Essay Questions

What is your most memorable childhood experience?One of my most memorable childhood experiences could have ended very badly for me. When I was a kid, I was at my own birthday party at a hotel, and I was swimming in the pool by myself after dinner. I did not really know how to swim yet and had gone too far into the deep end. I started to panic because I thought I was going to drown, and I was calling for help but couldn't get the words out loudly enough for my party at the table to hear me. Out of nowhere, my dad comes from behind me in the pool and grabs me and brings me over to the edge of the pool. I had no idea he was even in the pool, and nobody had noticed I was about to drown but he appeared, out of thin air, and saved me. This sticks with me to this day and makes me think that no matter what happens my dad will always be there to help me when I need it most.
What immediate family member do you closely identify with and why?I most closely identify with my brother. We are only 11 months apart in age and get along really well. We have similar interests that include sports, going out with friends, and occasionally playing video games together. We have been this way most of our lives but especially after I graduated high school.
What character traits do you admire in an individual?Some of the character traits I admire in an individual include honesty, loyalty, intelligence, and humor. I don't like being lied to, even if it is hard to hear the truth. I like it when my friends, family and significant others are loyal to me as well. I like being around intelligent people because we tend to take after traits of those around us and I like learning from others. Lastly, a sense of humor I believe is a good characteristic to have in almost any situation.
What is the funniest thing ever to happen to you?There are multiple stories I could tell, but one event that always makes me laugh when I think about it happened when I was about ten years old. Growing up with brothers, we would always rough house and play fight each other and my older brother and I were messing around. He chased me into my parents’ room, and I jumped on the bed and started kicking my legs at him. I accidentally hit him in the groin, he grabbed the area, and started to turn around in pain. As he turned around, he hit his face on the bedroom door that was about halfway closed. This made me laugh so hard that my abs started to hurt, and I couldn't even breathe. There have been many times in my life where I could've used a laugh and the thought of this image changed my mood instantly.
If time and money were not an issue, where would you travel and why?I think I would travel to Switzerland, specifically in winter months, if money were not an issue. I think that Switzerland is really beautiful in the winter, and I would love to see some of the best tourist locations there and participate in winter activities such as ice skating, sledding, or just sightseeing. I have never been out of the country, let alone overseas and I think Switzerland would make a great first trip.
When and if you ever have children, what would you like to pass on to them?I would like to pass on athleticism, intelligence, and independence onto my children. I would love to play sports with them while they are growing up like I did with my dad and brothers. Of course I want my child to be successful, and one huge advantage is intelligence, especially if you apply yourself in high school, you can set yourself up really well for college. Lastly, I want my children to be independent enough to be able to do things on their own, but still be comfortable asking for help.