Undergraduate / 'to play a game of chess without being able to see' - Chess [2]

My love for the game of chess began when I was in the second grade. My parents had enrolled me in an after school chess program that taught elementary school children how to play. I tried to become as versatile a player as I could be, learning all of the various openings and strategies. At the end of my elementary school years, I became one of the top players in the program, and I felt unstoppable. At the end of my final year, I challenged my five year teacher, Francisco, to a game of chess. Francisco smiled, nodded his head, and set up a board.

My adrenaline was peaking, yet my nerves were calm. "How about we make this a little more interesting?" Francisco asked. He then got up from the table, picked up his back and sifted through his belongings to find a dark cloth. He tied the clock around his eyes and said, "If you win, I'll buy you an Ice cream. But if I win, you have to buy me an ice cream."

I had never seen anything like it, who would try to play a game of chess without being able to see? Obviously I agreed, and we began. He played the queens gambit. D4, D5, C4. After each of my moves, I would read out the notation to him, and after each of his, he would tell me what he wished to move.

I lost. But I had the greatest smile on my face. I bought him his ice cream, and told him that I would become a better player the next time we played.

Most Fridays, I come back to the chess club, and help the students with their games. And at the end of every class, Francisco and I will play a game, and I will lose. But with each loss, my love for the game strengthens and I know that one day, if I work really hard, I will be as great of a player as Francisco.

Undergraduate / 'When we are happy' - What intrigues you? [NEW]

What intrigues you? Tell us about one work of art, scientific achievement, piece of literature, method of communication, or place in the world (a film, book, performance, website, event, location, etc.), and explain its significance to you.

Take a deep breath. Here we go. How come Pluto and Goofy are both dogs, but Goofy can talk and walk but Pluto cant? Do penguins have knees? Because to me, it looks like all they have are feet attached to the bottom of their belly. How come insider trading is against the law, but congress is the exception? How come congress decides what their own salary is when their approval rating is less that 10 percent? If there are millions of galaxies, how have we not seen other life in this universe? Will robots really take over the future? I've come to peace with the fact that superman can fly, but how does he fly faster? Why do football players want to be chosen for fantasy football leagues? How does fashion change? Why is Mickey always wearing gloves? Don't his hands get sweaty? Who has OJ's missing glove? Who was the first person to milk a cow and then drink the milk? Does the universe go on forever, or does it stop? Something can't go on forever, but where is the END of the universe? What's after the end? Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle? My arm hair doesn't grow as fast as the hair on my head. Why is that? Why do we yawn? How many licks does it take to get to the center of lollipop? Why do dogs hate it when you blow on their face, but stick their heads out the car window? When we are happy, we say we are head over heels. Isn't that how we normally are? Was this essay a terrible idea?

I have a lot of questions, and not a lot of answers. But I guess that's what college is for.

Undergraduate / 'my passion is trying to find my passion' - Common app essay [2]

I marked this to be a "topic of your choice".

"So what do you want to become when you grow up?" I cannot even count how many times I've heard this question, either coming from my teachers, counselors, or parents; heck, I bet even my neighbor's dog barked it to me at some point. After many years of facing such questions, I realized that it all boils down to one inquiry: "What's your passion?" I have never known what my passion is, but I have definitely looked to find it.

Music was my life when I was in junior high. I played the trombone, switched over to the snare drum, and then became a versatile percussionist through learning the marimba, timpani, and the drum set. As high school came along, though I decided to not continue with band, I continued to expand my "drumming vocabulary" by taking lessons with a private tutor. Today, my friends and I play songs by our favorite artists every time the opportunity arises.

The following year, I tried out for the tennis team since I have played for most of my childhood. While I always enjoyed playing the sport, after making the team, I fell in love with it. I loved the sound of the ball hitting the racket and the feel of the cool sweat trickling down my neck. I was always at practice working on my serve or trying to perfect my backhand. After the season was over, I played with my father nearly every summer day to improve, and by my junior year, I was named team captain.

Junior year was also the first year that I was part of my school's leadership class. I was the technical commissioner, a position that challenged me to learn a lot about light plots and how to enhance sound quality. However I realized that being on leadership was about much more than just your job description, it was also about helping other people. I would always lend a helping hand to other members of leadership, as well as to students on campus. I loved leadership and everything the class did for the campus and the community, and for that reason decided to run for school wide president. I was elected as president and am now working to give every student on campus a chance to shine.

Whenever my uncles or aunts asked me, "so what do you want to do when you grow up?" I would always answer by saying, "I haven't the slightest clue." And to be honest, I thought I didn't. I didn't know what my passion was, and I didn't really have a driving force. However, recently, I decided to take a journey through my life to flesh out exactly what it is that I want to do. What I learned on the way, however, is that through my pursuing my passion, I had the opportunity to make memories and build experiences that define me.

Now I know that my passion is trying to find my passion. I also know that college is the perfect opportunity to discover it.

Undergraduate / 'Music and Drumming' - LAST SECOND ESSAY FOR UIUC [NEW]

1. In no more than 300 words, tell us something about yourself that isn't covered elsewhere in this application, some interest or experience of yours that you think the University of Illinois should know about as part of the admissions review.

One-and-uh, two-and-uh, three-and-uh, four-and-uh, one-and-uh. These words are a broken record in my mind. I would easily get distracted by the tick tick ticking of the clock in my room as my hands and feet would begin tap tap tapping to the rhythm. My head would bob, and all I would be able to think is one-and-uh two-and-uh.

Music has had a positive influence in my life. I picked up my first sticks when I was in the 6th grade, and drumming became an instant obsession. When I entered junior high, I immediately joined as many bands the school offered. I enjoyed learning how to read music, understanding theory, and playing the great compositions of past conductors. I learned how to play all types of music, ranging from a smooth jazz to a fast paced rock anthem.

When I graduated from junior high, I bolstered my drumming vocabulary by taking private lessons with bay area great, Wally Schnalle. Wally taught me the intricacies of drumming, and with him I performed a number of times in front of live audiences with his band and other well reputed musicians. I created a band with my friends, and we participated in many benefit concerts.

Drumming is one of my favorite and longest lasting hobby. Every afternoon when I come home I will sit on my stool, put my earphones on, and just play. I visualize myself in front of a stadium filled with thousands of people listening to the rhythm I am making. And everyone's head is bob bob bobbing.