<p>Prompt: "In the space provided below, please elaborate on one of your activities"</p>
<p>Stepping up onto the diving block, I stared at the glimmering water. I knew that by the end of practice, my body would be exhausted beyond recognition. However, I also knew that in the end, the rewards of swimming would outweigh the cost. It takes perseverance to swim lap after lap, stopping shortly to relieve the screaming of one's muscles. It takes dedication to pull one's self together every morning to even dive into the frosty water. It takes discipline to know the difference between fully finishing a set of laps and "finishing early". But most importantly is that these principles don't just apply to swimming. Whether it be swimming a lap, repairing a patient's kidney, or solving a calculus problem, discipline, dedication and perseverance always play a role. Swimming may just be a sport, but anything that can teach one lessons in the game of life should be cherished.</p>
<p>Great flow. I didn't even consider mine an essay...</p>
<p>"Being a Teen Court Juror involved hearing real cases about teenagers who got involved in drugs, minor violence, or other small offenses. I was able to hear the defendant testify about the incident and ask questions about the event and the defendant. Then, I was able to collaborate with the other teen jurors; occasionally as the jury chairperson, in order to devise an appropriate punishment. I took interest in the Teen Court program due to my interest in being a prosecutor at the time. I had misled myself into believing that prosecutors punished the defendant to the maximum, and in doing so, tried to apply the maximum punishment for all defendants. I eventually learned by the guidance of the other jurors that the biggest punishment isn't always the best, depending on the defendant him or herself, and applied that knowledge to rulings."</p>
<p>I thought you were just supposed to explain one of your ECs...</p>