Undergraduate / 'Stubbornly Determined' - 'Common app prompt 3' essay [3]

Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?

Stubbornly Determined

I watched closely as our team instructor moved his hands around the bamboos like the superhero flash.

First, tie a small knot around these connecting bamboos. Then pull a barrel under the joints and tie them up with the stronger ropes.

''Why the hell is my head spinning?'' I thought to myself.

Looking around, I caught a glimpse of the two Thai girls smiling at me. I bet they knew that I have never even tied knots let alone build a bamboo raft.

I kept on tying a single knot for five minutes.

''Really, five minutes? Now, if I only knew how to tie...'' I thought, feeling embarrassed for my shortcoming.

To my surprise, our team finished first, not to mention without much of my help!

It was time to take the hand-built raft to water. To think tying knots is as easy as it sounds- I have been learning how wrong I was- the hard way.

The Borneo Youth Leadership Conference had many surprises for us, its delegates. The water rafting race on a tropical rain forest resort was only one of them! The race was about to start. Five teams on their mark, we would have to row forward to the other side of the lake- come back to the starting point and unbind the raft in order to win.

To think back, I must confess that the setting where I was brought up was rather restrictive. My parents only wanted me to go to school regularly and get good grades. I, on the other hand, wanted to challenge myself by coming out of my comfort zone, to embrace different views and have new experiences. I believe with risk comes responsibilities which lead to ardent endeavors. If there's one thing about me, I am stubbornly determined.

Putting on my life-jacket, I knew I had to make up for my previous mess of tying knots. Even though, I was slightly nervous as I could not swim, I willingly took the lead of our crew. I sat on the front right corner to cheer up my team members, I promised that no matter what, we will give our best and win for sure. I could not back down. I would rather fail miserably or even publicly than to not live up to my promise.

I cleared my mind, as the whistle blew, I started screaming: one, two row; one, two row and everyone followed my pace.

No later than a few strokes, we left every other raft behind. Trust me; our paddling rhythm was as consistent as the clock's repeated ticks. After screaming quite hard and shedding enough sweat, we were the first team to unbind our raft.

I had been so focused on the race that I overlooked the blow I got on my right toe from my own paddle. A few minutes and two Band-Aids later, I was back on track, ready to conquer the next obstacle.

Similarly, in my other endeavors which may be from attempting a bike stunt to organizing student council events or solving calculus, I refuse to give up until I prove myself to perfection. I am not bothered about stumbling, as I know that I can get back up no matter how big the obstacle is. Let's just say, I am determined to be successful and not worried about the struggle.

However low I may feel, I still try to find a silver lining in every situation. Challenging society's 'follow the crowd' doctrine enabled me to change from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset. To setbacks and failures, I say 'What's the dignity in not even trying? With time and effort, I will learn to do it tomorrow if not today.'

My first steps might be as trivial as learning to tie a knot, but I am ready to face whatever challenge life brings.