Stanford students possess an intellectual vitality. Reflect on an idea or experience that has been important to your intellectual development.
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It was one of those sluggish days where I surfed through the web, endeavoring to find anything of merit. Then, there is was! "A posse ad esse." -from possibility to actuality. In four little words, this proverb grasped the essence of my trite and simple philosophy, "If you try hard, you'll succeed in anything."
I do not have the intellectual acumen as some of the erudite, brilliant minds such as Stephen Hawking nor do I have the artistic and musical prowess as van Gogh and Yo-Yo Ma. As my former guardian, Eunice, told me once, "Christine, you're ninety-nine percent effort and one percent genius," my forte is in diligence and a strong work ethic. Yet, in my stubborn propensity, I tried to prove her wrong by paradoxically striving to become the "best and the brightest," earning the neat little column of A's in my report card, practicing cello for two hours, and drawing every day.
In my journey to become the ninety-nine percent "genius", I gained a penchant for reading and attempting to solve problems on my own. It also helped that electronic games and television were restricted in Eunice's home. I delved into books, where I freely explored the King Solomon's mines and the Mississippi River with the ruddy faced Tom Sawyer. In seventh grade mathematics, I fought against my adversaries, the algebraic problems, with their minions of quadratic formula and graphs. I would not yield to any sort of succor because I knew I could solve the problem somehow and somewhere and if not now, perhaps in the afternoon after I had some animal crackers.
Along the way, I unconsciously realized that I had achieved my objective and more. Although I am not a virtuoso, I am an intelligent, young woman who perseveres and endeavors through any challenge. I may struggle with predicting molecular shapes and financial difficulties, but I gained a penchant for learning and the aptitude to succeed. Likewise, through perseverance, I can bring all of my aspirations from a possibility to actuality.
Please give me some feedback! :)
It was one of those sluggish days where I surfed through the web, endeavoring to find anything of merit. Then, there is was! "A posse ad esse." -from possibility to actuality. In four little words, this proverb grasped the essence of my trite and simple philosophy, "If you try hard, you'll succeed in anything."
I do not have the intellectual acumen as some of the erudite, brilliant minds such as Stephen Hawking nor do I have the artistic and musical prowess as van Gogh and Yo-Yo Ma. As my former guardian, Eunice, told me once, "Christine, you're ninety-nine percent effort and one percent genius," my forte is in diligence and a strong work ethic. Yet, in my stubborn propensity, I tried to prove her wrong by paradoxically striving to become the "best and the brightest," earning the neat little column of A's in my report card, practicing cello for two hours, and drawing every day.
In my journey to become the ninety-nine percent "genius", I gained a penchant for reading and attempting to solve problems on my own. It also helped that electronic games and television were restricted in Eunice's home. I delved into books, where I freely explored the King Solomon's mines and the Mississippi River with the ruddy faced Tom Sawyer. In seventh grade mathematics, I fought against my adversaries, the algebraic problems, with their minions of quadratic formula and graphs. I would not yield to any sort of succor because I knew I could solve the problem somehow and somewhere and if not now, perhaps in the afternoon after I had some animal crackers.
Along the way, I unconsciously realized that I had achieved my objective and more. Although I am not a virtuoso, I am an intelligent, young woman who perseveres and endeavors through any challenge. I may struggle with predicting molecular shapes and financial difficulties, but I gained a penchant for learning and the aptitude to succeed. Likewise, through perseverance, I can bring all of my aspirations from a possibility to actuality.
