<h2>I'm answering the 4th common app question (Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.). My essay is currently 755 words long which is as long as I want it to be, so please don't try to add a new paragraph or anything. I'm afraid my fourth paragraph may sound a bit braggy and that my transitions may need work. Any help or comments are appreciated. Without further ado.....</h2>
<p>In the vast pantheon of film and literature there are no two characters more opposite than Atticus Finch and Hannibal Lecter. Lecter is presented as an amalgamation of humanitys evils, a figure so sinister; he can scarcely be called human. He is an entity immune to analyzation or dissection. Lecter is pure malice, evil incarnate. Conversely, Atticus Finch is the embodiment of our dearest values. Atticus likewise seems to transcend humanity, albeit in a different way. His infinite benevolence and wisdom make him seem more saint than man. He exists solely to help other people, while Hannibal lives to consume them. Atticus is a champion of justice, unflinching in the face of hatred and adversity. Not surprisingly, subsequent to the release of the book, many pre-law students cited Atticus as the figure they most wanted to emulate. However, rather than striving to become the angelic Atticus or the demonic Lecter, I follow in the footsteps of Luke Skywalker, and not just because it means having a light saber.</p>
<p>The key to Skywalkers immortality is his identifiability. He is a rebellious teenager whose head is filled with dreams of greater things. He is neither an angel nor a demon; he is a normal adolescent trying to grow up in a world too small for his potential. However, Skywalker matures, grows stronger, and overcomes steep challenges to protect what is dear to him and become the man he always aspired to be. In Skywalker I have always found a role model who I could identify with, yet still emulate.</p>
<p>In sophomore year I joined the wrestling team and endured one of the harshest experiences of my life. I was subjected to physical torture by my coaches. My back still aches upon recalling how, weighing 154 pounds, I was forced to run up flights of stairs while carrying a 220 pound wrestler. I think of being hungry for three and a half months, forced to subsist on a diet of nectarines, water, and curds. In junior year I took three AP courses. I studied for hours every night, often returning late from rehearsals or practice and having to study through the early hours of the morning. I remember the shock of receiving my first ever D on an AP chemistry test, despite my hours of studying. However, the challenge of these experiences made me reflect back on Skywalkers journey. Surely if Luke Skywalker could shoot a proton torpedo into a two meter exhaust pipe, destroying the Death Star, I could run one more flight of stairs or do ten more chemistry problems. I survived wrestling season and achieved an A in chemistry one quarter. Witnessing Skywalkers displays of conviction instilled in me a fierce sense of determination and a belief that I could not only get past hardships, but be made stronger by them.</p>
<p>Skywalkers most important aspect however is not his own power, but his ability to inspire and instill strength in others. In 2004, my friends and I entered a worldwide problem solving competition that tested our logical and creative abilities. Our task was to create an 8 minute skit, set, and props to solve this long term problem with a budget of only $150. We would also solve a smaller problem, called a Spontaneous, given to us at the competition. As we neared the deadline of the contest, stress in the group lead to infighting. Some group members wanted to give up; they felt we were not ready to compete. In response, I scheduled extra skit and Spontaneous practices. I gave everyone, including myself, a job so that they could contribute to the bettering of our skit and be too busy to fight. I compared our practice scores to the ones from the beginning of the year to motivate my team mates through visible improvement. To avoid a dispute, when time came to pick the Spontaneous team (5 of 7 could participate), I chose which members would compete based on the strengths that they had displayed. We placed 1st in the state and 3rd at the world finals in Colorado. Just as Luke led the victory against the empire; through inspired teamwork we had accomplished an equally impressive feat.<br>
Through medicine and future hard work, I hope that I can one day become a man who can overcome any challenge with sufficient drive, one who helps all those around him through his efforts, just like Skywalker. Skywalker may one day fade from the public memory, but his force will be with me, always.</p>