I would assume this fits under the "Topic of choice" prompt on the Common App:
It was a hot summer morning in Pondicherry, India. Visiting India right after my junior year in high school, I sat hunched in an auto rickshaw, my legs at an angle and my head slightly bent so that I would fit inside. As the rickshaw moved along, I remembered the advice my parents had given me prior to the trip: "Observe the places and, more importantly, the people that you see". I have been visiting India since the age of two, and the differences between life in India and the United States have always been apparent. But as I looked out of the three-wheeled vehicle, I realized that for the first time those differences irritated me.
People seemed to be a genuinely disinterested in the state of their surroundings. There was dirt everywhere: on unpaved roads and piled into mounds, for seemingly no reason. There was no need for trash cans; people would throw away their garbage wherever they saw fit, and that usually meant on the road. The smell of exhaust was overwhelming as the auto rickshaw passed large trucks belching columns of black smoke. When other auto rickshaws passed us, they left behind not only their distinct puttering sound, but also a cloud of white effervescence.
My family and I used auto rickshaws almost daily during our stay in Pondicherry, and each trip was filled with the same sights. None of these sights were new to me, but it bothered me that no one seemed to care. The pollution and dirt were dangerous to the environment and to people's health. I began making mental notes of how things could be fixed: more trash cans could be placed on the roadside, the roads could be paved, and cars could face emissions requirements. I had taken my parents' advice and observed the things I saw, and I was not pleased.
One day, our auto rickshaw stopped next to a family of four riding on a single scooter. The man steering the scooter looked straight ahead, waiting for traffic to move. There was no hint of worry on his face; to him, four people on a scooter was ordinary. It was then that I remembered the rest of my parents' advice: observe the people. I found that the people of Pondicherry were used to the conditions I regarded as deplorable. To them, what I saw as a problem was nothing out of the ordinary.
When my parents told me to observe my surroundings, they wanted me to experience India, but I did more than that. Initially, I may have been overly critical of the conditions that I saw. I observed, but I only noted the negative aspects of life. However, I came to the realization that people get used to what they have. I have had the privilege of living with certain luxuries that may not be readily available everywhere, but that does not mean that people live unhappy lives.
Through the power of observation, I learned to be thankful for the life I have and to not judge a person or place based on an initial reaction. Just because certain conditions do not appeal to me does not mean that things will get better if the conditions are changed; after all, happiness comes in many forms. I went to India to visit family and left with a new view on life, all thanks to trips in a three wheeled auto rickshaw.
I'm not really sure if this tells something about me, but you be the judge. I know it's rather long (699 words), but I couldn't figure out what I should/could cut out. Please, be harsh. Any help & suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
It was a hot summer morning in Pondicherry, India. Visiting India right after my junior year in high school, I sat hunched in an auto rickshaw, my legs at an angle and my head slightly bent so that I would fit inside. As the rickshaw moved along, I remembered the advice my parents had given me prior to the trip: "Observe the places and, more importantly, the people that you see". I have been visiting India since the age of two, and the differences between life in India and the United States have always been apparent. But as I looked out of the three-wheeled vehicle, I realized that for the first time those differences irritated me.
People seemed to be a genuinely disinterested in the state of their surroundings. There was dirt everywhere: on unpaved roads and piled into mounds, for seemingly no reason. There was no need for trash cans; people would throw away their garbage wherever they saw fit, and that usually meant on the road. The smell of exhaust was overwhelming as the auto rickshaw passed large trucks belching columns of black smoke. When other auto rickshaws passed us, they left behind not only their distinct puttering sound, but also a cloud of white effervescence.
My family and I used auto rickshaws almost daily during our stay in Pondicherry, and each trip was filled with the same sights. None of these sights were new to me, but it bothered me that no one seemed to care. The pollution and dirt were dangerous to the environment and to people's health. I began making mental notes of how things could be fixed: more trash cans could be placed on the roadside, the roads could be paved, and cars could face emissions requirements. I had taken my parents' advice and observed the things I saw, and I was not pleased.
One day, our auto rickshaw stopped next to a family of four riding on a single scooter. The man steering the scooter looked straight ahead, waiting for traffic to move. There was no hint of worry on his face; to him, four people on a scooter was ordinary. It was then that I remembered the rest of my parents' advice: observe the people. I found that the people of Pondicherry were used to the conditions I regarded as deplorable. To them, what I saw as a problem was nothing out of the ordinary.
When my parents told me to observe my surroundings, they wanted me to experience India, but I did more than that. Initially, I may have been overly critical of the conditions that I saw. I observed, but I only noted the negative aspects of life. However, I came to the realization that people get used to what they have. I have had the privilege of living with certain luxuries that may not be readily available everywhere, but that does not mean that people live unhappy lives.
Through the power of observation, I learned to be thankful for the life I have and to not judge a person or place based on an initial reaction. Just because certain conditions do not appeal to me does not mean that things will get better if the conditions are changed; after all, happiness comes in many forms. I went to India to visit family and left with a new view on life, all thanks to trips in a three wheeled auto rickshaw.
I'm not really sure if this tells something about me, but you be the judge. I know it's rather long (699 words), but I couldn't figure out what I should/could cut out. Please, be harsh. Any help & suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance!