<p>I did way more enjoyable ecs at church than school and I'm wondering whether it may be an issue for top universities. Church has been the only reliable medium for service. My school, filled with the privileged and selfish, has been a horrible medium for me to pursue my desires. I enjoy church and the community and will continue going for the rest of my life, but I'm not religious at all and consider myself an existentialist, but agnostic. However, it brings me great joy to bring people closer to hope and joy, even if it's through something like religion. I plan to write an essay about why I attend church and my love for philanthropy as a non-believer as an existentialist and as to why helping others feel the bliss of religion, money, and hope ( although I am not religious myself ) brings me one step forward to defining my existence. This is the reason I go to mission trips and evangelize - so that others who are hopeless, have hope.</p>
<p>Can anyone give insight? I seem to have excellent reasons as to why I am so focused on church, but I'm not too sure.</p>
<p>School:
Founder and President of UNICEF club , only charity club in entire school hah(11,12) ( Raised 5,000 dollars ) - only leadership position.
Debate Team ( 9, 10, 11, 12) -
Academic Decathlon (11,12)- </p>
<p>Church- ( Spend far more time on these than anything else )
Guatemala Mission Trip ( 1 entire month ) - LIFE changing experience.
Homeless Ministry - Soup kitchen
Nursing Home Ministry Leader and Coordinator
Organized Games for Friday Night Service
Organized Games for lock-in
World Changers - Missions in Memphis,Alabama of house building for communities that struggle with poverty.
Tutoring for Middle Schoolers
New Mexico Mission Trip
Prison Ministry</p>
<p>It is not the type of ECs that matters - it is your dedication and reasons for the ECs; that is what you must explain in your application. What is special about those ECs to you is the key.</p>
<p>They’re EC’s, so what’s the difference? Colleges don’t like school ones better than others, from what I know. If anything, I’d think if outside of school vs. school EC’s were ranked, outside of school ones would be higher, because it shows you’re out in the community helping and whatnot, which seems better than just being in some school club.</p>
<p>I also think that could make for a pretty cool essay.</p>
<p>I can’t put my finger on it, but if I were reading an essay like that, it would bother me. I guess I would think, “Gee, if the student doesn’t really believe in what the church is teaching, why would s/he stay involved with it?” No matter how you explain yourself, it would seem strange to me. Have you thought about joining a group such as the Unitarians? They include people who believe in God and those who don’t at all. (I am not promoting the group, it’s just that I have a close friend who is one.)</p>
<p>I wish I could explain my ambivalence better. I guess it sounds a little patronizing to say, “I don’t believe the nonsense the group teaches, but I know it makes other people feel warm and fuzzy, so I’ll feed 'em whatever they want to hear…” Does that make sense at all? </p>
<p>I understand your concern. However, what you’re concerned about is exactly what I believe in and am committed in doing. </p>
<p>So I view religion as something honestly beautiful and wonderful. While many/most existentialists attempt to reject the systematic dogma of religion and it’s effect on people, I choose to reject the beliefs but adore its effect on people. You will notice that I will never try to force a certain belief upon people, but rather choose to expose them to it or provide them a new, critical view on religion. Even the most nihilistic existentialists may believe that religion can provide hope, happiness, and a shelter from life’s hardships and inevitabilities. It’s a refuge for the damaged. I can’t help but say its true - many people in this world simply can not live with the capability of accepting the inevitability and harshness of life and many end up stuck and in deep hardship, or are simply better off knowing there is some metaphysical hope that can help them. I don’t want to sound exclusive, but it’s a harsh reality - those who lived tough lives are left hopeless, given the inability to truly find the function of their existence. Living as an existentialist really can be a dreary life. If all this fails, hopefully exposure to religion ATLEAST allows them to pursue an essence with greater understanding.
Of course, the emotions Associated with providing monetary value and hope may eventually allow them to begin their venture to discover their own meaning to their own existence.
I’m not going to try and define my own system of “helping others” as defining the meaning of my own existence, but I believe the venture of providing hope and a sense of happiness in others allows me to ATLEAST feel like I’m escaping the binding absurdity of life. Positive emotions will always be positive. </p>
<p>I believe you have every reason to be ambivalent and suspicious. I understand that my views contain flaws, but doing this allows me to understand myself better and engineer my views. My views are odd and honestly I don’t even understand myself completely. I am sure there are other philosophical worldviews that can provide the shelter that provides hope and escapes the systematic pedagogy, but Christianity seems like a very effective medium.</p>
<p>^^ I think you have the outlines of your common app essay. You do not have to believe in something to appreciate its importance to others and be willing to help. This tells me that you respect other people’s opinions other than your own and would help them even if you disagree. Sounds like a damn good neighbor to have and darn good dorm mate as well. I think you have the makings of a very powerful essay, if you choose that route. </p>
<p>I think it depends on the focus of your essay and how you write it. Remember to “show not tell”. If you can recall a certain event or story that reflects who you are, then whether or not it is a church activity and what you believe or don’t believe is going to be secondary to the character and personality traits you show in the story. </p>