Undergraduate / Helping a Friend with Anorexia - UC Prompt #1/Cornell CALS Supplement [10]

She was only 12 years old when her insecurities first began to show. However, it wasn't until she was 15 that her doubts exploded into anorexia. The monsters under her bed had crawled into her head, and they whispered toxic lies that struck her like daggers. As she fell deeper and deeper into darkness, she appeared more and more pale, tired, and defeated - becoming merely a skeleton of the bright girl she used to be. She became so weak that her voice shook whenever she spoke, as if saying one word could suck the life out of her. She showed me her stomach, peeling and red from all the times she had scratched at herself, in hopes that the infinitesimal bit of fat would somehow fall off. And although she always wore her fuzzy sweater and furry boots, she shivered even on the hottest summer days.

My best friend knew she was essentially killing herself, but through tears she begged me not to tell her parents. I was confused and lost, and so, like any typical teenager would do, I sought the internet for help. I read countless articles regarding calories, carbohydrates, fats, and so on. Finally after much debating and convincing, she agreed to attempt to follow an eating regime that I had created. Although she knew she needed to recover, her body would not cooperate, and she would often unintentionally vomit what little food she had consumed. We progressed slowly, taking as much time as she needed. I structured her diet to consist of only healthy foods, such as wheat bread and chicken salads, until she decided she was ready to approach her "fear foods". After nearly two years of relapses and panic attacks, she declared that she no longer wanted to avoid what used to be her favorite snacks - vanilla ice cream and chocolate chip cookies. Slowly but surely, she proudly conquered anorexia. Her cheeks once again bloomed into roses, and a sparkle found its way back into her eyes. No longer did she allow her illness to control her; rather, she took control of her illness.

While I obsessively researched food two years ago, not only did I help my friend, but I also discovered a passion for food science. Witnessing someone so close to me lose her basic human ability to eat made me realize how vastly food affects every aspect of our lives - from our physical abilities to our mental stability. This realization ignited my goal to change food's unhealthy aspects. Having a healthy diet can prevent hundreds of diseases and cure many others. Unfortunately, there is a general consensus that healthy food is synonymous with unappetizing food. I hope to change that prejudice by creating a variety of food that is not only easily accessible and mouthwatering, but also high in nutritional value and made with quality ingredients, so that people can be satisfied in every sense without feeling guilty. Food is meant to be enjoyed, but how can we fully enjoy it when we live in a society that perceives eating less as more? My dream is for people to be able to savor all kinds of food without having to worry about the consequences. I want to be a positive influence that promotes happy and healthy eating to society as a whole.

Undergraduate / My first job at a fast food restaurant in an amusement park when I truly began to mature [9]

Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

At the beginning of this year, I would have described myself as introverted and dependent. I was confined in my own sheltered bubble and was overly optimistic to the point where I was easily offended and unrealistic. I was naïve and took success for granted, not understanding that it was something I had to go above and beyond to achieve. It was not until my first job at a fast food restaurant in an amusement park that I truly began to mature.

My first day of work happened to fall on Memorial Day - notorious for being one of the busiest days of the year. I was shy and nervous, but I tried my best and did what I was told. That day, I was cursed and yelled at more times than I had ever been before. While in some cases, the customer's anger was due to a mistake I had made, I realized that for the most part, the customer's irritation was simply a culmination of his circumstances. After all, it is difficult not to grow impatient when surrounded by noisy, hungry children in a hot, confined space. Just on that first day, I learned two important lessons - do not take insults personally and always put yourself in the other person's shoes.

Throughout this job, I also learned that I am both physically and socially capable of more than I think. Despite my relative lack of arm muscle and height of four foot eleven, I discovered that I can, although with difficulty, lift a ten pound bucket of ice over my head and into the soda machine. And in spite of my low tolerance for pain, I now know that I can still function after dipping my fingers in a five hundred degree fryer. However, the most important capability that I became aware of was my ability to make friends. I never thought that I would be able to become real friends with complete strangers in an unfamiliar setting, and I was afraid that I would be very lonely in the future. Now, the co-workers whom I thought would never be more than acquaintances have become friends that I regularly meet up with, showing me that my paranoia was in vain.

My short-lived career has taught me that just because others succeed does not mean that there is less success for me. To test how well the staff is working, the company sends "secret shoppers" to evaluate us. If a worker meets all the expectations, he is given the treasured Best Day Promise Award and a funnel cake. As the months passed, I became anxious that I would never receive a secret shopper and grew jealous of everyone who already had. Finally on my last day, a secret shopper unexpectedly tested me, and I passed. As my co-workers and I shared my sweet funnel cake, I realized that there is no need to be bitter over someone else's victory. As long as I work hard and do not give up, then I have a chance to succeed.

Although many people around me treated my job at a fast food restaurant as inferior, it taught me more life lessons than any internship or summer class ever could have. What I thought would be an easy way to earn money, has transformed and impacted me in more ways than I could have imagined. This simple, minimum-wage job has given me a much-needed confidence boost. It has shown me that I am capable if only I persevere and believe in myself. To me, an adult is someone who makes responsible choices keeping in mind not only himself, but also those around him. Of course I still have much maturing to do, however, my first job has allowed me to take my first giant leap towards adulthood.

Undergraduate / I spent my middle school summers selling our old clothes - Claremont Mckenna Supplement [2]

Prompt: What influenced you the most in your decision to apply to CMC? Please limit your response to no more than 200 words.

After my friend and I spent our middle school summers selling our old clothes, I knew that I wanted to pursue a future in business. The renowned business program at Claremont Mckenna is what first attracted me. But as I dug deeper, I found that there is so much more to love. I crave the intimacy offered by a liberal arts college but am also excited by the ability to make the campus as large or as small as you want thanks to the consortium of schools. I yearn to take advantage of the Athenaeum with its unparalleled lineup of speakers, fostering a comfortable, friendly environment between both students and faculty. At Claremont Mckenna, success is a common goal that students strive towards together rather than a rare gem that must be fought for. The student body is composed of passionate, determined people, capable of balancing rigorous academics and adventurous social lives, and is definitely one that I would like to be a part of. The location is the icing on the cake - where else are both sunny beaches and snowy mountains only a couple hours away? I believe that Claremont Mckenna will not only help me reach my full potential, but will also give me the most enjoyable, memorable, and productive college experience possible.

Comments? Critique? It's 15 words over the word limit.. :(
Thanks in advance!