My first short essay for Stanford is a bit cliché. But then again, I think all college essays are cliché on some level or another. They all have the subliminal message of "I'm great. Accept me into your college."
Jot a note to your future roommate relating a personal experience that reveals something about you.
Dear Future Roommate,
Dignity is sacrosanct to me. With every action I take and every decision I make, I bear the consequences in mind, knowing how my dignity will be affected.
I recall one day of my junior year in my Chinese class when Michael, a popular senior, inquired as to whether or not I would ever box another popular senior: one that had a particular grudge against me. I considered his hypothetical question—after all, it was just another one of Michael’s jokes—and replied no. I didn’t know much about boxing; in fact, I hadn’t even heard of high school students boxing until I met him. He then took the hypothetical situation one step further: would I do it for sixty dollars? This changed the nature of the question. No longer was it hypothetical; before I knew it, he, along with the class, was urging me to accept his deal and to fight the senior. Then it was another sixty if I won—a potential $120 at my fingertips. I stood by my decision and watched my classmates’ jaws drop as they uttered, “Not even for $120? Are you crazy?” At that point I felt completely alone. My peers urged me to accept the deal, seeing nothing wrong with a lanky, four-eyed nerd going head to head with an athletic senior.
To their disappointment, the match never took place. What others may have considered cowardice was actually pride—pride in myself and in the things I believe in. Had it been for something I truly believed in, I would not have hesitated to accept, but I do not believe in engaging in violence for money. And if no one else will stand up for what is good and just, then by all means I will stand alone.
And now you know what I mean by cliché. I know you've all seen that poster that says, "Stand up for what you believe in, even if you're standing alone" and there's that stick figure guy who looks kinda lonely. [even though, personally, I've always thought he just didn't have friends] Tell me if you guys think this goes beyond the point of tolerable banalness. And be honest. And start all your sentences with and. And end them all with and.
Disclaimer: And I wrote this in about twenty minutes and it's rough draft and.