Bostonbound
Oct 9, 2008
Undergraduate / "Wings of Wax" - Emerson College Admissions Essay [NEW]
We understand that the college application process often feels stressful, when it should be an opportunity for self-reflection. Stop worrying for a minute and have fun with this response..
Much of the work that students do at Emerson College is a form of storytelling. If you were to write the story of your life up until now, what would you title it? Why? 400-600 words.
If I were to give a title to my entire life story up until this point, I would title it "Wings of Wax", because of the remarkable parallels between my life story the story of Icarus from Greek mythology.
The myth goes that after building the Labyrinth for King Minos, talented architect Daedalus, along with his son Icarus, were exiled from the island of Crete for providing a tool of escape to one of the Labyrinth's prisoners. To escape, Daedalus constructed two pairs of wings from wax and feathers for himself and Icarus. Prior to their departure from Crete, Daedalus warned Icarus , "Remember never to fly very high, for the blaze of the sun will surely melt your feathers apart if you go too near". Overcome by the euphoric feeling of soaring above the clouds, Icarus neglected to remember his father's advice. As Icarus flew higher and higher, the wax quickly melted away. And so, Icarus fell into the sea and drowned.
Sure, like many tales of Greek mythology, there are several aspects of the story of Icarus that seem beyond believability. However, putting this myth's lack of reality aside, it has a significant and universal message, and it goes beyond learning to do as you are told. The consequential lesson one should learn from the story of Icarus is that the nature of an initiated person has a great risk of failure. Believe me, I would know.
Ever since I was a little kid, I refused to do a single thing I was told. The majority of the photos taken of me as a child depict me causing some sort of chaos, such as hiding in the drying machine, sorting through my mom's makeup, or tampering with the pots and pans. While I know I've matured a great deal over the past 18 years, I also know that I haven't lost the intrigue I've always had for venturing into the unknown. Unfortunately, being a person of opinion, strong will, obstinacy, and stubbornness at times has been counterproductive to my happiness. For now, I find myself in a very familiar position, where I gaze in retrospect to a decision I made to spite others, and realize that I should have taken their advice into consideration. I've flown too close to the sun, my wings have melted, and feathers are scattered in Boulder, Colorado. Fortunately, unlike Icarus, I am given yet another second chance to make the right decision possessing a new knowledge of how to use my obstinacy to my advantage.
At this point, I am sure of what I need to do in order to start my adult life off successfully. I've come to a realization that flying across the country into unknown territory does not work for me. I have ambitions of doing great things in Boston. I know that playing tennis, playing viola in the orchestra, and participating in the arts is what I know will allow me to excel in college.
Though at times being an initiated person has contributed to unnecessary obstacles in my life, I know that if I suppressed these qualities, I would be doing myself a great disservice. Icarus drowned because he did not understand the value of moderation. If he had understood this, he could have continued to fly alongside his father to live a life of happiness. I am sure that my ambitious nature will never fade away, however, possessing the mentality of living with 'Wings of Wax' gives me the perspective I need to live within my means in order to be happy. I spread my wings and fly away, I pray for nature and catch the wind, but I won't break the agreement with the sun.
We understand that the college application process often feels stressful, when it should be an opportunity for self-reflection. Stop worrying for a minute and have fun with this response..
Much of the work that students do at Emerson College is a form of storytelling. If you were to write the story of your life up until now, what would you title it? Why? 400-600 words.
If I were to give a title to my entire life story up until this point, I would title it "Wings of Wax", because of the remarkable parallels between my life story the story of Icarus from Greek mythology.
The myth goes that after building the Labyrinth for King Minos, talented architect Daedalus, along with his son Icarus, were exiled from the island of Crete for providing a tool of escape to one of the Labyrinth's prisoners. To escape, Daedalus constructed two pairs of wings from wax and feathers for himself and Icarus. Prior to their departure from Crete, Daedalus warned Icarus , "Remember never to fly very high, for the blaze of the sun will surely melt your feathers apart if you go too near". Overcome by the euphoric feeling of soaring above the clouds, Icarus neglected to remember his father's advice. As Icarus flew higher and higher, the wax quickly melted away. And so, Icarus fell into the sea and drowned.
Sure, like many tales of Greek mythology, there are several aspects of the story of Icarus that seem beyond believability. However, putting this myth's lack of reality aside, it has a significant and universal message, and it goes beyond learning to do as you are told. The consequential lesson one should learn from the story of Icarus is that the nature of an initiated person has a great risk of failure. Believe me, I would know.
Ever since I was a little kid, I refused to do a single thing I was told. The majority of the photos taken of me as a child depict me causing some sort of chaos, such as hiding in the drying machine, sorting through my mom's makeup, or tampering with the pots and pans. While I know I've matured a great deal over the past 18 years, I also know that I haven't lost the intrigue I've always had for venturing into the unknown. Unfortunately, being a person of opinion, strong will, obstinacy, and stubbornness at times has been counterproductive to my happiness. For now, I find myself in a very familiar position, where I gaze in retrospect to a decision I made to spite others, and realize that I should have taken their advice into consideration. I've flown too close to the sun, my wings have melted, and feathers are scattered in Boulder, Colorado. Fortunately, unlike Icarus, I am given yet another second chance to make the right decision possessing a new knowledge of how to use my obstinacy to my advantage.
At this point, I am sure of what I need to do in order to start my adult life off successfully. I've come to a realization that flying across the country into unknown territory does not work for me. I have ambitions of doing great things in Boston. I know that playing tennis, playing viola in the orchestra, and participating in the arts is what I know will allow me to excel in college.
Though at times being an initiated person has contributed to unnecessary obstacles in my life, I know that if I suppressed these qualities, I would be doing myself a great disservice. Icarus drowned because he did not understand the value of moderation. If he had understood this, he could have continued to fly alongside his father to live a life of happiness. I am sure that my ambitious nature will never fade away, however, possessing the mentality of living with 'Wings of Wax' gives me the perspective I need to live within my means in order to be happy. I spread my wings and fly away, I pray for nature and catch the wind, but I won't break the agreement with the sun.
