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When I look at this
picture of myself, I realize how much I've grown and changed, not only
physically, but also mentally as a person in the last couple of years.
Less than one month after this photograph was taken, I arrived at the
[school's name] in [school's location] without any idea of what to
expect. I entered my second year of high school as an innocent thirteen
year-old who was about a thousand miles from home and was a new member
of not the sophomore, but the "lower-middle" class. Around me in this
picture are the things which were most important in my life at the time:
studying different types of cars and planes, following Michael Jordan's
latest move, and seeing the latest blockbuster show like "Phantom of the
Opera" or "Jurassic Park". On my t-shirt is the rest of my life-tennis.
Midway through my senior year at the special [school's name] school, the
focuses in my life have changed dramatically.
If there is one
common occurrence which takes place for every single person in the
diverse student body at [school's name], it is that we all grow up much
faster for having lived there. I do not know whether this speeding up of
the maturing process is generally good or bad, but I definitely have
benefited.
The classroom has
become a whole different realm for me. Before, the teachers and students
alike preached the importance of learning, but it was implicitly obvious
that the most important concern was grades. At [school's name] teachers
genuinely believe that learning is the most importance objective and
deeply encourage us to collaborate with each other and make use of all
resources that we may find. In fact, in a certain class this year, my
teacher assigned us to prepare every day of the week to discuss a
certain book; there were only two require-ments in this preparation-we
had to maximize our sources, gleaning from everything and everyone in
the school, but we were not allowed to actually look at the book. As a
result, I know more about that book than any other that I have actually
read. It is teaching methods such as this which ensure that we will
learn more. Indeed, this matter of "thinking" has been one of the most
important aspects of my experience. Whether in Physics or English, I'm
required to approach every problem and idea independently and creatively
rather than just regurgitate the teacher's words. In discussion with
fellow students both inside and outside of class, the complex thoughts
flowing through everyone's brain is evident.
However, I
believe that the most important concepts which I have espoused in being
independent of my parents for half of each year, deal with being a
cosmopolitan person. The school's faculty and students are conscious
about keeping all of the kids' attention from being based on the school.
Every single issue of global concern is brought forth by one group or
another whether it be a faculty member, publication, ethnic society, or
individual student. Along with being aware of issues of importance,
after attending [school's name] my personality has evolved. First, my
mannerisms have grown: the school stresses giving respect to everyone
and everything. Our former headmaster often said, "Character can be
measured not by one's interaction with people who are better off than
him or herself, but by one's interactions with those who are worse off."
The other prime goal of the school's community is to convert every
single timid lower-classman into a loud, rambunctious senior. Basically,
if you have an opinion about something, it is wrong not to voice that
opinion. Of course, being obnoxious is not the idea. The key is to
become a master of communication with teachers, fellow students, all of
who are a part of the community, and most importantly, those who are
outside of the community.
I do not want to
make [school's name] sound as if it produces the perfect students,
because it doesn't. But the school deserves a lot of credit for its
efforts. Often, some part of the mold does remain. As the college
experience approaches, I am still the same person, only modified to
better maximize my talents. Although I still have some time to play
tennis and see movies, perhaps one of the few similarities between this
photograph and me now is my smile.
Comments
This essay is
good. The essayist makes boarding school his focus, using it to explain
and describe how and why he has changed over the years. A lot of
students write about what wonderful people they have become, but they
fail to do a good job of understanding and explaining the forces that
prevailed to make them change. This writer focuses on the strengths of
the school itself. He demonstrates the sort of values it tries to
instill in its students such as, "Encouraging us to collaborate with
each other and make use of all resources that we may find," and "Giving
respect to everyone and everything." Because the writer does so, the
reader never doubts that the applicant possesses all the qualities that
he credits to the school. Using this method has two advantages. First,
the positive, upbeat attitude he has toward his institution is rare.
Second, Stanford, for one, recognized that this would reflect well on
his ability to adapt to and be a positive force at their school.
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