College Application Essay
Uploaded by CollegeKid2002 on Oct 25, 2001
John F. Kennedy said, "ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." It is in the spirit of this quote that I write: what can I do for Chicago?
In the classroom, I can do much more than warm the seat. My knowledge of most subjects is wide and, in places, deep. This gives me a good initial base for any class. I know many study skills necessary to get studying and research done in the shortest amount of time, leaving me with time to do extra work or, of course, free time.
When I know relatively little about a topic, I am eager to learn more. I accept new ideas, but not passively; it must stand up to critical thinking. My mind is neither stagnant nor closed, but it is not uncritical.
In addition, I am good at discussion. I am on the speech team at my school, and my event is discussion. To do well, one must be able to think quickly, clearly, and critically about what another contestant is saying. This skill carries over into the classroom, both in high school and in college. I can add a lot to class discussion.
Outside of the classroom, I have much to offer. One of my talents is chess. I am a powerful player on the North Central team. Chess, however, is only one way I spend my time. I have a computer, with which I play and program games--as well as type college essays.
Athletics are important to me. Like most Hoosiers, I love basketball. I compete in a local basketball league. I play a decent game of raquetball, and I pick up a tennis racket occasionally, too. I like to play football with a few friends, and am always ready for a game.
My background is more diverse than an Indianapolis suburb. I lived for seven years on a farm in southern Indiana, where my family farmed river valleys amid rugged hills and deep hollows. The experience of independent, isolated living--it's just you, the corn, and the cows--has given me an introspective personality and, surprisingly, a broader view of the world.
Those agrarian years, which contrast sharply with my time in the northern `burbs of Indy, give me--and offer you--an interesting, well-rounded outlook on the world. I am a blend of two opposing lifestyles, and my thoughts, ideas,...