College Essay

Its dinnertime on a harsh February night in 2006. I remember how dark it seemed for that early in the evening. The sky was a blank nothing as Dad emerged from the basement, as was the expression on his face. He opened conversation blankly about his promotion to another branch of his company, in Florida. Tears welled up in my Mom’s eyes, I could sense the pain in my father’s voice, I felt it as well, but I fought against mightily.
Seymour, Connecticut is unlike any small town that I know. It’s a place where everyone knows each other, and where the town shuts down on Friday nights when the high school football team is playing. The perfect town for 15 years of my life, a close knit community, where my pre-school friends resided, and all things so close to my heart. I would miss the community, and I would miss the beautiful change of seasons. In Florida, I would have no family, much less love surrounding me, but time slowly changed that. I could think only of being strong for my family, who had never lived outside of Connecticut, knowing they were hurting more than I was. This focus on coping and strength sustained me through the move, until we arrived in our new home.
As I was immersed in this foreign setting, I made a conscious effort to show the new people in my life who I truly was. Speaking to everyone I could, I slowly became involved in more school activities, and I ultimately became the person I am today. I opened my heart to new friends, while the only friends I’d ever loved were many miles away. Through meeting the amazing group of people I now know as my brothers and sisters, I have experienced many more life changing and character forming experiences than I would have if I had not been strong, and looked upon our bad hand with cynicism, rather than optimism. Soon thereafter I took part in my first retreat, where I learned a great deal about myself and the people around me. I connected with people like I never thought I would, changing my life completely. Strength is part of my make- up, but hard work is my advantage. Before the move I had never played football. I took on the challenge, and met it head on with determination and persistence. Recently, I have been elected captain of the team, and I like to think it’s not because I’m the best player out there, as I’m surely not, but because I outwork my teammates. I learned that from living where I had all my life. That anything gained easily, isn’t worth anything. I may not be the smartest, the biggest, the best looking, or the most talented. I can’t build bridges, save thousands of young children in third world countries, or protect my parents from the ugly truth that they don’t love where they live anymore, but I promise that I will try, and I have learned about that from the experiences in my new home. I will stop at nothing. I love, I care, I miss, yet I endure, and better my life. Embarking on the next chapter of my life as a hopeful UF student, my attributes and qualities will impact the university in very positive ways, for I have learned so much, and I will never stop doing so.