Prompt: Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud, and how does it relate to the person you are?
As far back as I can remember, my food vocabulary had been limited to one entry: a peanut butter sandwich. Lunch meat, BLT's, and hamburgers were all foreign concepts to me, and I preferred to keep it that way. The idea of exposing my mind and taste buds to something new frightened me; something new meant something unfamiliar, and something unfamiliar meant something unpleasant. Over time, I developed a familiarity with the sandwich that sheltered me and left me afraid to try other foods.
This all changed, however, when my friends took me out to dinner at an undisclosed location on my fifteenth birthday. To my horror, the location turned out to be a local burger joint. Somewhere in between the first bite of the burger and the last delighted lick of my fingers, I came to a troubling realization: my coveted peanut butter sandwich epitomized my life - plain, simple, and safe.
Up until that point, I dearly held the belief that peanut butter sandwiches were the only food I needed to survive. In reality, a lifetime of peanut butter sandwiches left me starved - starved of new foods, new possibilities, and new experiences. A life of routine prevented me from straying beyond the boundaries I knew best. I finally understood that I had been confined in a cocoon of peanut butter sandwiches and ignorance, unaware of the world around me. From that day on, I resolved to emerge from my sheltered cocoon and explore the uncharted territory of new and exciting foods, as well as other opportunities I had not yet given any consideration to.
In my junior year of high school, I decided to apply this resolution to my academic life and finally expand my passion for music by auditioning for the Chamber Choir. Listening to the choir performances had discouraged me from auditioning in the past; I could not sing as high, nor sight read as well. Nevertheless, I auditioned, and to my surprise, I was accepted. The acceptance marked the first introduction into expanding my scope on how to carry myself in life; I have relished every moment of it since.
I have come to learn that personal growth is not a result of doing what I've always done. Rather, growth comes from taking action and thrusting myself into new environments. And although it can be difficult at times, nothing invigorates me more than straying outside of my comfort zone and dipping my head in fresh batches of air.
By constantly challenging myself and testing my limits, I become closer and closer to reaching my full potential. In the same way, with each new dish I try, my food dictionary continues to expand. I can proudly say that my dictionary is no longer limited to only peanut butter sandwiches. I have now tried spaghetti for the first time, and have even dared to nibble on exotic delicacies like escargot. But even so, I am not ashamed to say that I still enjoy the occasional peanut butter sandwich.
Feel free to destroy my essay. Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
As far back as I can remember, my food vocabulary had been limited to one entry: a peanut butter sandwich. Lunch meat, BLT's, and hamburgers were all foreign concepts to me, and I preferred to keep it that way. The idea of exposing my mind and taste buds to something new frightened me; something new meant something unfamiliar, and something unfamiliar meant something unpleasant. Over time, I developed a familiarity with the sandwich that sheltered me and left me afraid to try other foods.
This all changed, however, when my friends took me out to dinner at an undisclosed location on my fifteenth birthday. To my horror, the location turned out to be a local burger joint. Somewhere in between the first bite of the burger and the last delighted lick of my fingers, I came to a troubling realization: my coveted peanut butter sandwich epitomized my life - plain, simple, and safe.
Up until that point, I dearly held the belief that peanut butter sandwiches were the only food I needed to survive. In reality, a lifetime of peanut butter sandwiches left me starved - starved of new foods, new possibilities, and new experiences. A life of routine prevented me from straying beyond the boundaries I knew best. I finally understood that I had been confined in a cocoon of peanut butter sandwiches and ignorance, unaware of the world around me. From that day on, I resolved to emerge from my sheltered cocoon and explore the uncharted territory of new and exciting foods, as well as other opportunities I had not yet given any consideration to.
In my junior year of high school, I decided to apply this resolution to my academic life and finally expand my passion for music by auditioning for the Chamber Choir. Listening to the choir performances had discouraged me from auditioning in the past; I could not sing as high, nor sight read as well. Nevertheless, I auditioned, and to my surprise, I was accepted. The acceptance marked the first introduction into expanding my scope on how to carry myself in life; I have relished every moment of it since.
I have come to learn that personal growth is not a result of doing what I've always done. Rather, growth comes from taking action and thrusting myself into new environments. And although it can be difficult at times, nothing invigorates me more than straying outside of my comfort zone and dipping my head in fresh batches of air.
By constantly challenging myself and testing my limits, I become closer and closer to reaching my full potential. In the same way, with each new dish I try, my food dictionary continues to expand. I can proudly say that my dictionary is no longer limited to only peanut butter sandwiches. I have now tried spaghetti for the first time, and have even dared to nibble on exotic delicacies like escargot. But even so, I am not ashamed to say that I still enjoy the occasional peanut butter sandwich.
Feel free to destroy my essay. Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
