College Essay

My mom always told me that I would never have a car - it was too expensive, too much responsibility. Naturally, being the stubborn girl that I am, I proved her wrong. At the age of 14, going into my first year of high school, I took a job as a receptionist at Dearborn Cardiology. I was the youngest employee by at least 10 years, so I had to prove myself. I had to be more organized, friendlier, more responsible, and harder working than my coworkers. For the first summer, I worked two days a week from 8am-3pm. It was a light work schedule, and when I added up my total earnings, I realized it would not be enough for a car by my Sweet 16. I bumped up my hours to a full week the following summer, working full time from 8am-5pm. It was a long day, and I had to give up a lot of social time, but it was worth it. At sixteen, I was able to buy my $4500, 2001 Hyundai XG 300. I do not think I have ever loved something so much, or been more proud of myself. I set a goal, and I achieved it.

            This experience taught me to be hard working and determined. I stayed focused, and was able to make more than enough money to pay for a car, its gas, and insurance. Yes, the satisfaction of proving my mom wrong felt good, but the responsibility and achievement felt so much better. I learned a lot about myself, including the fact that I like being accountable; busyness and organization are a comfort to me. At MSU, I will use these traits as a student to improve the community and richness of the school. Although MSU has a large community, I will thrive due to my independence and ability to self-serve ultimately benefiting the university. I aspire to be a successful special education teacher, and to further MSU’s reputation as a nationally ranked college for education.

Essay to get out of a speeding ticket. (it worked!)

On Saturday, April 14, 2012 while driving home to Dearborn from Ann Arbor on I-94, I received a ticket. The officer pulled me over at approximately 11:26 pm for going 93 mph on a high way that only permits 70 mph.  He was courteous enough to write the ticket up for only 80 mph, but I will still be getting points on my license. I accept full responsibility for my actions, and realize that what I did was extremely wrong not only for the safety of myself, but for the safety of others driving along side of me. I was speeding to get home in time for curfew, but that is not an excuse. Had I been more responsible and managed my time better, I wouldn’t have been in that situation. I was on such a time-crunch I wasn’t thinking about all of the repercussions speeding could have, and was only thinking about the repercussions that awaited my late arrival at home. That being said, I am asking the court to review my case. I am only 17 years old, and I pay my own insurance. Getting points would significantly raise my insurance, as well as follow me for the next two years. As I said before, I realize how wrong and dangerous what I did really was, and accept full responsibility for the repercussions you find fitting. Since receiving the ticket, I have been following the speed limits. I am hoping that the points not be added to my license, and that I only have to pay the fine.

Thank you so much for reading this letter and reviewing my case.

English Essay: The Lessons of A Divorcee's Child

50%. That’s the statistic of marriages that end in divorce nowadays. Love, supposedly one of the most pure and beautiful things life has to offer, is now being corrupt by selfishness and rash decisions. Most people consider divorce one of the worst things that can happen to a couple, but I wouldn’t know. What I do know is how it affects the kid of the divorcees. Simply, it sucks. It’s full of fights, puffy eyes, and car rides during the holidays from one family’s house to the next. There’s nothing fun about it. There are so many reasons why I should be saying that my parent’s divorce ruined my life – made it so difficult that I wanted to give up – but you’ll never hear me say that. In fact, my parent’s separation is the reason I am who I am today: a strong, independent, mature young-adult. I’ll never say that I’m glad my parents got divorced, but some really great things came out of having a manipulative father and an over-bearing mother who both love me more than I can imagine.

Divorce certainly isn’t easy for a child. I was two when my parents realized it was over. By the age of three I was spending every other weekend with my dad in his town-house. The first few years of my life were normal – to me at least. I didn’t really know that what my parents did was unusual – that a mommy and daddy were supposed to live together. As I got older I started realizing that none of my friends had to spend Thursday after school and every other weekend at their dad’s house; that’s when things got difficult. I was always a smart kid; I picked up on things that seven-year-olds typically don’t realize, but I was special. I didn’t spend much of the summer camps I attended with the other kids; I was always talking with the counselors. I always preferred adult conversation to the infantile play of kids my own age. I was of the divorced group. This meant that I would mature faster than everyone else. I knew things and could feeling things that no child should have to know or feel. But that’s how it was; it’s how I grew up. I was about seven or eight when the regular-fights started. I spent almost every weekend in tears over things I’ll never remember. Mostly because they were insignificant, but also because I learned to let things go. That was my first lesson: to forgive. I quickly learned that holding grudges wouldn’t get you anywhere but alone and disappointed. For me, I think forgiveness is the most crucial part of life. We’re humans. We make mistakes. It’s inevitable. But, if you go around and act like you’re better than everyone else and can’t get over things, you’ll be the unhappiest person alive. To be truly happy, it’s imperative to forgive.

Another thing I learned was to stand up for what I believe in. Now, that is far easier said than done. To begin this lesson, I first had to figure out exactly what I believed in. For me, that will never stop changing because I hear new ideas and theories every day that influence my own, but no matter how I feel that day, I stand by it. Of course, this led to more fights, but that’s okay. They made me stronger, more stubborn, and even wittier. I grew tough skin and learned to hold back my emotions. Standing up for myself was the hardest thing I’ve had to do in my life. Before I learned this, I had no self-esteem; I felt weak and useless. I don’t know what it was, but one day I woke up and decided I wasn’t going to take the manipulation anymore. After countless more tears and fights, I finally reached my breaking point. On August 6, 2011, I left my dad’s house, and I swore I would never come back. I’ve kept that promise to this day. I don’t regret it either. I love my dad, and I know he loves me, but that doesn’t mean we like each other. We were too different to get along, or maybe to alike – I’ll never figure it out. When people hear the story they can’t believe it. They think that I was too drastic, but I was standing up for myself and what I believed in. If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I’ve grown so much as a person, it’s incredible. I am truly proud.

The final lesson of the divorce is to be optimistic. Life is hard, there’s no doubt about it, but if you let yourself think that way it will bring you down. You have to take each day at a time. Things will never be perfect, but you can’t go through life worrying about situations. That’s like walking around with an umbrella waiting for it to rain. It’s completely pointless. This divorce has taught me to treasure the great moments of life and take the bad ones with an open mind. If I could I would avoid every bad situation I’ve ever encountered, but if I had done that, I wouldn’t be writing this paper right now. The bad situations in life give you lessons and teach you to appreciate the good situations. That is the exact reason why I’ll never be upset with my parents for their divorce. If they hadn’t separated, I wouldn’t be me. I wouldn’t be strong or independent or stubborn or facetious or hard-working or cautious or level-headed. As I said before, I’ll never say I’m glad my parents got divorced, but incredible lessons have come out of this horrible situation.

College Essay: How My Positive Outlook Benefits My Community

            Everyday things seem to be getting worse – prices are going up, while jobs are going down. Many families are having difficulty providing enough food or clothing for their children. This era is being labeled the “Second Depression.” Now, more than ever, we need hope.

Many people believe that attitude is everything, and this is certainly the case. If people were to just give up, the United States’ economy would collapse causing a chain reaction. Hundreds of thousands of peoples’ lives would be ruined in America alone, not to mention the people in foreign counties who depend on United States’ trade. For us, giving up is not an option. My generation has a chance to bring back another Golden Era to the United States, and this will begin with the simplest of ingredients: optimism.

According to Webster’s New World Dictionary, optimism is defined as “the belief that good ultimately prevails over evil” or “the tendency to take the most hopeful view of matters” (453). In my life, I have scarcely been called an optimist – pessimist or realist are adjectives much more frequently used. Referring back to the first definition provided by Webster, I do believe that I am an optimist. I truly think that by the end of every situation things will work out for the best. If things are not all right, then it is not over.

As I said before, attitude is everything – in sports, in work, and even in relationships. If you go into any situation thinking the worst, you are already beating yourself. But, if you approach things with a confident and hopeful attitude, things will seem to be in your reach.

Smiling is just one way to improve not only your attitude, but others’ attitudes as well. There is nothing better than when a stranger smiles and wishes you a good day. Genuine kindness is something that is hard to come by these days. You never know how someone is feeling and a simple smile could completely change their pessimistic view. I know it sounds insignificant, but smiling is the first step to spreading the “good vibes.” Smiles are infectious; you can affect someone’s attitude for the better by merely flashing them your teeth. Your smile could potentially cause a chain reaction of happiness and optimistic views.

Community service is another way to benefit the community while spreading your optimism. Throughout high school, I have participated in four major community service projects. Two of these projects were soup kitchen field trips. Another project was when a group of students went to a local school for handicapped young adults. The final, and perhaps the most beneficial project, included a trip to a Detroit park.

The soup kitchens were quite an experience. It was one of the first times that I had ever been exposed to poverty. I knew it existed, but I didn’t realize the severity and heartache that was so prevalent along with it. All we did was sort food and then hand it out to anyone who needed it. It was a rather simple task, taking little effort, but the reaction was worth tenfold the effort necessary. The receivers were so courteous and grateful it warmed my heart. The fact that these people are in such difficult situations and are still able to smile is amazing.

When I volunteered to help out at the handicapped school, I didn’t realize what an impact it would have on me. These people are so innocent and sincere. They were put some one of the worst situations possible, and there’s nothing they could do about it, yet they continue to smile and be happy anyways. It may because they don’t know any better, but I think it is one of the most beautiful things in the world. All we did was play games with them, but you could see in their eyes how truly happy it made them. That was one of the most gratifying experiences of my life.

The final community service project that I participated in involved planting trees in a Detroit park. It was laborious work, but when we were done, the before and after was a stunning contrast. This trash-plagued lot turned into a family friendly hang out after only a few hours. All it took was a few shovels and a group full of kids wanting to spread the joy.  

There is so much good in the world, but people are too busy to see it. If they could just stop for five minutes they would see how beautiful everything really is. Optimism is a remarkable quality and the key to success.

Comparative Essay: How I Am Stuffed

            In Zora Neale Hurston’s narrative essay, she illustrates an image of the Great Stuffer of Bags. He is the one responsible for making each bag unique and individual (this analogy obviously represents God making people in their own distinct way). She describes the contents of her brown bag as “a first-water diamond, an empty spool, bits of broken glass, lengths of string, a key to a door long since crumbled away, a rusty knife-blade, old shoes saved for a road that never was and never will be, a nail bent under the weight of things too heavy for any nail, [and] a dried flower or two still a little fragrant”. Using Hurston’s reasoning, I think that I am a worn-leather shoulder-bag that has gone through many rough years, but is still here. Inside, one might find the keys to an old 2001 Hyundai, a small, laminated card that gives the practice and tournament times of A2 Volleyball Club, a box of new graphite pencils, an iPod filled with songs by Bon Iver and Mumford and Sons, an old, tattered family picture, a new crisp photo of my three closest friends, and bits of broken glass glued back together. Each one of the objects has a different meaning. The car keys represent both hard work and freedom. The laminated card signifies how much volleyball dominates my life with practice every week and tournaments nearly every weekend. The pencils show my new-found love for drawing. The iPod expresses my admiration and need of music. The family photo exemplifies my rocky family history, but the crisp photo of my friends illustrates the newer, more accepting family I have recently found. Finally, the mended glass represents how I have broken down so many times, but continue to repair myself and the situation. Individually, these objects are worthless, but together they are priceless – making me who I am.

Analyze Artwork: Good Winter

In his analytical essay, E. M. Forster explores the observation of art. Like most people, he only looks at the surface of a picture, and quickly becomes distracted by something else. Throughout his essay, he expresses the importance of looking at art, really looking at it – not just a glance, but absorbing yourself in it and giving it your full attention. By the end of his essay, the reader has an idea of how to truly look at art and appreciate it. Forester ends the essay by saying: “Not looking at art leads to one goal only. Looking at it leads to so many.” Like art work, this declaration seems simple enough on the surface, but one must look deeper – really listen to the words and what Forster is trying to communicate. He is saying that art opens up so many doors, and by ignoring it the future becomes more limited. This is because art has such an impact on the mind. It allows for thinking outside of the box and discovering new ideas. It opens the mind and expresses emotion in ways that television or the internet cannot.

To truly look at art, Forster explains, many factors must be considered including composition, patterns, designs, and color – not individually, of course, but as a whole. They are not merely doing their job, but “doing other work too.” So, for example, when one picks up the new self-titled Bon Iver album, they will probably notice the cover art on the front CD case. Its green setting is perfect for this folk artist, but the listener will surely become distracted by the tantalizing sounds coming from the speakers. When the CD has repeated infinite amount of times, one can finally look at the amazing work of art distributed to every owner of “Bon Iver” without distraction.  Gregory Euclide was chosen specifically to emulate the feeling of “bon iver” meaning “good winter” in French, and he does just this. Although there is no snow on the ground, the bleak colors give a cold impression. The great pine trees are not symmetric, yet are reflected back on certain angles of the image. There is a small loch surrounded by hills and more trees. As one gets closer and closer to the picture, the details become more distinct, yet when the picture is being held at a distance it seems to be a collection of leaves. The overall tone of the work of art is utterly somber, but somehow in a beautiful way. As Forster said, artwork is a whole. Individually, these images mean nothing, but together they impart the feeling bon iver through melancholy beauty.

College Essay: Community Service

As each year passes, technology becomes more and more important in society. Mobile phones, televisions, computers, and iPods are a few of the electronics taking up the majority of free time in young people’s lives. Instead of spending time with family or friends, it is typical for people to isolate themselves with technology. It is already easily seen that this isolation is having a negative effect on society. People are becoming more selfish due to the isolation. Things like community service are suffering because people don’t have the “time” to help out their local soup kitchens anymore. Many teens only complete service hours because their high school or college requires it. While technology is usurping society, we must make sure that community service doesn’t fall to the wayside.

                Community service has so many more benefits than what lies on the surface. Yes, it benefits the community which is a tremendous reward, but it can be more than that if you let it. By helping the less fortunate, you are able to connect with your community in a deeper way than before – you become more emotionally invested. Participating in service helps instill values in the lives of those who partake in it, and is proven to have a positive effect on personalities by becoming more nurturing and patient. Also, it provides many learning experiences that can enrich your life. The best way to learn is by doing, and when you are seeing the worst of life, it shows you how good you really have it. Many people take their lives for granted, but community service teaches people how to be grateful for what they have. The growth and strengthening of relationships is another benefit of community service. It can bring family and friends together or even create new relationships. It helps socially develop people, creating a defense against today’s isolationism. Motivation and engagement are completely necessary when partaking in community service, so they are two qualities that will surely be reinforced.

                When it comes down to it, community service is valuable in so many more ways than what is superficially seen. It creates a connection between you and your community, friends, and family, while instilling important qualities such as nourishment and motivation.