Undergraduate / "Learning to relax is a challenge" - Arts and Sciences, University of Virginia [4]

College of Arts and Sciences: What work of art, music, science, mathematics, or literature has surprised, unsettled, or challenged you, and in what way?

Just breathe. That's what I tell myself, while I'm worked up about something, whether that something is a big deal or not. I'm a perfectionist, so I've been told, always trying to make things fit ideally into the proper place. But being a perfectionist is something that causes anxiety and headache. Learning to relax and letting the pieces fall where they may is quite a challenge.

In order to achieve perfection, one must do the unthinkable and perform tasks that only Gods could perform. But is that really possible? Is perfection obtainable? In the film the Black Swan, directed by Darren Aronofsky, the main character, Nina, strives to be the picture perfect ballerina. Her passion for dance is so extreme that she makes herself physically and emotionally ill over being perfect.

As Nina's sanity slowly vanished, I became more unsettled by the effect perfection had on her. I realized that becoming perfect is a lifelong challenge that is ultimately impossible to reach. Nina spent her days and nights nailing her dance in order for her to perfect each move, but what she learned was that it wasn't only the moves that were important; it was her character that had to develop within the dance.

Nina's lunacy was unsettling for me to watch. If reaching perfection causes one to lose all self control than is that really perfection? Losing yourself over trying to reach the impossible isn't worth the nailing every move and making every detail faultless. Perhaps I can only be the best I can be and nothing more. If that's not perfection than what else can perfection be?

Undergraduate / "influenced by my Lebanese culture" - University of Virginia Supplemental [2]

Describe the world you come from and how that world shaped who you are.

We cannot overlook the world we come from. Despite where we come from, who we are raised by, and the morals that we learn, our world is what shapes who we are. My world is influenced by my Lebanese culture.

My father emigrated from Lebanon during times of political and economic turmoil, in search of a more successful and peaceful future. My father has overcome his hardships and now provides everything for my family. Growing up as a Middle-Eastern girl among a community of many Caucasians, African-Americans, Hispanics, and Asians, has given me the chance to bring my own culture into this mix.

Although I embrace my Lebanese culture every day, I often reflect on the many differences in my lifestyle from my friends'-when greeting someone, three kisses on the cheek is appropriate. Our dinners always include a variety of traditional Lebanese courses, and yes, we do shovel food down our guests' throats. Family is always first, in any situation. It is important to have nice things and to take care of these nice things.

Along with the many strange quirks my Lebanese heritage brings, I have also been instilled with strong values. From regarding my father's experience, I have learned that hard work and perseverance truly does pay off. In any task that I attempt at I put my all into it, never giving up. Another value instilled in me is a strong sense of respect; respecting my elders, my loved ones, but most importantly respecting myself.

These differences are what make me, well, me. I could not imagine a day when I don't hear my father yelling in Arabic over the phone. And no he's not upset, Lebanese people just talk loudly.

Scholarship / Hooked on Running - how it affected my life (scholarship) [3]

This is a scholarship essay based on how running has affected my life. It should be about 300 words but mine's way over, at about 430. Any feedback and or comments would be great. Thanks!

Running; the act of traveling on foot at a fast pace over a continually repeated period of time. Yes, this is the dictionary's definition of running, but this definition doesn't even begin to approach the way I view running. After being on my school's Varsity Cross-Country team for three consecutive years and running during all off-seasons as well, I can truly say that running has changed my life.

"What kind of joy do you get from an exercise that keeps you out of breath and makes you sweaty?" I've been asked more times than I can count. But it's so much more than the workout- it's the thrill, the burn, the intensity. Running is an escape from the stirring world around me, leaving me in my own cycle, moving, and moving. It's my flight from all the insanity. Everyone has their distinct form of expression and way to deal with stress. Mine is running. I feel myself becoming redder, breathing heavy, but nothing else matters. I am no longer focusing on school, on work, on family, on friends. Running is the only thing I have complete control over. I decide how fast I run. I decide where I run. I decide how long I run for.

In general, life is filled with many obstacles and running symbolizes how I have the ability and strength to overcome these obstacles. At first I viewed running as a challenge, a tedious and straining activity that left me lacking the energy to even run a mile. I would complain about hard practices-running intervals, hills, and sprints. I lagged behind my team, heaving and tired. But after many hard practices, I became stronger and running came more naturally to me. I began to keep up with my teammates and my endurance improved tremendously. I started to love feeling the breeze in my hair and the blood pumping in my legs. A mile turned into something easy, a warm-up, and now I run several miles daily for my own satisfaction. Transforming a difficulty in my life into a pleasure demonstrates the impact running has had on me. Just as I overcame my struggles with running, I have the confidence that I can overcome any obstacles that I may face in the future.

Not everyone understands a runner's intentions; these people have different channels of expression to deal with their emotions. My channel is running. Running is my comfort. The mind-clearing effect running generates is unattainable for me to reach any other way. It's my calm during a storm, my sanity amongst chaos. I can truly and honestly say that I am hooked on running.