Undergraduate / 'Your institution gives me access to both of my passions' - Common Application [3]

This is the essay I am using for my application to Montclair State University, The College of New Jersey, and Boston University. Thanks for help! The essay is in response to academic interests and life experiences and how they have effected me with academics and what I would bring to a college.

The first time I walked down to the auditorium stage and acted my heart away changed my life. Being involved in the arts has incited my soul to undergo a metamorphosis. Acting not only gives me perspective in the role, but gives me an appreciation for myself. Being faced with several insecurities regarding friendships, love, and academics made it challenging for me to adapt to high school; all through my freshmen year I was afraid of who I was, afraid to take a chance, and afraid of what I was able to do both academically and physically. Always as a child I was skinnier and more fragile than other boys. I saw on television men with Adonis like bodies winning every girl they desired. Looking inwards, I pitied myself and never had high self-esteem because I tried to live up to those plastic faces. A life lesson l learned from the arts was that every person, every actor, and every role was important and special in its own way. You don't need to be a lead in every show to make a difference and presence. A common theatre quote is "there are no small roles, only small actors." To me this says, no matter what you're given, you can make it something special. I believe that with acting, I learned to get past the ugly status quo and finally let myself be who I really am.

With my introduction into the arts, my ambitions and achievements have only improved. Anyone can see from the transition of my freshmen year to my senior year, I have greatly advanced. I believe this was possible because I gradually learned what I could do, and what I had to do to be efficacious. One place I have found great success in is with the sciences, more specifically, biology. When one comes into my room, they can find biology notecards in just about any place. Just yesterday I was going through my coat pockets and what did I find? Biology flashcards of course. At school I'm devoted to biology club and all its activities. I do dissections and help with Earth Day as much as I can. Learning about organisms and how they work and interact fascinates me. If we utilize the knowledge behind how life works, we can do a great deal of help to the world all around us!

Your institution gives me access to both of my passions. This past summer when I was first introduced to the college, I knew it was the place. Constantly I would say words like "when" and "know", never "if" or "maybe". From the moment I stepped onto the campus, it was somewhere I was meant to be. Not only does it have an awesome performing arts program, but an equally amazing science department. From gazing at the labs and auditorium, I felt at home. I know if I'm accepted to such a fine institution, I'll be one step further in making something great.

Undergraduate / BU Supplement (Roomie) - It's so nice to finally meet you! [2]

It's so nice to finally meet you! Since you and I will be spending quite some time together as roommates, I'd like to let you know all the too wonderful things I have to bring to our newfound friendship. The first "sparkling quality" people seem to notice about myself is my unmistakable voice. Not so much the sweet, enriching tone, but the magnitude of its volume. The supremacy my voice exerts is one of the several individualities that make me stand out. A symbol of my character, its able to get itself known in the largest of crowds, uncontainable in any given area, and unafraid of its potential, much like myself.

No language could express the magnitude of how passionately I hold music in my life. Every day, every place, every moment, I would divulge in the art of music. Personally, I believe the iPod is one of the greatest inventions ever conceived. Its unimaginable how way back when, people couldn't pick up music and bring it wherever they go! As diverse as my person is, my music taste is just the same. Turn on any station and I'll be dancing to any beat. You'll find just about any genre in my arsenal of music. From classical and opera pieces like Vivaldi, to my favorite alternative band, Florence + the Machine, you'll find just about anything playing during the day.

Math and Science jokes are some of my absolute favorites. I love to be that dorky kid that gets overexcited when they get a math problem right, or even do math problems for fun! I could go on for endless days talking about how the body works. Give me a system, give me a topic related to biology, and I'll give you a 10 minute presentation on how your pancreas works. I quite enjoy taking what I learn in class at home, so just don't get annoyed when I tell you all the enzymes you just triggered by eating that chocolate cake!

One thing people never really peg me as is a massive video game buff, role playing games especially. Yes, I know, I'm that nerdy teenager with his nose pressed up against the screen trying to vanquish a level five dragon. What can I say? I have to be doing something right since my grades have always been top notch! Maybe I can get you to try it sometime, but most definitely not when a test is the next day. A caution to you though, since you'll experience this first hand you might notice the sudden change in character when exams come around. Tests just about make me insane. I'll stay up hours on end with a large stack of notecards, flying through topics. The good news for you, however, is you'll never go without a study buddy!

I really look forward to sharing a room with you and I hope I didn't scare you! Good luck friend, believe me, you'll need it with me around.

Book Reports / Frankenstein Essay on how country setting is important. [2]

Setting is crucial in any given novel or play. However, in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, the country setting is crucial in understanding the emotions, characters, and events to come featured in the novel. As a romantic herself, Shelley utilizes the images of several scenes of nature to emphasize particular themes and ideas. From the changing seasons, violent storms, and the mountain and lakes, the country shows a multitude of aspects that relate to the story of Viktor Frankenstein.

The transition of summer to winter not only highlights Frankenstein's character, but is a useful tool for foreshadowing. Much like summer's bright and energetic characteristics, Frankenstein proves to be bright and energetic as well. As a child, Frankenstein had the love and affections from a happy family and a growing thirst for knowledge. This thirst for knowledge eventually thrusts Frankenstein into the University of Ingolstadt. It is here that Frankenstein's ambitions to surpass his colleagues and professors are highlighted. He soon becomes enveloped in his studies, which to him, is complete pleasure. He soon discovers the secret of animating a corpse and sets to construct a breathing organism. Frankenstein however, begins to describe the qualities of summer, where the days are long, and the nights are short. The long days serve to emphasize Frankenstein's happiness. Right now in the novel, Frankenstein believes to be doing great work in the field of science. However, when the creation of the monster becomes close, summer comes to an end. Frankenstein loses his previous optimistic character and his dreams become dark. The light begins to fade as darkness empowers it, much like Frankenstein's realization about his creation. Tortured by images of his creation, Frankenstein falls ill. But as both time and his illness pass, spring begins to emerge. Frankenstein's recovery and the emergence of springtime correlate to one another as it is a time of new beginnings. It is here that Frankenstein leaves the University of Ingolstadt and starts a new journey with his friend Clerval.

A noteworthy characteristic found in the country is their violent storms. Shelley masterfully uses storms to emphasize ominous events and the emotions of characters. In several instances, the lightning of a storm represents the godlike power of creation. This is emphasized in the passage when Frankenstein witnesses a tree wiped out by lightning. The lightning gives Frankenstein inspiration to uncover the spark of life. It is here where his desire to control the same power as lightning is conceived. But just as the tree was destroyed, Frankenstein and his world around him will be destroyed as well. As the story progresses, storms become intertwined with the idea of destruction. This is first introduced in the Monster's rage towards the DeLacey family. After being refused love and affection, the Monster erupts into a terrible rage. Driven with anger, the Monster finally burns down the cottage where they had first lived. As this is done, Shelley describes the wind to pick up and the might of the storm to roar with the same anger shown by the Monster. With each death found in Frankenstein, a violent storm is quickly followed after. After young William is strangled to death, a storm erupts over Geneva. Frankenstein is outside to witness this and exclaims that this is his funeral. The storm represents the turmoil faced by the Frankenstein family with the passing of William. Next, a powerful storm is what brings Frankenstein to Ireland. This is where he is placed in jail to be tried against the murder of his best friend, Clerval. Finally, a storm flares up over Elizabeth and Frankenstein on the day of Elizabeth's death. This storm serves to show that she is soon going to die at the hands of Frankenstein's monster. Constantly through the novel, Mary Shelley uses storms to stress the black and sinister nature of the book.