poem

Benjy:

Moaning and goaning

Drool slides down to hit the ground,

Mind done gone away

 

Can it be, she’s  gone

Away and can’t return today

Why did love die away?

 

Change can never

Occur, for today must stay

The same as before

college essay

Common app essays

Short answer (150 words max):

                I started playing softball when I was ten years and since then it has monopolized a majority of my time over the years. Finding softball strongly influenced my life and aided in my development; teaching lessons in commitment, camaraderie and sportsmanship. Devoting my time to this sport I’ve committed myself to a team to depend on me to do my part. I learned the importance of getting along with others and having ways to handle those harder to get along with. This led me to gain friends I wouldn’t have if not for this sport. To play you must have some semblance of class so as to know the kind of behavior to emulate and set a positive example for younger players. Softball has not only been a passion for me but has also taught me valuable life lessons that help in interacting with others.

Personal essay (250 minimum):

                Upon joining National Honor Society at the end of my sophomore year we were given the specifications to stay in the club; such as the required points and volunteering as a tutor at school. Rushing to finish my points that year, I did not really care what service I did as long as I got the required points. In my junior year I acquired more time to finish the service requirement and more. I became attached to a specific service that occurs in my community; every Saturday in Lion’s Park the poor and homeless gather to be served a meal. By going to a private school and always having been provided for by parents I never realized how many people in any community need the assistance of others to donate their time and money so that they are able to feed themselves.

                The people who go to this event are not usually kempt; usually dressing in the same clothes and aren’t able to even provide for themselves the basic needs. The first time I arrived to help feed the homeless I was shocked at how many people needed the assistance and food. Sometimes the meal they get is the only hot and healthy meal they see that week. It seems like we all take for granted that food will be there on the table for us at the usual times and even a snack without having to worry about it. For these people it is something that they have to think about and to wonder and worry how their next meal will get to them. By providing just one meal a week to these people I am helping to relieve the stress for at least one day.

                Through this experience I have met some very memorable people that though seem scary if passed on the street are not at all what they seem. They are kind and know how to not take things for granted, as I know I sometimes tend to do without thinking. Seeing their thankfulness when giving them      meals is thought provoking and provides a window into their lives. I know that if I was in need of food and went to this, seeing someone donating their time would make me grateful that there are people willing to give without asking in return. Although I do not know what it really is like to go without food as the men and women receiving the food, I have empathy for them because they didn’t plan their life to end up this way and many of them are trying to get themselves out of the situation that they are in.

                The hardest thing to see is the little kids who go, who are very skinny and tiny. I want to do more for them than just give them food once a week. The life they entered into is hard from the beginning and a child shouldn’t have to worry about food or not having enough clothes, they should be playing and laughing and be carefree. Looking at the kids and their parents, I know the parents are working their hardest to change their lives for the kids but that it isn’t easy to provide for all of the child’s needs.

                Feeding the homeless is a very rewarding for me to do as a teenager. I not only know the impact the meal makes on the person I can see it first hand by putting the food on their plates. I only wish that I could do more for the families, because even in a small community there are quite a few that need the help of others to help provide. I can’t even begin to fathom how many homeless there are in bigger cities. I know that I have been lucky; born into a good family with parents that have given me a carefree life, and I have realized that not everyone gets the kind of opportunities I have gotten. I know that helping the less fortunate helps to ground me and allows me to help others instead of only thinking for myself.

( below is another option instead, idk which to use and really revise)

                The summer between my junior and senior year was all planned out; I was going to be busy visiting different schools, going to many different tournaments and working on all the homework my teachers gave for the summer. But, as I now know, things don’t go as planned or even remotely close to how you really want them to. The second week of summer break I was at my travel teams practice taking fly balls when I collided with a girl. I was in an excruciating amount of pain and I couldn’t even stand up. I rolled my pants up to reveal a knee that had rapidly swollen and was throbbing in pain.

                I was then carried off the field to be put down on a picnic table with two moms I had no idea who they were with no means of contacting my parents. After a while the moms there realized that maybe I should have my phone and call a parent since I was very uncomfortable and crying. Why the thought had not occurred to anyone beforehand is beyond me. Once I got my phone I was able to get into contact with my parents and my mom quickly drove over to the field to pick me up and whisk me off to the hospital. Meanwhile, my coach who had left me on the picnic table to go on with practice yelled to let her know what happened.

                Once at the hospital, we cut my pants to give my knee more room since it seemed to keep getting bigger and still throbbed with pain. Then I got x-rays and a cat scan to see what it looked like. Before we even heard what happened a nurse came into my room to tell me that I was having surgery that day and needed an IV! Seeing as I have never had surgery in my life and I had no idea what was going on I was thoroughly freaked out, as most people would be, and so I started to cry. Once the nurse was done prepping me for a surgery I would soon find out I wouldn’t have that day but in a week, the doctor came in to tell me that I had broken my tibia plateau and the only way to repair it was by surgery. When I was discharged from that eventful day at the hospital and got home I was exhausted and quickly went to sleep.

                The next day I found myself going to a surgeon that would repair my leg. I’ve seen this doctor before when I was having trouble with my ankles. He was amazing, showed me my break and explained how the surgery would go and how this is not a break that usually happens in teenagers and all the technical stuff. The week waiting for surgery was no fun, as my split started to get nasty and my fears for surgery kept forefront in my mind. Once the day was upon me the only thing I could think about was how hungry I was! As I got checked in and prepped for surgery (which I plan on being the only surgery I ever need) my family was with me and keeping me calm. When the time was finally there to be wheeled back I said my goodbyes and went to see the operating room. Once they started administering the anesthesia I was out and I remember nothing of what happened for the next probably three hours, though I have heard stories of my having conversations with the doctors and nurses that I have no recollection of. I got to my room and saw my parents and brother and talked for a little while with them before I was out again. I stayed in the hospital for twenty three hours and then was discharged and sent home with a bunch of pain killers.

                My friends and family were great through the entire experience; I got food, flowers cards, phone calls and even stuffed animals. For a few weeks after I spent majority of my time sleeping, eating, watching TV or reading. There wasn’t much I felt up to doing, and I needed a lot of help to do even the simple things like dressing myself or going to the bathroom. The entire situation really was not fun at all and I just wanted to be out on the softball field or really just be able to walk.

                Although my plans for the summer were completely ruined, I also learned a lot about myself. For example I knew that I always liked to do things for myself, but when I had to depend on my mom to feed me and help me do other important things I learned how much I took for granted the basic things I was able to do on my own. I got frustrated and cried a lot the weeks I had to wear a knee immobilizer. I kept wondering why this had to happen to me when I had my entire summer planned out, and why didn’t the other girl get hurt to. I was mad, confused and hurt; continually thinking why did God do this to me?

                As time went on I kept getting better and as I started to be able to do more for myself I began to be happier. My high school coach for my team has been great through this experience and helps me to keep busy at practices by sitting on a stool and bat or throw. My parents have helped me and continually do because they just want to see me get better and be ready to play softball again in the spring. Other family members have sent me their wishes and are on the sidelines cheering and praying for my recovery, along with calling me so I don’t get too bored when I’m home. Friends get me out of the house and doing things, keeping me in the loop when I’m unable to see them as much as I wished.

                I realized that I have a lot of people in my life who really care about me and want to see me succeed and be healthy. The entire experience, though I still wished it had not happened at all has taught me to be more patient, that dependency on others is okay that it does not make me weak and that though it may not always make you happy God has a reason for all of the things he does. I still have yet to figure out the reason this happened to me, but I know there was a solid reason it did.