This is the question:
Are there any significant experiences and achievements that helped define you as a person?
I would really appreciate your help. ^_^
My mom's been bugging me about writing this essay, and I'm not sure if I did a good job or not.
Fried Chicken
I fell from the stairs. When I was six years old, I tumbled from the second floor right into the living room, hitting the stone-cold floor. I know this might seem an odd event, while my fellow applicants choose to present occasions like the transition from grade school to high school, the contests they've joined or the fortunate opportunity of meeting someone that would forever change their lives, but please hear me out. That short but painful tumble didn't just teach me to be careful, it taught me lessons that have influenced me in more ways than you can imagine.
It was some day in June when I took that fall. I was visiting my grandmother at her home in Manila, and though I can't recall what that visit was for, I can clearly remember what lead me to isolating myself on the second floor: the cats. My lola, like most others, took a liking for a kitten she found on her doorstep, and then it grew, and then it met another cat, and then they mated, and from then on her house was filled with cats. I wasn't only afraid of cats. I was afraid of dogs, rats, fleas, and frogs among all else. You could imagine the kind of reaction a six-year-old would have if even just one of her fears where bundled up in one room. I couldn't get a hold of myself, shaking in fear every time I turned only to find that there were more cats than I had expected. There were cats everywhere: on the table, under the table, on the couch, under the couch, in the kitchen and on the book shelf. My only escape was the upstairs playroom, where I could be safely hidden from my feline foes.
And so distracted myself upstairs, trying hard to forget that there were evil forces lurking on the floor below me. I had almost forgotten that I wasn't the only person there when suddenly I smelled something. Crisp and mouth-watering, it wasn't long before I ran to the top of the stairs to catch a better whiff. Fried chicken, I thought. Right on time, lola was cooking my favorite viand. I took my first step down the stairs when I realized that there was a reason I was up there in the first place. Looking down, my fear took a hold of me once more, preventing me from moving an inch. I turned my gaze to the kitchen, and there I saw the savory delight I had sought after. With my hands behind my back, I tiptoed a bit further to catch a better look - when BAM! I lost my balance, and my body had made its way down the flight of stairs, rolling like a ball on an inclined plane, until I crashed onto the floor.
At first, I felt nothing, but slowly the pain registered and soon the floor was wet with tears and blood. My mom rushed me to the hospital, where they checked my bruises and stitched up the scar on my forehead. I was as good as new, except I had a big patch on my scar.
One thing I've learned after that event was that I shouldn't have let my fear get the better of me. If I wasn't so afraid of cats, I wouldn't have isolated myself up there. Instead, I would be sumptuously eating my fried chicken. Unfortunately, there are a lot of "cats" out there: Strangers, scary teachers, and sordid memories that make us all hide in our own "playrooms" where we think we're safe from them. The problem is, hiding from them is far from solving the problem. It only worsens situation as you limit yourself to the things that come so easy to you. You'll miss opportunities, just like that fried chicken, plus, you'll get hurt in the process. From then on, I've always made it a point to go beyond my comfort zone, to conquer the "cats". I've acted as the villain for some school plays despite having stage fright; I've been on a trip to Japan despite having to go alone. I never missed an opportunity to expose myself to the pleasantries and dangers of the world. There's no harm in trying, if there is, then it's worth the experience.
Another thing I took note of was that I was holding back. I had the instinct to follow the scent of the crispy fried chicken, but I didn't have the will to follow my hungry stomach. I settled for tip-toeing, just enough for my eyes to see what I prized. Don't hold back. If you want to do something, then just do it. It would have been different if I just went down for lunch, but I didn't. Today, I'm at the top of my class and I've been an officer in all my clubs. I do everything to the best of my abilities. After all, I love my fried chicken.
After watching Batman Begins, one line echoed through my mind like a ghost.
"And why do we fall, Bruce? So we can learn to pick ourselves up."
This line zapped me right back to that moment when I fell. Did I pick myself up after the tumble? I can't remember, but I'm pretty sure I started wailing like there was no tomorrow. Something amazing did happen though. When I finally got to the hospital, I was all right. I stopped crying. I know because my mother would always remind me of the doctor's comments after he stitched up my scar: "She was smiling." According to my mom, I was quiet throughout the surgery and I started talking to the boy next to me right after the stitch. They found it strange, but my mom said I've always been like that. Syringes and needles never scared me before, she relayed.
My point is, after failing miserably to keep my cool, I got over it. I didn't let it bring me down. I've made mistakes in the past, more than I'd like to admit, but with each mistake I did my best to correct what I did wrong. And then, I moved on. There's no point in blaming myself for something that I can't change. Time and time again have the tides tested this virtue. I've been bashed, blundered, and butchered. Through the years, this persistence has turned out to be my favorite virtue; My one characteristic that has never faltered.
Up to this day, I thank God nothing serious happened. Not to mention that was actually my third time to fall. The first and second tumbles happened when I was a bit younger. I was jumping on the bed and I had stitches done for both as well. I also thank God for having my family around. I wouldn't be the same if they weren't here to mold me, and to take me to the hospital.
But of course, I'm still changing.
Change is the only thing permanent in this world, but with every change I have grown. From that small, snot-nosed kid, I've become this persevering young woman ready to face the world. I'm no where close to where I want to be, specifically because I don't know where to go, but I do know where I've started.
I'm at the bottom of the staircase, heading towards the kitchen for some well-deserved fried chicken.
Are there any significant experiences and achievements that helped define you as a person?
I would really appreciate your help. ^_^
My mom's been bugging me about writing this essay, and I'm not sure if I did a good job or not.
Fried Chicken
I fell from the stairs. When I was six years old, I tumbled from the second floor right into the living room, hitting the stone-cold floor. I know this might seem an odd event, while my fellow applicants choose to present occasions like the transition from grade school to high school, the contests they've joined or the fortunate opportunity of meeting someone that would forever change their lives, but please hear me out. That short but painful tumble didn't just teach me to be careful, it taught me lessons that have influenced me in more ways than you can imagine.
It was some day in June when I took that fall. I was visiting my grandmother at her home in Manila, and though I can't recall what that visit was for, I can clearly remember what lead me to isolating myself on the second floor: the cats. My lola, like most others, took a liking for a kitten she found on her doorstep, and then it grew, and then it met another cat, and then they mated, and from then on her house was filled with cats. I wasn't only afraid of cats. I was afraid of dogs, rats, fleas, and frogs among all else. You could imagine the kind of reaction a six-year-old would have if even just one of her fears where bundled up in one room. I couldn't get a hold of myself, shaking in fear every time I turned only to find that there were more cats than I had expected. There were cats everywhere: on the table, under the table, on the couch, under the couch, in the kitchen and on the book shelf. My only escape was the upstairs playroom, where I could be safely hidden from my feline foes.
And so distracted myself upstairs, trying hard to forget that there were evil forces lurking on the floor below me. I had almost forgotten that I wasn't the only person there when suddenly I smelled something. Crisp and mouth-watering, it wasn't long before I ran to the top of the stairs to catch a better whiff. Fried chicken, I thought. Right on time, lola was cooking my favorite viand. I took my first step down the stairs when I realized that there was a reason I was up there in the first place. Looking down, my fear took a hold of me once more, preventing me from moving an inch. I turned my gaze to the kitchen, and there I saw the savory delight I had sought after. With my hands behind my back, I tiptoed a bit further to catch a better look - when BAM! I lost my balance, and my body had made its way down the flight of stairs, rolling like a ball on an inclined plane, until I crashed onto the floor.
At first, I felt nothing, but slowly the pain registered and soon the floor was wet with tears and blood. My mom rushed me to the hospital, where they checked my bruises and stitched up the scar on my forehead. I was as good as new, except I had a big patch on my scar.
One thing I've learned after that event was that I shouldn't have let my fear get the better of me. If I wasn't so afraid of cats, I wouldn't have isolated myself up there. Instead, I would be sumptuously eating my fried chicken. Unfortunately, there are a lot of "cats" out there: Strangers, scary teachers, and sordid memories that make us all hide in our own "playrooms" where we think we're safe from them. The problem is, hiding from them is far from solving the problem. It only worsens situation as you limit yourself to the things that come so easy to you. You'll miss opportunities, just like that fried chicken, plus, you'll get hurt in the process. From then on, I've always made it a point to go beyond my comfort zone, to conquer the "cats". I've acted as the villain for some school plays despite having stage fright; I've been on a trip to Japan despite having to go alone. I never missed an opportunity to expose myself to the pleasantries and dangers of the world. There's no harm in trying, if there is, then it's worth the experience.
Another thing I took note of was that I was holding back. I had the instinct to follow the scent of the crispy fried chicken, but I didn't have the will to follow my hungry stomach. I settled for tip-toeing, just enough for my eyes to see what I prized. Don't hold back. If you want to do something, then just do it. It would have been different if I just went down for lunch, but I didn't. Today, I'm at the top of my class and I've been an officer in all my clubs. I do everything to the best of my abilities. After all, I love my fried chicken.
After watching Batman Begins, one line echoed through my mind like a ghost.
"And why do we fall, Bruce? So we can learn to pick ourselves up."
This line zapped me right back to that moment when I fell. Did I pick myself up after the tumble? I can't remember, but I'm pretty sure I started wailing like there was no tomorrow. Something amazing did happen though. When I finally got to the hospital, I was all right. I stopped crying. I know because my mother would always remind me of the doctor's comments after he stitched up my scar: "She was smiling." According to my mom, I was quiet throughout the surgery and I started talking to the boy next to me right after the stitch. They found it strange, but my mom said I've always been like that. Syringes and needles never scared me before, she relayed.
My point is, after failing miserably to keep my cool, I got over it. I didn't let it bring me down. I've made mistakes in the past, more than I'd like to admit, but with each mistake I did my best to correct what I did wrong. And then, I moved on. There's no point in blaming myself for something that I can't change. Time and time again have the tides tested this virtue. I've been bashed, blundered, and butchered. Through the years, this persistence has turned out to be my favorite virtue; My one characteristic that has never faltered.
Up to this day, I thank God nothing serious happened. Not to mention that was actually my third time to fall. The first and second tumbles happened when I was a bit younger. I was jumping on the bed and I had stitches done for both as well. I also thank God for having my family around. I wouldn't be the same if they weren't here to mold me, and to take me to the hospital.
But of course, I'm still changing.
Change is the only thing permanent in this world, but with every change I have grown. From that small, snot-nosed kid, I've become this persevering young woman ready to face the world. I'm no where close to where I want to be, specifically because I don't know where to go, but I do know where I've started.
I'm at the bottom of the staircase, heading towards the kitchen for some well-deserved fried chicken.
