Undergraduate / Muddy Water - getting there is part of the fun - Commonapp most content essay [6]

Muddy Water. The journey there is part of the fun. Commonapp 'most content' essay

describe a place or environment where you feel most content. Why is it meaningful to you

I move with the rhythm of the water, i hear my paddle splash. I hear the sounds of rushing rapids. I tighten my body, brace for the rapid, and put an active paddle in the water. I shriek pure thrill and joy as I successfully navigate the rapid. This is what I experience in my place of contentment. I experience adventure, joy, bliss, and adrenaline while floating atop South River ,a muddy river stretching south of Atlanta. Its forest lined lush green in summer and has the most beautiful fall foliage. Some say it looks nasty due to the muddy water, but I think its beautiful. In McDonough, there are technically no official put in spots, but that doesn't mean it cannot be kayaked. Getting there involves strapping on my Chacos, and trekking through the woods, down to a muddy bank. Getting in the water involves standing in mud where I sink to my ankles. The journey there is part of the fun.

Once I am on the water, I am free. No matter how stressful my day was, once I'm on the water, I forget all about it. All I can think about is the beauty surrounding me and not getting stuck on rocks. The feeling as I paddle is pure enjoyment. The laughter when I go through a rapid is the purest laugher. The only way out is the bridge two to four hours downstream depending on the water levels and how fast I'm paddling. Its a perfect escape.

Good company is always had on the river. I love laughing with friends down the calm sections, and the pure adrenaline through the rapids. I love the sore feeling in my arms after I try to race down a stretch with my friends. Its really always a competition to see who can go faster even if its unspoken. For me, feeling sore is a sign of a good time. Its a place I have made numerous memories. I will never forget hearing thunder and paddling as fast as I possibly could do avoid getting stuck in a downpour. However, we did not paddle fast enough and ended up having to sit on the side and wait out the storm. We were soaked and cold, but I would do it again.

Its uncharted territory that I love exploring. Very little information is available online about this section of the river. The first time, my equally clueless friend and I literally had no idea what would be around the corner, but the unknown was exciting. For all we knew, we could be going headfirst into class IV rapids. Luckily, there were only small rapids. I'm an explorer. I want to find out whats around the corner and climb this and that. South River gives me a grounds to truly explore something that had only been explored very little. Even though I want to pursue a career in medicine, I think about exploring cavities of the body the way I explore the outdoors, and not being afraid of whats around the corner. I love pulling my kayak to the side and exploring the rock formations. I also love knowing the rapids and guiding others through them. I have a free spirit personality, and this river allows me to embrace it.

Writing Feedback / Maroon and Grey - "two page descriptive essay of a place without using I" [2]

Prompt: Write a two page descriptive essay of a place without using I

Maroon and Grey

Way out back behind Andrews High lies four recently resurfaced tennis courts. The maroon and grey courts are the home of the tennis team. They scream Andrews, and fill the athletes with school spirit as they are painted the school colors, maroon and grey. The perfectly smoothed out asphalt creates a sanctuary for tennis. In the center of each court lies a brand new shiny net with no ratty holes which has been the case the previous three years. The net is big and powerful. It is the enemy. Its web catches all balls that are hit too low. The courts are enclosed in a tall metal fence separating the tennis players from the world, and the obnoxious donkeys and farm animals in the pasture next to it. Wood benches slowly rotting away sit on the side of the courts. They are where the player sits to rest for a short minute in between points, but they could really break in half at any moment. Beside them lies a puke stain from an intense match. On the side of the court lies the score card with a red and black side. We are the black side because it is one of our school colors. The score card is sometimes the enemy, and sometimes the best friend depending on the outcome of the match. On the other side of the court is a large sign displaying the names of the Varsity players each year. Looking up and seeing my name as well as the now college tennis players that have gone before me gives me encouragement to live up to those names.

The courts are filled with many unique sounds. The peaceful ping of the ball hitting the racket will be heard. Players loudly grunt when they are hitting a ball with power. Many times players yelling at themselves to "come on" and "pull it together" are heard. "Good Point", and "You got this" are being yelled from the bleachers by teammates and parents. An explosion of clapping is always present after a good point. The clicks of a camera echo across the court as yearbook photographers, school newspaper photographers, and parents capture pictures of the matches. Shoes screech as they slide across the court when players are sprinting to a ball. The sound of pump up songs from the baseball players as well as donkeys making mating calls distract the players. The coaches can be heard whispering strategies to the players.

Its also a place with a roller coaster of emotions. The tension can sometimes be cut with a knife. Coaches are on the edge of their seat as they watch their player play out a grueling point. Sometimes matches get heated and the opponents will literally try to hit each other with the balls. Sometime the opponent will make a bad call( call a ball is out when it is really on the line) creating extreme rage in the player and the audience. Extreme anger is radiated when a player is loosing and complete happiness when a player wins.