- UVa Essay: What work of art, music, science, mathematics, or literature has surprised, unsettled, or challenged you, and in what way? (250 words)
Have you ever realized that something that you are searching for is not in the details, but instead in the bigger picture? The number of times I have been told "Sam, pay attention to the details", probably parallels the number of times my dog has tried, unsuccessfully, to walk through the glass door leading to the deck. That's why the first time I entered the Library of Congress, I had one goal in mind: find the book I was looking for, and get out. It was sure to be interesting, and the fact that I couldn't find another copy of the book anywhere but there only increased the novelty of the experience. After getting the book, I left, only to be disappointed by the lackluster book. Not inspired at all, I entered the library to return to the book.
Upon entrance this time, I began to notice my surroundings. Tuning out the babbling tourists, I gazed at the high ceilings in awe. Intricate designs, interlacing tiles, and multicolored facets of light seemed to fly off the windows and walls. For me, more than what I had found in my book, was the realization of the building as art. I grew increasingly surprised that the building in and of itself was a piece of art, and one that evoked feelings of surprise in me. As I stood, not noticing the time that was passing, I realized that although details are important for a job well done, stepping back is important as well. The values of looking at the bigger picture have shown themselves by success in school, in my extracurricular activities, and even in my house.
