Undergraduate / Common app Activity essay - international event [9]

Waking up at 6 AM and, in the midst of a particularly unpleasant December rain, running to catch the bus - all these were repaid when feeling the inviting smell of cappuccino through the halls. I would open the door of the conference room and feel the warmth of smiles; eventually, I would also hear the laughter when trying to reply all the greetings through the choppy Turkish, Czech, Macedonian and Greek I had learnt during those few, memorable days.

The Network Meeting organized by x was unforgettable for me in many ways. During these last months - memories are still fresh - I organized and brought to life an international event. Between leadership trainings and excursions, what I cherish the most is the atmosphere - that kind of atmosphere I always want to be part of - expanding outlooks, sharing culture, languages and dreams, cooperating to envision a bright future.

Any comments, suggestions? Be as harsh as you want :)

Undergraduate / "Alzheimer" QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS - JHU major essay [21]

This is my JHU essay on the topic:

"Alzheimer." I opened the piece of paper where I had secretly scribbled this word.

During those 30 long minutes, that was the only word I could guess was important since it was repeated so often. Unfortunately I could neither catch the meaning of the doctor's analysis, nor translate something useful from the worried expressions of my parents. I was desperate for an answer.

Infinite "why"s did I ask to myself for a long time... I could not understand why my grandmother would sometimes forget my name. - I anxiously typed the word "Alzheimer" in my search engine. - I was not able to explain why she would start a sentence and then suddenly interrupt herself, unable to continue her thoughts. - My insecure finger pressed the "Enter" button in my keyboard. - Nobody could give me a plausible answer, so I was left alone in the midst of fears and assumptions. - I clicked to the first result of the list in my computer screen. - Now I wanted to find out.

At the time I was twelve years old. Now I am seventeen: older, wiser, more mature. Today I understand what Einstein meant when he said that everything is relative. Those 45 minutes practically seem years when I have to solve relativity problems for my Physics class, while they pass as a gentle, brain-refreshing breeze when I am emerged in those truly beautiful class discussions in Biology. During four years of Biology classes throughout high-school, I have experienced the excitement of discovering things that hooked me, the possibility to provide answers to many questions and a natural curiosity to find out even more. I have run through the centuries and millenniums to discover humans' origins; I have discovered what hides within a single drop of blood; I have slipped by the double helix to decode life. It is ironic, however, that even now I am not able to fully answer my childhood question.

What are the neural causes of Alzheimer disease? How can it be treated? Moreover, why do we dream? What are the emotions? How are the memories stored? It is surprising that science, with its galloping techniques, has got no answer to these questions, yet. This simple fact, instead of holding me back, motivates me. My curiosity and thirst for knowledge always recharge me. They lead me into a never-ending series of why-s that form a seemingly vicious circle. With every answer I give, I am a step closer to the depths of life where science hasn't arrived yet...

I am excited about how much there is yet to be discovered, but, truthfully, what I am most excited about is how important these discoveries would be for the people. People. I love people. They are my inspiration: my grandmother, my family, my friends, my world is made out of them. I once thought that I had one foot in sciences and one in humanities and that I would eventually have to make a choice between the two. Today I have realized I have already made my choice - wonderful enough to blend my two inclinations in a perfect direction: Neuroscience. I am thrilled by the possibility to discover and to make a change in people's lives. I am ready to put all myself in this mission, but I know that in order to achieve it, I will have to be mentored by a top University in my chosen field. This is an issue whose answer I have found: Johns Hopkins. Now, I believe that Johns Hopkins will help me find all the other answers I am looking for...

Please edit/cut it mercilessly. Thank you :)

Undergraduate / "Music and sport..." - My common application essay... [17]

Hey guys, this is my common application essay. I would be really grateful if you could suggest me any revisions and also a title for this essay (since i think it doesn't fall in any of the given topics) Thank you! :)

Modestly speaking, I am blessed with many good qualities. I can solve Olympiad level math problems and can prepare the best spaghetti alla arrabiata in the world. I can do up to 20 push-ups, and I take care of my grandma when she is alone. I am able to tie my shoelaces in a unique way and I always get to sleep with a book, possibly "The alchemist" or one of Remarque's novels, lying on my chest. I am capable to hold a passionate discussion with my dad about the world's problems. I have once published a book with narrations and I am in love with foreign languages. I am not the tidiest person, but when I do decide to clean up the house, it gets all spotless and sparkly.

For one thing I feel sorry. I can not sing. I would love to be able to produce tender, heart-melting, passionate, powerful sounds from my larynx. I feel music is inside me, just probably too inside to ever be able to pop up. Though, I do not surrender. I have discovered that something becomes really impossible only when you cease trying to make it possible.

My memory doesn't let me down when it comes to evidence. Volleyball. Once I was just a figure to fill up a position, static. First I thought that simply I wasn't cut for volleyball: one can't possibly be good at anything, right?... Though, deep inside I felt passionate for that 270 g ball with white, blue, and yellow stripes that would take off from a wonderful set and beat the center of the field. I would love the smiles, the enthusiasm, the team gathering, the shout "Ace" that would come from their hearts and echo in my ears. I wanted to be a part of it, I really wanted...

"What in the world was I thinking?!" - That's what crossed my mind when I saw myself in the middle of the field, with balls thrown from every direction: a nightmare. The very first day of training I hurt my finger, and the next day it became like a round, violet sausage. My sane, critical thinking was telling me to quit. With all due respect, I decided not to listen to it.

Sweat. Twisted ankle. Aching muscles. Exhausted among pull ups and dips, core stability exercises and power push-ups ... Still strong head. There had to pass a few, not particularly easy months for me to notice some changes. Today, two years later, I still stand there, in the center, under a rain of angry balls. The difference? I know how to handle them. Some will come past me nevertheless: I still have much to learn, much to improve. Still, I am excited at the thought that, day by day, I am pushing the limits of what I once thought I could or couldn't do.

Some may think that music doesn't have much to do with this experience, since it is an innate talent and not something to achieve by hard work. Though, I believe that even this does have a solution, a way. If the vocal chords in my larynx aren't particularly well suited to emit a melodic tune, skilled fingers and a music loving heart will do. I am always thrilled when I hold in my hands a guitar and feel its breathtaking sounds overwhelm me. My melodies are far from perfect, but that doesn't even matter to me. I am happy to have found a way to express my amateurish, yes, but nonetheless deep passion for music.

Music and sport... So different, yet there is one thing that makes them synonyms to me. Love. With it in my heart, I will defy gravity, I will push the envelope, I will find a way.