“Who want’s to go first?” That aching inside me tells me to push myself, overpowering my fear and self-doubt, just long enough for me to raise my hand, instantly making me the unsaid leader of the gym class. What did I just do? I can’t do this. But there’s no way that I would allow […]
#1: Describe the world you come from — for example, your family, community or school — and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations. I’ve always loved a good map. I’ve always hated folding one. Naturally then, since the age of five, the bookshelves in my room have been filling up […]
Whether or not he is favored by audiences at home for his supposed intellectual remarks, or hollered at by disagreeing fans, we all know the bald-headed, mustache sporting, flamboyant tie wearing, therapist; Dr. Phil. The middle aged Texan is by no doubt a millionaire for his crazy guest stars and his unmistakable corny analogies, but […]
I’ve grown up stitched into the backdrop of the stage I call life. I’ve always blended in and played it safe. Risks were foreign to me; dreams were outlandish remarks my mind would sneer at me. I honestly believed my adult life would be wasted away in a nine to five gray cubicle prison. My […]
Sweat did not accumulate in light droplets on our foreheads; it gathered in great pools, drenching our leotards. Although we never noticed it ourselves, everyone outside the studio could see that the air was dense with moisture and heat. All of our attention was concentrated towards our bodies: shoulders down, stomachs in, hips tucked under—the […]
I am a naturally neat, organized, and meticulous person. I enjoy sorting my books and make up into different containers and shelves according to size, color and type. The beginning of school is one of my favorite times of year for the opportunity to buy new matching folders and notebooks with colorful pencils and clean […]
As I approached the tower for my first day as an Ocean Rescue lifeguard I thought I knew it all. Fresh out of recruit training and graduating in the top of my recruit class, I had the vision that I was invincible as a lifeguard. I climbed the freshly painted wooden tower, unpacked my gear, […]
“You can’t be a vet,” Nancy, my riding coach, said. “You won’t have time to ride, and you won’t like it.” My initial response was, why? Having my coach, of all people, tell me I couldn’t pursue my passion was the hardest thing. My heart dropped, and the lump in my throat grew bigger. “Because […]
They say that there are five people you meet in heaven. I never heard anyone say anything about hell. Why then, would anyone ask you to write about the three people you would meet if you decided to take a vacation to hell? I mean, of course, you would visit hell for the resorts and […]
Topic: Describe how a work of art, music, dance, theater, or literature has inspired you. Part of the Advanced Placement English curriculum at my school involves reading Robert Persig’s book, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. The novel as a whole challenges readers to think about their ordinary thoughts; it encourages them to travel […]