Undergraduate / "Tell us about players and games" - Uchicago supplement [3]

Hey guys,
i would appreciate a quick read

Prompt:
From game theory to Ultimate Frisbee to the great Chicago Scavenger Hunt, we at the University of Chicago take games seriously. We bet you do, too. Even if "just a game," sport, play, and other kinds of games seem to share at the very least an insistence that we take seriously a set of rules entirely peculiar to the circumstance of the game. You might say, in order to play a game we must take it seriously. Think playfully-or play thoughtfully-about games: how they distract us or draw us into the world, create community and competition, tease us and test us with stakes both set apart from and meaningful to everyday life. Don't tell us about The Big Game; rather, tell us about players and games.

"Ventnor! Pay up!" This is how I have been spending my Friday evenings since I can remember. While most of my friends are out on the town, catching a movie or enjoying a nice dinner, I am at home, carefully moving a silver thimble across a game board that has basically defined my teenage years. My family's obsession with the board game Monopoly came about when, as a young child, I was entranced by the image of a "Family Game Night" on television. I was seven, and through my whines and pleads, my mother finally agreed to have us all stay in one night so we could become that family I so badly wanted to be, playing games (from HasbroŽ of course). Initially, we rotated between Twister, the Game of Life, Guesstures, and Monopoly. Twister eventually became too physically demanding, the Game of Life too stressful (my sister did not enjoy being told she would have seven boys) and Guesstures' ticking noise too irritating, so Monopoly became the game of choice for our Friday family game nights. Between the stealthy attempts at landing on someone else's property without being noticed and the joy of finally being able to afford a hotel on Park Place, something about this game had captivated my family.

The years went on, but our Monopoly obsession continued, it was still the alarm that went off every Friday at 7:30 PM that brought us together. We even took the game to Florida with us to play while on vacation once. It goes without saying that some good family moments were spent with the five of us crowded around the blue board-bonding at its finest. Nowhere else was I comfortable enough to admit defeat; in a sense it was the idea of losing to my younger brother and witnessing his victory dance that sometimes made the game so exciting. Moreover, my strength lied in bringing up trending topics of the week in the efforts of having someone else forget the fact that my silver thimble had landed on their property. Although cliché, winning was never what it was about, as the times we spent together as a family made the points as to who ended up with the most properties or who went bankrupt first unimportant. However, the idea of playing against family members with a desire to prove to each other who the best Boardwalk businessman was strengthened our relationship through competition.

It was probably the idea of taking on the role of a business tycoon that had enraptured my family, so much so that my siblings and I would call each other by the names of our game play pieces. Monopoly drew us in because it allowed us to enter a parallel universe, and create for ourselves a reflection of who we wanted to be, ruthlessly parading around Atlantic City, purchasing as many properties as was humanly possible. Taking the game seriously was also crucial; my father answering a company call in the middle of the game could have cost him ownership of Marvin Gardens.

Games are unique in that they have the ability to allow someone to completely forget who they are for some time, transforming the individual into something different in every respect, as was the case in my family's infatuation with Monopoly. Moreover, although many may heavily frown upon it, the idea of winners and losers in games provides for friendly competition; often competing against another individual forges strong relationships and a bonding experience like no other. Games challenge us to take on the role of someone else, while showing us where our strengths and weaknesses lie-the term "game" is applicable to everything. My experiences with games have developed me into a person who believes that through competing, we are able to form and build on relationships that last for a lifetime. I find myself applying the game philosophy to all that I do; sometimes competition is exactly what one needs in order to perform at their best. Games and I have a relationship that has been nurtured since my birth, and it will surely continue to thrive and flourish as I enter the next stage of my life's progress. The money has been dealt out, the properties arranged neatly, and the community chest cards shuffled. I now roll the dice, hoping to land on a property that I can purchase and develop.

Undergraduate / Grandfather's Influence - Princeton Supplement [5]

Tell us about someone who has had an influence on you:

On my eleventh birthday, I received a squash. I was furious. Who in their right mind would get me a squash on my birthday? After finding out who the culprit was, I was extremely upset-I could not believe that I had just received a squash from my grandfather on my eleventh birthday. Only recently have I understood how much I needed this squash, and have I come to realize exactly how instrumental my grandfather was in shaping me into the person I am today.

My grandfather (ajoba), NAME, was born into a country on the verge of separation from the British Empire. Spending the majority of his years in a turbulent post-partition India, stories about his friends disappearing, daily riots in the streets, and terrifying commonplace crime found their ways into family discussions, inevitably reminding me of the richness of my family's history before their mass migration to COUNTRY. After settling in eastern CITY, he took up his true passion: gardening.

Ajoba's garden, as I used to call it, was where I took refuge from a world of intimidating adults and overwhelming schoolwork. My grandfather cultivated squash, eggplants and tomatoes-it was rare to not find me somewhere in the garden, either inconspicuously eating a tomato, or just sitting and admiring my grandfather's hard work and dedication. However, as time progressed, I lost touch with both my grandfather and his garden. Academia called, and I did not have the chance to visit his house as often as I used to.

On my eleventh birthday, I opened a gift bag adorned with bright tissue paper and ribbons to find a card and an item wrapped in damp newspaper. The card was addressed from my grandfather, who was on a trip to India, the one that would be his last. Excited to see what he had given me for my birthday, I tore apart the newspaper only to find a yellow squash. Again, in a childish state of anger, I lividly asked my parents why my grandfather had given me a squash for my eleventh birthday.

I realized that in me developing a relationship with his garden, I had unknowingly grown extremely close to my grandfather himself, something he wished to remind me of through his gift. Although I delighted in visiting his garden, I had forgotten that the seemingly endless rows of vegetables and the tall vines growing up roan stakes were a reflection of who my grandfather truly was. His commitment towards doing something that brought him a sense of accomplishment has definitely influenced me in that I try to model the idea of approaching everything with both drive and passion, no matter what the situation may be.

My grandfather passed away five years ago, but his influence on me could not be more relevant than it is today. As I prepare to enter college and move on from my relatively sheltered high school life toward achieving complete independence, allowing my passions to find their way into whatever I may be doing will be very necessary. I still look up to my grandfather very much to this day, and I hope that one day I will be able to sow my own garden, and give someone else a squash on their 11th birthday-it was the most meaningful and appreciated gift I have ever received.

Undergraduate / "my best friend told me to eat my frog" - Brown Advice Essay? [2]

Prompt: What's the best piece of advice you've been given and why?

When my best friend told me to eat my frog two years ago, I looked at him with utter disgust. He was known for his antics and somewhat unnecessary contributions to conversation, so I thought very little of his unusual comment. However, being told to "eat my frog" has definitely been the most useful piece of advice I have ever received. I thank my friend on a daily basis for introducing me to the idea of the frog, and the importance that lies in eating it.

After first hearing those three words, my mind thought that my friend was hinting at something slightly vulgar. Never before had I been told to eat an animal and being a vegetarian, I took offense to his remark. "Why would he tell me to eat my frog?" I thought to myself. After exchanging confusing glances, and after me making my perplexed state as to his remark clear, he went on to explain to me how "frog" refers to the most difficult task one has to accomplish on a given day. Imagine one had to eat a frog once a day every day in order to survive. The average human would probably put off eating the frog until the very end of the day. Just as we would with a frog, my friend explained how we do the same with our priorities. Generally, one tends to procrastinate on the task that may require the most work or dedication. It is for this reason that we must eat the frog first, fearlessly attack and accomplish the most difficult task we may have to do. By eating the frog first, we can be assured that nothing worse can happen to us for the rest of the day. It also gives us the energy and drive to accomplish all other tasks we may have for that day.

My friend's three words could not have had more clout in their application to my life. I had gained a very valuable piece of advice during this brief exchange and I strive to live my life with a greater emphasis on managing my priorities, accomplishing that which is most necessary and requires the most attention first. As I enter a stage of my life where independence and self-reliance will be key, the constant reminders I have to eat my frog will definitely work to my benefit during college years. Those three words were definitely the most relevant and powerful pieces of advice anyone has ever given to me, and I find myself applying this philosophy to many different aspects of my life. College will indubitably bring about new challenges and trials, but I believe that these words that I live by will aid me in getting to where I want to go in the near future. My frog may very well be studying for a final evaluation or completing a business school application, but my hunger for any frogs will prove invaluable as I continue my life's journey.