My application essay on Babysitting.

Please assist me with editing, removing what is redundant and rewriting some sentences to make them more interesting and intriguing.

Babysitting
While working on my college applications I've simultaneously taken up babysitting a 7 month old baby, Thando. Babysitting has changed my view of what is prescribed a woman's job. I now see it as an educational adventure outside the trite monotony of the classroom setting.

My daily duties command the knowledge of academic subjects such as Accounting. I've also gotten more acquainted with other subjects I didn't pursue at 'A' level . When given money for the day I work out a budget that will suffice the baby's requirements. This helps me keep track of every dollar spent so that I can account for the money at the end of the day. Mathematics comes into play at the baby clinic. I assist the nurse with weighing the child and double-checking the accuracy of the scale reading. We then plot a graph on the baby card, interpreting it to determine whether it reflects healthy growth.

Having to complete my tasks by certain times has timetabled my day. Knowing that breakfast's at 8am and story time at 2pm compels me to work more efficiently within its confines. This has made my job better organized and coordinated.

As I've been minding Thando I've gotten to learn that the soft gap in a baby's skull right above the forehead is the fontanelle. I regularly check here for sunkeness: assign of either dehydration or infection. (Something I doubt I would have ever known.) Once I tried feeding Thando a couple of new foods that triggered an allergic reaction. Even though the red rash is gone I now have to recall everything I feed him in case of another reaction. Who thought babysitting could improve memory !

There have been times when I have sought after praise from my friends and whenever I don't get it, I'm left depressed. However, a bay is content when dry, fed and has enough sleep even though these basic requirements are at the lowest step of Maslow's hierarchy of needs. This has challenged me to try uncomplicated my lifestyle as I seek a more fulfilling life. Moreover, babysitting has equipped me with essential life skills.

The shrill cry of Thando causes me great discomfort. I'll take him for a stroll as I sing him a lullaby or nursery rhyme. I seek to be creative and think out of the norm. At times I'll go to the extreme of pulling funny faces, something I would never usually do. Putting a baby to sleep may seem dreary but to me it has taught perseverance and patience. I clearly outline my goal- to pacify him- then I summon all my energy till I achieve this. Because I have to I now hold these two dear as fundamental virtues

Now that he's asleep I rock him gently in my arms. I realize how much he fully depends on me to make it through the day. This has strengthened my spirituality. I now appreciate how much I depend on god for my daily needs in as much as Thando depends on me. Again I get another revelation. If I am to admit that I depend on the next fellow and he on me, just as community upon community and nation upon nation, then this world could be a better place. Heavily industrialized nations would make efforts to cut their emissions knowing that they may be driving climate change that may be threatening the lives of the Bangladeshi and the Maldivian halfway around the globe through increased flooding.

Suffice it to say, babysitting has given my life new meaning. I now look after Thando as if he were my own, giving him more of my time, energy and attention without ever feeling like I've given him enough. Even though I had taken a gap year, baby minding has been a quasi-classroom experience to me. I feel this experience has been a home-based orientation for my life at college.

Your essay is thoughtful and interesting, very insightful! (..."as if he were my own, giving him more of my time, energy and attention without ever feeling like I've given him enough.

Here are a few things to fix;

...check here for sunkeness: a sign of either dehydration or infection. I don't think sunkeness is a word.

This has challenged me to try uncomplicating my lifestyle as I seek a more fulfilling life.

Because I have to, I now hold these two dear as fundamental virtues.

I now appreciate how much I depend on God for my...

Traditional gender roles are not relevant to this essay. You should not make this comment, because it will confuse the reader into thinking the essay is about gender roles.

Making funny faces which could have worked in amusing a baby yesterday may not work today.

I like this essay a lot, and I am impressed by your thoughtfulness.

Beautiful sentence: I now look after Thando as if he were my own, giving him more of my time, energy and attention without ever feeling like I've given him enough.

"It is not routine since children can be unpredictable at times."
I feel like that could be reworded a little bit better, it sounds a little bit awkward to me. Maybe:
Since it is a child's nature to be unpredictable at times, it is never routine.

The incorporation of your native culture is really good.

Keep it up! :)