Undergraduate / 'Curiosity whispers in my ear' - Common Application [7]

Hello cyber friends! I've posted two of my essays below for the Common App. The first is for the prompt 'topic of your choice' and the second is a response to 'please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences in the space below'. It's a little nerve-wracking to put myself out there because I feel that writing is one of my weakest qualities. I would really appreciate any feedback. All criticism is welcome! Thanks :)

ESSAY 1: TOPIC OF YOUR CHOICE

Curiosity whispers in my ear.
It is responsible for getting me into the most peculiar of situations. Curiosity compelled me to hike up Panorama Ridge just to see if the view of Vancouver's Garibaldi Lake looks as surreal as the postcards claim. The water was the same, exquisite shade of blue. It has provoked me to do myriad things of questionable sensibility, like tasting ox tongue and durian - the only fruit that is banned in public places (just remember to plug your nose). Curiosity can be blamed for evoking the relentless use of how and why in my vocabulary.

As a child, I would wander off in search of secret passageways, as if I was an explorer searching for a piece of undiscovered history. My voracious Curiosity has shown me the value of the pursuit of knowledge; that there is merit in the adventure itself. It feeds my insatiable hunger to empathize with others' perspectives. I am fascinated by human interactions, how people like you and me and every other individual, with differing stories and ideologies, are collectively shaping the world.

My affair with lists began early in life. I was eleven when I began to write of the things I wanted to do, experience and understand. I would scribble down all the what-ifs Curiosity stirred in me, as a constant reminder to work towards my goals.

Swing from the chandelier. Meet Jane Goodall. Find my passion. Outwit my sister. That last one hasn't made it off the list...yet.

My bucket list soon became a measure of my growth. Each time I cross something off I impulsively add a new dream to my list.

Swim in bio-luminescent algae. Obliterate the stigma surrounding mental illness. Find another passion. Complete my family tree. Go to university.

My family has always indulged my questions. There is an extra seat for Curiosity at dinner, when my father and I have a good debate over controversies such as synthetic life or illegal organ trade. Or when my sister and I pick apart the meaning behind the lyrics to our favourite songs.

On a solo trip to India in 2010, I lived at an orphanage with 12 street children who had been abused and subjected to psychological trauma. For 3 weeks, I was an honorary Udayan sister. I'm not sure if I taught them more than they taught me: "But Abby, if I wish for something, the opposite will come true". I could not believe what I was hearing. A poisonous ideology had slithered into their minds. They were afraid to dream, strangers to Curiosity.

Watching the sun wake up, it dawned on me that I had been taking Curiosity for granted. It is a privilege, but it should be a basic right. I left each child with a hug, a kiss and a notebook, so they could make their own lists as I was making mine. I am now raising funds for young women to go to university; I want my Udayan sisters to fulfill their lives, while filling their notebooks.

ESSAY 2: EXTRACURRICULAR EXPERIENCE

In the past year, no activity has affected me more than being a volunteer in the Emergency Department at Toronto Western Hospital. The spontaneity of the ER has taught me lessons about myself and provided opportunities to develop skills and overcome fears that would not have been exposed in my otherwise routine life. Every week I embark on an exhilarating and unfamiliar experience. I have seen seizures, heart attacks, anguish, and sorrow in the emergency waiting room. These moments have increased my independence. They have taught me to be a quick and confident decision maker. At the hospital, I am able to see through the window of humanity. What fascinates me is that there is no place more diverse than a hospital, which does not discriminate between the affluent, the underprivileged, the homeless, the rape victim, the colleague, the tourist, or the refugee. It allows me to meet people from all walks of life and expose myself to a broader understanding of life and death.