Undergraduate / "The clock ticks" - MIT Personality Essay, thoughts, suggestions [5]

What attribute of your personality are you most proud of, and how has it impacted your life so far? This could be your creativity, effective leadership, sense of humor, integrity, or anything else you'd like to tell us about. (*) (200-250 words)

The clock ticks. The unexpected occurs. Last-minute problems arise, and crunch time approaches. When some people may falter or simply abandon hope, I feel alive. I pride myself in my ability to work well under pressure. When high-stress situations occur, I am able to maintain a calm composure, keep my wits about me, and remain even-tempered and serene. When a group project's due date draws near and my team members hang on the verge of a small-scale panic attack, I am the one looked upon to ensure tranquility and find a quick, efficient, and effective solution.

Maybe a shred of Type A personality seeps through the cracks of my character and allows me to do my best when pushed or pressured. Perhaps genetics play a part in my personality. After all, my mom works with explosive chemicals, and my grandpa drove a tank, both requiring "A-game" performances in stressful times. Whatever the reason, I can perform exceptionally when given an extensive research paper, even when it's topped with a pop quiz in calculus and served with a side of an economics project. Rather than succumb to excessively taxing situations, I am able to use my ability to focus, accomplish the task, and sail beyond expectations.

Thanks =)

Undergraduate / "maybe basketball wasn't for me" - MIT Challenge/Adversity Essay [3]

Tell us about the most significant challenge you've faced or something important that didn't go according to plan. How did you manage the situation?(*) (200-250 words)

Although I played in "Boone Hoops", a kid's basketball league, I was just as nervous as the other kids on the cold gymnasium floor the day middle school tryouts. Back then I longed to play for the school team. I worked hard to display all my talents and abilities to impress the coach. The list was taped outside the gym doors, and we huddled around it to search for our names. As I scanned the list, I realized that my name was not present. I thought there must have been a mistake, a typo, a slip of the mind by the busy coach, but no; I had been cut and left out to dry, like laundry or an unwanted puppy.

A few days passed and I came to realize that maybe basketball wasn't for me. I gave cross country a chance. At first it seemed ridiculous, maybe even insane. Who in the right mind would voluntarily run in the summer heat, or scamper up hills in the pouring rain? Now, six years and hundreds of miles later, cross country flows through my bones. A highlight of my life, running has not only been the foundation of my strongest relationships with my closest friends, but also a significant influence on how I live.

Remembering those seventh grade tryouts still sets off a pang of disappointment in the pit of my stomach, but I have discovered that, because I refused to be crippled or cast down, I was able to bounce back.