sushilover
Mar 15, 2010
Undergraduate / "It started with a soccer ball" Tufts Optional Essay [3]
This is a rough draft for my Tufts application due in 3 hours. The essay is still very bare, please help me with any comments/suggestions! Thanks!
PROMPT: People face challenges every day. Some make decisions that force them beyond their comfort levels. Maybe you have a political, social, or cultural viewpoint that is not shared by the rest of your school, family, or community. Did you find the courage to create a better opportunity for yourself or others? Were you able to find the voice to stand up for something you passionately supported? How did you persevere when the odds were against you?
It started with a soccer ball. Clutching my doll, I looked at the spotted white ball curiously. Tapping it ever so lightly, I winded up my leg and kicked it. Soccer has been my love ever since. I remember how in middle school I wanted to join my school's soccer team. It was an all-boys soccer team, but that didn't stop me into wearing cleats that were double the size of my feet and an oversized jersey uniform belonging to my brother. The boys were a little apprehensive at my unusual get-up, but I won them over with my defensive tactics on the field and powerful kicks. My soccer career, however, was short-lived.
"I'm afraid you would get hurt out there in the field. It would be best for your safety to not play in the soccer team."
The coach's words felt like someone had just dropped a thousand soccer balls over my head. I didn't have the strength to walk away from the field.
I would play in the backyard, alone. I lacked the energy, but my love for soccer was too much for me to stop now. With some colorful borders, photos and catchy words, I posted posters all over my school to seek girls who were interested in soccer. Every day, I would approach girls with a signup sheet, which continued to fill up. A week later, although our jerseys didn't match, we walked together as a team towards the field. It was the beginning of the girls' soccer team.
It has been years since that day, and I hear that the girls' soccer team won the inter-school championships last year. Although now I don't play soccer as often, the lessons gained from the experience has never left me. My passion was there for a reason, to continue to motivate me even when the situation seemed impossible. Such philosophy has made me determined to create my own opportunities, as the limits that I have are the one I set on myself. I hope to achieve in encouraging others to challenge themselves by example.
This is a rough draft for my Tufts application due in 3 hours. The essay is still very bare, please help me with any comments/suggestions! Thanks!
PROMPT: People face challenges every day. Some make decisions that force them beyond their comfort levels. Maybe you have a political, social, or cultural viewpoint that is not shared by the rest of your school, family, or community. Did you find the courage to create a better opportunity for yourself or others? Were you able to find the voice to stand up for something you passionately supported? How did you persevere when the odds were against you?
It started with a soccer ball. Clutching my doll, I looked at the spotted white ball curiously. Tapping it ever so lightly, I winded up my leg and kicked it. Soccer has been my love ever since. I remember how in middle school I wanted to join my school's soccer team. It was an all-boys soccer team, but that didn't stop me into wearing cleats that were double the size of my feet and an oversized jersey uniform belonging to my brother. The boys were a little apprehensive at my unusual get-up, but I won them over with my defensive tactics on the field and powerful kicks. My soccer career, however, was short-lived.
"I'm afraid you would get hurt out there in the field. It would be best for your safety to not play in the soccer team."
The coach's words felt like someone had just dropped a thousand soccer balls over my head. I didn't have the strength to walk away from the field.
I would play in the backyard, alone. I lacked the energy, but my love for soccer was too much for me to stop now. With some colorful borders, photos and catchy words, I posted posters all over my school to seek girls who were interested in soccer. Every day, I would approach girls with a signup sheet, which continued to fill up. A week later, although our jerseys didn't match, we walked together as a team towards the field. It was the beginning of the girls' soccer team.
It has been years since that day, and I hear that the girls' soccer team won the inter-school championships last year. Although now I don't play soccer as often, the lessons gained from the experience has never left me. My passion was there for a reason, to continue to motivate me even when the situation seemed impossible. Such philosophy has made me determined to create my own opportunities, as the limits that I have are the one I set on myself. I hope to achieve in encouraging others to challenge themselves by example.