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It took me eighteen years to realize what an extraordinary
influence my mother has been on my life. She’ s the kind of
person who has thoughtful discussions about which artist she
would most want to have her portrait painted by (Sargent),
the kind of mother who always has time for her four children,
and the kind of community leader who has a seat on the board
of every major project to assist Washington’ s impoverished
citizens. Growing up with such a strong role model, I developed
many of her enthusiasms. I not only came to love the excitement
of learning simply for the sake of knowing something new,
but I also came to understand the idea of giving back to the
community in exchange for a new sense of life, love, and spirit.
My mother’ s enthusiasm for learning is most apparent in
travel. I was nine years old when my family visited Greece.
Every night for three weeks before the trip, my older brother
Peter and I sat with my mother on her bed reading Greek myths
and taking notes on the Greek Gods. Despite the fact that
we were traveling with fourteen-month-old twins, we managed
to be at each ruin when the site opened at sunrise. I vividly
remember standing in an empty ampitheatre pretending to be
an ancient tragedian, picking out my favorite sculpture in
the Acropolis museum, and inserting our family into modified
tales of the battle at Troy. Eight years and half a dozen
passport stamps later I have come to value what I have learned
on these journeys about global history, politics and culture,
as well as my family and myself.
While I treasure the various worlds my mother has opened
to me abroad, my life has been equally transformed by what
she has shown me just two miles from my house. As a ten year
old, I often accompanied my mother to (name deleted), a local
soup kitchen and children’ s center. While she attended meetings,
I helped with the Summer Program by chasing children around
the building and performing magic tricks. Having finally perfected
the “ floating paintbrush” trick, I began work as a full time
volunteer with the five and six year old children last June.
It is here that I met Jane Doe, an exceptionally strong girl
with a vigor that is contagious. At the end of the summer,
I decided to continue my work at (name deleted) as Jane’ s
tutor. Although the position is often difficult, the personal
rewards are beyond articulation. In the seven years since
I first walked through the doors of (name deleted), I have
learned not only the idea of giving to others, but also of
deriving from them a sense of spirit.
Everything that my mother has ever done has been overshadowed
by the thought behind it. While the raw experiences I have
had at home and abroad have been spectacular, I have learned
to truly value them by watching my mother. She has enriched
my life with her passion for learning, and changed it with
her devotion to humanity. In her endless love of everything
and everyone she is touched by, I have seen a hope and life
that is truly exceptional. Next year, I will find a new home
miles away. However, my mother will always be by my side.
** ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE COMMENTS **
The topic of this essay is the writer’ s mother. However,
the writer definitely focuses on herself, which makes this
essay so strong. She manages to impress the reader with her
travel experience, volunteer and community experience, and
commitment to learning without ever sounding boastful or full
of herself. The essay is also very well organized.
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