Undergraduate / Common app essay, free topic "The Beauty of Translation" [10]

Free topic: The Beauty of Translation

As Toru Okada, or "Mr. Wind-Up Bird," drifted into a deep sleep after his long search of his missing cat and wife, the same uplifting feeling I had before from reading in Korean and in English, overwhelmed me. The blank portion of the last page stared at me for a while and whispered, "That's the beauty of translation."

In The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, Toru Okada, the main character, and I, the reader, encountered different characters that shifted us into their metaphysical worlds. I was quickly captivated by Haruki Murakami's beautiful, surreal, exotic writing and his ability to fit numerous stories and perspectives into a single book. But what eventually intrigued me more were the resembling feelings I had each time after reading the book in the translated versions and in the original version.

Looking back, Korean and English translations gave a distinct touch to the story, with the unique structures, rhythms, and sounds of the Korean and English language. These three elements magically blended into the narrative and the dialogues of the characters. At the same time, there were the inevitable flaws of translation. For example, a simple sentence of five words, when translated, became a sentence of fourteen words. Some Japanese idiomatic expressions, when translated, lost their distinct cultural flavors. But the voice of Murakami was still there, if not within every sentence, within groups of sentences and paragraphs. Even with the imperfections, the dialogues and the narratives carried the same tone and gravity in both translations, giving me the same "chills."

For the original Japanese version of The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, I read at a slower pace, because I had to constantly wrestle with the dictionary. My slow reading brought my attention to the individual words and phrases that Murakami had chosen, and the way they were deliberately put together in a sentence. In other words, I became aware of the importance of understanding the subtle meanings beneath these intended words and phrases, in order to truly understand the story itself. Thus, when I finished the original version and received the same stirring feeling that I had before from reading the translations, I could not help being amazed by the translators, as much as I was amazed by Murakami; they were able to carry the voice of the writer from one language into another by fully grasping the dynamics of both languages. Ultimately, it was the reading of this book that stimulated me to become an aspiring translator.

The beauty of translation lies in devouring the text, retelling it, and bonding different groups of people. In this sense, translators are artists, who, despite knowing the imperfections that inevitably follow, seek the best way to share with others the soul of a piece of literature. And that is exactly what I wish to do as a translator in the future, to continuously challenge myself in understanding language and literature.

I will greatly appreciate some criticism! Tear up this essay, please! :)

Undergraduate / "Stronger" - Name an influential person: My Father (Common app essay) [7]

"Oh my gosh! Absolutely brilliant! Fantastic goal! Rooney scores another one for Manchester United!"

Stronger

A sudden sharp, ear-splitting sound began to fill the empty house. My fingers frantically searched for the "off" button of the stereo. Before long, I understood the CD was not for any kind of musical pleasure. It was for my father to train himself to pain. Stunned, I placed the CD where I first found it, inside my father's coat pocket, where I, as a fourteen-year old, could always look for some coins.

My father heard a ringing noise in his ears, what the doctors called "tinnitus." It came as an unexpected side effect of a nose surgery he received seven years ago for his frequent sneezing. However, my initial worries about his condition gradually faded away, as he never expressed his pain in front of the family. At the same time, I grew distant to my "indifferent" father; he always came back late from work, missed the dinner with the family, and left early for work in the morning. It was only much later I realized he was trying to compensate for the time and money he lost in fighting his depression from the ringing noise.

Through his soundless struggle, my father taught me the value of inner strength that eventually guided my transition to a foreign country. My poor English listening skills and understanding of the American culture in the first few months of high school in America, were constant weights on my shoulders. But I knew everything would turn out better if I believed so. And what I believed came true; I met the most wonderful people by mustering up the courage to approach friends and teachers first.

When I was little, my father used to tell me stories from Aesop's fables. This one line from a story still vividly comes back to me: "The little Reed, bending to the force of the wind, soon stood upright again when the storm had passed over." Even though I will be away from home in the near future, like the little Reed, like my father, I will remember to be strong inside, despite the obstacles I may face.

I would love criticism!! :)

Undergraduate / Brown essay; why drawn to the academic fields you indicated [3]

Please tear up this essay, thank you :)

Why are you drawn to the academic fields you indicated in the Anticipated Degree and Academic Interest questions above? (limit: 1000 characters)

Ms. Lim called the twenty-six letters she wrote on the blackboard, the "English Alphabet." They looked strangely beautiful to the third grader's eyes. Six years later, those eyes sparkled with curiosity again, when they saw a poster of neatly written Hiragana, or the Japanese Alphabet, on the classroom wall. However, both times were only beginnings to the long journey that would still continue today.

Learning English and Japanese on top of my mother tongue, Korean, introduced me to the immeasurable depth of every language in encompassing culture and history. But as I delve further into these languages, I am even more fascinated by their universal nature of being able to communicate human emotions and thoughts through literature. I hope studying comparative literature and translation in college will bring me closer to understanding the human race, across time periods, languages, and national boundaries.

Undergraduate / "marching band camp" An essay of how I spent my summers [4]

Please tell us how you have spent the last two summers (or vacations between school years), if not already detailed in the Common Application. (2500 characters max)

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. :)

I spent a very memorable two weeks of my summer of 2008 at a camp called "Global Scholars," where I met a diverse group of students and counselors who were enthusiastic about understanding the world around them, and about what they could offer in making the world a better place. Our discussions on topics like US-Saudi Arabia relation, war on terrorism, and China's policy on AIDS, opened my eyes to different ideas and perspectives. Also, through "Campaign Idol," my friends and I had a unique opportunity to present our ideas on the rehabilitation of child soldiers.

After the breathtaking Global Scholars experience, I moved onto my first marching band camp. Under the scorching sun, our band started building the year's show, "1964." I learned the basics of marching, of gently rolling my feet across the grass and keeping my chin high, with many others' help. On the last day of the camp, we successfully performed two out of the four parts of the show in front of the crowd, just what we were aiming for. Though my first ever, the performance was less nerve-wracking than I expected, as I realized marching was a collaborative effort of those on the field.

My summer of 2009 was also at two places away from home. I went to a journalism workshop, because I wanted to explore various fields of journalism, including newspapers, televisions, and radios, which were all part of my daily life. I had a chance to ask political journalists about their career paths, learn how to do a stand-up reporting, and develop my writing skills. The most exciting part was, however, meeting inspiring people of my age who were deeply passionate about what they loved, whether it was writing for the school newspaper or taking pictures for the school yearbook.

In August, I returned to the school marching band camp, with more experience and sense of responsibility. As a senior, I tried to help incoming freshmen marchers with basic marching skills and with adjusting to the camp environment, by remembering what was difficult for me as an inexperienced member the year before. Our seemingly endless, sweaty rehearsals at the camp paid off by having a great full performance of "Fiddler on the Roof" a month later.

Not only were both summers simply a break from doing schoolwork, but also a time for me to think about the importance of being passionate as an individual and of being cooperative and responsible as a member of a group. Those two summers will remain irreplaceable from my memory.

Undergraduate / Williams essay; looking through a window at a significant environment [7]

Imagine looking through a window at any environment that is particularly significant to you. Reflect on the scene, paying close attention to the relation between what you are seeing and why it is meaningful to you. Please limit your statement to 300 words.

Any suggestions to my essay? :)

The hands of the clock point to 8:30. Fifteen minutes until the bell. Mr. Smith has left to get some coffee at the teacher's lounge, leaving me by myself in the band room. I hear mixed sounds coming from a distance. Finding nothing in particular to do, I glance out the window to see students arriving at school.

Two girls in the same lacrosse uniforms, chat excitedly in front of their parked cars. A group of students sit on the picnic table next to the parking lot, leaning against one another. Next to them, are friends questioning each other for their biology test. Out of many students, my eyes turn to the one girl who is strangely shown in black and white, while the rest of the scene stays in color. She stands alone, looking somewhat lost. Her grip onto the school map, which has been reread several times on the spot, tightens as she looks at the unfamiliar people and buildings around her. Please, someone go help her...

"Jiyoooon!" The image of myself two years ago quickly disappears in my head. My friends walk into the band room, waving their hands at me. Soon, my other fellow bandmates come in and start warming up their instruments with some scales. As a familiar, warm, soothing sound begins to fill the room, I look out the window again. This time, I can only see my reflection on the window glass instead of the girl outside. I see myself smiling among a crowd whom I share my love of music with. I become thankful of this place where I could belong to, where I could rest my heart on.