This is a risky essay idea that I decided to follow through with. The prompt is to write a letter to your future roommate at Stanford. What do you think of it?
Hey Roomie,
I'm <censored>, and for my past three high school summers, I decided to keep a detailed daily log book of my activities. I made a goal to do at least three noteworthy things each day. This helps for two reasons: it helps me remember and appreciate the smaller stuff, and it motivates me to do meaningful things instead of waste my summer away. I then decided to compile all this data and share some statistics about my lifestyle with you as a way of introducing myself. I hope you'll find them interesting!
1. Went out somewhere (63%): I like to explore! Coming from New York City, I can't begin to imagine all of the exciting, unique culture at Stanford and the west coast.
2. Ate out somewhere (35%): I absolutely love food - trying new cuisines and discovering new places to eat is one of my favorite things to do. You'd be surprised how much a good meal can turn a bad day upside down for me.
3. Learned something new (30%): I do my best to reach out of my comfort zone, take a risk, and learn from the experience!
4. Cooked something (22%): I consider myself a decent chef! When I'm not out looking for new food, I'm usually cooking it at home - and I'd be glad to share a portion with you.
5. Went to the park (22%): What's a summer without the outdoors? Frisbee, basketball, soccer - sports are my favorite way to unwind.
6. Went to a party (16%): Non-alcoholic parties, mind you! Even though I take my work seriously, it's important getting loose once in a while. Once a week I make it a habit of dropping what I'm doing and reminding myself that life isn't all about work.
7. Fixed someone's computer (11%): If you're decently educated with computers, don't make my mistake of revealing it to your relatives. Once you fix one problem for them, you'll be their go-to "computer genius" for all of their other tech issues. Play it safe, my friend.
I hope these statistics paint a clearer picture of me for you, and I look forward to our adventures together!
Sincerely,
<censored>
Hey Roomie,
I'm <censored>, and for my past three high school summers, I decided to keep a detailed daily log book of my activities. I made a goal to do at least three noteworthy things each day. This helps for two reasons: it helps me remember and appreciate the smaller stuff, and it motivates me to do meaningful things instead of waste my summer away. I then decided to compile all this data and share some statistics about my lifestyle with you as a way of introducing myself. I hope you'll find them interesting!
1. Went out somewhere (63%): I like to explore! Coming from New York City, I can't begin to imagine all of the exciting, unique culture at Stanford and the west coast.
2. Ate out somewhere (35%): I absolutely love food - trying new cuisines and discovering new places to eat is one of my favorite things to do. You'd be surprised how much a good meal can turn a bad day upside down for me.
3. Learned something new (30%): I do my best to reach out of my comfort zone, take a risk, and learn from the experience!
4. Cooked something (22%): I consider myself a decent chef! When I'm not out looking for new food, I'm usually cooking it at home - and I'd be glad to share a portion with you.
5. Went to the park (22%): What's a summer without the outdoors? Frisbee, basketball, soccer - sports are my favorite way to unwind.
6. Went to a party (16%): Non-alcoholic parties, mind you! Even though I take my work seriously, it's important getting loose once in a while. Once a week I make it a habit of dropping what I'm doing and reminding myself that life isn't all about work.
7. Fixed someone's computer (11%): If you're decently educated with computers, don't make my mistake of revealing it to your relatives. Once you fix one problem for them, you'll be their go-to "computer genius" for all of their other tech issues. Play it safe, my friend.
I hope these statistics paint a clearer picture of me for you, and I look forward to our adventures together!
Sincerely,
<censored>