<p>This is my first SAT essay, in 25 minutes [almost exactly]. It's from the SAT Blue Book.</p>
<p>Prompt: "To change is to risk something, making us feel insecure. Not to change is a bigger risk, though we seldom feel that way. There is no choice but to change. People, however, cannot be motivated to change from the outside. All of our motivation comes from within."</p>
<p>Assignment: What motivates people to change? Plan and write and essay...blah blah blah.</p>
<p>Essay: "People are typically motivated to change by a realization that their old habits are now outmoded, and that to move forward and embrace new and different habits is the best course of action.</p>
<p>The novel I Am Legend demonstrates a motivation toward change. In this story, a scientist finds himself the last living human in a world populated by vampires. For a time, he battles the vampires and searches for a "cure" to return the vampires to humanity. However, his efforts are ultimately futile, and he cannot find a solution. The scientist finally realizes that, rather than change the world to suit himself, he must change himself to suit it - that a new world has risen, and he is not a part of it. Thus, the scientist, discovering that his way of life no longer makes sense, kills himself and allows the vampire world to continue, knowing that this change is the most logical course of action.</p>
<p>I also demonstrated a motivation to change, during my Sophomore year of high school. Up to this point, my grades had been decidedly "average" - I rarely challenged myself or worked hard. However, when I realized that it would take more than "average" to enroll in the college I wanted to, or pursue the career I dreamed of, I made a commitment to change. Once I realized that my old habits were incongruous with the future I hoped for, I worked much harder and therefore saw an upturn in both my grades and the possibilities for my future.</p>
<p>Finally, examples of motivation to change can be found throughout the course of human history. Since the beginning of mankind, people have searched for ways to change, and therefore improve their lives. From utilizing fire to warm our bodies, cook our food, and provide light, to developing faster and more powerful supercomputers to solve incredibly complex mathematical problems, we as humans have always possessed a motivation to change in hope of a better future.</p>
<p>Therefore, it is clear that people have frequently been motivated to change, most often by the realization that doing so will ultimately produce satisfactory results."</p>
<p>On a second reading, there seem to be a lot of errors. Oh well. </p>
<p>Don't pull any punches :)</p>