College and accepting myself.

            College application/admission essay: 
          When I was in eighth grade, I was one of the few people to stand out. I didn’t follow the crowd; I was okay with being myself. Unfortunately, kids are brutal in middle school, casting you out for being different. Being in a small school doesn’t help either since there are very few students.

          I’ll admit that I didn’t have many friends when I was in middle school. I didn’t belong to any specific clique, as a result no one really hung out with me. My closest friend was my social studies teacher. I ate lunch in her room everyday, because I didn’t have anyone to sit with in the cafeteria. This was when I began to realize that it was better to be myself than someone else.


At this point of my life I didn’t fit in anywhere, and it did get to me at times. One of the best things my sister said to me was, “You need to go to high school.” This made me realize that eighth grade wasn’t forever, and things would get better. I later found out that she was right.


         I made it through eighth grade, eating lunch in room 214 everyday, venting to my mom and most importantly continuing to be myself. In retrospect, my last year of middle school ended up being a great experience; it gave me the courage to embrace being different.


Today, I’m okay with the fact that at age thirteen, I didn’t have many friends. I’d rather have a few true friends than a bunch of fake ones. My middle school experience has helped me understand that I don’t have to care what other people think of me. I finally like how I am and encourage others to be themselves. 

- I wrote this as an essay on my college application to Eugene Lang The New School for Liberal Arts. The essay question was to write about a time when you were in the minority. I really couldn't think of anything until I ended up writing this (above). 

And honestly, it's true. Being a senior about to graduate high school this year, things really have changed for the better. I do accept myself the way I am. 

I got accepted to Eugene Lang. I went to visit on accepted students day 4 days ago. (My mom and I had to walk in the rain and the wind. It's actually really funny, because we got so wet, even with jackets, boots, and umbrellas.) I do like the school, but I don't love. I'm not gonna go to college at Eugene Lang, but I proved to myself that I was capable of getting in, and I will probably be accepted elsewhere. On the plus side, I got a free tote bag out of visiting!