If anyone would like to read this and comment, I'll look at your essay in return. Thanks!
What experience in high school has mattered most to you? How do you see this experience influencing your decision-making in college?
The rest of my team ran towards me yelling and gesturing, but their words were drowned out by the wind and the pounding in my head. As they got closer, I understood what they were saying. Three points! It was a blustery day at the end of October and our cross country team had once again qualified for the State meet, this time by the narrowest of margins. A season of hard work built on two years of discipline and disappointment had finally paid off. I would finally get a chance to run in the State meet I had dreamed of ever since my school placed fourth there my sophomore year.
One Saturday later, as I reflected the State race I had just run, I realized that although it was an extremely enjoyable experience, it certainly didn't have a huge impact on my life. There is a saying--"the journey is more important than the destination"--and for me this proved to be the case. Running the State race was the reward for my hard work, while the training leading up to my state qualifying race certainly had a much larger effect, and was perhaps one of the most influential parts of my four years of high school.
Ask anyone about me, and the first thing they'll say is "he's a runner". Not only have I molded my happiness around running, but I have learned that the small details such as not eating that double helping of dessert, finishing next week's homework in advance, or making sure I get that extra mile on the cool-down can greatly affect my performance. Therefore, discipline in all aspects of life is incredibly important to running well.
Looking back on my years of running, I noticed a comparable development of discipline and speed. As I stopped eating junk food and procrastinating and started running more outside of practice and consequently, I cut more time and got faster. As I reaped the benefits of healthy living and good time management, I became more motivated to do those things, which led to more improvement, etc. Over time, eating healthy, sleeping early, and managing my time efficiently have become ingrained habits.
Already in high school these habits have made my life easier, and I foresee them having the same effect in college. Although often it is hard to order a salad while everyone else digs into their greasy burger and fries, or to force myself to start on a project I know will not be due for another month, I remind myself that I refuse to give up the effects of countless hours of training by giving in to a moment's desires. In college, I expect to have the same attitude. While I believe in fun as much as anyone else, health and sleep always come first. No "freshmen fifteen" or all-nighters for me. As in high school, my decisions in college will always be based on what is best for my health and fitness, and in a larger sense, the goal I am working towards. Whether I am still running or I am aiming at some other achievement, I will always make the decisions that provide the best conditions for achieving that goal.
Running in the State meet was a sign that I had made the right choices in my life, and the culmination of two years of highly disciplined training. Those two years have proven to be more influential to me than any one experience, and the habits I have picked up will perpetually influence the decisions that I will face for the rest of my life.
Do you plan to run in college? I was just curious.
I like your essay. The introduction effectively caught my attention and you maintained a tight focus throughout the essay. I am not sure that state needs to be capitalized in state meet, but this would be something to check on. I like how you related two seemingly dissimilar ideas, cross country and decisions in college. From someone who has already completed my first year of college, I can assure you that procrastination is a terrible enemy, but you have clearly already conquered it. Best of luck to you!
Yes I definitely do! Haha not sure if state should be caps, its just a habit to do so since its been so important for me. Do you think I covered the college decisions part enough? I'm a little worried that I ramble too much about running and not enough about the actual prompt...
I mean maybe you could expand on the decision-making part more, but don't stretch it too far. You could say that your decision to eat healthy will prevent you from visits to the health center and make your more alert in class. Then you pay attention more and do better on tests. Something like that? I don't know. I wouldn't really have noticed until you pointed that out. I think with college essays you have to tweak the prompt so it works best for you, you know?
I liked your essay and can relate to the runner lifestyle because I run too haha.
Looking back on my years of running, I noticed a comparable development of discipline and speed. As I stopped eating junk food, procrasinating, and started running more outside of practice, I saved time and became faster.
Skip the "etc."
This sentence seems over repetitive:
Over time, eating healthy, sleeping early, and managing my time efficiently have become ingrained habits.
