Undergraduate / A book, artwork, or lab experiment that changed my world - CommonApp Essay [4]

This is a short essay I'm writing for CommonApp and another college supplement. Any criticism would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

*Please note that the books are neither italicized nor underlined because when I paste it onto the supplement part, it automatically reverts it to plain old text. Hence, please ignore that error.

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PROMPT:Tell us about a book, artwork, or lab experiment that changed the way you see the world. What was it about the work that affected you? How did your world become different? (500 words or less)

Throughout my adolescent life, the Board of Education has felt the need to
mandate classical literature into the English curriculum, hoping as if some sort of
imprint will be left on my psyche. And while I do admire Shakespeare's Romeo
and Juliet and F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, I found that no other
book has been as profound nor has reshaped my viewpoint of the world as the
book Number the Stars by Lois Lowry.

This book entails the life of a ten year old girl, Annemarie and her family during
post-WWII in Denmark. I remember the first time I read this book back in
fourth grade. I sat on the side of the courtyard, entranced by the bravery of little
Annemarie, instead of playing with my friends like I usually did. While I was
reading the story, I couldn't help but feel a strong sense of bravery from such a
young girl. Since her best friend Ellen was a Jew, the German soldiers came to
take her away. Despite this, she did not give in and ultimately saved her friend
by helping her cross the country into Sweden while risking her own life. Sure
there are many heroes in this world, but who would have thought that such a
little girl could be one of them. Annemarie's bravery has taught me that it is okay
to be afraid. It is natural and instinctive to feel scared in times of hardship, but
that should not stop you from trying. When she was confronted by soldiers, that
did not stop her and as I face difficult situations, I try to recall Annemarie's will
to never give up.

Aside from the personal lessons that Annemarie have instilled in me, the overall
theme of the book has also struck a chord. Being able to glance back to the
times of depression and the Holocaust, I can begin to grasp the difficulties that
people have suffered under the reign of Adolf Hitler. As I look back at the
book, I feel that I have taken too many things for granted. In Number the Stars,
basic necessities such as clothing, sugar, and even electricity was almost non-
existent. Today, I wake up to the warmth of the heater and know that there is
food in the refrigerator. After reading this book, I have come to realize that not
everyone in this world has the opportunities and the benefits that I have and
therefore I try to value everything that I have.

This book may have been a work of fiction, but to me, the values and lessons
that it has instilled in me are real. This book has changed how I see the world
today, and I am humble yet proud to be able to see the world for the way I see
it now.

Undergraduate / dance programs in private studios, Macaulay Essay [3]

I feel like I'm missing something, but I have no idea what to write anymore. Any criticism would be greatly appreciated.

Prompt: Discuss some issue of local, national, or international concern and its importance to you. (500 words or less)

In a world where education encompasses children's daily lives, a form of expression is vital. Seeing this, schools have instituted a great number of programs that allow a child to express themselves through music and art. While these two forms of expression are well distributed in school, dance programs are almost non-existent. As a student of the public school system lucky enough to have had a dance teacher, I feel that having courses like dance is not only valuable, but necessary.

What is so great about dance is that it holds no boundaries. Whether you're six years old or sixty years old, if you have the courage, you can dance. Likewise, language and territorial barriers do not inhibit dance because in essence, dance tells a story through the body, and that language is universal. Ever since I was exposed to ballet, jazz, and hip hop, I feel that I can freely express my emotions through dancing. When I hear the music, everything starts to fade away and I forget all my troubles and worries. It is as if a sort of freedom washes over and I can empty the stress and problems I have. If I had not been exposed to dance, this world of unconstraint would not be possible.

Many teenagers today are struggling to find a forum to channel their emotions and without a way, many become lost. By implementing more dance programs, more underprivileged kids will be able to find a better way to realize their stress and ultimately enable them to stay off the streets by giving them something positive to do rather than turning to drug use or gangs.

Because of the lack of dance programs, people like Nigel Lythgoe and Alivn Ailey have started foundations like the Dizzy Feet Foundation and Alivn Ailey Dance Foundation, respectively, which sponsors dance programs in private studios. However, they can not do this alone. The government must start funding more money into art programs so that the children of the future have the opportunities to grow and discover what it is that they like.