Undergraduate / 'not like all the other boys' - Common App- Karate [3]

This is for the topic of my choice option on Common App

From a young age it was apparent that I was not like all the other boys. Other boys played baseball at the park or tossed the pigskin around with their dad. They aspired to be the next Babe Ruth, or score crush defenders like a juggernaut. However, for me smacking a ball with a stick or trucking through linebackers was never very appealing. Instead, I preferred to invest my time in front of the television watching Kung Fu flicks.

Day after day, I intently watched, mouth agape at the intense dexterity and physical strength of the heroes and bad guys alike. I observed their lightning fast strikes, bone crushing kicks, and unparalleled athletic ability, attempting to mimic their movements. These men truly inspired me. They waned me off the traditional mindset and ambitions of the normal seven-year-old boy and pushed me towards the path of becoming a Kung Fu master. So in the summer of 2000, I enrolled in the local Karate Dojo to follow the path of my heroes.

At first, Karate was a major letdown. I envisioned bodies flying through the air, Karate gurus viciously sparring, and people reducing cement blocks to rubble with only their heads. Instead I came into a room with a couple of kids my age and a feeble looking sensei. I was disappointed, ashamed at myself thinking that this establishment could manifest me into the next Kung Fu master, the next Bruce Lee - the next Dragon. Little did I know Karate, in all its zen-like mystery, held a deeper truth than punches, kicks, and flips.

I learned to appreciate Karate. With each passing day I realized more and more what Karate was really about. I discovered the true purpose of Karate was not to produce Kung Fu masters or even to teach kids how to fight. The true purpose of Karate was to instill good traits and values in its students. Right from the beginning my sensei stressed the importance of self-discipline. He believed that the fire in a heart was far more important than the strength of a punch. That viciously punching a bag or shrieking at the top of my lungs held little importance to the effort I gave. He explained to me that I had to be able to work as hard as I possibly could even when no one was watching. I needed to be able to push myself, regardless of my emotional state: stoic in my persistence through tough times and never taking the easy way out.

I still hold this philosophy of self-mastery and effort close to my heart. It has become who I am. The self-discipline I was taught translated to my work ethic. Without my inner strength, steeled over with the guidance of my sensei, I would not be the athlete or scholar I am today.

Undergraduate / Northwestern Fever- Supplement [3]

What are the unique qualities of Northwestern - and of the specific undergraduate school to which you are applying - that make you want to attend the University? In what ways do you hope to take advantage of the qualities you have identified?

I'm a little worried I didn't talk about myself enough and just listed some qualities of Northwestern, so comment on that if you think so too or not.

When I visited Northwestern as a prospective student for McCormick, I caught some type of fever. However, this was no ordinary fever. Symptoms included excessive excitement at the sight of anything royal purple and the ability to vividly envision my life at Northwestern.

Ever since I took the Northwestern tour, I have had a strong urge to buy anything purple. I am not very fond of the color purple, but my body insists on gathering as much purple as my wallet can muster. I accredit this strange, almost uncontrollable behavior to the fever tapping deep into my subconscious and whispering 'prepare for Northwestern.'

The fever also allowed me to catch glimpses of the future. In one vision, I was covered head to toe in royal purple watching a Big 10 football game. It was second down, fifteen seconds left in the fourth with the Wildcats trailing by three points. Bam! The runningback takes the ball, zooms past the line, jukes the linebacker, and forcefully trucks through the safety for a Wildcat touchdown. I let out an intense scream of pure joy and admiration, feeling the wildcat blood coursing through my veins. Sadly, like the rest of my vivid visions, it came to a close. Leaving me yearning for Northwestern

I been analyzing this strange sickness for awhile and found many possible causes. First, I looked at the campus itself for an answer. Northwestern has the perfect location. Situated in Evanston and a mere twenty minutes away from Chicago, Northwestern provides a safe and relaxing atmosphere while still offering a thrilling nightlife to stave off boredom. This set up is the perfect recipe for success- a calm, relaxing place to get work done and a fun, exciting city where I can just enjoy myself with a mouthwatering slice of Giordano's deep dish down in Chicago.

Although fantastic, Northwestern's location could not have been the only cause of my sickness. I'm positive it also has something to do with McCormick's acclaimed biomedical engineering program. Everything from McCormick's staff and students to it's whole-brained philosophy on learning excites me.

For one, Northwestern as a whole sports an extremely low 23 percent acceptance rate. This makes most prospective students cringe and shy away from Northwestern. However, for me a low acceptance rate is a sign of greatness and opportunity. With a 23 percent acceptance rate, only the best students make it past applications. I am a firm believer that peers and teachers strongly dictate one's actions, capacity to learn, and psychological growth. With Northwestern, I am assured that I will be surrounded by people that will allow me to unlock my full potential and grow to my maximum extent.

Even though I may be surrounded by exceptional professors and knowledgeable classmates, I need more connections in order to secure a job. This is where McCormick's co-op program comes into play. It is difficult to land a job these days and not only does acquiring a great job require a good education, but also good connections. The co-op program allows me to supplement time spent sitting in class with actual hands on experience with real biomedical engineers. With actual experience, I am gaining skills needed to be an engineer, coming closer to my goals as a biomedical engineer, and making those important connections to help bridge the gap between education and work.

Whether the cause of the sickness was Northwestern's superb location or McCormick's attractive co-op program, I can I have enjoyed being sick. All the purple now in my closet and the visions I have had, had gotten me psyched to go to Northwestern. Also, after researching the cause of the sickness, I realized more and more that Northwestern is the perfect school for me.