Common Application

Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.

While I was out on boat fishing with my family one day, an incident that would've usually seemed normal turned into one that provoked my thoughts. I thought I had a firm hook on the fish when I pulled it up, but it never stopped striving for its life. Its non-stop struggle soon paid off because it eventually got loose and fell back into the ocean where it could be free once again. The fish's strive for success suddenly made me to think of a time when I did the same thing.

I first switched from a local school environment to an international school environment in sixth grade. For physical education class, we had to do rock climbing. I've never done such thing before due to a different environment. It looked really fun and I was eager to try it out, but due to the unwillingness to mess up in front of new friends and ruin my reputation, I decided to just say I do not want to finish the climb in the middle and come back down. To me, deciding to quit on my own is a better choice or at least looked better than falling off the wall because it does not represent failure. But all these old-fashioned way of thinking changed after another incident that happened in Outward Bound of eighth grade. There was an activity for rock climbing that we could all try out under our own will and my friends encouraged me to take the risk. I did not want to try at first, afraid that of the same thing that I had on my mind two years ago when I had to do rock climbing for physical education class. After a little bit of hesitation, I decided to take on the challenge. Even though I fell down the first time and had to start from the beginning, I did not give up, but instead tried harder and eventually became the one out of the whole group that climbed up the fastest. By achieving this goal in the shortest period of time out of the whole group has been one of my proudest things because I not only overcame the fear inside me, but also took out the courage inside me that has been kept hidden for all these years.

Why does this experience mean so much to me? This is because I can now proudly say that I have encountered a major change in my life that made me into a much stronger person than what I used to be. I've learned to not care so much about what others think but more on what I can and will achieve. By thinking in such positive way, I have become a person with goals that I strive to achieve.

Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.

It tugged hard at the hook. The hook was firmly in its mouth. I pulled with all my might and managed to see it emerge glistening from the water. I gasped a little at its beauty, but it swung so violently, I could not spare any time admiring it. I reached out, grabbed it tightly and pulled the hook from its bleeding mouth. At that moment, it twisted its body with such force, I lost my grip and it fell back into the water with an enormous splash. Instead of disappointment, what I found within me was admiration. It must have been a gargantuan effort, but it made it. It was now, free.

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I had always been paralyzed by fear. Fear of failure, fear of what others might think of me, fear of trying and failing. You name it, I would be fearful of it. There was so much that I wanted to try but fear just kept me on the sidelines. I remember when I was in Grade Six, I gave up rock climbing halfway because I was too afraid of failing, too afraid of slipping and screaming. I knew my friends would only laugh at me. In giving up, I averted failure but also killed my desire for adventure. I stopped pushing myself and experiencing new things.

The image of the fish struggling to be free came back to my mind when I was rock climbing for an Outward Bound activity years later. I was afraid of falling in front of my friends but they egged me on. I started with trembling arms and legs. My heart was beating hard against my chest but I moved on. All of the phantoms of my mind returned. Then, my worst fears came true. I slipped. I clung on with just my left hand and the other hand struggled to get a grip. In those few seconds of slipping and trying, slipping and trying, the fish that got away came to my mind. While I could feel the strength draining away in my left hand, I made one last attempt. I got a firm grip finally and made it to the top. I eventually became the one out of the whole group that climbed up the fastest.

By achieving this goal in the shortest period of time out of the whole group has been one of my proudest things because I have awakened strength in me I never knew I had. This strength and courage to try has seen me through much in my life so far. I have persevered and held on without giving up whenever the going gets tough. I have even used this strength to encourage others in their times of need.

I have the survival instincts of a fish focused on its last ditch at breaking free. I know that with this strength, I will excel in life.