Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.
Memoirs of a Teenage Hostess
"Say that again, sweetie?"
Embarrassed, I cleared my throat and repeated the order with a quivering voice. Although I wasn't unsure of my abilities to simply punch in orders on the computer, I still lacked the confidence to speak audibly and enunciate. What if the stranger on the other end of the phone started complaining about our prices if I seemed too outgoing and eager to help? What if she started quizzing me about food preparation if I sounded too certain in what I was trying to sell? I would then have to enlist the help of my restaurant manager, who might fire me for being such a bother. Fortunately, my illogical worries were relieved as I hung up the phone with a clammy palm.
One hour of work down, four hours left to go.
I spent my time at House of Emperor, a Chinese restaurant nestled in a bustling strip mall, averting contact with the customers by tinkering with the cash register and brandishing the soda gun at empty glasses. The storage closet by the bar became my refuge whenever it wasn't busy, and I was its willing recluse. When the hour hand reached nine, counting my cash and clocking out suddenly became imperative - both of which I did with unusual motivation. The first months working there went by this way until a friend recommended Memoirs of a Geisha, by Arthur Golden, to me.
The novel chronicles the life of Sayuri, a retired geisha living in New York. As a young girl, she is sold into servitude at the Nitta okiya, a prominent geisha house. Though Sayuri originally wishes to escape the okiya, her chance encounter with the kind Chairman causes her to instantly fall in love with him, despite the thirty year age gap, and motivates her to become a geisha by whatever means necessary. She eventually perfects the Japanese art of entertainment and becomes a prominent geisha in Kyoto. However, Sayuri faces and overcomes various misfortunes, such as war and betrayal, before she is finally reunited with the Chairman.
Upon finishing the novel, I childishly identified with Sayuri, just as I had done after watching Mulan ten years ago. Of course, we were both Asian - which was, to my dismay, the only similarity I shared with Mulan - but I made another connection with this refined geisha. She entertained in teahouses; I worked in a restaurant. However, she was wildly popular; I could barely collect a measly tip. Hence, with the initial purpose of earning a couple bucks, I sometimes "pretended" to be Sayuri while on the job. I should note here that "pretended" is enclosed in quotations to lessen my personal embarrassment, for I, at fifteen, should have long outgrown the days when kids ran around and cried for justice in makeshift capes.
With a newfound role model, I sought to emulate Sayuri's charm and femininity as I scanned credit cards and wiped countertops. I poured drinks with delicacy, preventing even one drop of Coke from spilling over the top. Fresh applications of mascara and lip gloss became my new pastimes. While I expected the clatter of coins to smother the swanky jazz music as my not-so-obvious elegance was noticed, it was not until I became talkative that customers responded with warmth as well. To overcome the discomfort, I pictured Sayuri, learned in the art of conversation, chatting with men of importance on tatami mats. She was not beset with worry as she spoke, and the judgments of others were the least of her concerns. Simple conversations about the weather, the football game on TV, and the food soon arose, and chuckles were exchanged as I mirrored her courage and peace of mind.
Although my original mission of earning tips was largely fruitless, I gained far more than a few dollars from my make-believe. The connection I made, despite being superficial at best, unintentionally drove me to model Sayuri's self-confidence and resolve - attributes which I had fiercely admired but desperately lacked. Just as Sayuri won the Chairman's favor through discovering purpose and perfecting her art, I couldn't charm the customers until I overcame my qualms and shyness. Doing so wasn't beneficial to only my job; I shared my ideas more frequently during classroom discussions, asked to intern at a national laboratory, and even led serving team meetings at church as well. As my self-doubts vanished, so did my role as a spectator. An eagerness to learn and motivation to help replaced my insecurity and fueled active participation, which eventually turned into leadership, in my undertakings.
i have a few specific questions:
- i dislike the way the third paragraph is written. how can i better blend the summary of the novel with what i learned from sayuri? or should i leave it as it is even though its nothing but summary?
- i feel like my last sentence is anticlimatic. should i tie it back to my intro/memoirs of a geisha? suggestions?
thanks for editing :)
also, i'm applying ED to wharton so i need a LOT of help...haha
Memoirs of a Teenage Hostess
"Say that again, sweetie?"
Embarrassed, I cleared my throat and repeated the order with a quivering voice. Although I wasn't unsure of my abilities to simply punch in orders on the computer, I still lacked the confidence to speak audibly and enunciate. What if the stranger on the other end of the phone started complaining about our prices if I seemed too outgoing and eager to help? What if she started quizzing me about food preparation if I sounded too certain in what I was trying to sell? I would then have to enlist the help of my restaurant manager, who might fire me for being such a bother. Fortunately, my illogical worries were relieved as I hung up the phone with a clammy palm.
One hour of work down, four hours left to go.
I spent my time at House of Emperor, a Chinese restaurant nestled in a bustling strip mall, averting contact with the customers by tinkering with the cash register and brandishing the soda gun at empty glasses. The storage closet by the bar became my refuge whenever it wasn't busy, and I was its willing recluse. When the hour hand reached nine, counting my cash and clocking out suddenly became imperative - both of which I did with unusual motivation. The first months working there went by this way until a friend recommended Memoirs of a Geisha, by Arthur Golden, to me.
The novel chronicles the life of Sayuri, a retired geisha living in New York. As a young girl, she is sold into servitude at the Nitta okiya, a prominent geisha house. Though Sayuri originally wishes to escape the okiya, her chance encounter with the kind Chairman causes her to instantly fall in love with him, despite the thirty year age gap, and motivates her to become a geisha by whatever means necessary. She eventually perfects the Japanese art of entertainment and becomes a prominent geisha in Kyoto. However, Sayuri faces and overcomes various misfortunes, such as war and betrayal, before she is finally reunited with the Chairman.
Upon finishing the novel, I childishly identified with Sayuri, just as I had done after watching Mulan ten years ago. Of course, we were both Asian - which was, to my dismay, the only similarity I shared with Mulan - but I made another connection with this refined geisha. She entertained in teahouses; I worked in a restaurant. However, she was wildly popular; I could barely collect a measly tip. Hence, with the initial purpose of earning a couple bucks, I sometimes "pretended" to be Sayuri while on the job. I should note here that "pretended" is enclosed in quotations to lessen my personal embarrassment, for I, at fifteen, should have long outgrown the days when kids ran around and cried for justice in makeshift capes.
With a newfound role model, I sought to emulate Sayuri's charm and femininity as I scanned credit cards and wiped countertops. I poured drinks with delicacy, preventing even one drop of Coke from spilling over the top. Fresh applications of mascara and lip gloss became my new pastimes. While I expected the clatter of coins to smother the swanky jazz music as my not-so-obvious elegance was noticed, it was not until I became talkative that customers responded with warmth as well. To overcome the discomfort, I pictured Sayuri, learned in the art of conversation, chatting with men of importance on tatami mats. She was not beset with worry as she spoke, and the judgments of others were the least of her concerns. Simple conversations about the weather, the football game on TV, and the food soon arose, and chuckles were exchanged as I mirrored her courage and peace of mind.
Although my original mission of earning tips was largely fruitless, I gained far more than a few dollars from my make-believe. The connection I made, despite being superficial at best, unintentionally drove me to model Sayuri's self-confidence and resolve - attributes which I had fiercely admired but desperately lacked. Just as Sayuri won the Chairman's favor through discovering purpose and perfecting her art, I couldn't charm the customers until I overcame my qualms and shyness. Doing so wasn't beneficial to only my job; I shared my ideas more frequently during classroom discussions, asked to intern at a national laboratory, and even led serving team meetings at church as well. As my self-doubts vanished, so did my role as a spectator. An eagerness to learn and motivation to help replaced my insecurity and fueled active participation, which eventually turned into leadership, in my undertakings.
i have a few specific questions:
- i dislike the way the third paragraph is written. how can i better blend the summary of the novel with what i learned from sayuri? or should i leave it as it is even though its nothing but summary?
- i feel like my last sentence is anticlimatic. should i tie it back to my intro/memoirs of a geisha? suggestions?
thanks for editing :)
also, i'm applying ED to wharton so i need a LOT of help...haha
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