Undergraduate / I always I asked my mom when I would get the chance to go inside of one plane [3]

The best day of my life (so far) was... Please tell a story that allows us to experience your best day.

Having lived just 30 minutes away from the airport and seeing all the planes fly over, I always I asked my mom when I would get the chance to go inside of one. Every time an airplane flew by, the uproarious sounds of an airplane made me rush over to balcony to get a quick glimpse of the 397,000kg beauty. I entered the airport on May 26th, 2006 as a buoyant 8 year old. The feeling of stepping inside an airport was one I could not fathom; the thousands of people rushing in different, some excited and some depressed about leaving their loved ones. I was one of the few who was both. I was excited that I was going to be going on my first airplane ride and as a result, I would be meeting my dad after 9 months. I was forlorn that I was leaving my grandparents back at my real home in India. I was way too elated to notice the extremely uncomfortable blue chairs of the airplane that my mom kept on complaining about. It did not matter because I was just 16 hours away from meeting my dad. It did not matter because I was about to experience the engine roaring of the British Airlines Boeing 747. It did not matter because I was getting to enjoy the free amenities of an airplane, the pillows, the food, the blankets, etc. I did not care at all that I could not sleep because my ears kept on popping every few minutes. All the supposed negativities of an airplane did not matter to me. As I flew over my house, I realized that the thing I dreamed about every single day had finally come true.

This essay is currently 284 words and Virginia Tech's limit is 250 words. If you could help me cut down, that would be wonderful. If I could also get an opinion on whether this is a good topic or not. Last thing, is there any way I can improve the flow of the essay better and should I add more detail?

Thank you!

Undergraduate / how a motto can effect you [3]

Hi,
This is my common app essay and I wanted to know if I was heading the right way with the topic. I am, evidently, not completely done with it yet but if someone could let me know if my topic is appropriate for this prompt, that would be wonderful. And editing anything else on here would be fantastic as well! Thank you!

Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The only things you could hear was the rapid scratching of a pencil with the occasional vexatious sound of a shaking desk. Everyone's palm hurt and itched, sweat trailed down everyone's back as they hurried to finish their last exam on math, particularly on dividing fractions. During this 45 minute period, I had lost a sense of time as I was racing against time. After every exam, the teacher called time and my heart skipped a beat because the exam was over; some of the kids hadn't been able to finish the exam and some of the kids hadn't been able to look over all the problems. By the end of the day, the classroom was filled with 41 stressed third graders.

At St. Stephen's Secondary School in Chandigarh, India, no matter what grade you were in, you were always stressed. St. Stephen's Secondary School was a convent school which was under ICSE (Indian Certificate of Secondary Education), the highest standards of Indian Education and my school further amplified those standards. The school was headed by one of the greatest man I know, Harold Carver. He was the anglo- indian Christian principal of the school which was a very unique idea for many Indians. He had very strict policies for teachers, students, and even for parents, ranging from dress code to verbal etiquette. His strict policies, morals, along with the school motto has led me to become the person who I am today.

Who knew that two words, your elementary school's motto, could have an everlasting effect on you. "Semper Sersum" which mean to "always aim higher." This is the motto I have abided by the last twelve years of my life.