Essay #1: In an essay of no more than 500 words, please select three words that describe you best and tell us how you will use these qualities/characteristics to contribute fully to the BU community.
With practice three times a week, three hours a day throughout the whole year, dragon boat requires an immense amount of dedication. Upon joining, my initial impression was that the sport was too vigorous and that I could not handle the extremity of the practices. "We practice in the rain, wind, and hail. There is no excuse for not coming out unless you're dying in a hospital bed." A chill ran through my entire body upon hearing this. However, something kept me from leaving; it could have been the muscles I was gaining or the surge of excitement I received each time the boat rushed towards the finish line. Ultimately, the bond that formed was the reason I arrived to each practice ready to give all of my efforts. My dedication will guide me in striving and attaining each goal I set at BU.
Like a rapid chain reaction, if one person stops paddling, everyone's will to paddle diminishes, making the boat incredibly heavy. Each race, my muscles become sore and achy, and my body tells me that its had enough by signaling me to place the paddle against the gunnel to quit. My sense of discipline is what urges me to continue until the three glorious words, "let it ride" are spoken by the steersman. Continuing to paddle is beyond enduring the physical pain. Anyone can go through the movements but it takes a strong mentality to put the maximum amount of energy possible into each stroke. Being a disciplined individual has shaped my personality to push and bring myself to new levels of life. At BU, I will seize the opportunities thrown my way and shape them into something great by doing things correctly and in a timely manner. I will persevere through obstacles and overcome temptations of succumbing to do "just enough."
Everyone has the desire to win, but as races pass by, I begin to notice that this desire is only a veneer covering greater things. To desire is to have an inspiration and drive to work harder to give more. I recall my first race being a depressing event due to my boat coming in last. Though all twenty paddlers gave it their all, we could not beat our competitors. Practice resumed and I asked myself what I could do to improve. I corrected my technique by rotating, reaching, and having a stronger top-arm drive for each stroke. As I began speaking up, "Harder! Better! Stronger!" improvement became visible. The boat began to glide swiftly and there would be a surge of water at the head of the boat with each advancing meter. I realize that it is not the desire to win that motivates me, but is the desire to improve. The desire that activates my willpower to augment ensures that all I come upon at Boston University will be done with a fervent attitude and completed to its greatest quality.
I know that I will benefit the BU community just as much as BU will benefit to me. My dedication, discipline, and desire ensures that each undertaking I accept will be accomplished with a clear goal in mind.
word count: 526
davidgoes Edit Delete Move 71.134.246.150
Jan 4, 2010 #16
I have a lot of dialogue involved and it may be a little too much. And maybe it doesn't explain how I'll benefit the BU community well enough. Tell me what you think.
Thanks!
With practice three times a week, three hours a day throughout the whole year, dragon boat requires an immense amount of dedication. Upon joining, my initial impression was that the sport was too vigorous and that I could not handle the extremity of the practices. "We practice in the rain, wind, and hail. There is no excuse for not coming out unless you're dying in a hospital bed." A chill ran through my entire body upon hearing this. However, something kept me from leaving; it could have been the muscles I was gaining or the surge of excitement I received each time the boat rushed towards the finish line. Ultimately, the bond that formed was the reason I arrived to each practice ready to give all of my efforts. My dedication will guide me in striving and attaining each goal I set at BU.
Like a rapid chain reaction, if one person stops paddling, everyone's will to paddle diminishes, making the boat incredibly heavy. Each race, my muscles become sore and achy, and my body tells me that its had enough by signaling me to place the paddle against the gunnel to quit. My sense of discipline is what urges me to continue until the three glorious words, "let it ride" are spoken by the steersman. Continuing to paddle is beyond enduring the physical pain. Anyone can go through the movements but it takes a strong mentality to put the maximum amount of energy possible into each stroke. Being a disciplined individual has shaped my personality to push and bring myself to new levels of life. At BU, I will seize the opportunities thrown my way and shape them into something great by doing things correctly and in a timely manner. I will persevere through obstacles and overcome temptations of succumbing to do "just enough."
Everyone has the desire to win, but as races pass by, I begin to notice that this desire is only a veneer covering greater things. To desire is to have an inspiration and drive to work harder to give more. I recall my first race being a depressing event due to my boat coming in last. Though all twenty paddlers gave it their all, we could not beat our competitors. Practice resumed and I asked myself what I could do to improve. I corrected my technique by rotating, reaching, and having a stronger top-arm drive for each stroke. As I began speaking up, "Harder! Better! Stronger!" improvement became visible. The boat began to glide swiftly and there would be a surge of water at the head of the boat with each advancing meter. I realize that it is not the desire to win that motivates me, but is the desire to improve. The desire that activates my willpower to augment ensures that all I come upon at Boston University will be done with a fervent attitude and completed to its greatest quality.
I know that I will benefit the BU community just as much as BU will benefit to me. My dedication, discipline, and desire ensures that each undertaking I accept will be accomplished with a clear goal in mind.
word count: 526
davidgoes Edit Delete Move 71.134.246.150
Jan 4, 2010 #16
I have a lot of dialogue involved and it may be a little too much. And maybe it doesn't explain how I'll benefit the BU community well enough. Tell me what you think.
Thanks!