Undergraduate /
Essay on ZOMBIELAND. Just need QUICK confirmation about its appropriateness. [11]
Do you think this essay is totally inappropriate for college essays??
PROMPT: Write an essay in which you tell us about someone who has made an impact on your life and explain how and why this person is important to you.
Zombies roamed the United States lustful to sink their viral canines into human flesh. After mad cow disease transformed human beings into blood-seeking cannibals, only four survivors remained. Columbus, the protagonist from the movie Zombieland, is one of the survivors in the post-zombie-apocalypse film. His survival relied on strict rules he imposed on himself. "Double Tap" after executing a fallen zombie was to confirm their death. "Beware of Bathrooms" meant being conscious when using bathrooms. "Wear Seat belts": even though uncomfortable, it was for safety. These are three of the thirty-three rules that Columbus came up with in order to help him survive the zombie-infested planet. Columbus' strict adherence to his rules was the main reason for his survival.
As I entertainingly watched swarm of blood-drooling zombies being shot down one by one, more importantly I was simultaneously admiring Columbus' integrity and self-control. Throughout the movie, not once did Columbus break his own rules when lured by temptation. It was from his self-control that Columbus was rewarded to live another day without being infected by another zombie. As the credits roll down the pitch black screen, I sat in admiration of Columbus' character amidst the laughter of friend recounting the hilarious ending of the film.
Columbus, although a lonely coward who isolates himself in his room playing video games on Friday nights because he is anti-social, was a character exhibiting one trait that I needed to replicate, integrity. Like most normal human beings, it has been hard for me to resist temptations all around me. Peer pressure to do unethical things such as playing video games on a school day was a one of the temptation that haunted me every day. Instead of studying after school, I would power on my computer and play some video games-despite the promise I made to myself of not playing video games during school days.
With the start of a new school year just a couple of weeks before watching this movie, I yearned to be true to myself like Columbus and reject all the temptations holding me back. No longer did I want to regret the times wasted on playing video games when I could be using the time to study. Like Columbus, I fabricated my set of rules, which were to be followed strictly. The difference was that Columbus' set of rules was to keep him alive from flesh-devouring zombies, and mine was to keep me from my parent's wrath.
"No games on weekdays" and "start homework right after school" were two main rules to be strictly obeyed. The first few weeks following the rules were grueling and tormenting. I sat reading a novel as my roommate mocked me by playing video games inches away from me. However, I was determined to change. I popped a pair of earplugs in my ear to dismiss the sounds emitting from his video game and continued reading the novel for the upcoming quiz.
The following morning, my English teacher handed out the reading quiz. As a reward for my self-honesty, I aced that reading quiz. Although it was just a reading quiz, I felt that I had used my time wisely and productively. If I had broken the rules, I might have failed this easy quiz and regretted the time I had wasted instead of studying.
Looking back at Columbus and his integrity, I am able to say that I have successfully inherited his strong trait. I am able to stop myself from temptations that were luring me into the nihilism of video games and to concentrate on my academics instead. Though it may seem like an insignificant accomplishment, it was the thought that success came with my integrity and self-honesty that mattered to me. I was able to achieve my goal by staying true to my values and my new work ethic.