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the "Davidson in Focus" web page - supplement and Colgate supplement essays



alexla 7 / 17  
Dec 5, 2010   #1
Davidson is an academically and socially engaged community bound by an Honor Code and committed to thoughtful discourse and an abiding sense of inclusiveness. Reflecting on your own background and educational experience, in what ways is Davidson a good match and how might you enrich this community?

Unlimited length.

Do you guys feel as though I answer the prompt in this one? Thanks.

this is the "Davidson in Focus" web page I'm referring to in my essay: www3.davidson.edu/cms/x14776.xml

When I first glanced at the "Davidson in Focus" webpage, after viewing several names, I imagined what type of ovation I would get under my name and year: "Alexander La '15." The page displayed athletes, scholars, and sometimes both. I saw linguists, artists, actors, and other unique titles, and I asked myself if I could fit in the big picture that I see Davidson as. These people that Davidson celebrated; they were too good, so much so, that I thought it impossible for me to fit in. Looking at the students Davidson broadcasted made me think about who I was, almost to the point of frustration. I am no Division I athlete, nor am I an actor or an artist. I am just me, and as I sat there glaring at the demigods Davidson made its students out to be, I realized that that was all I needed. Being me, however cliché that sounds, was what made the names "Alexander La" and "Davidson College" go hand-in-hand, just like it did for "Clint Smith '10" or "Andrew Ma '12."

Even though the focus page still intimidates me, I am reminded to be strong by everything I take for granted. Sometimes I forget that I am a passionate history lover, a firm speaker, and a rising man of honor. Like many at Davidson College, I too adhere to a strict honor code simply because I value my education. After all, education is what I make of it. It offers truth, beauty, meaning and so much more for me; if I lose to temptation then I lose out on so much I could benefit from. I value the Davidson Honor Code not only because I value honor itself but also because it is one of the few commonalities that I might find with a fellow Davidson student. One day, I hope to meet a chemistry major sitting next to me in the library taking his organic chemistry test while I, a social science double major, am taking the American History test with him without any proctor. No matter how different my pathway might be, at Davidson, I'll find common ground through the shared sense of honor and appreciate for true learning. I am proud that of what I have: the sense of honor, my overall personality, and everything else to me.

Being me is what makes it easier to envision the possibilities of what "Alexander La '15" would say underneath: "An Oregonian political science and history double major speech and debate leader, Alexander La challenges himself in new ways all the while defining himself within the Davidson community," "A son of humble deli owners, Alexander La continues his parents' legacy at the Davis Café, serving and socializing with his peers," or "History scholar Alexander La is seen at Socratic seminars within the Davidson community, voicing his thoughts for others to know at Davidson." These are tidbits of who I am, statements that I would be honored to have under my name and year at Davidson. I can see myself at Davidson, sitting among the artists, actors, athletes and whoever else is there, talking about our names on the "Davidson in Focus" webpage. These tidbits are the tidbits that make Davidson right for me; these are the tidbits that I have to offer to Davidson.

EF_Susan - / 2310  
Dec 6, 2010   #2
I saw athletes, scholars, and sometimes both.

These people that Davidson celebrated; they were brilliant, so much so, that I thought it impossible for me to fit in.

I am no Division I athlete, nor am I an actor or an artist.

... Alexander La challenges himself in new ways all the while defining himself within the Davidson community,"...

I can see myself at Davidson, sitting among the artists, actors, athletes and whoever else that is there, talking about our names on the "Davidson in Focus" web page.

Though I am not themthere yet, I have my own background to add to the melting pot that is Davidson College.

It has been an age-old event in my family, in which we all help prepare the company delis for business.

With my time here weaning in closely, ---does this mean your time here coming to an end because of going off to school? If so, you should say so to make this sentence clearer.

I continue to do my best to make the most out of these weekend drives to Costco.

Nice essays! That was a great tradition to write about, it fits perfectly here. Good luck in school!
OP alexla 7 / 17  
Dec 7, 2010   #3
Ah, thanks so much!! How'd you feel I did on the Davidson one? I feel skeptical about that.
EF_Kevin 8 / 13053  
Dec 17, 2010   #4
I think this little phrase does not belong in the essay:
I am just me, and as As I sat there glaring at the demigods Davidson made its students out to be, I realized that that was all I needed. Being me, however cliché that sounds, was what made the names "Alexander La" and "Davidson College" go hand-in-hand, just like it did for "Clint Smith '10" or "Andrew Ma '12." It is TRUE that it is a cliche, so don't use it! Acknoweldging that it is a cliche does not make it less of a cliche, ha ha. But anyway, I think you should take this opportunity to express a little about "who" you are in the sense of what direction you are taking your career and education. What are your strengths and goals?

This is all great writing, and you are so introspective. My only advice is that, like with this paragraph I discussed above, I think you should go through the whole essay and crank up the volume of that SPECIFICITY. Do not be abstract. Abstract thinkers need to compensate for it when they write, or the essay will not be concrete enough. But really, this is already impressive, despite that little idea about specificity.
Supervisor 2 / 13  
Dec 17, 2010   #5
"...nor am I an actor nor an artist." Right? Or should it not change?

Nice essay. I liked how you used "Being me" in the second and third paragraphs.


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