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Aug 16, 2009
Undergraduate / FSU essay; strength within [4]
For almost one hundred years, the Latin words, "Vires, Artes, Mores" have been the guiding philosophy behind Florida State University. Vires signifies strength of all kinds - moral, physical, and intellectual; Artes alludes to the beauty of intellectual pursuits as exemplified in skill, craft, or art; and Mores refers to character, custom, or tradition. Describe how one or more of the values embodied in these concepts are reflected in your life
During my third gym class at a brand new school, Coach Carol revealed the two team captains for the day, indicating that we were splitting up into teams. While all the other kids rejoiced at this opportunity, it made me shrink in despair. At the tender age of eleven, my fear was being picked last amongst my peers. To make my nightmares worse, I barely had any friends in that class due to my introverted personality. The team captains made their rounds again and again, until there were four people left, and I was one of them them. After three more decisions by the team captains, my nightmare became reality. I was standing on the other side alone. My peers didn't want me on their teams.
I dreaded gym class after that day. I hated the feeling of being last, even if it was in an area I did not excel at. I knew that sports were not my forte, but I also knew that I could contribute to the team is I tried. Convincing my peers became the daunting task I undertook, but days passed without any progress. I realized that it was my self esteem that was lacking, so I decided to be develop optimistic attitude about it, feeling that if I held enough confidence within then I would be able to exude that confidence and apply it to the game.
On one particular day, Coach Carol announced that we would be playing kickball. Once again, I was picked last, but I wouldn't allow it to set me back. When it was my turn to kick, I stepped up to the plate, winded my leg back, and kick the ball with force equivalent to the emotions I felt. To my utter surprise, the ball got pretty far, and I made a home run. In the end, my team won, and I knew I had proved myself as a capable player.
The point is not the fact that I suddenly became an all star athlete overnight, or the fact that I was unpopular in gym class, it's the fact that I was able to succeed by having a 'can-do' attitude. This simple incident exemplifies the similar belief both I and Florida State University's Seminoles share. Vires, the principal of strength in all aspects, helped me attain my goal of defeating my own fear. The strength I applied in order to improve, the strength I put forth to overcome a set back, the strength I garnered to display my confidence, and the strength I acquired to continue striving for success exemplified Vires as a guiding philosophy in my life from that moment on.
I honestly whipped this essay up in twenty minutes, and the more I read it the more I'm unsure about it. Is this essay straying to far from the topic? I don't know if I should introduce "vires" in the first paragraph or not...
For almost one hundred years, the Latin words, "Vires, Artes, Mores" have been the guiding philosophy behind Florida State University. Vires signifies strength of all kinds - moral, physical, and intellectual; Artes alludes to the beauty of intellectual pursuits as exemplified in skill, craft, or art; and Mores refers to character, custom, or tradition. Describe how one or more of the values embodied in these concepts are reflected in your life
During my third gym class at a brand new school, Coach Carol revealed the two team captains for the day, indicating that we were splitting up into teams. While all the other kids rejoiced at this opportunity, it made me shrink in despair. At the tender age of eleven, my fear was being picked last amongst my peers. To make my nightmares worse, I barely had any friends in that class due to my introverted personality. The team captains made their rounds again and again, until there were four people left, and I was one of them them. After three more decisions by the team captains, my nightmare became reality. I was standing on the other side alone. My peers didn't want me on their teams.
I dreaded gym class after that day. I hated the feeling of being last, even if it was in an area I did not excel at. I knew that sports were not my forte, but I also knew that I could contribute to the team is I tried. Convincing my peers became the daunting task I undertook, but days passed without any progress. I realized that it was my self esteem that was lacking, so I decided to be develop optimistic attitude about it, feeling that if I held enough confidence within then I would be able to exude that confidence and apply it to the game.
On one particular day, Coach Carol announced that we would be playing kickball. Once again, I was picked last, but I wouldn't allow it to set me back. When it was my turn to kick, I stepped up to the plate, winded my leg back, and kick the ball with force equivalent to the emotions I felt. To my utter surprise, the ball got pretty far, and I made a home run. In the end, my team won, and I knew I had proved myself as a capable player.
The point is not the fact that I suddenly became an all star athlete overnight, or the fact that I was unpopular in gym class, it's the fact that I was able to succeed by having a 'can-do' attitude. This simple incident exemplifies the similar belief both I and Florida State University's Seminoles share. Vires, the principal of strength in all aspects, helped me attain my goal of defeating my own fear. The strength I applied in order to improve, the strength I put forth to overcome a set back, the strength I garnered to display my confidence, and the strength I acquired to continue striving for success exemplified Vires as a guiding philosophy in my life from that moment on.
I honestly whipped this essay up in twenty minutes, and the more I read it the more I'm unsure about it. Is this essay straying to far from the topic? I don't know if I should introduce "vires" in the first paragraph or not...
