<p>I want input on the essays, though it is close to being too late.
Essay One:
Volunteering with the Special Olympics over the last four years has been enjoyable, but it has also been challenging and troubling. As I have gotten to know the adolescents in this program, I have delighted in their triumphs and agonized over their struggles.
Last year, Mr. Williams, the coach of the team, decided that we would play the season in a unified format, in which I would play in games along with the mentally handicapped teens in the program. Even though we sometimes were unable to win against the older teams, the experience of the season brought me and my teammates joy. One particular memory shines through as my favorite not only in my time volunteering with this team, but also as the happiest of my entire career in sports. We were down one point with ten seconds remaining in the game. My teammate Antoine was at the foul line with two shots and the chance to win the game. Antoine made both shots, and the next thing I knew three of my teammates were coming over to jump on me, and we all celebrated on the court for a long time. I had never seen the team, and especially Antoine, so happy. The next week at practice, the team was still talking about the great last-second win.
There are other instances, however, when Ive become sad while volunteering with the Eagles. I was very upset during this years first practice, when Henry, another player on the team, kept soiling himself on the court. I could see the shame and embarrassment in his face. I felt compassion and sympathy, but I could do nothing to help Henry control his bodily functions and take away his pain. It was at that moment that I realized how deeply I cared about my teammates. Another disturbing moment came when Mr. Williams and I were talking while my teammates were taking a water break. I asked what the people in the program go on to do once they graduate, by then young men. I was disappointed when he told me that they sort clothes at Goodwill, if they are lucky, and remain living with their parents, or even worse, in my eyes, move to a residential facility for the mentally handicapped. I was crushed, because I wanted something better for them. I wanted them to experience the pleasures of usual adolescent rites of passage, like forging out into the world on their own. I wanted someone to be able to help them lead normal lives.<br>
I have been forced to realize the limitations of my ability to help and accept the reality of these adolescents lives. I have come to understand the value of spending my time volunteering with the Special Olympics. Though, sadly, I am unable to change my teammates disabilities, I am able to contribute towards the goal of helping all the players become more aware of their own worth and proud of the courage they exhibit in their lives.<br>
Essay Two:
Many editorial writers lament the current state of political discourse in this country. They have complained recently about the so-called rise of the politics of personal destruction, claiming that constant character assassinations distract from the issues at hand and turn off would-be voters from the political system. I disagree with these editorials. I think that character assassinations are a fundamental part of campaigns in a democratic society, and not an entirely undesirable one. We should consider ourselves fortunate to live when character assassinations result in harsh exchanges of words and not bloodshed.<br>
Popular opinion is that partisanship is currently at an all-time high and civility at an all-time low throughout all levels of political discourse. To evaluate these judgments, it is important to consider history. The reality is that character assassinations in political campaigns are thousands of years old. In antiquity, political campaigns featured fierce attacks on the characters of candidates for office. In fact, the Romans were known to take the politics of personal destruction past verbal attacks right to physical assault. In one of the more famous episodes of Roman history, Marc Antony, upset by character assassinations written against him, ordered the hands of Cicero cut off and so that they would never again write attacks against him.<br>
In more modern times, even in United States, the history of politics is marked by intense struggle and personal conflict. One of the best known examples of character assassinations is the duel between two of the founding fathers of the American Republic, Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton. Burr was so upset over Hamiltons defamatory statements that he demanded a duel, which ultimately ended in Hamiltons death. Another example comes from 1856, in the middle of the contentious debate over slavery. In a rare departure from usual Senate courtesy, South Carolina Rep. Preston Brooks delivered a beating on the floor of the upper house of Congress to Massachusetts Sen. Charles Sumner, believing him to have slandered Senator Andrew Butler. Though politics by its very nature is alive with conflict, todays personal attacks are clearly less violent than those of past eras.
If the modern version of character assignation is careful scrutiny of candidates pasts and aggressive distribution of information via television advertisements, then I believe this is how it should be. Politics is not just a debate over issues. As a citizen, I desire leaders who will be effective, honest, intelligent, consistent, and compassionate. I ought to know the characters of candidates for public office because I have a vested interest in electing the right candidates. To that end, the system as it is encourages mass distribution of information about candidates and trusts voters to make informed decisions for themselves. Running for public office is a decision to open up ones life for public scrutiny. Candidates should be accountable for their past actions and indiscretions, and voters should demand that candidates show their true characters.<br>
Essay Three (Caltech):
I never had to discover Caltech per se because the school has such a prominent national reputation and Id heard of Caltech for many years when I visited the campus in January of 2004. I decided to apply to Caltech primarily because of its outstanding academic reputation for excellence in math and science and the personalized attention that is guaranteed by an astounding 3:1 student-faculty ratio. There are a number of other factors that also make Caltech my first-choice place to attend college: the emphasis on collaborative education, the numerous opportunities for undergraduate research, the core curriculum for freshmen and sophomores, and the Southern California location.
At least from what Ive heard about Caltech, I dont think I fit the profile of most students in that I dont aspire to a career in engineering; rather, I have always dreamed of working in the business world. Though Caltech is not known as a business-oriented school, in my opinion a degree from Caltech is the best undergraduate preparation for a job in todays economy. The line between engineering and business is blurring because of the technology-intensive nature of todays economy, and it is likely that business will be even more technologically dependent in the future. Engineering is more than just a course of study; it is a way of thinking. The mentality instilled by the Caltech core curriculum is invaluable in the business world. The practical, analytical, and systematic way of problem solving taught at Caltech is a great preparation for any career, and, I believe, an especially great preparation for a business career.
Because I have a different career aim, or at least intended field of study, from those of the majority of Caltech students, I think I bring diversity to Caltech in terms of having different aspirations. At most colleges, majoring in economics doesnt contribute anything because economics is the largest department, but at Caltech, majoring in economics boosts the enrollment of a small department. I would try to get to know all of the students in my class so that I have a connection with everyone and also so that I meet those most compatible with me and form close friendships. I believe that I would fit in at Caltech nicely.
I would bring a high degree of intellectual curiosity and academic achievement to the Business Economics and Management department. I love getting up every day and going to school, and I love to gain new insights. Though my passion is for business and quantitative finance, I would bring enthusiasm and eagerness to learn to all my classes. I would seek out personal contact with professors and I would like to take advantage of the research opportunities available to undergraduates. I would also seek out opportunities for original individual research.<br>
Another passion of mine is politics: I would get involved in political organizations and try to increase political awareness and involvement on campus. Community service is something that I would pursue as well. I would want to volunteer within the Caltech community as well as in the wider community, and I would try to encourage others to participate in community service, because community service benefits ones self as well as others. I hope to be able to bring my passion, energy, and enthusiasm to the California Institute of Technology community.</p>