Undergraduate / Scary moment gives me coruage short answer [3]

Ok, so i wrote my emory short answer all over again and I need some advice. Please do not combine this thread with my other thread as this is a completely different essay than my last!

prompt: What is your favorite ride at the amusement park? How does this reflect your approach to life?

My heart starts to pound and my palms become sweaty. I have been looking at this ride for years, and the time to ride on this monster has come. I quietly stare out into the sky, looking at the birds above me. The line then begins to move and I slowly approach the man in charge who checks to see if I have met the height requirements. I cross my fingers, hoping to be sent back to my parents, but to no avail. 5 minutes pass and I can hardly stand to look at the convoluted ride. 10 minutes pass and I cannot believe I am putting myself through this agony. 15 minutes pass and I can barely breathe.

It is now my turn and I take a seat on the infamous "Hulk". My feet are dangling and I feel alone. Quickly, the ride takes off and goes higher and higher. I close my eyes and spread my arms wide open. I fly. I start off by swooping down to the ground level and then burst back up to the clouds. I do this again and again until my mind is in peace.

The ride quickly ends and I sit there flabbergasted. I had feared this ride for years in my childhood, but, at that moment, I embraced the beast. I found courage in myself that day, which, as a result, has defined the way I tackle life.

Undergraduate / 'I would like to go into the medical field' - Why Emory is one of my top choices [3]

This is my "Why Emory" essay.
prompt: What are the unique qualities of Emory University, and the specific school(s) to which you are applying (Emory College of Arts and Sciences, Oxford College, or both), that make you want to become part of Emory University? In what ways do you hope to take advantage of the qualities you have identified?

As I close my eyes, I can imagine my life at Emory University. I can picture the rays of the sun kissing my face as I cruise around the beautiful campus. I can picture the hustle and bustle of campus life as students move from class to class. I can picture students smiling and laughing uncontrollably at the happiest place on earth. Let's be honest; it has always been my dream to attend Emory University.

Today, I would like to go into the medical field. I know that, specifically, Emory College will prepare me well for this arduous, but ultimately rewarding, journey. Emory College has it all. The great professors. The beautiful campus. The top ranked pre-medical community in the nation. As a result, it would be an honor to attend a school with such an amazing past and such a bright future.

Furthermore, I plan on using the resources available at Emory University to the best of my ability. With an acceptance of admission into this school, I will make an effort to exploit every research and learning opportunity available. Since Emory University is a private school, I have been informed that students are able to research with professors on a daily basis. This is something that I would love to do in my "free time". Moreover, I will also attempt to integrate myself into the friendly community found in this exceptional school, thereby giving myself another family in Atlanta.

What do you think?

Undergraduate / Emory rollercoaster ride (Hulk) short answer [9]

Hi. I need advice on this short answer I just wrote. Thanks!
prompt: What is your favorite ride at the amusement park? How does this reflect your approach to life?
answer:
My life is like the rollercoaster "Hulk" in Orlando. There are constantly ups and downs that I can never foresee. These turns constantly catch me when I am least expecting it, thus completely changing my mental state of mind. In fact, there are times when I feel overwhelmed by the speed of life, thus giving me "butterflies" in my stomach. To top it all off, just when I think I cannot get lower, there is another dip in my life. Yet, after what seems like days, I fight to pull myself back up. Slowly I get to the point when I am at the peak of my game; this is the time when I feel invincible. Life all of a sudden looks like a straight path, yet there is another dramatic fall and sometimes a complete 360 degree turnaround. It seems like a never ending cycle.

Yet, in its totality, this ride has helped to shape my personal outlook. Though I may not be able to see what will happen to me in the next couple of days or years, I will continue to have my seat belt buckled, ready for another year of life.

Yeah, not really sure if this is any good. Suggestions?

Undergraduate / The value of "nothing" (your latest discovery) [12]

Ok, so I am not too sure what to do with this essay. If you can let me know if it has any potential, that would be great. Also, it would be awesome if you could tell me if this essay is better or worse than my other essay on cancer (it is in a separate thread). Thanks so much!

Prompt: What's your latest discovery? What do you hope to learn next?

"Nothing", by definition, is a substance not made up of anything or an action in which a person does not do anything. But, is it possible to do or be made up of "nothing"? Look at the air right in front of you. Though not viewable by the naked eye, even the air is not full of "nothing". The air is full of an amalgam of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and much more. Ok, that was a trick question. Try this one. Do plants have "nothing" inside of them? Pat yourself on the back if you answered no. Plants are filled with chlorophyll and NADP that allow the plant to survive. They are even made up of "veins", water, and sugar. In essence, everything on this Earth is made up of something. Tricky, huh?

Moreover, something, by definition, is a "thing" composed of a certain substance or the act of going through an action. The question becomes is "nothing" really something? Are the two words synonyms for each other? And if so, what really is "nothing"? Why do we even have this word? Let's call up Merriam- Webster and get rid of the heinous word.

The worst part is, "nothing" has quickly assimilated itself into society. In math, second graders are taught that zero is "nothing". Later, as these second graders grow older, they quickly learn the concept of negative numbers being less than zero. Yet how can you feasibly have less than "nothing"? It is like taking away apples from a barber shop. It just does not work. Zero has to be something for the concept of negative numbers to make sense.

This has been a subject that I have been pondering for a long time. As I begin to think about it, "nothing" is, in fact, an excuse for a loss of words. The average person will say that the air is not made up of anything to not go into a scientific digression. In addition, the average person will say that he did "nothing" yesterday to eschew a long winded response to a question.

This discovery of mine has changed the point of view I have taken in life. I now understand that everything is something, and, thus, "nothing" has to be something. They are, essentially, synonyms. As a result, I now look at life as half full instead of half empty--- full of something instead of full of "nothing".

Yet I will not stop exploring in life. I plan on pushing ahead in life to be the best and most complete person possible. With an acceptance of admission from University of North Carolina, I will begin my biology major to prepare myself for the arduous journey of becoming a doctor.

Undergraduate / my mom's fight with cancer--- Common App essay [12]

Ok, so I just wrote this common app essay in 30-45 minutes, so it is really rough. I would really appreciate any editing. Also, if you can comment on how boring/interesting the essay is, that would be great. Thanks!

prompt: evaluate an experience that has changed you.

"Can you guys come into my room now?" asked my mother.
When we heard our mother calling us, the three of us timidly entered our parents' room. We were expecting to be screamed at for not cleaning up our rooms, but what our parents had to say was very different. We quietly sat down on the bench in our parents' room, giving fleeting glances up to our parents. Just then, I noticed tears flowing down their faces. On July 9th 2006, we found out that my mother was diagnosed with cancer.

The next few days that transpired were painful for all of us. We had heard of cancer in movies and in the newspaper, but we had never known what "cancer" really was. All day, we would attempt to comfort each other and tell each other that everything would be fine, but, on the inside, each one of us was worried about my mother's life.

The following week, my mother went through her first session of chemotherapy. I have to say, the hardest thing for all of us was to see my mother lose her long black hair. She now wore a scarf in shame. Just when we saw some hair grow back, she was hit with another session of chemotherapy. It seemed like a never ending cycle.

At night I would lock myself up in my room and weep tears of anguish, though I knew that crying would get me nowhere. I wanted to help and comfort my mother, but what could I do? I was only in 7th grade and I couldn't even make my own sandwich. Those first thirteen years, I was reliant on my mother for everything, but, at that moment, I realized that I had to help out my mother in the house. Yes, she could still walk and do the daily chores around the house, but I could tell that she had gotten weaker, especially after her chemotherapy sessions. It was only right to lend a helping hand around the house.

Throughout the next year, I began to rely more on myself and less on my parents. Instead of waiting on my mother to come downstairs to make food for us, I went ahead and put together sandwiches for the whole family. I even quit the school basketball team so that I could take care of both my brothers and my mother while my father was at work. Whenever my little brothers needed help with their homework, I was there by their side. Likewise, whenever my mother needed me to do a chore for her, I would quickly drop what I was doing. All of a sudden, it seemed as if I was in charge of the house. It was a great feeling of accomplishment and self-worth.

It has now been roughly five years since my mother was diagnosed with cancer, and I can happily say that she is doing great. Those years were hard on all of us. Still, because of those years I have grown into the person I am today. I now realize that life is short. No one on this planet can live indefinitely. Because of those years when I had to grow both mentally and emotionally, I also understand that life is not about superficial items. They hold no weight in this world. No, life is about living to one's fullest potential. Everyone has his own duty, whether it be being a firefighter or being a dedicated teacher. Whatever the case may be, I now understand what I am meant to do in this world. My job in life is to give back to society by being an oncologist. I am indebted to those doctors who helped my mother get better, and, as a result, I have found a love for this field of medicine.

Thanks again! Also, if you read my other essay on pakistani orphans, which one did you like better? I really appreciate all of the help :)