Undergraduate / 'knowledge about art' - What matters to you and why? Stanford [3]

 What matters to you, and why?

Art is my absolute favorite pursuit. When I was young, I remember creating fantastical creatures on paper, and being fascinated with my ability to make lines appear on what was previously a clean slate. It was like a puzzle I had to solve- certain combinations of lines showed me one thing, while the others produced a different one. Curiosity led me to thoroughly explore all the possibilities that could spring from merely a pencil and a paper.

My knowledge about art has expanded greatly since then, and it's been a gift. Art is a universal language, since it appeals to the eye rather than the ear. People from opposite hemispheres, when brought together, can easily communicate through pictures and visual representation. Also, it is unnecessary for one to know the language of a foreign country when contemplating one of its works of art. By deciphering the image, you can understand what the artist was trying to convey, and the logic behind the artwork, without ever having to say a word.

Achieving the ability to be able to subtly express my thoughts through my artwork has been a long and slow process, but one that matters to me because it allows me to convey what I can't with words. My progress is visible to the discerning eye; in every piece of finished work, I can see a part of my inner-self, my subconscious, leaping out. My endeavors bring not only to me joy, but also to others. Art is an aesthetic subject that provides many opportunities to unify communities, regardless of language obstacles.

If I ever travel the world, and find myself in countries with speech as foreign to my ears as English is familiar, then I can be sure of communication through drawing. This way, I can not only converse, but also spread my zeal for art. It isn't necessary to be able to paint like Monet or sculpt like Michelangelo to share an appreciation in art. It is a way to create a sense of harmony and belonging as well as unite the many communities throughout the world.

1978/2000

What do you think?

Undergraduate / 'eating home-style Chinese food' - Future Roommate Essay [5]

Well, future roommate, it's going to be an exciting year, isn't it? Just you and me against a world of upperclassmen. But don't worry, we can conquer it together. For starters, we should get to know each other; it'd be a start to an enduring and warm companionship.

Since we've both been accepted to Stanford, I'm going to put it out there; one of the many reasons I am enamored with this university is because I love the weather here. It may seem a little superficial, but how can I study if I'm frozen by winter chills? I can handle rain, but anything below freezing is a stretch. Plus, my dad used to live in San Jose, which is real close to Stanford, so I've visited the area a few times, and I love it. Hey, how about you and me go to the beach sometime? I do hope you enjoy the beach, because I love the sand and the waves.

Speaking of studying, I have an unusual study habit. My parents hate it and say I'm procrastinating, but it's really not so; I am very proud of all the work I've done, so why would I try and get away with anything less than my best? See, when I study, I need to have some kind of a background. Weird, right? I find that I work better if I have the TV on, or listen to music, or have people milling around me; I crave a lively ambiance. Whatever the case, I find it difficult to concentrate when I lock myself in a small room and try to focus.

Because when I do lock myself in a small room and try to focus, I end up with a notebook of drawings and doodles. I wouldn't go as far as to call myself an artist, but I do believe I am an art enthusiast. I always have my sketchbook with me, and if I could I'd carry my oil paints too.

There you have it, that's me in a nutshell. I mean, I have a few internships under my belt and was involved in several clubs at my high school, but I'm sure you're more interested in who I am rather than what I did. Oh, by the way, I hope you like eating home-style Chinese food; it's my specialty.

1960/2000

Do you think i made it too conversational?

Undergraduate / 'a few of my friends were Christian' - Stanford Supplemental [2]

 Stanford students possess an intellectual vitality. Reflect on an idea or experience that has been important to your intellectual development.

I went to church a couple times when I was younger; a few of my friends were Christian so they would sometimes take me to Sunday Mass. I can remember not being totally sold by the idea of the world being created in seven days and felt like a total outsider when it came time to sing hymns and pray; my parents are both non-religious, so I had never practiced these things before. But still, I wondered about Jesus and liked the idea of having a God, someone who is omnipresent and watching over us, protecting us.

As I grew older, my idea of God began to change. He wasn't really so much a guardian anymore as he was an experimenter. He played us like puppets, making decisions for and occasionally throwing disasters at us, just to see how much we could handle. Sometimes I imagined that when it rained, God was taking a shower, and when the wind would whistle loudly through the trees, I said it was because he was blowing his nose.

These days, I don't think his name is God; in fact, I don't think this superior being is even male. No, I've come to the decision that the manager of this world is a woman called Mother Nature. I can't prove that assertion with hard facts, but still, I like to see it that way. She is the guardian, the architect, and the mother that watches over us. Her actions, whether for punishment or reward, are always dictated by reason. She is also an environmentalist, a recycler of sorts; just like matter cannot be created or destroyed, I believe that lives, when lost, reemerge as a different being to carry out a new life. For example, I myself might have been a dinosaur in a past life.

My progression from exploring Christianity and Atheism to establishing myself as a Neo-Pagan has been an intriguing journey so far. Even now, I find the changes that my ideology has undergone rather curious and mysterious; why was it all necessary? Whatever the reason, I'm sure that everything in my life has a purpose and all I have to do is live it out.

1977/2000

What do you think?

Undergraduate / 'Book, Magazines, Challenge, Events, Summers, History' - Stanford Essays [7]

Critiques and suggestions are greatly appreciated! What do you think?

Please respond to the following questions so we can get to know you better. Respond in two lines or less, and do not feel compelled to answer using complete sentences. 300 CHARACTERS

Name your favorite books, authors, films, and/or musical artists

Books: Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, Summer Sisters, Memoirs of A Geisha, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Jodi Picoult, J.K. Rowling
Music: Beirut, Lykke Li, The Killers, Foo Fighters, Brett Dennen
Movies: True Grit, The Lion King, The Shawshank Redemption, Blues Brothers, Doctor Zhivago
289/300

What newspapers, magazines, and/or websites do you enjoy?

Magazines: National Geographic, Businessweek, Time Magazine
Websites: msnbc.com, fanfiction.net, facebook, youtube, yahoo, betises-de-style.blogspot, thehautepursuit, tumblr, reddit, theoatmeal
Newspaper: The New York Times
253/300

What is the most significant challenge that society faces today?

The most significant challenge that society faces today is unawareness. The word encompasses a multitude of entities: waste of resources, censorship, etc. The effects of this ailment hide and emerge years later to negatively affect new generations. Luckily, it can be cured with education and change.

300/300

How did you spend your last two summers?

I spent my last two summers living in Shanghai, China. There, I completed a total of three finance internships at three international companies (Applied Materials, Roche, SMIC), educated the locals about recycling, and explored the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. It was an incredible experience.

290/300

What were your favorite events (e.g., performances, exhibits, sporting events, etc.) this past year?

As an art enthusiast, I was thrilled to see the Claude Monet Exhibit at the Wadsworth Atheneum, the Sketches of the Great Artists at the Louvre, and the Alexander McQueen Exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum. I also enjoyed the satire and witty humor of the new Broadway show Ching'lish.

285/300

What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed?

(I wrote two versions for this question, which one does the job better?)

Since Occupy Wall Street has emerged, I have wondered how Woodstock received as much attention as it did. I wish I could have been part of the thousands of anti-war dissidents who were clamoring for peace, because I would have experienced the largest and most compelling movement in American history.

300/300

As one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, it is expected that I wonder about the Pyramid of Giza. To have watched it being built must have been a fascinating experience, one that I wish I could have had. The enormous pyramid really shows the vast potential of the human mind and body.

292/300

What five words best describe you?

I am friendly like cupcake, ambitious as a high flying-kite, passionate like the lightning, curious as the cat, and adventurous as the satisfaction that brought it back.

170/300