Undergraduate / External Influence Essay [2]

What do you all think?
Tell us about an external influence (a person, an event, etc.) that affected you and how it caused you to change direction.

I was slowly shedding two billion skin cells as my body sought to detoxify itself against harmful substances. In that moment I was no longer merely composed of melanocytes, keratinocytes, and langerhans cells. I began to feel the water, lactate, and urea running throughout me. They signaled a warm rush through my body. "I'm not super woman," I shouted back at him as I wiped the sweat from my forehead. "You can do it, Jade. Seriously," he persisted. My calloused hands firmly gripped the edge of the siege colored rocks. I sought out my own approval instead. My body was desperately seeking to cool itself as I stared off into the turquoise sky. I desperately wished that I was super woman in that moment. I wanted so very much to fly and soar above the clouds and escape what my reality had become. Here I was, thousands of feet above ground level, climbing one of the world's most famous Oligocene fossil beds; the Badlands National Park in South Dakota. I didn't think that I was going to make it. I had no plan for getting up or down for that matter, but Skyeler, my camp counselor sure did.

I practically came out of the womb with a ten year plan. Ever since I can remember I've set out to succeed, and planning for my future has always correlated naturally with this goal in mind. Lists have become a part of me. Scattered across my desk are various pastel colored post-its, scribbles, and scraps of paper written on. I have a to-do list posted to my locker, one stored on my cell phone, and one can often find me with a scribble or two drawn on my hand. To me, having a plan has always meant being in control. I have always associated safety and planning together, and this has consistently been in good reason. If one has a plan, how can they really go wrong? I soon learned that things can.

"Jade, you're going to have to listen to me right now. I'm serious. Put your right foot on that rock that's about two inches above you," Skyeler warned me. I did as told. "Okay, great. Now I'm going to need you to place your hand on that very same rock so you can boost yourself up." I made the fatal mistake of looking down upon the 244,000 acres of pinnacles, spires, and eroded buttes that were below me, and slipped. My nervous system was in full swing. I could feel my tear ducts carrying my tears into my nasal cavity. My nose was running simultaneously as the beams of water began to drip onto my sun stained cheeks. "This wasn't supposed to happen," I screamed at him. "You told me that if I put my hand in this spot, my foot in that spot, and if I had all of my equipment, that everything would be alright! Why did you lie to me? Things were supposed to work out! We had a plan!" And that was just it. I couldn't have foreseen this very moment. There was no Filofax, amount of post-its, or computer with a memory space large enough that could have predicted my situation.

I noticed that Skyeler had begun to laugh. "You're really something you know. No one comes to the Badlands with a Filofax, yet alone a plan." I let his words sink in and infiltrate my mind. I attempted to erase my mind of everything that I had previously come to associate with planning, and focused in on the future. I breathed heavily as I placed my hands and feet where I was supposed to, and before I knew it I was hoisted onto the same flat surface where Skyeler was sitting cross legged with a book in hand.

"I made it!" I exclaimed. I had done it. I had left all of my convoluted ideas behind me, for I was now at peace. I shook off the dirt from my hands, took a swig from my water bottle, put my backpack down, and gazed off into the rainbow colored sun that was beginning to set, eager about what the future had in store for me. "I think I just had an epiphany," I told Skyeler. "Yeah, I'll believe it when I see it." And just like that, I took my Filofax out of my faded brown backpack, took out the pages, and ripped them up. I no longer needed the future; the present was calling my name.

Undergraduate / USC Essay, an external influence [3]

Does this fit into any of the categories?I was thinking Tell us about an external influence (a person, an event, etc.) that affected you and how it caused you to change direction.

My lungs are infiltrated with bits of ozone, particulates, and diesel, but it doesn't bother me. Each day I turn the brass doorknob to leave my apartment and step into the elevator, I look forward to stepping out into the city's atmosphere. The frigid air gently tickles my face, and the wind gusts all around me. My blonde hair flies all over, blocking my view, and I am greeted by a ringing beeping honk. "Watch where you're going little girl," a middle aged taxi driver shouts at me on my way to school. I leave the situation behind me and pick up my pace. My short stature gives me incentive to squeeze through the mass of stock brokers, babysitters, and shopkeepers on their way to work. I push my way through, and manage to pull out my special yellow card along the way. The card is beginning to tear at the upper left corner. My friends and mother advise me to get a new one, but I tell them that I am "re-using it for environmental purposes." The truth of the matter is I can't part without it. I swipe my card, push through the metal bars, and step onto the subway.

I absorb everything around me; people's scents, gestures, and expressions. A frail elderly woman glares at me from across the subway train car. Her gray hair shadows her dominant features, and her upper lip is rather pouty. I wonder why she stares at me. Perhaps I remind her of her youthful days. I should be arriving at my stop any minute now, but until then I take in other's fresh aromas. A man wearing an opulent suit frantically types away on his BlackBerry, and everything seems to be going so fast. Different shades of skin, textures of hair, and work clothes surround me. I can't pinpoint or identify one type of person. This is what I love about the train. I hold onto the metal pole for support, and my eyes meet with those of an elderly Chinese man. I radiate in the warmth of his smile. To my surprise, I am offered a seat by a petite red haired woman. She insists that I take her place, since she is getting off at the next stop, and I oblige. Another subway train car passes by mine. It is as though our cars are in a symphony together. The doors open, and people rush through the train's sterling chrome doors. I notice a man carrying a saxophone walk onto the train. The doors close, and silence ensues. Suddenly the silence is broken by this man who makes an announcement. "Hello, everyone. My name is Curtis, and if you couldn't already tell, I'm a musician. I've been in and out of jobs for a little bit now, and to make ends meet, I'd like to play a little something for you all." He begins to play and the soothing jazz music ignites something inside of my soul. I lose myself in the atmosphere of it all.

Before I know it we've arrived at the 77th street stop. Although the jazz music has stopped filling my ears with rich sounds and vibrancies, I know that it will continue to influence me. On my way to school I pass by a Turkish deli and French boutique and I thrive. I feel alive, and that is when it hits me. I stop then and there at a stoplight, and come to the realization that I am in fact a product of my environment. My hometown has cooked me into a stir-fry; a blending of succulent sauces, flavorful condiments, red meats, and foliage. I consider myself well cultured, socially, and culturally blind. People's differences do not impact how I view them, but rather allow me to learn from them. I can thank New York City for this. Living here has allowed me to experience all kinds of differences, cultures, and ways of life. I don't see myself as a consequence of my familial history, but rather as an intermingled person whose views and personality are the result of my surroundings.

The next day as I walked towards the train, I realized that I was in my place. The glittering lights shining upon me, the skyscrapers functioning as my support, the different spoken languages and customs that I know are within me. This was my zone. I knew right then and there as I swiped my faded yellow MetroCard, that I wouldn't trade my upbringing in New York for anything in the world; for it has given me the ability to stand tall, accept others, and feel that I have a reason to live.

Undergraduate / USC SHORT ANSWER - "to initiate a movement" [6]

Hey, any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks.

Tell us about an activity that is important to you, and why.

I have never been one to sit on the sidelines, and when I learned that my school did not have its own literary publication; I knew that I wanted to make a change. I have always enjoyed reading and exploring new worlds, and using writing as a mechanism for expression. I founded the Literary Magazine with a friend who shared the same interests as me. The goal of the literary magazine, entitled The Pequod after my favorite book Moby Dick, has always been to serve as an outlet for the students of my high school community. The Pequod allows students to speak their minds, highlight their artistic capabilities, and be themselves. I know that when I leave my school, students will still be able to feature their creative writing, photography, artwork, and have their voices heard. The fact that I was able to initiate a movement, pursue my interests, and leave a legacy behind at my school is exactly why this activity means so much to me.

Describe your academic interests and how you plan to pursue them at USC.
My main academic interests are related to English and creatively channeling my thoughts. I plan to major in either English or Creative Writing in hopes of becoming a professional writer or English teacher one day.

One of the courses that particularly intrigued me when looking through the "Courses of Instruction," was ENGL 510 Medieval English Literature and Cultures. I recently read Chaucer's Canterbury Tales in my English class and was absolutely enthralled. I would thoroughly enjoy further investigating the frequent themes of romance and chivalry that were so commonly written about and incorporated into the literature during this time. After reading Canterbury Tales, we were assigned a project to create our own story of sorts based on one of the characters that Chaucer did not include. I wrote about the missing Squire's tale and implemented the omnipotent theme of the manifestation of courtly love, and how it can take over a man's mind, body, and soul.

I do not want to simply obtain a degree in English, but have the ability to explore other platforms such as exploring creative writing, and learning about the history and arts of the English language. At USC, I know that I would have the opportunity to delve into different sectors and areas of study, all the while obtaining my Bachelor of Arts.

I want to play a vital role in USC's community, and I would love to pursue both of my passions by volunteering at one of USC's local schools. I would hope to be a part of the USC Readers Plus program so that I can tutor children, and help to build the community.