Undergraduate / "transforming their bodies into pendulums" - Stanford short answer [4]

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Stanford students are widely known to possess a sense of intellectual vitality. Tell us about an idea or an experience you have had that you find intellectually engaging.

Not many students spend their lunch periods transforming their bodies into pendulums. Swing Dance Club members are a little different. We like delving into the unexplored realms of swing aerials and committing them to muscle memory. Our latest challenge was what we (appropriately) termed "The Impossible Double Judo Flip".

Picture a girl swinging her legs like a pendulum around her partner's extended arm, spinning in mid-air on his shoulder into a handstand position, not once touching the floor. She swings around a second time, rotates while flipping herself over, and lands gracefully into some Charleston. Yes. It is very, very complex.

As Co-President, I deciphered these steps by treating them like a puzzle-my partner and I combined moves until arrangements looked remotely feasible. Naturally, most of my first week was spent on the floor. By week two, we realized that decoding the flip need not involve constant purple knees and sore shoulders; we took a break and had a long talk with our Honors Physics teacher.

We discussed each step through a physics perspective. To have enough momentum for the first flip, I needed to collect force from my partner's hand, shoulder, and the floor simultaneously. I worked out how fast to swing my legs and when to curl up to have enough torque. By using these concepts and practicing daily, we had the flip mastered by the fourth week.

The process was incredibly stimulating. Physics and dance were two skills I never thought to combine-who would have thought that what you learn in the classroom is applicable on the dance floor? And yet, it was my curious, exploratory nature that fueled my adventurous dancing spirit. I can now proudly explain the physics of swing dancing while performing "The Previously-Thought-Impossible Double Judo Flip".

Undergraduate / U of Michigan - book essay [4]

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[C] Tell us about a book you have read that you found especially challenging, stimulating, or provocative. Explain why it made an impact on you.

It sat on my shelf months after my birthday, gathering dust as I found excuse after excuse not to read it. The length of the title alone averted me: The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey. Bo-ring.

Only after a particularly bad day did I realize I was not being an effective teen-I couldn't reach any goals I set for myself, my grades were dropping and I was having constant arguments with my mom. I decided to read the dreaded book, but cynically thought it would be no good. I was in for a shock; I could not put the book down and hungrily devoured every word. It felt like an ice cold shower after a scorching summer day. Boy, it was electrifying.

The Habits, in order, were Be Proactive, Begin with the End in Mind, Put First Things First, Think Win-Win, Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood, Synergize, and Sharpen the Saw. At the end of every chapter, there were 'Baby Steps' to help one get in the habit. The author also suggested keeping a Personal and a Relationship Bank Account (PBA and RBA). Every time I achieved a goal, succeeded at school, or kept a promise to myself, I could deposit credit into my PBA. Every time I performed small acts of kindness, volunteered, or stood up for someone, I deposited credit into my RBA.

I began with minor goals, such as waking up on time in the morning, and deposited small amounts. As I got better at keeping promises to myself, I made progressively larger deposits. By working diligently at my studies and working late into the night on projects, I baby-stepped my way into a higher grade point average. Every time I received an A, I made a generous deposit, and at the end of the year, when I received the Award for Best Student in the class, wham!-I put one fat paycheck into my PBA.

Similarly, I worked hard to build strong relationships with those around me. As my mom and I hadn't been getting along very well, I decided to baby step by doing small acts around the house: I took out the trash without being asked, made my mom's bed while she was in the shower, I even cooked meals when she felt tired. When she asked about my day, I gave a full, detailed account, and then asked about hers. When we had arguments, I took into consideration Habit 4 - Think Win-Win, and made sure we were both happy with the final decision. Step by step, our relationship grew stronger, and soon enough, we were the best of friends. My RBA was brimming. Success!

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens truly was a life changing read. I worked hard to practice the seven habits, and saw major results as I succeeded at school and built strong relationships. Today, I consider myself a PBA and RBA millionaire, a hardworking student, my mother's best friend, and an overall highly effective teen.