Undergraduate / UC- Important Personal Experience- Missing A Flight [4]

Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are?

I pushed myself to run faster, even as I felt my flip-flops slip. Through the glass windows, I saw an airplane take off, praying it was not ours. How could we confuse our departure time? My family and I finally reached our gate, and I relaxed, seeing a plane with our flight number immobile on the runway. However, from the look on the flight attendant's face, I realized that we were about to miss our flight and hearing her say, "I'm sorry, they are all ready for take-off", was like getting sucker-punched in the gut. Most times, missing my flight would be a small inconvenience. However, I needed to be on that flight to Los Angeles, California because the following day I was driving to Stanford University to attend a pre-college program on Biology and Psychology. The previous day, I was at my cousins' wedding in Copenhagen, Denmark, so I already missed orientation. Being late one more day meant I would not be able to attend the program. Hyperventilating, I studied the "Departures" board, looking for the next flight to Los Angeles.

We found a phone in a lounge and while my dad was talking with Transfer Services, I paced nervously behind him, chomping down potato chips. I could not function; all I could do was gape at the fact that my dad was listing dates and times in the next week. I glanced around hoping my mother and brother would share this incredulity. Instead, I found them leisurely on the computer playing Text Twist and on Yahoo. Why were they not freaking out? Then I thought, "Why am I freaking out?" With all the bad outcomes zipping through my mind, I did not realize how unproductive I was. Stuffing my face and breathing down my dad's neck would not change anything. In order for things to work out, I had to do something.

So, I took a deep breath, went to the nearest computer and looked for community colleges near Los Angeles. I was not taking any chances; if I could not attend my top choice program, I was not going to slum around all summer. Hours passed and my dad's face appeared behind my computer screen. The next flight with openings was four days later in Munich, Germany, a 12 hours train ride away, meaning I would not be able to attend Stanford. Although disappointed, I was not devastated, because I was able to find new summer plans. I took an Introduction to Philosophy course, where I read Sophie's World and learned about Hume, Socrates and many other philosophers. At a local shopping mall, I worked with co-workers so delightful that I looked foreword to my next shift. Also, I attended dance classes in Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern and Hip-hop, advancing my technique and expanding my dance styles. I am proud that I was able to relax when I was at the airport. Thanks to this experience, I know that frantically dwelling on the past will not change anything. This summer, I have become more flexible, both physically, for dance, and emotionally, for life. When plans fall through, I will make new ones, that exceed or at least equal my previous plans. In the future, instead of being disconcerted, I will find solutions.

Undergraduate / 'She did not stop me then' / 'Harry Potter' - Uchicago extended essays [6]

Hi! I wrote two essays for the UChicago Extended Essay.
Which essay would you recommend I use and can you give me some corrections? thanks!

Essay Option 1

How did you get caught? (Or not caught, as the case may be.)
I grabbed the Times Kids magazine and slid it stealthy next to my thigh. Mrs. Farmer, my second grade teacher, was in the middle of a reading group, thus probably too distracted to notice the magazine. Walking up to Mrs. Farmer, I asked if I could go to the bathroom, while carefully concealing the magazine from her eyesight. The magazines were shared among all second grade classes, so it was against the rules to take one home. I ran to my cubby and stuffed the magazine in my pink Barbie backpack. On the front page was a picture of Pikachu, and my older brother adored Pokemon, so I just had to give it to him! When I got home, I elatedly handed the magazine over to my brother, who just glanced, uninterested and sighing, "Oh, I already read it in school today". Angry at myself, expecting great praise, I threw the magazine into the back of my closet, pushing it out of my mind.

A couple of week later at school, Mrs. Farmer approached me, "Do you still have the Times Magazine, Brenda?"
My heart stopped. Oh God, what do I do?
"What?" Play dumb, yes. Good idea, Brenda!
"The one you took when you went to the bathroom in the middle of the reading group.." She said impatiently
She saw me? I could have sworn I passed by unnoticed. Why did she not stop me then?
"Um.. I don't know" I replied uncertainly as I skittered away.
I will never forget that day and the horror of actually getting caught. I was so sure I had passed unnoticed. However, the trepidation from the lesson I learned overshadows the fear I felt then. I was consumed in my own world and thoughts, I completely forgot about everything else. As a child, everything revolves around you. Yet what I had experienced was completely different from what my teacher experienced that day I took the magazine. I can only know what I am doing; I will never be sure of what someone else is seeing, thinking or doing. Knowing this is what frightens me. The world is an intricate intertwining of lives and unique experiences. As a child, I was caught, because I did not know this. Yet, knowing this does not guarantee I will never be caught, rather I will just be more prepared.

Now, I know how complex one event can be. Mrs. Farmer's retelling of that day is probably vastly different from my retelling of that day. In fact, she may not even remember that day, while I can still replay it clearly in my head. Recognizing these complications will only help me in the future.

Essay Option 2

The late-eighteenth-century popular philosopher and cultural critic George Lichtenberg wrote, "Just as we outgrow a pair of trousers, we outgrow acquaintances, libraries, principles, etc. at times before they're worn out and at times-and this is worst of all-before we have new ones." Write an essay about something you have outgrown, perhaps before you had a replacement-a friend, a political philosophy, a favorite author, or anything that has had an influence on you. What, if anything, has taken its place?

When Harry Potter first came out, I thought it was a waste of time and fabulously dull. How was I ever going to read that many pages! Yet, the summer after fourth grade, bored out of my mind, I stumbled upon my brothers battered Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone and began the long journey of Hogwarts, Dumbledore and Lord Voldemort. I fell in love. By then, the first four books were already out so I spent my entire summer reading and re-reading them. When the movies started coming out, I always bought the DVDs, despite their inferiority to the books. I loved everything related to Harry Potter, because of the fact it was concerning Harry Potter. My friends and I would watch pre-released scenes online, memorizing each word and laughing at the goofy English accents. Casting spells on each other with wooden sticks, we raced by each other on our scooters that we pretended were broomsticks. Then, at my birthdays, while blowing out the candles, I wished for the letter from Hogwarts inviting me to attend because I was actually in fact a witch. I counted down the days to the release of the next book, always reading them the day of. For the fifth and sixth books, we had to buy two copies, because both my brother and I just had to read it on the first day. Yet, for the seventh and final book, I found myself locked in my room reading the one and only copy. My brother lost interest in something I could never imagine forgetting.

Through high school, I still enjoyed Harry Potter, always watching the films. I stopped re-reading the books, but I knew I would remain a huge fan. Yet, this summer, with the release of the sixth film, when the movie ended, I was shocked. Not because of the unanticipated ending, but because I did not even anticipate it. I could not believe that I had forgotten the plot. Somehow, throughout the years, the excited conversations of the newly released Harry Potter trailer were replaced with topics about life, daily events, and school. I could not believe it; I out grew Harry Potter.

This space that Harry Potter took in my life was uniquely carved for Harry Potter. So, the void that was left has not been replaced. Instead, I grew with it, and along with this growth, came a loss of innocence. Harry Potter became a part of my past, while I grew and embraced reality. I no longer dream of a letter from Hogwarts; I tell myself it is preposterous. I admit, it is depressing, losing something you were so infatuated with. Yet, I am able to grow, without my head clouded with spells and potions. Throughout the years, I have found many new passions, hobbies and interests. However, the blinded adoration, like the one for Harry Potter, will not be restored. Older and more mature, when I love something, it is because I actually love it, and not because of its association with an obsession that I glorified. Outgrowing Harry Potter is bittersweet, but provides an eye-opening lesson that I am glad I experienced.

Thanks in advance!