This is the supplement for University of Virginia's "What is your favorite word and Why" supplement. However, I feel that i could potentially use it for the Common App Essay instead.
Comments and criticism welcomed. Ideas on possible expansion welcomed as well.
I can still remember that one dinner where I first understood the meaning of the word "satisfied". At that time, we had just finished a sumptuous meal of barbequed spare ribs, bok choy, and green beans when I uttered the words "I'm satisfied" in my parents' native Cantonese. Shocked, both immediately chastised me for saying such. Upon my confusion, they explained: the proper usage was "I'm full", whereas "I'm satisfied" hinted that I had just finished my last meal on Earth. It was my turn to be shocked. My parents were usually more rationale and pragmatic than this: after all, my father had been a judge back in Taishan, China whereas my mom worked several jobs just to support her large family. Although I had been raised with their no-nonsense attitude, sometimes I'd be surprised by examples of their cultural misconceptions. Being the self-righteous, American-born-and-educated youth that I was, I easily joked back that they were being superstitious, yet I just couldn't deny their logic.
My parents were right in a sense: being "satisfied" is the end of the line. Growing up among a community of mostly immigrants and first generation Chinese, I encountered plenty of folks who were clearly dissatisfied by their station in life, stuck in low-paying manual labor jobs. Yet, despite their complaints, most had never tried to advance their prospects through courses/job training, instead abiding day to day life. From that I understood that, while most were unhappy with what they got, they were, in fact, "satisfied" in the sense that they were OK with living an unhappy life. They epitomized Henry David Thoreau's quote, "the mass of men live lives of quiet desperation". Although my parents had perceived the phrase "satisfied" for its ominous meaning, I formed my own meaning for a lifelong philosophy.
Personally, being satisfied meant that you were fine with how things stood, that you were OK with the status quo. While many might consider that to be humble and unselfish, I always saw that as a sign of weakness of those who didn't have the will or courage to ask for more. After all, where would we be if our ancestors were satisfied eating raw, uncooked meat? Where would we be if Columbus never questioned the possibility of a western route to India? Where would I be if my brethren had not fought to tear down the racial discrimination of the Chinese Exclusion Act?
To me, being "satisfied" meant giving up on progress and change. A society that was "satisfied" was stagnant and doomed to die. Until the day I die, I'll never be "satisfied", so that I will always strive for more, for better.
Comments and criticism welcomed. Ideas on possible expansion welcomed as well.
I can still remember that one dinner where I first understood the meaning of the word "satisfied". At that time, we had just finished a sumptuous meal of barbequed spare ribs, bok choy, and green beans when I uttered the words "I'm satisfied" in my parents' native Cantonese. Shocked, both immediately chastised me for saying such. Upon my confusion, they explained: the proper usage was "I'm full", whereas "I'm satisfied" hinted that I had just finished my last meal on Earth. It was my turn to be shocked. My parents were usually more rationale and pragmatic than this: after all, my father had been a judge back in Taishan, China whereas my mom worked several jobs just to support her large family. Although I had been raised with their no-nonsense attitude, sometimes I'd be surprised by examples of their cultural misconceptions. Being the self-righteous, American-born-and-educated youth that I was, I easily joked back that they were being superstitious, yet I just couldn't deny their logic.
My parents were right in a sense: being "satisfied" is the end of the line. Growing up among a community of mostly immigrants and first generation Chinese, I encountered plenty of folks who were clearly dissatisfied by their station in life, stuck in low-paying manual labor jobs. Yet, despite their complaints, most had never tried to advance their prospects through courses/job training, instead abiding day to day life. From that I understood that, while most were unhappy with what they got, they were, in fact, "satisfied" in the sense that they were OK with living an unhappy life. They epitomized Henry David Thoreau's quote, "the mass of men live lives of quiet desperation". Although my parents had perceived the phrase "satisfied" for its ominous meaning, I formed my own meaning for a lifelong philosophy.
Personally, being satisfied meant that you were fine with how things stood, that you were OK with the status quo. While many might consider that to be humble and unselfish, I always saw that as a sign of weakness of those who didn't have the will or courage to ask for more. After all, where would we be if our ancestors were satisfied eating raw, uncooked meat? Where would we be if Columbus never questioned the possibility of a western route to India? Where would I be if my brethren had not fought to tear down the racial discrimination of the Chinese Exclusion Act?
To me, being "satisfied" meant giving up on progress and change. A society that was "satisfied" was stagnant and doomed to die. Until the day I die, I'll never be "satisfied", so that I will always strive for more, for better.
