1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
I love my town. In more ways than one it has shaped me as a person. New Paltz is the type of place where you can be walking down the street and almost every person you run into you know. My high school is small and I feel confident in saying that all my teachers make an effort to know me as a person. I love that everyone is friendly and says hi to you in the hallway.
As I prepare to choose the place I will spend the next four years of my life, I wonder: have I been to sheltered growing up in a small town where I know everyone? Am I too comfortable? Even if the answer to these questions is yes, I would never want to live anywhere else.
My best friend and I spend hours outside on her porch swing, which looks out onto a particularly quiet street in New Paltz. As we talk about everything under the sun, contently listening to "The Bangles" Pandora Station people walk or ride their bikes by, sometimes stopping to chat or just waving as they go by. In these moment I am perfectly content and I think that can be contributed to the types of people and the mellow environment of New Paltz in general.
Another incredibly special thing about my town is that we have two nature preserves very close by. My whole time growing up the mountains and these preserves have been a major part of my life. My friends and I go on all day hikes just roaming around the woods or doing a rock scramble with an out of this world view of the surrounding mountains. Everyone in New Paltz is incredibly involved with the environment, especially when it comes to protecting it. It is not uncommon to see signs against fracking or bumper stickers encouraging everyone to recycle. This is probably where my interest in the environment stems from.
In college I hope to study in environmental studies and international relations/global affairs. I can 100% contribute these interest to my town. New Paltz has helped shape me to the person I am today and inspires me to do great thing, maybe even change the world (sorry I know that's corny).
Okay I'm now going to go attempt to turn this brain dump into an acceptable common app essay. ttyl
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Monday, June 8, 2015
sorry for the rant, but I drank a lot of coffee before writing this
Let me preface this by saying straight up I am not the biggest fan of this blog topic. Failure is something I have never been able to accept easily. I guess I am a very optimistic person and failure definitely doesn't come easy to me. That's not to say that I don't fail, because I do... a lot.
Not to be predictable, but I'm going to talk about swimming. I remember very clearly being 10 and behind the starting blocks at the beginning of my race. Here it was, the dreaded 100 breaststroke was finally upon us. I've always hated breaststroke, not with the passion that I hat butterfly, but pretty close. I somehow manage to be moving my arms and kicking as hard as possible without going anywhere, It's a talent really. Okay sorry, I'm getting off topic. Failure, right, okay here we go... So it was race and my coach for god knows what reason had decided to put me in the 100 breaststroke. It's not that I hate this race I just don't like to lose and that's inevitably what was going to happen. I also have issues with admitting that I'm wrong and am too competitive for my own good. Okay sorry, off topic yet again... wow I fail at writing this blog (haha get it?) anyway I heard the single whistle blast, which signaled that we were supposed to step up onto the block. Like any great swimmer (sarcasm) I began to visualize my race, touching the wall with two hands, not belly flopping in the pool, DOING THE CORRECT UNDERWATER. In the midst of all this great visualization I was doing I had failed to notice the buzzer going off and didn't realize it till I heard my fellow swimmers hitting the water. Shit I was late! I dove in and began to do body dolphins (for any of you non-swimmers out there this is considered "illegal" to do when swimming breaststroke) I realized this very quickly and started doing my pull out (aka the right thing to do while swimming breaststroke). I was mortified and was convinced that everyone had notices, especially that mean official who had yelled at me earlier for getting in his way.
Following the race I climbed out of the pool, expecting to be greeted by an official who would tell me the I had been disqualified... but no one came
sorry for the rant, but I drank a lot of coffee before writing this
Here are the rules to breaststroke swimming, just fyi
http://www.fina.org/H2O/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=284:sw-7-breaststroke&Itemid=184
Not to be predictable, but I'm going to talk about swimming. I remember very clearly being 10 and behind the starting blocks at the beginning of my race. Here it was, the dreaded 100 breaststroke was finally upon us. I've always hated breaststroke, not with the passion that I hat butterfly, but pretty close. I somehow manage to be moving my arms and kicking as hard as possible without going anywhere, It's a talent really. Okay sorry, I'm getting off topic. Failure, right, okay here we go... So it was race and my coach for god knows what reason had decided to put me in the 100 breaststroke. It's not that I hate this race I just don't like to lose and that's inevitably what was going to happen. I also have issues with admitting that I'm wrong and am too competitive for my own good. Okay sorry, off topic yet again... wow I fail at writing this blog (haha get it?) anyway I heard the single whistle blast, which signaled that we were supposed to step up onto the block. Like any great swimmer (sarcasm) I began to visualize my race, touching the wall with two hands, not belly flopping in the pool, DOING THE CORRECT UNDERWATER. In the midst of all this great visualization I was doing I had failed to notice the buzzer going off and didn't realize it till I heard my fellow swimmers hitting the water. Shit I was late! I dove in and began to do body dolphins (for any of you non-swimmers out there this is considered "illegal" to do when swimming breaststroke) I realized this very quickly and started doing my pull out (aka the right thing to do while swimming breaststroke). I was mortified and was convinced that everyone had notices, especially that mean official who had yelled at me earlier for getting in his way.
Following the race I climbed out of the pool, expecting to be greeted by an official who would tell me the I had been disqualified... but no one came
sorry for the rant, but I drank a lot of coffee before writing this
Here are the rules to breaststroke swimming, just fyi
http://www.fina.org/H2O/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=284:sw-7-breaststroke&Itemid=184
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Oh the Places You'll Go
Vienna, Austria
Portofino, Italy
Machu Picchu, Peru
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Santorini, Greece
The Great Wall of China
Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Sedona, Arizona
Chittorgarh, India
Travel- all I want to do. This list is just a few of the places I wish to go. I have always felt a strong desire to travel and see the world. I want to experience all different types of cultures and meet people from all walks of life. I want to watch the sunset in Santorini, walk the Great Wall of China, visit a mosque in India, and swim in the Great Barrier Reef. I want to encounter things I never have before and discover new things about myself. New Paltz is such a great place to grow up and I wouldn't want to have grown up anywhere else, but sometimes I feel like New Paltz is a "bubble" and that I am too sheltered.
Growing up my grandparents were (and still are) avid travelers. They have been everywhere from South Korea, to Africa, to the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. I guess that's where my desire to travel originated. They would bring me back things from their trips, always something that represented the culture of the place they had visited. I put these trinkets in my room and glanced at them occasionally trying to imagine these foreign places, full of mystery and excitement.
When I was younger, maybe 8th grade my family went to Arizona over spring break. Even though this might not seem like an "exotic" place or particularly interesting one, it was to me. This was one of my first experience with traveling, sure I had been on vacation, but those were our yearly spots this was special and different. I remember stepping out of the airport it was maybe 2 o'clock in the morning, but of course I hadn't slept at all on the plane ride. We went through the strenuous process of getting our bags and a rental car before driving two hours in the dark of night to Tucson. Waking up the next morning the sun was bright and you could see the heat radiating off the ground, so early and already so hot. That first day we went out and explored Tucson, going on a hike that was unbelievably beautiful granted I didn't appreciate it that much, being a bratty middle schooler and all. The rest of a trip was a blur, but special none the less.
More recently, I visited Mexico with my grandparents and my cousin. It was an amazing experience. We visited the ruins in Tulum and swam in cenotes, which are pretty much the most magical places ever. Cenotes are crazy cave systems with crystal clear water and beautiful, lush, green, vegetation, I'd recommend going to one immediately (and googling it right now). My amazing experience in Mexico made me crave more.
I am optimistic for a future that holds lots of adventure and discovery. There isn't enough time to go everywhere on my wish list, but that's not going to stop me from adding more places to that list.
Portofino, Italy
Machu Picchu, Peru
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Santorini, Greece
The Great Wall of China
Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Sedona, Arizona
Chittorgarh, India
Travel- all I want to do. This list is just a few of the places I wish to go. I have always felt a strong desire to travel and see the world. I want to experience all different types of cultures and meet people from all walks of life. I want to watch the sunset in Santorini, walk the Great Wall of China, visit a mosque in India, and swim in the Great Barrier Reef. I want to encounter things I never have before and discover new things about myself. New Paltz is such a great place to grow up and I wouldn't want to have grown up anywhere else, but sometimes I feel like New Paltz is a "bubble" and that I am too sheltered.
Growing up my grandparents were (and still are) avid travelers. They have been everywhere from South Korea, to Africa, to the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. I guess that's where my desire to travel originated. They would bring me back things from their trips, always something that represented the culture of the place they had visited. I put these trinkets in my room and glanced at them occasionally trying to imagine these foreign places, full of mystery and excitement.
When I was younger, maybe 8th grade my family went to Arizona over spring break. Even though this might not seem like an "exotic" place or particularly interesting one, it was to me. This was one of my first experience with traveling, sure I had been on vacation, but those were our yearly spots this was special and different. I remember stepping out of the airport it was maybe 2 o'clock in the morning, but of course I hadn't slept at all on the plane ride. We went through the strenuous process of getting our bags and a rental car before driving two hours in the dark of night to Tucson. Waking up the next morning the sun was bright and you could see the heat radiating off the ground, so early and already so hot. That first day we went out and explored Tucson, going on a hike that was unbelievably beautiful granted I didn't appreciate it that much, being a bratty middle schooler and all. The rest of a trip was a blur, but special none the less.
More recently, I visited Mexico with my grandparents and my cousin. It was an amazing experience. We visited the ruins in Tulum and swam in cenotes, which are pretty much the most magical places ever. Cenotes are crazy cave systems with crystal clear water and beautiful, lush, green, vegetation, I'd recommend going to one immediately (and googling it right now). My amazing experience in Mexico made me crave more.
I am optimistic for a future that holds lots of adventure and discovery. There isn't enough time to go everywhere on my wish list, but that's not going to stop me from adding more places to that list.
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| Venice, Italy |
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Home Isn't a Place It's a Feeling
The fresh sea breeze brings me to life as I step off the boat and onto the dock, bustling with people greeting each other and trucks ready to take your bags if the walk to your house is to long. As I take in the picturesque landscape, my excitement rises to record highs. I have been coming to Monhegan Island my entire life and summer doesn't feel complete without that blissful week in a half. I rush off the boat and into the arms of lifetime friends. Happy and full of anticipation for the week to come we catch up and it feels like no time has passed since I last saw them. These people only know the "island Lillian," free of stress, ready to have a good time.
It is hard to get caught up with materialistic things on the island, cell phone service is spotty at best and internet is hard to come by, let alone electricity (which our house doesn't even have). In my opinion this is one of the things that makes Monhegan so incredibly special, you are forced to interact with people face to face rather then through electronic devices.
Usually I spend the day by myself or with my family and then meet up with my friends later at night. I cherish those days that I have just to myself. Sometimes I go for a hike, sometimes I hike, and other times I just sit and watch the ocean, taking it all in.
Some of my happiest and craziest moments have happened here. One time I had just gotten off the boat and met up with my friends. I had changed into my bathing suit back at the wharf, so I would be prepared to jump off the dock at a moments notice. All of my friends were gathered around a rusty old bike and one of them said "wanna jump it" before I even realized what i was doing I was agreeing to be the first to jump. As I made my way up the steep hill I immediately began regretting agreeing so hastily. My terror grew even more when I realized the bikes brakes were broken. Scared as hell at the top of that hill I finally let myself go. Shooting down the hill I felt like I was flying, but that didn't even compare to the feeling I had once the bike left the ground and I was falling rapidly towards the blue water. I had to jump off the bike mid-air to avoid hurting myself and landed gracefully (lies) in the water with the bike falling to my right. When I surfaced I couldn't even believe I'd just done that. Now my memory is hazy when it comes to that day, but luckily someone was smart enough to capture the whole thing on video!
Going somewhere for only about a week every year makes you treasure that place even more. You meet people you would never otherwise interact with and become their friend. Monhegan is where I feel most at home and most myself.
It is hard to get caught up with materialistic things on the island, cell phone service is spotty at best and internet is hard to come by, let alone electricity (which our house doesn't even have). In my opinion this is one of the things that makes Monhegan so incredibly special, you are forced to interact with people face to face rather then through electronic devices.
Usually I spend the day by myself or with my family and then meet up with my friends later at night. I cherish those days that I have just to myself. Sometimes I go for a hike, sometimes I hike, and other times I just sit and watch the ocean, taking it all in.
Some of my happiest and craziest moments have happened here. One time I had just gotten off the boat and met up with my friends. I had changed into my bathing suit back at the wharf, so I would be prepared to jump off the dock at a moments notice. All of my friends were gathered around a rusty old bike and one of them said "wanna jump it" before I even realized what i was doing I was agreeing to be the first to jump. As I made my way up the steep hill I immediately began regretting agreeing so hastily. My terror grew even more when I realized the bikes brakes were broken. Scared as hell at the top of that hill I finally let myself go. Shooting down the hill I felt like I was flying, but that didn't even compare to the feeling I had once the bike left the ground and I was falling rapidly towards the blue water. I had to jump off the bike mid-air to avoid hurting myself and landed gracefully (lies) in the water with the bike falling to my right. When I surfaced I couldn't even believe I'd just done that. Now my memory is hazy when it comes to that day, but luckily someone was smart enough to capture the whole thing on video!
Going somewhere for only about a week every year makes you treasure that place even more. You meet people you would never otherwise interact with and become their friend. Monhegan is where I feel most at home and most myself.
Friday, May 15, 2015
Memory, All Alone in the Moonlight
My best friend Nora and I are very close, some may even say inseparable. I practically live at her house on the weekends and on most weeknights you will find us talking on the phone detailing every little thing that happened that day.We share almost everything- music, books, jokes. She knows everything about me, we have no secrets. Her family is my family and I often find myself fighting with her siblings or helping set the table for dinner when I'm at her house (aka my second home). Although we share many equally embarrassing childhood memories I have decided to tell this one because it really sticks in my memory and because it cracks me up.
Let me preface this by saying we really were weird kids, I mean like REALLY weird. In sixth grade we were sitting in the auditorium before school started like every other day, talking about something insignificant probably, when we discovered that both of us had a loose tooth. Being the ridiculous children that we were we decided to name them. Of course we thought it would be hilarious to name the teeth Bob & Sherman because you know that is really f**king funny... well it was to us anyway. We anxiously waited for the day our teeth would fall out.
Brace yourself, I haven't even gotten to the most ridiculous, bordering on metal part yet. We buried the teeth (yep you read that right)... in a cream cheese box... at recess. Using our powers of persuasion we convinced (forced) poor little Meaghan McElroy to say a few words and offer her condolences to our teeth (for falling out?) and then dug a whole in the ground (with a stick might I add), covered them with dirt, and promptly forgot about them for the rest of Middle School.
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| 10th Grade |
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| 7th Grade |
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| 5th Grade |
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