PERSONAL ESSAY 27.

In order for the Committee on Admission and Aid to get to know you better, answer the question below in the form of an essay. Are there any significant experiences you have had, or accomplishments you have realized, that have helped to define you as a person? Have you ever wondered how long it takes to change your life? What measure of time is enough to be life altering? Is it four years like high school, one year, or an eight year rock tour? Can your life change in a month, a week, or a single day? We are always in a hurry to grow, to go places, to get ahead but when we re young, one hour can change everything. Alms, alms. Spare me a piece of bread. Spare me your mercy. The dialogue that moves the life out of me as I was making my way to the center stage with one arm on my tummy and the other stretched out to the audience. I can feel my legs shaking and every inch of my body getting colder as if my veins were being injected with fluids that have uncontrollable forceful exertion. What s even worse is seeing a hundred faces watching my every move with their watchful eyes. So, I imagined my mom being the only person present and not a moment later, I became more relaxed and confident. It was a week before our foundation day celebration. My adviser asked me to stay after our last period. I panicked when I heard this. I thought I would be reprimanded though I didn t remember doing anything against the school rules. So, I started making conclusions but my thoughts were ceased by the bell. Unexpectedly, all my conjectures were wrong. My adviser was giving me a chance to represent our batch in the declamation contest. I thought twice on taking the part. The piece was emotional and dramatic and I didn t think I can pull it off especially with a short time left. Not to mention the fact that I was the youngest contestant. In the end, I accepted the challenge. In less than seven days, I trained with unearthly knead and determination. I focused all my energies into practicing for this sole aspiration. For every remaining day, I practiced endlessly staying up till midnight with my mom. Every evening, I could be found talking to myself and acting in front of a mirror. Hours of constant rehearsing had improved my actions and speech. Days passed too swiftly .

The contest had too quickly arrived, and I still did not feel prepared for the trial which I was to confront. That afternoon, while everyone else was enjoying the rides and unlimited food, I was reciting my piece over and over again. After dressing down and putting coal on my skin, I sat down on the cold wooden floor, closed my eyes, and focused. I cleared my mind of every thought, every worry, and every insecurity and said a prayer. When I opened my eyes, every sense and nerve had become sharp and attentive, every motion finely tuned and deliberate. Let s all welcome Marian Perote! I took a long deep breath and started walking from the corner. At the climax of the awaited time, tears started to roll down my eyes. I became so emotional and the feelings were real. Suddenly, I heard loud claps and cheers from the audience. It was the most wonderful thing I ve ever heard in my life. I felt on top of the world. Shortly after that, the winners were announced. My heart was racing. I was thinking that the older contestants would win. And the winner is Marian Perote! It felt great to hear my name. Never before had I held this prize in my hands, but through pure, salty sweat and vicious determination, the achievement that I had desired so dearly and which meant so much to me was mine at last. This one experience, this one instant changed me forever. That day I found self-confidence and discovered that perseverance yields its own sweet fruit. That day a sense of invincibility permeated the air. Mountains were nothing. The sun wasn t so bright and brilliant anymore. For a moment, I was the best. A lot of people congratulated me even the parents of my schoolmates. From that day forward, I felt better about myself. People see me differently. Now, I m always invited to do intermissions and host programs in our school. I gained confidence and self-belief. If it wasn t for this, maybe I ll still be in my shell waiting to come out. Now is the time for us to shine, the time when our dreams are in reach and possibilities, vast. Now is the time for all of us to become the people we always dreamed of being. This is your world. You're here. You matter. The world is waiting.