RISD PROMPT Is there something you love, have to do, can't stop thinking about? Write about a personal passion or obsession other than visual art or design.
THE BLIND BOY THAT TAUGHT ME HOW TO SEE
The cicadas' call echoed my room, disturbing my slumber, and I despised their lack of a snooze button. The sunlight created an uncomfortable glare, so I receded farther into my pillow fort, crossing into the dark side. The heat within my cave paired with the summer's 7-day forecast of sunny with a chance of sun, caused beads of sweat to roll down my back. It was only 8 A.M. and I had already explored my friends' Facebook pages, watched my YouTube subscription videos and dominated the noobs in COD. I didn't know how I would get through the next hour. And then Ben Underwood happened.
I crossed into the world people refer to as "the weird part of YouTube" and through the weirdness I found a series that occupied, and continues to occupy, my life in many different aspects. The video I found was about a 16-year old boy named Ben Underwood. He was a very independent individual that could ride his bike, play any sport, battle on his Gameboy, and do anything a "normal" kid his age could do, and more. Of course, Ben was not normal. He lost both of his eyes to cancer at 2 years old. However, through teaching himself a technique called "echo location," Ben was able to "see" objects through sound, like a bat would. I was in shock. I was inspired. I was hooked.
The British TV network FIVE originally broadcasted the show that featured Ben. It was called "Extraordinary People," however; I think the word "extraordinary" is an understatement. I've spent months watching this series, and it has shown me the strength of people deemed to be weak, the amazing intelligence of those regarded as retarded, and the beauty in a world filled with cruelty. This show led me to seek other compelling stories, and I added High Existence and RadioLab to my obsession. A girl without a face, a man with autism, a woman without half her body, a boy without part of his brain - they all overcame the injustice life handed them, and I, completely healthy, could not even overcome my own attitude.
I stepped out of my fort, into the sunlight whose rays caressed my skin. The cicadas congratulated me by singing. Today, I was going to do something productive. And tomorrow. And the day after. And through this productivity, I hope to discover the extraordinary person within myself.
(Word count: 400/400)
This is the link to the video if you're interesting. It is truly inspiring: youtube.com/watch?v=qLziFMF4DHA
Do you think I should include this link in my essay even though I'm at the maximum word count? I'm not sure the admissions office would even have time to look at it.
THE BLIND BOY THAT TAUGHT ME HOW TO SEE
The cicadas' call echoed my room, disturbing my slumber, and I despised their lack of a snooze button. The sunlight created an uncomfortable glare, so I receded farther into my pillow fort, crossing into the dark side. The heat within my cave paired with the summer's 7-day forecast of sunny with a chance of sun, caused beads of sweat to roll down my back. It was only 8 A.M. and I had already explored my friends' Facebook pages, watched my YouTube subscription videos and dominated the noobs in COD. I didn't know how I would get through the next hour. And then Ben Underwood happened.
I crossed into the world people refer to as "the weird part of YouTube" and through the weirdness I found a series that occupied, and continues to occupy, my life in many different aspects. The video I found was about a 16-year old boy named Ben Underwood. He was a very independent individual that could ride his bike, play any sport, battle on his Gameboy, and do anything a "normal" kid his age could do, and more. Of course, Ben was not normal. He lost both of his eyes to cancer at 2 years old. However, through teaching himself a technique called "echo location," Ben was able to "see" objects through sound, like a bat would. I was in shock. I was inspired. I was hooked.
The British TV network FIVE originally broadcasted the show that featured Ben. It was called "Extraordinary People," however; I think the word "extraordinary" is an understatement. I've spent months watching this series, and it has shown me the strength of people deemed to be weak, the amazing intelligence of those regarded as retarded, and the beauty in a world filled with cruelty. This show led me to seek other compelling stories, and I added High Existence and RadioLab to my obsession. A girl without a face, a man with autism, a woman without half her body, a boy without part of his brain - they all overcame the injustice life handed them, and I, completely healthy, could not even overcome my own attitude.
I stepped out of my fort, into the sunlight whose rays caressed my skin. The cicadas congratulated me by singing. Today, I was going to do something productive. And tomorrow. And the day after. And through this productivity, I hope to discover the extraordinary person within myself.
(Word count: 400/400)
This is the link to the video if you're interesting. It is truly inspiring: youtube.com/watch?v=qLziFMF4DHA
Do you think I should include this link in my essay even though I'm at the maximum word count? I'm not sure the admissions office would even have time to look at it.