Undergraduate / With no electricity, I had been sentenced to forced idleness; Common App/ PS [3]

I am an international student seeking at least 80% financial aid. I am applying to mostly liberal arts colleges ranking between 20 and 40 in the US news ranking. Do you suppose this is good enough to get me what I need, keeping aside the supplement essays and SAT scores and school recommendations for the moment?

No heading yet!

The candlelight disappeared in the wake of a strong forthcoming gust. The entire area was under the shadow of dense dark clouds. The faint dimness that presided over cast a gloom, it was as if I was a demoralized soldier. Technology has brought us to the standpoint where our daily activities depend on the performances of the gadgets and machines. With no electricity, I had been sentenced to forced idleness.

To sustain the moments ahead without the presence of the almighty charged particles, I decided to go back in time, indulge in a cup of warm tea and a gothic painting-like view from my balcony. No matter how depressing it all seemed, I tried to read between the lines, look at the specs of optimism amid the vast illusion of melancholy cast before me. The widespread feeling of grief could only be altered if I change my very own perspective of things.

What appeared before my eyes were muddy streets, some elderly men toiling to pull a cartload of sacks from a ditch and a few scantily dressed children kicking about an aerated back in the name of soccer. But what I observed was that between the two rows of bricks and stones, there was perched a valley of happiness.

There was no muddy street, but just a stretch of asphalt regaining its beautiful black shine under a downpour of water from the havens. The elderly men were no longer toiling; they had just found a reason to take some time off work, share a light moment at a nearby tea stall. The children were deeply immersed in the game of their lives, with priceless smiles pasted on the faces of every one of them, and none could bear to not smile back at the sight.

I did not step into a time machine, but only lived in the aesthetic world for a brief moment. We have been fooled into desiring a fast-paced life, one where we tend to forget about our own well-being. A brief moment appreciating the nature really gave me a reality check. As the moments passed, I learnt of the tragic story of nature, for it has so been taken for granted. I realized how the lives of the people around us carry stories and lessons, stories that the most exquisitely crafted films cannot depict, lessons that the most eloquent books cannot teach. It is our surroundings that we can learn most from.

The world survives on happiness. Despite all the eye-catching sensational happenings around the world, happiness can be found in the midst of the smallest of things. In a cursory look from my balcony, I found a handful of evidence. Perhaps a more attentive and inquiring mind would have witnessed a million more.

In the meantime, the lamp in my room sparked on. But to me, the dark cloud appeared brighter. The chair in front of my computer would remain unoccupied for some time longer. They all seemed so archaic on the backdrop of the picturesque view right in front of me.

Undergraduate / 'The freedom of speech and thought' - Why Bard College? [3]

Bard College was founded during the dreadful times of the Civil War with the purpose of preserving liberal education in the United States. After one and a half centuries, it appears that Bard is continuing to function well as a conservatory for liberal arts. Over the years, the college has been a breeding ground for several luminaries of the arts and a safe haven for intellectual thinking. In a message, the college president, Leon Botstein has stated that the questions that should be asked to prospective students are "What issues interest you? What kinds of things would you like to study? What would you like to know more about?" This clarifies the position of the college. Bard does not aim to prepare students for a career, unless the student is sure to enjoy that career.

The diversity of the student pool at Bard is an important factor to consider for me. 23% of the student body happens to be international. This would surely provide an opportunity to exchange a broad range of ideas and viewpoints in the process of studying. Bard definitely offers international education in its truest sense. When looking through the Bard website, I found another noteworthy issue. It would be delightful to study economics, my primary subject of interest at Bard as a result of its association with the Levy Economics Institute. Resources offered at this institute significantly help students fulfill their academic potential.

As a citizen of the world, it is heart-warming to hear about Bard's commitment towards sustainability. Efforts by the Bard Office of Sustainability to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035 are a laudable initiative. The opportunity to work on school-run farms provides students with an opportunity to learn the complexities of producing foodstuffs, and this in turn can make them value their food even more and not take their meals for granted.

Bard lies in the picturesque Hudson River Valley. Four years amidst the natural beauty of the region can be a great experience for those born and brought up between giant blocks of concrete. A vibrant social scene must also be appreciated, with concerts and exhibitions being held frequently. I am also pleased to hear about the community and political activism that students engage in. It is impressive that students have promoted international peace through activities at the Darfur Action Campaign and the Free Tibet Club.

I strongly believe that at Bard, I can find what I so long for, that is freedom of speech, thought and association at its highest level; to put it all together, a true liberal experience. Therefore, with absolutely no hesitation, I am sending my application for admission to the class of 2017.