Undergraduate / 'my work/activity' - Extra activities Proof read for common app [2]

Being the topper of the school, I am vested with many responsibilities of the school. Some are like being the School Spokesperson/School Captain, Student Chief Editor of the school journals, etc. Even though I have so many responsibilities which of course are of great advantage in improving my personality, I have my keen interest on making something innovative like connecting Circuits, making models, trying inventions, experimenting, etc.

When I was in grade 11, I was selected to represent my school for Science Exhibition at national level. I worked on it to make something innovative, and guess what? I was successful in making a new invention. It was "Electricity from sugarcane using piezoelectric effect". I consulted my Physics professor and came to know that this was indeed a new invention. I applied for a patent 3 months back. I was the first Under 17 person to make an invention in our State.

The exhibit was about how to produce electricity from sugarcane after it is converted into baggasse at the sugar factories by making use of Piezoelectric effect. Using this method of producing electricity, more than 15% of the state's electricity need can be fulfilled. This not only won me 1st prize at School level, but also I won the National Level Science Exhibition.

The passion, interest and dedication towards my work/activity help me to make it successful and it gives me immense pleasure to perform it effectively.

Undergraduate / 'I can judge your ability' - Personal essay for common app: Influential person [2]

On a Friday morning, my maths notebook flew out in the verandah through the classroom door. My maths teacher had thrown out my maths notebook in anger. He said, " Get Out. Achieving a first rank in the whole school doesn't mean that you are exempted from doing homework." I was the topper of the whole school consistently for 8 years of my school life due to which no teacher cared to ask my homework as they knew even if I didn't do the homework, I would still be the school topper. But being a dignified person I would always do the homework regularly. That was not the case that day. I said, "I am sorry sir, but there is a reason for not doing my homework. I was ill the whole day yesterday. How could I complete my homework? Please can you excuse me this time"? Sir said, "The overconfidence of your achievements has overpowered you. Don't give lame excuses." I said, "No sir, I was really ill. You may consult my parents if you wish." Sir said, "If you have guts in you, get selected in the NTSE exam and show me that you deserve it."

(NTSE, also known as National Talent Search Exam is the grandest competitive exam conducted in INDIA by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) & Ministry of HRD for high school students. This is an extra exam for high school students where only 200 students are selected in this exam out of 2 million exam candidates and scholarships are provided to them. An NTSE scholar gets free access to all public libraries of the country and workshops and many more. The selection rate is 0.01%).

If anyone questions my ability, I go wild. That's what happened in the class that day. A lightning struck through me that moment. As the October passed by, I had given the exam and waited for results. Results came by and guess what? I stood 56th out of the 200 scholars out of the 2 million candidates who appeared for the exam. The record of our school and the city was broken by me as 2 years back, a boy from another school of our town was able to achieve 65th position. Wishes, complements, congratulations came by all day long. My maths teacher cum Vice Principal called me to his cabin and put a sweet into my mouth. He said, "My efforts didn't go vain. You made me and our school proud." I said, "Pardon, sir. Your efforts "? I said in surprise. He said, "I was not angry that day when you didn't do the homework. It was my trick to boost your will power. Your father had informed me the day before that if someone questioned your ability, you would not fail to prove it." I was astonished by his words.

He said, "I am surely going to refer you to MIT where you can meet many students like you having extra capabilities and surely you will be a good resource to science & humanity. At this age already you own a patent for your own new invention about ELECTRICITY FROM SUGARCANE using piezoelectric effect. Being your Vice Principal I can judge your ability and want you to get to MIT, USA where you can have access to greater resources for fulfilling your creativity & innovation".

THIS WAS MY MOST INSPIRING INCIDENT OF MY LIFE WHICH BLOOMED THE FLOWER OF DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS IN ME AND MOTIVATED ME TO SERVE THIS WORLD AND I AM SURELY GOING TO DO THAT AT MIT.