'I signed up to volunteer for the Special Olympics' - Common App Essay

Describe a place or environment that you feel content. What do you experience there and why is it meaningful to you?

I originally had no idea what I was going to write this essay about. But just a month before I'll be submitting most of my applications, something completely life changing happened to me. I was sent on a photo assignment by my yearbook teacher to photograph the Special Olympics, an event that multiple students at our school were participating in. I hadn't had much sleep the night before, and wasn't extremely excited about driving 45 minutes out to a place I had never been before. I had even gotten lost multiple times on the way. But, when I finally arrived, I was surrounded by something so different from anything I had ever experienced before. Hundreds of people were scattered about in bleachers and on the track and field. The most surprising thing, however, was how much love was being exchanged from person to person. Everyone had so much passion and care for one another and there was no judgment of one another. I had never experience something like that before, where people were caring for each other that much and all just to make this group of people happy. These people were so remarkable and being able to help them feel remarkable, even for a day or a moment, is one of the most valuable things you can give someone. Their smiles were priceless and all of their happiness was evident in their eyes. This was their time to shine, and it felt wonderful to be able to provide them with that feeling. Everyone should be given the opportunity to feel special and be happy, and that's what we were giving them. One of the boys that was participating in the competition even waved at me and I had never talked to him before, just seen him in the halls a few times. It warmed my heart more than anything I had ever felt before. The accepting nature of every single person there made me content. The modern world is a place full of judgment and evils, and when I stepped in this little area of the Earth, all these evil realities seem to disappear. That day, I immediately signed up to volunteer for the Special Olympics, because this is definitely not a feeling I only wanted to experience once. This is where I feel the most content, surrounded by the most special people in the entire world.

- This portion of the essay prompt clearly indicates that the place must be somewhere that you frequent and continuously feel the sense of contentment in. The Special Olympics is a one time event and although I can understand your feelings, I do not believe it accurately answers the prompt. The place has to be somewhere that you are hihgly familiar with, do something regularly in, or just simply, like being there. Places like your house, your bedroom, the park, the coffee shop, library, amusement park, video arcade, your grandparents place, are some areas I can suggest for your consideration.

The place you choose has to relate to the way that you are able to reflect upon life and its complications. Somewhere you can clear your thoughts and just relax, without worries or stress. You can just bask in the place and feel content with everything going around you. Surely there is a place in your life where you often feel this way. It could even be something as abstract as the loving embrace of a person or the smile of friend.

While the Special Olympics is a good occasion to choose, it does not carry the kind of emotional connection that this kind of statement requires. I am suggesting that you reconsider the paper and try to find another place to use for the paper. It will be very good for your application if you do so.