University of Chicago: If you could balance on a tightrope, over what landscape would you walk?

University of Chicago: If you could balance on a tightrope, over what landscape would you walk?

     My heart is pounding in my chest. Sweat is beading up on my forehead. The only thing separating me from the world beneath me is the tightrope I am balancing on...

     I am terrified to look anywhere except straight ahead, but my curiosity gets the better of me and I steal a glance down. When I do, my heart stops for a moment. I knew I was suspended over the Grand Canyon, but I had underestimated how deep it is. I am not afraid of heights, but the mile long drop makes my legs tremble slightly. Still, the view is breathtaking. I have always wanted to visit this national park. I had never imagined seeing it while walking a tightrope, but I love the birds-eye view. I can see the the canyon in its entirety from this angle.

     Only when the rope begins to sway do I remember I must keep moving forward. I take every step tentatively knowing what lies beneath me. Balancing on a tightrope is difficult in and of itself, never mind while suspended over the Grand Canyon, but I like a challenge. I take a deep breath and push myself forward. At first, I take small, nervous steps, but after a while, a surge of confidence runs through me and I start to move at a steadier pace. I remember not to let myself get too confident, though, because that could just as well end in disaster.

     As I reach the finish line, I am able to breath a little easier. When I reach the end of the rope, I step onto the ledge and turn around to face my accomplishment. A feeling of pride runs through me as I listen to the echoes of my friends and family on the other side of the canyon cheering for me. I had not heard them while on the tightrope. All I could hear was my heart pounding in my ears. Now that all of my senses are working again, I try to take in every detail of the canyon, from the jagged edges of the walls, to the rivers below, and to the different shades of color all around the canyon. It is truly awe inspiring.

This I Believe Essay (Final)

Be Your Own Person

                Have you ever wanted to fit in so badly you lose sight of who you really are? I have. Fitting in was once the most important thing to me. I always wanted to shop at the same stores, wear the same clothes, and act the same way as everyone else. I wanted to be included in what I thought was the “popular” group. I thought the only way for people to like me was to blend in with the crowd.

                Throughout middle school, I spent so much of my time worrying about what other people thought of me, that I wasn’t letting people see who I really was.  I wasn’t being honest with myself either. I was trying to convince myself that I was something I was not.

                At first, high school wasn’t much different. I would find the people who I thought were popular and conform to their lifestyle. I would feel uncomfortable because I kept thinking, “This isn’t me.” I stayed silent most of the time in fear that I would say the wrong thing, and everyone would turn on me. I just wanted to be liked…

                But then one day it hit me. Somewhere between wanting people to like me and being something I was not, I met some people who made me change my view. I was not afraid to open up to them, nor constantly worrying about the right thing to say. I realized who I was, and what I wanted to be. I was finally able to be myself. They accepted me for who I was, not who I was trying to be. They became my best friends throughout high school, and introduced me to new people who I felt comfortable around. I didn’t feel as though I needed to impress them. I could relax and have fun for the first time. I learned what it was like to be popular among my friends.

                Those friends taught me that it is not a bad thing to stand out in the crowd. They taught me that it is alright to dance when no one else is dancing, or to sing when everyone knows you can’t. They taught me that you should wear the clothes you like, not the ones you think other people will like. Forget about the people who don’t like you, and stay with the ones that do. I’ve learned that it is not worth it to put on an act. You will feel more comfortable with yourself, and you will find true friends if you just be your own person. This I believe.

Diagnostic Essay Talk Back

Do you feel that I have missed something that should have been addressed? Is there something you think worked well but that I didn't comment on or are you unsure about how well something worked in your paper that you would like clarification about? Please explain.

Your comment was very helpful in understanding where my essay needs work. I understand that my argument could have been stronger with support from the sources. I see where I could have divided the second paragraph into two topics as you mentioned. I think you covered the main points of the essay, and further clarification is not needed.

Do you feel that you can take something of what you've learned from this assignment and transfer that lesson to other writing in this class or elsewhere? Please explain precisely what that transferable element might be.

The comment was very useful in helping me understanding my mistakes and where my essay could have been stronger. Needing sources in my writing is something I will be able to use in other assignments, and I will pay more attention to which point of view I am writing in. Also, I will try to further develop my arguments in future assignments.

This I Believe Essay Post-Write

This I Believe Post Write

How do you feel about the paper so far? Please explain and offer evidence from the work.

I like the concept of the paper, I just don't know if I told the story in an interesting way. I like the conclusion paragraph. I think it wraps up the paper well, but the body paragraphs may need to be added to.

What remains to be done? Please be precise.

I need to add more detail to some of the paragraphs, and maybe change some of the wording. I am afraid that I may have been too repetitive, so I have to add new ideas.

What questions do you have for readers about the piece?

1)Was the piece interesting? If it wasn't, what can I do to improve it?
2) Was it too repetitive? If so, in what parts?

This I Believe Essay

Be Your Own Person

I believe in being your own person. Although, this was not always the case. Fitting in was once the most important thing to me. I always wanted to shop a the same stores, wear the same clothes, and act the same as everyone else. I wanted to be included in what I thought was the popular group. I thought the only way for people to like me was to blend in with the crowd.

That was in middle school. I spent all my time worrying about what other people thought of me, that I wasn't letting people see who I really am. I wasn't being honest with myself either. I was trying to convince myself that I was something I am not.

At first, high school wasn't much different. I would find the people who I thought were popular and try to fit in with them. Most of the time I would feel uncomfortable because I keep thinking, “This isn't me.” I stayed silent most of the time in fear that I would say the wrong thing. I just wanted to be liked....

But then one day it hit me. Somewhere between wanting people to like me and being something I am not, I met some people who made me change my view. I was not afraid to open up to them, or constantly worrying about the right thing to say. I was able to be myself. They accepted me for who I am, not who I was trying to be. They became my best friends throughout high school. They introduced me to new people who I felt comfortable around. I didn't feel as though I needed to impress them. I could tell they liked me for me.

Those friends taught me that it was not a bad thing to stand out in the crowd. They taught me that it is alright to dance when no one else is dancing, or to sing when everyone knows you can't. They taught me that you should wear the clothes you like, not the ones you think other people will like. Forget about the people who don't like you, and stay with the ones that do. I've learned that it is not worth it to put on an act. You will feel more comfortable with yourself, and you will find true friends if you just be your own person. This I believe.

Diagnostic Essay on Using Technology

   There is no disputing that technology is prominent in the modern world. In every direction, someone is using a cell-phone, an i-pod, or another electronic device. Copies of newspapers, magazines, and books are all found online. Anything wanted to be found is virtually just a click away. In today's world of computers and the internet one may consider if there is really a use for books and other print sources in the education process. Although technology and internet sources are highly useful and important in education and writing, and should be used in addition to print sources, they should not override print sources and handwritten assignments.

     The internet is very useful when researching many topics. Different tabs could be open simultaneously, each containing a different topic or source, while also drafting your writing in a document. Although this is convenient, if this is the only way a person researches, it will weaken their ability to search for a specific topic in a print source. It is important for a person to have knowledge of both. Also, if a person only does their writing in a web document, they are unable to see their writing grow. It is important for a person to be able to see their mistakes and their revisions. When a person has a hard-copy of their work in front of them, cross-outs and write-ins and all, they are able to see how their writing has grown. If the writing is solely on the computer, with corrections make with the backspace key, the person can not see their original mistakes and revises, which will not allow them to view the growth of their writing.