Undergraduate / 'a devoted athlete' - Trinity College essay- integrity contract [2]

I would like advice and proofreading on my essay, I know it needs work and the deadline is Jan. 1st, so I don't have much time, but thank you for taking the time to help me.

1. Trinity's Integrity Contract articulates our expectations of honesty, personal responsibility, active consideration of others, and respect for our community. What personal "integrity contract" do you employ in your own life? (To view Trinity's Integrity Contract, please visit trincoll.edu/StudentLife/DeanOfStudents/student_handbook.htm)

As a distinguished part of my school's community and a devoted athlete, I believe in dependability, responsibility, and honesty. All these characteristics are defined through my actions on the gridiron, track, and classroom. My "integrity contract" is based upon the utmost ethical dilemma: honesty. Honesty brings honor upon myself and grants trust to form between others. This then allows people to be able to depend on me and view me as a responsible young adult. Through my personal achievements on all aspects of life, I have fulfilled my "integrity contract" through out my high school years.

The honor code for my school: Learning Sustains the Human Spirit, a saying immediately dismissed by many reflects my own "integrity contract." I have taken the school's motto to heart and strive to do my best without having to resort to cheat. Cheating will never get you anywhere in life, maybe in the moment: a good grade or a few extra feet on the football field, but will always come out short in the "real world." My commitment to honesty stretches throughout my life, having my friends able to trust me or having my boss able to depend on me to work.

For athletics, I strive my best to be the best athlete I can be. This worked out extremely well since I am captain for the indoor and outdoor track season. I have earned 6 varsity letters in football, indoor track, and outdoor track. Football, a team sport represents being as strong as your weakest player and track, is an independent skilled sport. Both of these give the athletes different methods and opportunities to cheat, through my "integrity contract" I strongly recognize and make it an important emphasis to follow the standards of each game.

For school and athletics, the most critical elements of learning is discovering the information for oneself and being able to recognize and learn from one's mistakes. Furthermore, being able to see one improve in school and sports is incredibly rewarding. Learning truly does sustain the human spirit, however, if one decides to cheat not only are can they not be trusted, but they also cannot be depended on to do the right thing next time. Most importantly, they are being dishonest with themselves. I humbly agree to my "integrity contract" and abide by all its' standards to try and live a rich and rewarding life.

Undergraduate / Common App Essay (Athletes Serving the Community) [6]

I really need help on my essay: proof reading, suggestions, anything that will help. I couldn't help noticing that a lot of people wrote stories. I'm really bad at writing the typical "college essay" like "Why (College Name)."

Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.

As a member and a captain of a teenage community service group, ASC (Athletes Serving the Community) each event I volunteer for has had a significant influence on the way I view life now. ASC mainly helps out by volunteering to clean the city; such as the Charles River Cleanup and assisting in community fund raisers; for example the Jolly Jaunt is a race to raise money for the Special Olympics. These events are all very rewarding, along with a feeling of community pride. I also feel more aware and knowledgeable of situations impacting the community. This year in particular I volunteered for an event called Christmas in the City. It was held in the Bayside Expo Center and over 70 homeless shelters in the Greater Boston Area were invited to celebrate the Christmas holiday.

Over 1,000 people showed up, most of whom were single parents with children. I was unaware on how many homeless people lived in Boston, I felt melancholy when I saw all of them standing outside, but once I saw all the adorable children's smiles and my body was filled with joy and the holiday spirit once again. I made it my goal to show the little children a great time. Along with other volunteers, we helped in preparation of food and helped decorate the place. We did our best to show the kids a good time and served the people a nice warm Christmas lunch. I decided to dress up in enormous costumes, Rudolf and the Gingerbread Man to amplify the place with Christmas spirit. I took pictures and gave high-fives and hugs to little kids and there parents. There was nothing more gratifying than seeing a child's smile. Each of the kids received a gift, donated by KB Toys and all the little ones freaked out once they saw Santa Claus.

After everyone settled down, we opened up a gate which lead to a "Winter Wonderland." It had moon bounces, rides, a petting zoo, and arts and crafts stations. A few teary eyed parents came up to my friends and I and thanked all of us for giving them the best Christmas they ever had. They explained how much hardship they endured this year and were worried that they would have nothing to give to there kids on Christmas. They said that this was the best Christmas they themselves and there children have had and could not have asked for anything more. I was just overwhelmed with there pure emotions and this made me reevaluate my life. I took for granted everything I had: a home, a car, and presents under the tree. I am very lucky for all the things I have and now I am also grateful for them also. The day was dedicated to the homeless and to show all of them a great time, I was truly moved by there sincere responses and believe I gained a lot out of this experience and had as much fun as they did.

Thank You very much