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Posts by rosetta114
Joined: Aug 15, 2009
Last Post: Oct 19, 2009
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rosetta114   
Aug 15, 2009
Undergraduate / Fireflies - "Significant experience" essay [14]

Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.

Advice would be greatly appreciated. thanks :D

_________

They were like dancers, I thought. Beautiful, graceful, majestic dancers. I watched their lights flicker on an off, on and off, as they appeared and disappeared in the night sky. Their dance formed a forever moving painting: with each passing flash of the firefly, cool undertones of beauty and serenity would so seamlessly blend with bold highlights of spontaneity and mysticism.

With a childlike sensibility, I grinned and helped myself to a full, deep breath of warm summer air.

My brothers were already chasing the fireflies in the yard. I called after my brothers. They didn't hear me. Or maybe, I thought, they did hear me and chose to ignore me. I rationalized in my young mind that it was probably the latter. But it did not matter. I was going to catch myself a firefly. Heck, I was going to catch myself ten fireflies and raise them. They'd be my very own, and my brothers wouldn't be able to laugh at me or tell me squat about what to do with them. Tonight, I was going to catch myself a firefly.

I stepped somewhat cautiously further into the yard and opened the lid of my jar. When I looked up, a flash of light sparked suddenly in front of my eyes. I turned around quickly, but the light had disappeared. I strained my eyes, looking for the firefly that had so dexterously blended in with the dark grass. And then I saw the flash again.

I grabbed my jar and held it up to the firefly. Quickly, right when the firefly lingered above the jar, I grabbed the lid and snapped my jar shut. I had caught it! I thought. I had caught it.

I looked at the jar, hoping to admire my catch. But the firefly was not in the jar. Where had it gone? I looked at the grass and saw a faint glow of light. It was a firefly, lying in the grass. I looked at it. It was not moving.

I stood still. I was confused. Why wasn't it moving? I stood. I looked. I waited. Why wasn't it moving? It was napping, I thought, it was just napping...

I stood there for some time longer. I gingerly bent down, and very cautiously, very tenderly, I picked up the firefly and placed it in my palm. Its legs were not moving. I felt like a giant; a clumsy, senseless giant. My young hands looked so large around its small body. I looked at it for some time longer, standing still. There was a chill in the warm night air.

I suppose that was the first time I was acquainted with death, with lifelessness. I was confused, but somehow I understood that it could not move anymore, could not fly anymore.

I looked back. Its wings were still glowing. They were no longer flashing, like the wings of the other fireflies, but they were still glowing, however faintly.

Fireflies are very strange creatures. Their light still glows for a good time after they're dead. I smiled, just slightly. Maybe that's how it is with all things, I thought.
rosetta114   
Aug 16, 2009
Undergraduate / Fireflies - "Significant experience" essay [14]

Thanks for the comments, all :)

As reflected by the above posts, my application essays have been criticized for being in a sense too implicit. Too much narrative, not enough explaining. I suppose I'm just having trouble figuring out where and how to explain what I learned without it sounding too sudden.

I think this incident did cultivate such qualities, but it might be good,in the conclusion, to specify them, particularly in relation to the field you intend to study.

I think this is a great idea. I plan on majoring in biology. I'm definitely going to try to tie it in somehow...

You start out trying to capture a living thing to deprive it of its freedom for your own benefit, and in so doing accidentally kill it. This then fills you with a dark joy. In fact, the essay ends with you smiling softly as you gaze down upon the corpse of your helpless victim.

^ HAHHA oh goodness I would certainly not want an admissions officer thinking that! But I do see your point...I do not want to be construed as a demonic Hannibal Lecter-like character. I need to explain my point...

Thanks again everyone...going to make some important edits.
rosetta114   
Oct 19, 2009
Undergraduate / Brown Supplement:what don't you know.DREAM SCHOOL! [8]

Truly great essay...very unique approach to the prompt. I love the casual yet sophisticated way in which the essay is written.

I personally think the transition between your 3rd and 4th paragraphs is fine.

My only criticism is that the last two sentences seem a bit weak compared to the rest of your essay.

Good luck :D
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