Wabbit
Aug 29, 2008
Undergraduate / 'An Erases' Essay for Early Decision to Cornell Uni [NEW]
Prompt: Describe the world you come from - for example, your family, community, of school - and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.
I am an eraser. I extinguish mistakes and allow corrections. I erase the imperfections of myself because I am terrified of being flawed. Exactness affixes itself on me; teeth penetrate deeply into me, devouring my blunders, erasing them completely. This need to be flawless thwarted my capability to let things go, a labyrinth I cannot find an end to. Although people say this is a virtuous trait, I find it as an affliction and a forte because it distances me from living a life without torturing myself over the imperfections of this world; but also my strength, permitting me to do finest work. But I kept asking myself 'why am I like this?'
I am in my 4th year at Montgomery High School and I was able to get here without much struggle. Becoming the first member to graduate high school and attend college in my family is a gift. I have always been a scholar since I was young; I always had insatiable hunger for learning and engrossing myself in various subjects. As a result, I have always excelled in the world of academics and this was the greatest pride and joy for my parents. I offered honor to my family name, my sole purpose to propel myself further. My parents shared the same sentiment and assisted me in any way possible. Completing high school and attending a university is a must.
As each school year passed, it became increasingly difficult to keep an academic foothold. I felt like I was no longer on flat land, but on the edge of a cliff. I found myself in a trepid state. By the end of my junior and beginning of my senior year I have given up nights to study vigorously for the two trials that will eventually become my future. In my attempts to successfully score high on those exams, I have failed. I have failed to meet my parents' standard; those terrifying glares that penetrated my core. Those fixed stares of my infuriated parents slowly and brutally attacked my confidence. They did not help to alleviate my shame. They tried to help me by adding supplementary and weekend classes to my schedule, scrounging up every penny to provide for my education. I understood their cause, but my dignity could not stand more. Those scores snickered and mocked at my every conceivable weakness and I gave in. My forte was no longer supporting me. My A's became B-'s and B+'s and mistakes ran ludicrously over my assignments. I became so frightened that I would no longer try. This deep abyss of depression grasped onto my life, and it was time for me to erase its existence.
I reflected on how and why I was in this state to begin with. I could not believe I had even considered giving up in my academics. Then I realized that there were two types of people in this world, those who realize and do nothing and those who confront and fix their mistakes. Some people do not resign themselves to what is handed to them and in an effort, correct their faults. That was me, I realize that if my grades did not meet my standards, I did not try hard enough, if my nights studying was not enough, I did not study hard enough. I was the protagonist in my own life instead of being an antagonist. My ambitions for college have been cultivated in this vision of always studying and advancing and any obstacle obstructing me must be defeated. I learned about resilience and about being steadfast in the face of adversity. I learned to be more diligent and now when I want something, I charge forward like an enraged ram, dashing until my ambitions are met. And I know these qualities will help me excel in college as they have helped me arise triumphantly in my turbulent years.
Prompt: Describe the world you come from - for example, your family, community, of school - and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.
I am an eraser. I extinguish mistakes and allow corrections. I erase the imperfections of myself because I am terrified of being flawed. Exactness affixes itself on me; teeth penetrate deeply into me, devouring my blunders, erasing them completely. This need to be flawless thwarted my capability to let things go, a labyrinth I cannot find an end to. Although people say this is a virtuous trait, I find it as an affliction and a forte because it distances me from living a life without torturing myself over the imperfections of this world; but also my strength, permitting me to do finest work. But I kept asking myself 'why am I like this?'
I am in my 4th year at Montgomery High School and I was able to get here without much struggle. Becoming the first member to graduate high school and attend college in my family is a gift. I have always been a scholar since I was young; I always had insatiable hunger for learning and engrossing myself in various subjects. As a result, I have always excelled in the world of academics and this was the greatest pride and joy for my parents. I offered honor to my family name, my sole purpose to propel myself further. My parents shared the same sentiment and assisted me in any way possible. Completing high school and attending a university is a must.
As each school year passed, it became increasingly difficult to keep an academic foothold. I felt like I was no longer on flat land, but on the edge of a cliff. I found myself in a trepid state. By the end of my junior and beginning of my senior year I have given up nights to study vigorously for the two trials that will eventually become my future. In my attempts to successfully score high on those exams, I have failed. I have failed to meet my parents' standard; those terrifying glares that penetrated my core. Those fixed stares of my infuriated parents slowly and brutally attacked my confidence. They did not help to alleviate my shame. They tried to help me by adding supplementary and weekend classes to my schedule, scrounging up every penny to provide for my education. I understood their cause, but my dignity could not stand more. Those scores snickered and mocked at my every conceivable weakness and I gave in. My forte was no longer supporting me. My A's became B-'s and B+'s and mistakes ran ludicrously over my assignments. I became so frightened that I would no longer try. This deep abyss of depression grasped onto my life, and it was time for me to erase its existence.
I reflected on how and why I was in this state to begin with. I could not believe I had even considered giving up in my academics. Then I realized that there were two types of people in this world, those who realize and do nothing and those who confront and fix their mistakes. Some people do not resign themselves to what is handed to them and in an effort, correct their faults. That was me, I realize that if my grades did not meet my standards, I did not try hard enough, if my nights studying was not enough, I did not study hard enough. I was the protagonist in my own life instead of being an antagonist. My ambitions for college have been cultivated in this vision of always studying and advancing and any obstacle obstructing me must be defeated. I learned about resilience and about being steadfast in the face of adversity. I learned to be more diligent and now when I want something, I charge forward like an enraged ram, dashing until my ambitions are met. And I know these qualities will help me excel in college as they have helped me arise triumphantly in my turbulent years.
