Please tell us how you have spent the last two summers (or vacations between school years), including any jobs you have held, if not already detailed on the Common Application.
Even in the summer, I don't like to wake up after 7:00. Don't get me wrong: I realize that relaxation is summer's primary function, and I get plenty of sleep, but summers for me are more than just a time to relax; they are also a time for challenging myself and developing new approaches. One extreme example occurred two summers ago: I attempted not to eat sugar for a month, primarily to see if I could do it. I could, but after one week I had lost 8 pounds off of my already-thin 150 pound frame, so I decided to cancel the experiment. Much more commonly, however, I will read books I would usually avoid (like McCullough's John Adams), attempt to learn difficult songs that I could not devote enough time to during the school year, and try various techniques to make myself healthier and more productive.
Over the last two summers, I have kept myself plenty busy. In my rising junior summer, I spent my time volunteering at a local church's vacation bible school, and I also became a member of the Florida Youth Leader bowling board, a commitment that entails working as a team to help organize and staff statewide tournaments.
My summer as a rising senior was even busier. I became even more involved in the state board, which entailed taking multiple trips to Orlando for state meetings. I also enrolled at my local community college, taking courses in statistics and sociology. I decided to go back to school during my break not so much because I wanted the credits, but rather to enhance my understanding of math and political science. I often find myself referring to information I learned from those courses in my calculus and government classes. The activity that I am most proud of, however, is my internship for the Obama campaign. I had not expected a campaign office to open in my county, the second "reddest" in Florida. When it did, however, I was the very first to show up and ask for a position. I know that the skills I learned and the experiences I shared will stay with me throughout my life.
Even in the summer, I don't like to wake up after 7:00. Don't get me wrong: I realize that relaxation is summer's primary function, and I get plenty of sleep, but summers for me are more than just a time to relax; they are also a time for challenging myself and developing new approaches. One extreme example occurred two summers ago: I attempted not to eat sugar for a month, primarily to see if I could do it. I could, but after one week I had lost 8 pounds off of my already-thin 150 pound frame, so I decided to cancel the experiment. Much more commonly, however, I will read books I would usually avoid (like McCullough's John Adams), attempt to learn difficult songs that I could not devote enough time to during the school year, and try various techniques to make myself healthier and more productive.
Over the last two summers, I have kept myself plenty busy. In my rising junior summer, I spent my time volunteering at a local church's vacation bible school, and I also became a member of the Florida Youth Leader bowling board, a commitment that entails working as a team to help organize and staff statewide tournaments.
My summer as a rising senior was even busier. I became even more involved in the state board, which entailed taking multiple trips to Orlando for state meetings. I also enrolled at my local community college, taking courses in statistics and sociology. I decided to go back to school during my break not so much because I wanted the credits, but rather to enhance my understanding of math and political science. I often find myself referring to information I learned from those courses in my calculus and government classes. The activity that I am most proud of, however, is my internship for the Obama campaign. I had not expected a campaign office to open in my county, the second "reddest" in Florida. When it did, however, I was the very first to show up and ask for a position. I know that the skills I learned and the experiences I shared will stay with me throughout my life.
