This is an essay for my college application to Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines
It's my dream school so it's a big deal for me. Would love your input on how I can improve this. Going to pass this within this day so hoping for your urgent input haha thank you I appreciate it!
The question presented is: "Are there any significant experiences you have had, or accomplishments you have realized, that have helped to define you as a person?"
ESSAY:
TITLE: Limitless
All my experiences, the hardships, the achievements, the highs and lows-they do not define me. The past, and everything it holds, should not and does not limit me nor tell me who I am and who I can be. This, ironically, is what I realized while I was recounting and writing the events of my past for the intents and purposes of this essay; events that have impacted me in any sort of way; events that, I thought, would tell me exactly who I am. Now I shall do more or less the same, just this time, in a different light.
I was born into a relatively normal family, to supporting and loving parents whom I owe everything to. Ever since I learned how to read, I read everything. Story books, science books, almanacs-you name it. Any book that was within my reach as a little girl, I was flipping through every minute I could. There was something fascinating that the young me found and found only in the pages of the books in my hands; they told of other worlds and people I could only wish to actually meet, but still it felt like they were with me every time I read their stories.
My memories of my first years of schooling were that of me getting constantly bullied, picked on, and isolated, for no other reason anyone could give me or I could think of other than I was getting high marks. I was enrolled in a small school; in kindergarten we were only four in the class, and in preparatory, seven. Sometimes all my other classmates would suddenly turn on me and exclude me. Of course as a small child this imprinted on me the thought that getting attention was bad, getting the question correct was horrible, being smart or being significant in any other way besides that of what they approved of was abominable.
By the end of my preschool years, I had garnered many medals and certificates; however these compared little to the struggle that arose in my young self that made me retreat behind walls I built around myself since then.
Entering elementary, I was pushed into a much bigger environment-now, I was in a significantly larger school, and it was a huge shift from what I was used to. Nevertheless, I was welcomed into this whole new community of peers. Despite the fact that now, the people I interacted with were more accepting and generally nicer, I still had trouble breaking out of my shell. Through the years, though, my teachers discovered my potential in writing, and after I was urged by my 5th Grade Journalism teacher to join the school newspaper, I did. It all came naturally for me, then. In 6th Grade I became the Editor-In-Chief of our paper, and for the first time, was entered in the District Schools Press Conference. Through this, I found a passion for writing and the English language. I only got as far as the Division Schools Press Conference back then but I was far from discouraged. Slowly, I began to break down the walls I had built. I didn't graduate elementary with a ton of medals around my neck but I felt as though I had a much firmer hold on things, and for the first time I truly believed that I was capable of achieving so much-and I was not afraid to anymore.
I went into high school with a much lighter heart, and again, into a whole new school with whole new faces. This time, I easily made friends and I was noticeably more outgoing and comfortable with my surroundings. Somehow, in the second quarter of my first year of high school, as a measly little newbie to this big, unfamiliar school, I shimmied my way into the overall top ten-landing the fourth spot. Now, with this, I had gotten a lot of attention; however, this time, it was all positive. The positive reinforcement and support all my friends and family gave me for my achievement-not of getting high grades, but of finally breaking out of my shell and putting myself out there-encouraged me to do even better. This accomplishment was what ultimately placed me into the cream section during my second year of high school, which I will forever be glad for since this is how I developed bonds with the friends whom I now hold most dear. And by the end of my sophomore year, I had met and formed friendships with so many amazing people that truly helped me become better as a person.
Going into high school, I immediately joined the school publication, The Augustinian Herald, the moment I was able to. I was eager to continue my journey as a student journalist-and might I say, I was not disappointed. Since during my first two years in high school, the privilege was only given to those my senior, my third year was when I was finally granted the opportunity to represent the school and compete in the Division Schools Press Conference. I was thrust into a category I wasn't-nor anyone was, for that matter-familiar with. It was the new individual writing category, Science and Health Writing, and this year was the first time it would be competed in. I could say I practically went in blind, and miraculously, emerged at seventh place, when the top seven were moving on to the Regionals. Somehow this happened again and I came in at third when the top three were going to the Nationals.
The National Schools Press Conference was when I encountered and became friends with such incredible people that I know I will never forget. They were my favourite part of the whole ordeal-don't get me wrong, winning was nice, but sharing the experience with them was just such a wonderful thing to go through. They were fellow student journalists from all over the country who I had the privilege of interacting with. With them, there was this sort of atmosphere of love and belongingness. It was like one's success was everyone's. To have shared that with people whom I was only with for a few days is beyond words. I was able to achieve the extraordinary feat of winning first place during the Nationals because of those who were there with me cheering me on and the love and support from back home.
I finished my junior year landing third place on the overall top ten. I've come a long way since I started school back in 2003, and looking back, it's really the little moments that shape us and make us who we are-when we pick ourselves up and carry on, when we discover what makes us happy, when we realize what we like and what we don't, and when we spend time with the people we love-those little things make us ourselves more than any trophy, medal, certificate or academic accomplishment.
Currently, I'm in my final year of high school, and now appointed Editor-In-Chief of The Augustinian Herald. I've achieved so much and I know that I am capable of so much more.
The past may have shaped us, but we should never let ourselves be defined by it nor bound to it; we are so much more than whatever we may have gone through. Who we are, what we can be-it's up to us now, it's only us who can decide that. Not what's happened before or the cards we were dealt with. We have so much more lain out in front of us-the possibilities are endless.
However, in a society where we are defined solely by our outward appearance and little else, it's difficult to convey and truly realize who we are. We have to stop defining ourselves based on our looks and how we dress, but instead, on our accomplishments, our dreams, and our hearts. If we start by being more accepting of ourselves, we can do this unto others and create a more loving and accepting community. We have to break free of the worldly value we see in one another, but instead, focus on the love and kindness of each individual-for loving and kindness knows no boundaries.
In our journey towards discovering ourselves, we also have to realize that as complex human beings, we are beyond the limits of any definition. The chances of the labels we put on ourselves completely defining us are very little. Truth is, we are so much more than the words we use to describe us. We need to break out of the boxes we put ourselves in and see us and others as more than that.
If I learned anything from my 15 years of existence, it's that the only thing that limits us is ourselves, nothing else. We can do anything as long as we put our minds and hearts to it. Be who you want to be, it's never too late. You are limitless.
