Hey guys, I have just finished my Harvard Supplement essay but not really sure how appealing it is. So please help me! I know it's a little longer but I am really eager to know your feelings and opinions. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! The topic is Unusual Circumstances in Your life.
The Little Things
Hope you know that I love you and may you rest in peace.
I left these words on a girl's social web page in October last year. She was young and cute. She had a shining smile. She appeared to be a sports fan. And she was 17 forever.
She is my first friend who has gone to heaven, though we weren't really close. It was only ten days from when she was diagnosed with an acute kidney disease and finally left us, which was so short a time that none of us had realized how quickly death could make its claim. The moment I logged on her page and saw her last message saying "What is Nephritis? How long will I have to stay in hospital?" with no responses following, I was feeling even worse.
How could I have missed it?
Yes I did have many excuses if they could be called "excuses". We were not at the same school. I was too busy preparing for the School Carnival. The mid-term exam was approaching. But I feel deep inside, even now, that I should have been aware of it. I should have cared for her. I should have at least let her know that I loved her and I was with her instead of leaving a sentence she would never see. This happened, like a flash, to tell me that life is made up of little things, that life is lived only once, and that this our only life should revolve around the so-called "little things".
Most of the time I am focusing too much on the big things-how to get a higher score, how to hold a splendid event, how to act responsibly as a leader, or how to be admitted into Harvard. Even in love, I would make delicate metaphors and talk about the sacrifice of lovers, the forgiveness of our enemies and our concern for refugees. But this isn't the true face of love in life. This isn' t life at all. Life should be about the little things, the unnoticeable things, the things beyond the targets we aim for like fame and fortune.
And thanks to my dear friend, I've learned that when someone beside me suddenly fall into tears because of a failed test, I should tell him that Rome was not built in one day. I've learned that when someone beside me is complaining endlessly, I should sit down and listen attentively to her. I've learned that when someone beside me is having a fever, suffering loneliness, or facing a dilemma, I should just stay with him and lay my hand on his back telling him "things will be all right". I've learned that little things, not the big ones, heal all wounds and show true love.
I am no Mother Teresa. Through my whole life I may never reach a real battlefront. I may never go to Ethiopia. I may never see someone withering away before my eyes. But chances are that I can take something good out of the little things to help myself, someone else and the world around me. The biggest never stands for the best. Missing the least little thing may result in a loss forever. Honestly speaking, little things do not bring perfection. But all I want is not being flawless but growing up as little regrets as possible. While writing this essay, I am not sure what adjective you will label me as. But just like I've chosen this topic, I had no pity speaking about the little things.
It is October, nearly one year since she has gone. I know as I grow older, I will have to lose someone again. And finally, I will be the one to leave. But I know much clearer that one more day, one more minute, one more second I attend to the little things, I will no longer miss out my chance to make a difference.
Hope people know how much they mean to me before time is through.
Wow, CIEL, this was really touching, and I really loved your intro + conclusion, they tie up so nicely with your overall theme. However, the middle paragraphs I feel could use some tweaking to make them flow better, as the rest of your writing does. Best of luck, and well done! I hope you do get into Harvard.
