Undergraduate / Quote from Harry Potter; Princeton , favorite quotation! [2]

Hey, guys, I just threw this together really quick. I'm really pressed for time because, as you can see, I've procrastinated to the worst degree. Please, be harsh. This is for Princeton. Does this cast me in too negative of a light? All criticism is welcome! Thank you!

Using a favorite quotation from an essay or book you have read in the last three years as a starting point, tell us about an event or experience that helped you define one of your values or changed how you approach the world. Please write the quotation, title, and author at the beginning of your essay. 500 wd limit, at 496.

"It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends." Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

"What is wrong with you? You look disgusting! Do you even eat?" she said as I stood there, speechless, clad in my black and white striped bikini. Words like these, words that seem to follow me wherever I go, cut into my soul like a knife. My so-called "best friends" are constantly insulting me about my weight, accusing me of not eating or trying to lose weight for attention. Their accusations and harsh words hurt me, but I always stand there quietly, allowing myself to be their punching bag.

Over the last year, I have lost around twenty five pounds due to digestive illnesses and being lactose intolerant. My allergy has become worse than ever, so I have had to watch what I eat with extreme caution. My friends, however, did not know or care about this. They made their assumptions, and always tried their best to make sure that I was insecure with my body. Comments like "You look awful" and "Why are you reading the nutritional label? You could use the extra calories..." had become commonplace, and I had gotten so used to them that I hardly even flinched when such destructive insults were thrown in my direction. I began thinking that they were right, and that somehow, this was all my fault. I had tried to convince myself that they were only saying these things because they cared about me, but their cutting comments began to take control of my mind, until one day, one remark threw me over the edge.

"Do you honestly think you look good? You look so sickly!" By this point, I had had enough. I was through taking insult after undeserved insult, and finally decided to stand up for myself.

I gathered my courage, and began. "You know why I look sickly? Because I am sick, but not sick in the way all of you assume. I have a disease that does not allow me to digest food properly, and you all would have known that had you stopped judging my appearance and me for one second to listen to what I had to say. Thank you very much for your support through the last couple of months, it really means a great deal."

Reading J.K. Rowling's quote, I can truly appreciate and understand what was being said. People constantly think that the most difficult thing in the world is to stand up to their enemies, but they often overlook the courage it takes to stand up to your friend. I now approach the world more self assured and confident. That experience has helped me to realize the importance of standing up for yourself when you are being unrightfully put down. Since then, I have vowed to never allow myself to be treated so poorly again.

Undergraduate / Spanish major, College of Arts and Science/ Cornell Supplement [3]

College of Arts and Sciences:
Describe your intellectual interests, their evolution, and what makes them exciting to you. Tell us how you will utilize the academic programs in the College of Arts and Sciences to further explore your interests, intended major, or field of study. *500 wd limit and I am EXACTLY at 500. All constructive criticism appreciated:)*

"Why should I have to learn another language? Why should I have to put in the time and effort to understand something I do not really care about?" I thought to my naĂŻve thirteen year old mind as I unwillingly sat in an advanced Spanish class. I had tested out of my eighth grade reading class at twelve years old, and so I was forced to start studying a foreign language in middle school. I grudgingly took a seat in the back of the room, and forced myself to pay attention as Senora McCue taught us the different letters and sounds in Spanish. As I listened to the varying pronunciations of the words, I began to see and hear the beauty of the language. I started to love the way the syllables flowed, the way it could make even the worst words sound pleasant. My preset opinion of the language changed completely as I began to open my mind.

That fateful day in eighth grade was the spark of my interest in Spanish. Since then, I have taken it upon myself to study the language, and have taken the most advanced classes that my high school offers. My aunt is Puerto Rican, so I often speak with her in Spanish. Since that day, the spark of my interest has grown into the raging inferno that my passion is today. I now fully understand the importance of being bilingual in today's society, and I feel blessed to have had the advantage of finding my passion at such a young age. I now look back on my initial judgments of the language as ignorant and trite, for I am now fluent in the language, and look forward to learning more about it.

For me, Spanish is a symbol of the hard work and dedication that I take pride in. I have gone from an unknowing thirteen year old to an intelligent woman, all due to my perseverance, which is evident in my journey in studying Spanish. The thought of being able to expand my knowledge of my beloved subject by majoring in Spanish at Cornell is one that is most intriguing. At Cornell, I will finally have the opportunity to narrow in on my personal interests without being restrained to preset boundaries. I am excited to have the opportunity to be a part of Cornell's Study Abroad program. I firmly believe that it is next to impossible to fully understand and appreciate a language without living in the land of its origin, and therefore would like to study in Spain. Cornell offers me the most vital opportunities in order to develop and fine tune my passion for Spanish, and I am excited to take advantage of them.