy”). We have always pushed each other in school to be better. We are competitive in a motivating way; we are always pushing one another to be the best we can be and supporting each other when we cannot.
In sports he has been my biggest supporter. He comes to as many of my volleyball games as he can, and through the recruiting process he was always there to keep me going even when I faced rejection. I can say the same about him and baseball. I love watching my brother shine on the field. He has so much passion for what he does it inspires me to also do my best.
Through sports, we have both committed to play baseball and volleyball in college. I am going to Wilmington University, and he to the University of Delaware. At first he was so against staying local, all he wanted to do was leave. However, when I committed to Wilmington University, he started to change his mind. Even though he would probably never admit it, I do think that me staying here influenced his decision on accepting UD’s offer. I believe that this is the biggest challenge we will face together: being separated. Even though we are both staying in Delaware, we won’t be with each other 24/7. We will have different friends, and live in different places. We will have different schedules and different experiences. Even though we will be in the same state, we will be worlds away.
Andrew is not only my twin; he is my best friend. He has been here for me though times of rejection, heartbreak, stress, friend problems, everything. Going to different colleges is going to be tough. Despite the struggle it may cause, our bond is unbreakable. We were a two for one, and we will always have each other. College may separate us, but our twin bond will always keep us together.
Would you still be interested in a sport that caused you to visit the operating room twice? For me, basketball has done that. Although others question why I would want to continue to play, why would I quit? Basketball has taught me so many valuable life skills, such as how to be a leader. Another lesson that I have learned is how to be a good communicator to both my coaches and teammates. It has ultimately taught me how to deal with different, and often difficult, personalities. I have learned that everyone must work together to be successful. Lastly, basketball has taught me to be resilient.
Freshman year I was extremely excited to be chosen as a player for both the junior varsity and varsity teams. Although I did not see much playing time on varsity, I got to practice with the team and could see my skills improving. I earned a starting position on the junior varsity team and was the leading scorer. Sadly, my season came to an abrupt end on February 13th when I tore the ACL in my left knee. The orthopedic surgeon told me the only way that I would be able to play again would be to have surgery. Although devastated by the news, I was hopeful that I could make a full recovery. After the surgery, I knew that I would have to push myself and be determined in order to return to the sport that I love. After seven months of grueling physical therapy and strengthening, I was back on the court. The only deterrent that I had was learning to play with a brace that protected my injured knee. I knew that I had overcome this obstacle when I was awarded a starting position on varsity, shortly into the season. As my skills developed, so did my self-confidence. Even though I was sad to see the season end, I was excited to see what the next season would bring for me as an upperclassman.
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