Essay 13

Essay
1. Who or what influenced you to apply to Syracuse University? 1) After much pondering, I came to the realization that there are many fish in the sea- a seemingly infinite amount. There are limitless types of people in this society. As a lacrosse player, I first learned of Syracuse in connection to its prowess on the game field. I have been following the program for many years, and the success it has experienced lead me to further investigate Syracuse University. In doing this I realized that the university offers many programs that I am interested in and has goals and standards that appeal to me greatly. At Syracuse I will be able to pursue my dreams and become the person I wish to be. 2. Who is the person you dream of becoming and how do you believe Syracuse University can help you achieve this? 3. If you have had work experience, what skills and/or knowledge did you gain? 3) After being introduced to rock climbing many years ago through Boy Scouts, I did everything I could to broaden my interactions with the sport. I purchased my own equipment and became a certified Climbing Instructor through the Boy Scouts of America. However, these attempts at satiation were not enough. I began to pursue possible work that had to do with climbing and was fortunate to be employed by the local YMCA as a Climbing Instructor. Since beginning to work at the facility, I have enjoyed myself more than I ever thought possible. On my first day of work, after having put several reluctant yet excited six year-olds in their miniature harnesses, I found myself unsure of what was to come. Would these small children be terrified? Would they make it half way up the menacing wall? I was nervous for them, much like a father must feel at his son’s first tee-ball game. I felt oddly responsible for their successes and their enjoyment, for if they endured a negative experience on that day I knew that I would never see them again at the base of the wall. As my mind continued to drift, a small hand reached for one of the loops of my harness and an equally tiny voice asked if I was ready. I looked down, only to have my gaze matched by the bright and eagerly smiling face of a young boy awaiting his first rock climb. With the rope secured to him and the proper instructions given he began his push for the summit. Slowly but surely his body rose, his small arms and legs straining against the weight that they were unaccustomed to bearing. As the distance between him and the ground expanded, so did his range of emotions. The fidgety eagerness gave way to nervousness and fear as his mind caught up with his body, noticing that he now dangled 35 feet above the unyielding ground. A chorus of positive remarks and encouraging words flowed from my mouth as I urged him on. This continued for several minutes, the tension in the air building like a shaken soda bottle, until the joyous sound of laughter drifted downwards from the top of the wall and the same tiny voice squeaked, “I did it! Let me down.” After his feet familiarized themselves with the ground, he looked up and matched my gaze once more. Yet this time, I detected no nervousness. In his eyes I was unable to notice any fear, nor any caution. The only things that reflected back at me were pride, confidence, and joy. The young boy had been transformed. Every week from that day on, his face was the first one to peer through the climbing room window ten minutes before I opened the door. I was proud that this boy, the first one I had successfully introduced to climbing, had begun his own personal journey with the sport. These climbing classes soon turned into birthday parties, and I discovered the immense enjoyment I experienced by allowing others to appreciate the activities I held so dear. This enjoyment was, as I quickly learned, far greater than any I ever experienced from the activities themselves. 4. Our mission of Scholarship in Action, education for the world in the world, extends beyond the classroom to include engagement opportunities with our campus community, the City of Syracuse, and locations across the globe. Based on your interests, tell us what real-world experiences you might pursue during your education at Syracuse as part of this mission. 4) As Syracuse University student I plan to participate in the study abroad program in an effort to broaden my knowledge and understanding of other cultures and apply this knowledge to scenarios that I will encounter throughout my life. I believe that the most critical facet of a student’s education is culture, and given the great quantity of cultures aside from our own it is the duty of student to strive to learn about and experience these first hand. My Cuban and German background has helped me tremendously in the past and I can only anticipate what I will gain from further experience with those different from me. Human interaction, often with varying groups of people, is something that is a constant throughout one’s life, and whether I benefit from the Syracuse community or that of a different country, I am more than excited. 8=D

Colleges Sent To
Syracuse: accepted

Credentials
kljl; weighted GPA- 4.0 SAT Math: 800 SAT Reading: 800 SAT Writing: 800