Hello, this is my attempt at topic 6 for the common application - a topic of your choice. I tried to paint a picture of who I am to the college admissions counselors in a creative and unexpected way while staying true to who I am. All constructive feedback is appreciated!
Layers of Wisdom
A flash of purple embroidered silk. A crisp blue Oxford button-down. The screen print of a red t-shirt. How often do I walk past my closet and see this? The floor to ceiling exhibition unveils in front of my eyes every morning and evening. Rows of color-coordinated tops and tightly packed jeans stand at the ready, waiting to be employed at any minute. This scene is not merely representative of your local Costco warehouse, but the arsenal of experiences that I carry on my back day-to-day. Each piece stands on its own, like a single memory, but as a whole, they build upon each other in layers of understanding. Before you write me off as a crazed teenage fashion aficionado, allow me to explain.
The bright purple sleeves of the Qipao, a traditional Chinese dress, hugged my 9-year old frame as I pranced onto the runway at the Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration. My mother looked at me anxiously, whispering, "Make me proud!" from behind the wings. I glided down the runway, pausing to jut my hips out in an attempt to emulate the supermodels on television. The crowd laughed. Having reached the end of the runway, I smiled cheekily and scampered off in search of candy and soda. The uniqueness of that experience has never really struck me until now, looking back, but I suppose growing up in a traditional Chinese family with American interests does give a special take on things. I never know what to say during the dinner prayer at my friend's house because every summer, we visit the Buddhist temple in China and give offerings to 玄奘. I ate my first eggs-over-easy this morning; however, I am practically famous among my friends for my egg-fried rice. I do not believe I lack a specific category or a way of identifying myself because there is much more to what I am than just "American" or "Chinese". The mix of ancient Eastern tradition and modern Western knowledge does its part to create an interesting individual, someone whose philosophy combines the two and finds herself comfortable in both worlds.
Separate from my dual heritage, there are many parts of me as an individual that are idiosyncratic of myself. There is nothing ancestral that can explain my dear obsession with making lists on a Saturday morning or spending whole hours browsing the cookbook aisle of my local bookstore, but I believe you can see that in my favorite aqua dress-shirt. It is my power-shirt, the one I wear during Science Fair judging days, oral presentations, and dinner with my relatives. As corny as it sounds, I believe that the legacy of the shirt and all the situations that I have conquered while wearing it contribute to its calming and reassuring qualities. The skinny cream stripes streaming vertically from the ironed collar permeate the formal blue-ness in a ironic fashion, making sure that you know that while I treat my work with the utmost attention to detail, I try to not take myself too seriously. The cotton fabric is simple, and no-nonsense, as am I when I have dedicated myself to my academic endeavors and my volunteer duties. In fact, one might even be able to sense the mix of perfectionism and practicality that has shaped my life.
Perhaps with all this individualism, you are already imagining me as an overflowing cup. I am not yet complete. I continue to change and mold - to savor and swallow the subtleties of the everyday journey. Hence, it is only fitting that I now introduce you to the everyday garb that has been my faithful sidekick, documenting every phase of the open-ended path. It is the garment of burnt orange that commemorates the 2:30 lecture on finance by Professor James Miller, during which I discovered the mathematical side of business. It is the tourist threads that mark my victorious trek amidst the snow-capped peaks of Yellow Mountain. It is the white uniform that symbolizes the 14 hours of tireless enthusiasm that pushed my team and me around the track at Relay for Life. The staple t-shirt. The myriads of colors that crowd my closet, though of plain fabric and simple cut, have given my life shape. I am not one single instance; I am not based on a solitary victory or mistake, nor am I the simple tally of everything listed on my resume page. I am more than the sum of my parts. I am everywhere I have been, everything I have seen, every word that has flown between the two sides of my head. My t-shirts have shared my struggles and successes with me.
There is definitely room for an emblazoned college sweatshirt in my arsenal. The experiences I will gain from the college I choose will rival and perhaps overpower my current high school collection. However, it is more likely that they will continue to layer on top of one another, the woven pieces of wisdom building on.
...stand at the ready, waiting to be employed at any minute.This is good writing!
Perhaps with all this individualism, you are already imagining me as an overflowing cup. I am not yet complete. I continue to change and grow - to savor...
The myriads of colors that crowd my closet, though of plain fabric and simple cut, have given shape to my life.
I am more than the sum of my parts. I am everywhere I have been, everything I have seen, every word that has flown ...again, great writing!
