College Essays
Essay Prompt:
The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? Colleges I am applying to:
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I sat somewhat unbelieving, looking around the room at the adults, all present for my expulsion hearing ---I was sweating, feeling the eyes of my coach, teachers, parents as well as the head of school on me. I hadn’t even completed my first year of high school, and already my energetic and impulsive decision-making was getting me into trouble. As soon as the meeting began teachers recounted stories of my brash interruptions every so often in class, or moments when my passion made me forget my peers. Even though they remembered these boyish outbursts, they also recalled instances of maturity and good-sense where they glimpsed an insightful, and curious student. This hearing allowed me to see and hear what a handful of people I respected thought of me, giving me a different perspective of myself. Even through their disappointment they were able to remember my integrity, and help me see my own potential. Bryce Courtenay, in the Power of One showed me its how you deal with disappointment that makes you who you are.
I make mistakes every day, some days more than others, at least for me mistakes are a part of life. Of course I am always trying to minimize these moments but when they do come I have learned how to hold my head high, take responsibility for my choices and start moving forward. What is driving me to take these risks that often aren’t worth it? I realized it's usually because I haven’t taken advantage of the creative outlets that are available. Whether it's investing in a frisbee or a boogie board I have discovered that there is nothing more important than finding these healthy outlets for myself. Not having these vents to let off some of my steam, just leads to me finding other destructive ways to use my energy. Remembering how good it feels to be outside and either building something with my time or just have fun is something that works to keep me happy and out of trouble. Throughout my whole life I have grown and learned through the lens of nature, at first this was something I did with my family, much to my chagrin. Now I have my own love and respect for the natural world. If I’m not at work or school you can probably find me either swimming through Durango’s Animas river rapids or biking up and down the mountain trails. During the past summers I didn’t find a happy medium between work and play, either overworking myself or just forgetting to do my work. This summer, I paced myself a little more, which gave me the time to have fun and pursue my interests. To learn more about how to work in a kitchen, and support myself I started working as a prep cooking at a local, well respected restaurant where I spent the previous summer's bussing tables. Then I got certified as a Wilderness First Responder and this winter am interning as a Ski Patrol. Managing my time has allowed me to explore more of my interests and passions as well as have have an excellent time and make unforgettable memories. My transition into adulthood is still ongoing, but looking back on my time as a freshman it’s hard not to notice how much I have grown. I am still for the most part the same bold, fun-loving and often impulsive kid but I have become much more self aware and conscious of who I want to be and the mark I want to leave in the world. I know that I need to find stimulation and passion in order to avoid boredom or in other words trouble. I just hope that I never allow my fear of being disappointed or disappointing others to keep me from trying to do my best. I am reminded as Peekay, the main character in Power of One, was told that, “Pride is holding your head up high when everyone around you has theirs bowed. Courage is what makes you do it.” |
Reflection
While writing my college I took way too much time starting my paper over and over because I couldn't settle on a good story to write about. One thing I didn’t realize is that most of my drafts could have worked and that I should have just worked towards making my first story high quality. I could have spent more time on my original idea but instead I was forced to land on an idea later and go with it because I wasted time deleting my first drafts. Next time instead of bouncing around between stories I will try and find a story more quickly and have more time to develop my original ideas.