Personal Statement #3 A special place

1. Personal Statement #3A special place

2. Journal Think about a place where you feel at ease. Why is this place so special? Describe the place in as much detail as possible in at least seven sentences.

3. Imagine yourself nine monthsfrom now… • http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/06/today-essay/

4. Compare the details…Compare the purpose… John Lennon’s song “Imagine” was sung by Fox’s new show, “Glee.” In one particular episode, a deaf glee club performed this song. I heard it before when John Lennon sang it: unfortunately I did not care much for it. When I watched this episode while the deaf adolescents were singing it, and soon joined by another glee club, it surprisingly affected me. VERSUS I strode in front of 400 frenzied eighth graders with my arm slung over my Fender Stratocaster guitar- it actually belonged to my mother- and launched into the first few chords of Nirvana’s “Lithium.” My hair dangled so low over my face that I couldn’t see the crowd in front of me as I shouted “yeah, yeah” in my squeaky teenage voice. I had almost forgotten that less than a year ago I had been a kid whose excitement came from waiting for the next History Channel documentary.

5. Personal Statement Guidelines • In 250-650 words, describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you? • Draft Due: Next Class

6. Places that may be special to you • You family’s beach house • A mountain home where you’ve been often • The soccer field, baseball diamond, field hockey field, ice-rink, etc. • Your family’s kitchen table • Your back porch • A place in the woods you’ve hiked before • A favorite swimming hole or swimming pool • A campground spot • Batter’s box on the softball diamond

7. Your Examples of Special Places 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

8. Select Your Place Now… Write at least 4 bullet points under your place with detail… (see, hear, touch, taste, emotionally feel) • Example: Cabin where my family goes every summer • Warm sun on the beautiful dock where I skip stones (touch) • Relationship with my brother that grows stronger on vacation (emotional) • The sun rising over the lake (see) • Frogs croaking in the reeds by the side of the lake (hear) • Example: Batter’s box on the softball diamond • The beautiful weather during baseball season (touch) • How much my first coach meant to me (emotional) • The feeling of anxiousness and anticipation before hitting a pitch (emotional) • My teammates supporting me when I’m at bat (emotional)

9. Tips and Tricks Details, details, details… The lake where my family goes every year is special because there are frogs. VERSUS When standing on the dock in front of the cabin, I can hear the frogs croaking loudly in unison and the wind rustling in the reeds all around. It is the sound I’ve associated with summers throughout my childhood.

10. Tips and tricks… Before you go further…make sure you have a PURPOSE for telling about this place… what is it you want this place to tell about YOU?... Write the purpose on the top of your page. Ideas: To show my grandmother has influenced me to be a chef To show where I obtained my love of science/math/English To show I am family oriented To show I am a natural person who likes the outdoors To show I’m athletic and involved in sports To show I love an academic challenge To show I am a good friend willing to help my friends

11. Sample Essays / Ideas • http://thisibelieve.org/essay/7260/ Look for… DETAILS and PURPOSE

12. Personal Statement Guidelines • In 250-650 words, describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you? • Draft Due: Next Class