Undergraduate / I'm most proud of my sensitivity - MIT essay - attribute of personality [5]

Thanks for your help!

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)

I cry in movies.
I guess it doesn't seem like much of a confession to make, but if you saw me in person, you would probably be more surprised. I'm a big guy. 6.2 feet tall, 220 pounds in weight, buzz cut, and my frequent visits to the gym have given me a width that is pretty much comparable to mike tyson's. My natural expressions are very serious, and an innocent bystander might think that my thoughts wander towards a cruel scheme that involves smashing all that comes to hand. And yet, sit beside me at a sad movie and your first impression of me will change from that extreme to the other.

I cry in movies because I experience them to the fullest. When I see a movie I identify with the heroes in a complete and utter way as I guide them through every step of their journey. But my sensitivity and ability to put myself in the shoes of others is not limited to fictional characters in movies and directly impacts my everyday life. My tendency to identify with the feelings of others always allowed me to offer honest and nonjudgmental assistance, support and advice. Many of my acquaintances know that they can turn to me with any problem and share with me their deepest and most intimate issues knowing that I will always be a listening ear and provide an immediate support.

My sensitivity makes me a better person and a better friend.

Undergraduate / '..my knowledge of Yale is wholly derived from media' Yale answers - International student [3]

What in particular about Yale has influenced your decision to apply? (Please answer in 100 words or less)
All my knowledge of Yale is wholly derived from media - absent any personal acquaintance. And yet, something about Yale was different and impressed me from the first moment I read about it. I'm enchanted by both the idea that one might pursue high-level studies of infinite, diverse topics in one institution and the unusual residential system the university offers. I doubt not that Yale is different and unique; an immediate, unfathomable sense of belonging awoke and resounded within me as I delved into the details. Despite obvious distance, I am convinced Yale is where I wish to be.

Please respond in 150 characters (roughly 25 words) or fewer to each of the questions below:

a. You have been granted a free weekend next month. How will you spend it?
The Israeli national FIRST robotics competition is in a few months, so I would spend my free time mentoring the students in my previous robotics team.

b. What is something about which you have changed your mind in the last three years?
'Cheesy' romantic movies. I once couldn't stand them, but now I consider them my favorite genre.

c. What is the best piece of advice you have received while in high school?
It's better to try and fail than to never know and always wonder

d. What do you wish you were better at being or doing?
I am terrible at reaching places, even if I have been there once before. At times it seems as if my brain is physically incapable of remembering directions.

e. What is a learning experience, in or out of the classroom, that has had a significant impact on you?
My journey to the WWII concentration camps in Poland left a striking impression on me as I got a glimpse to the horrors the Jewish people experienced.

Thank you very much!

Undergraduate / Stanford supplements - leave a mark, crying in movies [4]

Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (150 word limit.)
During my army service I experience considerable pressure; My work demands profound thought, leaving no error margin. My work hours tend to be very long, from sunrise to sunset, during which I scarcely leave my chair. With time, I was eventually able to find refuge in exercise.

During my workouts I find myself detached from all else. No commanders, family or friends. Without my cellphone or computer to distract me. This is my time during the day, a time when I can concentrate and reflect on recent events. Music alone echoes, in tandem with the rhythm of my pulse and rapid respiration. Each press of weights sheds the day's worries; every breath regulates thoughts. Each drop of sweat cleanses me of the unending daily toil. At the end of my exhausting workout I feel ready to cope with the new day to come.

Name your favorite books, authors, films, and/or musical artists.
Books: Harry Potter (I read it more times than I'd like to admit), The Dice Man, Memoirs Of a Geisha, Eragon. Movies: Matrix, Lord of the Rings, Before Sunrise and Before Sunset, Memento, Silver Linings Playbook. Musical artists: Michelle Branch, Avril Lavigne, Shlomo Artzi.

What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed? (50 word limit.)
As a Jew living in Israel, the declaration of independence on May 15, 1948 was a founding event that I would have liked to have witnessed, as thousands of Jews gathered around David Ben-Gurion at a moment symbolizing the end of the 2000 years of exile for the Jewish people.

What five words best describe you?
Sensitive, motivated, honest, loyal, friend

Stanford students possess an intellectual vitality. Reflect on an idea or experience that has been important to your intellectual development. (250 word limit.)
"Righty tighty, lefty loosey"; This was the high school's robotics team first lesson to be learned, Immediately followed by many more comprehensive and deep explanations: "This is a screw, it is used to join things, and this is a drill, use it when you want to drill holes."

The purpose of the team was to construct a robot that would represent the school in the FIRST robotics competition. In my first year in the team which was also the year the team was established, the competition task was to construct a robot that collects and shoots balls into baskets that would be dragged by robots on the opposing teams. As head of the design team, I was afraid this task was near impossible. I felt helpless, since we lacked any experience or knowledge in robotics, without professional guidance, tools, and resources.

Despite all the difficulties, we didn't give up. The robotics room became a second home for us. An endless number of hours of work and research, discussions and disagreements finally led to great success - the construction of the robot was completed in time, and our design led to our winning second place in the national competition.

This experience proved to me that perseverance and hard work can overcome any obstacle standing in our way. Today it doesn't matter how big, unknown or even near impossible the task seems I will not refrain from trying to complete it, since with sufficient willpower, everything is within reach.

virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate -- and us -- know you better. (250 word limit.)

Dear Future Roommate,
Something many discover only upon profound acquaintance is that I cry in films.
I guess it does not seem like much of a confession to make, but you would probably be more surprised if you ever saw me in person.

I am a big guy. 6'2", 220 pounds in weight, buzz cut, and my frequent visits to the gym have resulted in a build comparable to Mike Tyson's. My face is naturally stoic, possibly leading innocent bystanders to think that I'm concocting a cruel scheme.

Yet, accompany me to a heart-wrenching movie and you will quickly see that stoic expression melt. But do not interpret my crying as a weakness. I cry in movies because I emote in cinematic identification and experience the scenes to their uttermost. I am completely the silver screen protagonist, adhering to the characters at each phase and stage, rejoicing in their big victories, quivering as they tremble in fear, and when they experience a big loss or a personal tragedy - I cry with them.

And I pledge to accompany you as an especially loyal friend who is always sensitive to your state. Happy as you are, sympathetic to your difficulties and available for you about any matter. A friend whom you may share the most personal dilemmas and issues with, and who will always be attentive and ready to advise, devoid of any criticism.

So prepare a bag of popcorn, a bundle of Kleenex, and flick on the saddest flick you have.

What matters to you, and why? (250 word limit.)
It matters to me to be different.
In my society our life's course is predictable. Our surroundings have set expectations regarding our future.
- At the age of 18 after graduation, we are expected to serve in a top military unit.
- By age 21 we work one year to save up money for a challenging after-service trip abroad.
- At 23, we study in one of the Israeli universities to get an academic education which will enable us to properly support our future family.
- By 27, the expectation is clear: establish a career, start a family and begin to accumulate assets.
This is how our life's 'ladder' is built, with every rung planned according to a certain ideal and standard. We are expected to live a life filled with aspirations limited to personal success and desire to influence our immediate environment alone.

I do not wish to live this way.
My father always told me to aspire to live my life differently. A man's aspirations should not be resumed to his private success and wealth. He should aspire to leave his mark on this planet.

His words echoed in my mind and now that I have reached the point where I must decide what to do with my life, they became a main guideline in my plans. I want my path to be non-similar to others'. I wish to dream the biggest, to influence as many lives possible, and to leave my personal mark on this world.