Example College Application Essay

The day is hot and wonderful, cast in the bright glow of a Florida sun, surrounded by family that envelop the scrapbook of my life.  As one reflects on closely-held memories and experiences, what forms is not a coherent set of linear points on a timeline, we don’t proceed point A to point B, two plus two equals four, this happened then that happened and now I am who I am today; rather, a series of composite generalizations, compiling thousands of days and millions of experiences, happen to meld together into myself as I am today: driven, goal-oriented, persistent to the point of recklessness.  Reflecting on my personal development, the rule of generalization applies to my time growing up: most days were warm Florida days, and much of the time was spent in the presence of family.  These two consistencies, seemingly innocuous for so many years, ultimately have built me into a person with the emotional endurance and unending drive to overcome obstacles beyond myself - both physical and mental in equal parts.

Take the first building block: the heat of Florida.  This state is an outdoorsman’s haven, sports and fresh air and vitamin D filled mine and my brother’s time, leading to the better part of the past two decades resulting in becoming an impassioned athlete - and so easily this fits with the second building block of who I am: my family.  My brother lives with osteogenesis imperfecta.  Just as the bright days pushed us outdoors, my brother’s physical struggle drove me to the field.  Following a spill off the skateboard, my brother spent months recovering from a shattered elbow, and just as I supported his physical therapy and aided his rehabilitation he lifted me up and supported my drive to improve my game. Being lucky enough to call myself a student athlete, it taught me how to persevere against the toughest competition and to always have a positive outlook on life. Playing softball at the division one level has shaped me int0 the person I am today and prepared me to take on any hardships for myself and others in the future. Rooted as much in love for my brother as it was in a desire for honing a physical skill, I stepped up to the plate every time with tenacity and verve that now bleeds into everything that I pursue.

What many people are lucky to never have to consider is the truth that overcoming a physical setback cannot be done without first conquering the emotional turbulence wrought by severe injuries.  I draw on firsthand experience - which works as a double-edged sword for anyone pursuing a lifestyle of improving others’ health and wellness.  Experience is the best teacher, if not the harshest.  After dislocating a knee, physical therapy and rehabilitation had me stumbling on as many emotional hurdles as physical ones - the compounded agony of both was overwhelmingly frustrating.  As many times as a waning of pain would have me hopeful, then again would another muscle tire or another joint give without warning, and I would be reeling in the desire to retire from my efforts. Whether it is a feat of human willpower or sheer hardheadedness, there can be found a shred of perseverance in people who face the greatest limitations, and it is exactly that last bit of perseverance that allows me to run onto the field today.

Rehabilitation of the body is a test that is both physical and mental in nature.  Pushing personal comfort zones, exhausting the body’s limits, and stretching one’s emotional endurance, this is a practice that demands strong and guiding hands, led by patient, and persistent minds.  This test of willpower is one I approach each time with the same thoughtful care and patience as I would give my brother, and the same intensity and persistence that I use to push myself.  The therapeutic healing process requires extreme fortitude of human spirit, and as I reflect on personal experience, it can be said that not only can I overcome obstacles beyond myself, but I am fully prepared to guide others through the arduous process towards the warm and wonderful glow of hope and healing.