Undergraduate / "I'm Jaques Pepin, and this is fast food, my way!" - Boston college supplement [3]

Hi all! this is the prompt for the boston college supplement:
Many human beings throughout history have found inspiration and joy in literature and works of art. Is there a book, play, poem, movie, painting, music selection, or photograph that has been especially meaningful to you?

and this is my essay: (i know its VERY rough, i haven't had the chance to edit punctation and grammar and stuff)

my main question is: does it answer the prompt? if not, how what can I improve on?

The opening sequence begins as pictures of apple galettes and chicken roulades fill the tv screen accompanied by a cheerful song playing faintly in the background. As the scene shifts, suddenly a silver haired man donned in an apron appears; in a heavy french accent, he cheerfully and confidently declares with a flourish, "I'm Jaques Pepin, and this is fast food, my way!"

Although I grew up in a household that did not have cable television harboring typical adolescent channels such Nikolodean or Cartoon Network, I never missed it because my favorite show played on public broadcasting; running early on Saturday Mornings, Jaques Pepin: More Fast Food my Way was a program that I watched with a fervor.

I remember waking up early on Saturday Mornings, bounding out of bed, hair unkempt and pajamas still on, and situating myself in front of the television with my dad who was an avid foodie and shared my love for Pepin. Hearing the staccato of taps that Pepin's knife left on the chopping board and following his steady movements in the kitchen, my dad and I loved seeing the delicious dishes out that Jaques seemed to conjure out of only a few ingredients.

My dad and I, usually after the end of the show, would subsequently hop in the kitchen, and attempt to emanate Pepin with whatever ingredients we had in the fridge; with him volunteering as the sous, measuring and cutting, and me, tasting and mixing, we cooked with flair. Our elation over the perfectly executed recipes, our favorite being Pepin's berry pancakes, crispy yet moist in the center, accompanied with my dad's quirky mantra of "the more butter, the better," helped me overcome the many failed recipes, when they came, of soggy waffles or curdled omelettes. Through our escapades in the kitchen, inspired by More Fast Food my Way, I discovered my passion for cooking and baking. Jaques Pepin showed me through his own love for food, that cooking was not just a rudimentary activity involving vegetables and salt. It required focus, attention to detail and most importantly, emotion.

Presently, having garnered enough experience to cook by my own whimsy, I now see Jaques Pepin's recipes as a guide to my memory, using senses of touch, smell, and sight, instead of solely relying on his show. However, on Saturday mornings, More Fast Food my Way still can be found playing in the background while my dad and I are busy in the kitchen flipping berry pancakes.

Undergraduate / Boston College: Finding Magis, the traits that are important [2]

prompt: "Magis," a Latin word meaning "more," is often cited in reference to goals of Jesuit education, which seeks to help students become better, do more, and have as much impact on society as possible. How do you hope to achieve the Magis in your life?

I have not revised for punctation and grammar, so I know its rough in that area

I am looking for content suggestions:
does my essay answer the prompt?
is it deep/significant enough?

Sitting by the Rio Grande river, the night is silent with anticipation hanging, almost palpable, in the air. Suddenly, a fluid low tenor interrupts the silence, and the melodious sound of a flute echoes across the valley. Although I am uncomfortably perched on a rock, I don't care; in that moment, I am completely captivated by the music of the pueblo.

The Taos Pueblo is an indian reservation in Taos, New Mexico located just a few miles from Santa Fe. Freshman year, when my school offered the opportunity for a service trip there, I immediately signed up, interested for a new experience.

When a small group of us arrived, we spent our time doing community service in the form of building fences and renovating clay ovens. The community service was definitely rewarding, but the most fruitful part of the trip for me was actually interacting with the Taos people and learning about Native American Culture at the source: from activities such as listening to traditional flute music in kivas to participating in sweat lodges, I was able to immerse myself in a whole different world. Since then, having gone to Taos several more times in subsequent years, I have developed a tenuous connection with the Pueblo, its people, and their culture.

Through my trips to Taos, I have learned how important it is to keep an open mind and, most importantly, to retain respect for everything I observe and do. I realized that once I broadened my perspectives, discarding preconceived notions and alleviating any skepticisms, I was able to learn so much more: for example, during my first visit to Taos, when a group of us went to the annual summer Powwow, I had the chance to dance and participate in it. Although dancing wasn't - and still isn't - my forte, I decided to do it anyways with the one other classmate. By participating in Powwow, I was able to understand more about it as I actually experienced the rhythm of the drums and the emotion in the movements.

I realize that in order to truly enhance my own perspectives, I have to try and understand other people's perspectives first. Presently, I don't have an explicit vision of what I want to do yet or where my path for the future will take me; however, I know that if I maintain an open mind and respect for the things I do and people I encounter, I will not only learn as much as I did in Taos, but make a greater impact on the world. With this simple strategy in hand and my incentives strong, I can achieve magis.

Undergraduate / Stepping on campus for the first time I am captivated, certain that Northwestern is school for me [2]

Hi! will someone tell me if this essay is too generic/answers the prompt well enough?

if there are any glaring errors or awkward sentences, suggestions are appreciated :)

Northwestern Statement: What are the unique qualities of Northwestern - and of the specific undergraduate school to which you are applying - that make you want to attend the University? In what ways do you hope to take advantage of the qualities you have identified?

Stepping on campus for the first time, observing the regal white buildings speckled with hints of purple, and seeing the bustling students, I am captivated, certain that Northwestern is the college for me.

As a person of a shared identity, anthropology has always interested me; I want to go to the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences because it has a strong anthropology program. Not only does it have great research facilities, but also faculty such as Amanda Logan whose focus on inequality and environment in Africa align with my interests on the effects of globalization in Africa. With my sight set on the Archeology program, Northwestern offers many opportunities for field work in Africa where I get to take a hands-on approach. Lastly, I am drawn to the unique fact that the anthropology program is an interdisciplinary department, which can merge with The Program of African Studies.

Allowing students room to explore different classes and interests due to its four quarter system, Northwestern does not confine students to just one path. This way, I have the option of double-majoring and can not only concentrate on anthropology, but also equally, African Studies.

Furthermore, Northwestern takes care of its students like no other school; getting free admission to sports games, and 24/7 access to the library during finals week, Wildcats are able to thrive under a pristine environment. As a school enriched in tradition, I plan to attend football games, paint the Rock and relax on North Beach. Northwestern also offers many eclectic clubs that pique my interest such as the Spoon Magazine and the Greek system.

Northwestern is a quintessential integration of academia and social life, of city and suburb, and of tradition and innovation; diverse in population yet uniform in school spirit, I only hope that I will one day be a Wildcat.