Topic A (Freshman)
Write an essay in which you tell us about someone who has made an impact on your life and explain how and why this person is important to you.
*Did I try to squeeze in too much information?
It took me seventeen years to realize what an extraordinary influence my mother has been on my life. She's the kind of person who has considerate discussions about what she can do following retirement to shrink her carbon footprint, the kind of mother who always has time for her four children, and the kind of role model that showed me I don't have to be apart of organizations to still be committed to helping the environment or the people in my community. I not only came to adore the excitement of learning simply for the sake of knowing something new, but I also came to understand the initiative of giving back to the community in trade for a new sense of life, love, and independence.
My mother works very hard at her job, but she also doesn't hesitate to relax when given the chance, she stops to appreciate life, and enjoys stretching her creative wings, whether it is in her gardens or countless diaries. It is difficult to balance between the responsibilities that come with work and finding time to take pleasure in the West Texas breeze. But, watching her do so with compassion has taught me to appreciate life beyond the countless hours I put into my studies. My mother's enthusiasm for learning is most evident in her love of knowledge. As a teacher my mother has always understood how important education is, and how far school can get you. My mother likes to study and to read everything, from books to newspapers, fact or fiction. Because of that, she has become a well-informed person, who seems to have some knowledge about almost everything. When I think about my child hood I can still recall the countless nights I laid with my mother in bed while she read me to sleep. I'll always appreciate the numerous hours enjoying the mother daughter book club, and the talks we shared about politics, school, or even religion.
While I value the various knowledge my mother has shared with me, I was equally transformed by what she has shown me just a few miles from my house. I used to accompany my mother to the annual trips to recycling center in Bastrop. That first summer after we moved to Alpine recycling was considerably different. I decided to volunteer at the local recycling center myself, which was only a trailer with only several bins for the few contributors. There were only three volunteers, one being myself, and I was the only high school student. Martha was one of the volunteers I worked with; together we assembled bins and placed adhesive stickers on them. The adhesive stickers had information on what can be recycled, when, and where. Together we expanded the recycling community by offering out the bins to anyone interested. I placed the several bins at the city pool I worked at next to the Coca Cola vending machines, and to several of my friends. Although the position is often tricky, the personal rewards are beyond articulation. In the time I have lived in Alpine the Recycling center has expanded increasingly, it has moved from a trailer to a permanent site. The hours have expanded from only Saturday to every day of the week, and the partakers are continual. My mother guided me in the correct direction and with a little push, I opened my wings and showed myself what I am capable of.
When I attended Bastrop Middle School my grade point average was a high B. When my mother decided to make the move to Alpine, she inspired me to take advantage of the opportunity. She knew I wasn't happy with where I was academically before, and she let me know that she would be there to assist me in reaching my goal of becoming a better student. She helped me become organized with my studies; she stood behind me through elections, sports, clubs, and any other extracurricular activity I wanted to pursue. She taught me that I am exactly what I think I am, no more, no less. I want to take advantage of all the opportunities life sends in my direction. I'll never forget the semester of my junior year. All the stresses from school academically were pushing me to the extremes, my mom was there to help me manage things, and to remind me where I was a few years ago, and how far I've come. Beyond school, my mom is very supportive of whatever interests I have. She instilled within me a competitive drive to continue to challenge myself not only in school but in life. Even through all the AP classes, dual enrollment courses, and sports throughout high school, the most valuable lessons I learned were from my mother. My mother is a person who has given me so many things, who has taught me about everything, who has shown me how beautiful life is, and gradually as I get older and I become more mature, she has opened my eyes to the fact that life is not always beautiful and happy like in a fairytale, but life is much more than that. Next year, I will find a new home miles away. However, my mother will always be by my side.
Not too much information about your mother at all, but too much surrounding verbiage. The first sentence is not needed and not true anyway. (Undoubtedly, when you were an infant, you recognized your mother as the most important person in your life.) I congratulate you on adding these details about your mother's concern about her carbon footprint (etc.) I just want you to get rid of all of the empty phrases surrounding those vivid details.
