College Essay III: Gage

GAGE HACKFORD '08

I am a day dreamer who sits and stares and thinks thoughts that no one else knows; I discover the cure for AIDS, question Khomeini, and write a Pulitzer-winning novel all in my old comfy chair.

I am a musician who feels melodies conduct themselves inside my mind, who tries to find the perfect tone on my silver flute, named Angel, and whose headphones switch between the heart-wrenching notes of Mozart’s Requiem, power chords of Disturbed, and Celtic splendor of Loreena McKennitt.



I am a wanderer whose feet have taken me all the way to Africa, into the slums of Kibera and back, even though I never believed I would make it home, yet didn’t want to leave at the same time.

I am a laugher who chuckles at absurd antics and entertaining movie lines, who appreciates the irony of a situation, and who laughs simply because it feels so good to laugh.

I am a writer who plays with words, always searches for synonyms, and sees the world in metaphor and simile.

I am a historian who delves into facts and dates with relish, survives battles and revolutions, and watches the world’s heroes as they do the impossible.

I am a daughter and a sister who loves my family and shows it by enthusiastically bickering with them as we all cheerfully debate with one another in a conversation that many families would never allow.

I am a spiritual seeker who finds peace in the 108 movements of my Tai Chi form, or in the principles of Yin and Yang, movement and non-movement, soft and hard.

I am a Celt who has stood with thousands of other Celts, clutching my shield, and feeling the wind whip back my hair, bleached blonde with lime, watching as Caesar’s massive fleet of Roman ships arrives on the shores of Foreland to give me trouble.

I am a technology enthusiast who pushes buttons on gadgets and computers, never reading the manual, preferring to discover how everything works myself.

I am a scientist with shaky hands and a morbid fascination, who loves minute details and longs for satisfying results.

I am a contemplator who sits for hours in the tranquil forests of Maine, listening to the icy stream and watching the wind brush consolingly through rugged trees.

I am a reader who loves to curl up on the couch to try and cheat death with Captain Yossarian, or drive through the fields of America with Dean and Sal, or charge into an army of thousands with the Rohirrim as the sun crests over Pelennor fields.
I am a wonderer who usually doesn’t have all the answers to the thousands of questions spinning in my mind, but who is constantly in awe at the ordinary happenings of the world around me.

I am a vivid night dreamer who runs through forests of trees made of eyes, soars through star-strewn black skies, then wakes up and tries to remember what it felt like to fly.
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College Essay II: Minh - "Driven by Love"

MINH LE '08

Every Saturday morning, I wake up in a dream. My day begins at 6 AM, when my mother begrudgingly wakes me up. Once I gain consciousness, she asks, “Where is your life going?” in that disappointed tone only mothers can give. I head to the bathroom and strip down. I stare into the mirror. I try to figure out what I am, and what my worth to society is. I then wonder the same thing: where is my life going? The only answer I have to that question is a shrug from my reflection. I run to the car after my shower. I then take an hour car ride and an hour long train ride. Once I reach my station, I clench my scarf amidst the brisk breeze. After five blocks, two flights of stairs, and three knocks on the door, my odyssey of nuisance finally comes to an end when that door opens. On the other side is a red-headed girl with a look of longing in her eyes. She immediately wraps her arms around me. In her embrace, all my stress, all my fatigue, and all my cold melts away. In that instant, I feel whole.

In my family’s native tongue, the word for “to love” is “yêu.” This word is pronounced like the English “ew,” and that is how my parents regarded my ventures into this emotion. My family has long followed the traditions of filial piety. As a Vietnamese child, my role was to reserve my love for my parents and elder siblings. However, these traditions have long contradicted my own feelings. Outside my home, I have searched for such warmth in the people around me. I have helped children fold paperclips into helicopters in the Museum of Science, aided students of the Haley Elementary School with their multiplication, and hugged my loved ones during every hello and goodbye. My family has taught me what love is, and I try to share that with everyone.

My family has always been less affectionate compared to other families. I have not heard the words “I love you” within my family for years. Instead, I receive daily outbursts of worrying, scolding, and nagging. This, however, is their love for me. They yell at me often, but through that, I hear concern and care. They have constantly pushed me to achieve my full potential. What is most important is that they love me deeper than three overused words can express.
They are motivated by something that I have yet to understand. In 1979, my parents fled Vietnam and the Communist regime for the sake of their children’s freedom. The dangers and consequences of their escape can be summed by a proverb that my parents told their parents before bidding them farewell: “Either I will care for the fishes (in death), you will care for me (in jail), or I will care for you when I prosper in America.” Despite the almost certain risk of drowning, capture, and imprisonment, they have reached the land of opportunity so that their children may live a better life than they could. My parents are my inspiration; I push forward to make their grief worth while.

It is the warmth in people that keep me moving. It is the love in our lives that let us feel whole. In my life, I am lucky enough to have my parents, my brothers, my sisters, and my friends. They all have had a profound effect on who I have become today. They have taught me, they have kissed me, and they have ostracized me. Yet, despite the many conflicts and trials, I am ever grateful to everyone in my life for showing me who I am. I finally have an answer to the question that I ask myself each morning. Though there is no clear destination as to where my life is going, I know how I will get there. I am a person driven by my heart. I will do anything to maintain the love I share with those close to me. Whether it means enduring my mother’s persistent opinions, or braving a cumbersome trek to spend time with a friend, I will always do my best for love.
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College Essay I: Liz Cobb

ELIZABETH COBB ‘08

I watch as the furry little fiends scurry spastically around a tree chasing each other. I hate them. While cute and seemingly harmless, squirrels are my least favorite type of animal. Though my fear of this woodland creature that has overly adapted to society may seem irrational, I refuse to abandon my belief that they are underestimated, mischievous beings.

My dislike for squirrels started at a young age. As my family strolled though the Boston Common on sunny afternoons, my sister and I found amusement in watching the adorable critters sporadically stop and start as they darted up and down trees and across the green. I learned, however, that these squirrels were overly accustomed to humans and urban lifestyles. They would relentlessly creep towards us, sensing no threat. My parents, becoming aware of our discomfort, would attempt to frighten the creatures away, only to have the squirrels approach our stroller more closely. My trepidation around the rodent was reinforced years later as a petite sick squirrel entered my yard while I was playing outside. I ran inside and watched as the animal flung itself at our screen door with, in my mind, no motive but to evoke terror in a little girl’s mind.

Throughout my life I have dealt with many of my fears. I have made many presentations and announcements about volleyball games and scientific research in front of my student body to overcome my fear of public speaking. I ventured over 600 miles from home to attend a Materials Science and Engineering program this past summer, have been appointed and elected to numerous leadership positions at my school, such as all-school treasurer and captain of the volleyball team, and was offered a second audition after I tried out for “Design Squad,” a PBS teen reality/engineering television show last spring, proving to myself that my hesitation to stand out or willingly be a leader had dissolved years ago. I even failed my driver’s test the first time and in doing so dejectedly learned to handle my fear of failure. Yet, in my years of maturing and growth, I have not learned to cope with my fear of these unabashed little monsters.

At every college visit, I spy them out of the corner of my eye and evaluate their actions and population, knowing they will be prevalent on every campus. Though the situation is unfavorable, I must coexist with this daunting and devious species. Many times in life I have been forced to accept disagreeable circumstances or frustrating challenges. I have struggled with difficult group projects, overwhelming amounts of work, and excruciating volleyball losses. From these experiences I have learned to face adversity, resolve problems and find ways to adapt to numerous situations. Directly meeting my challenges has helped me learn many strategies for problem solving, but I have yet to overcome my problem with squirrels.

I have been a rational person my whole life. I love finding understanding in various subjects and being able to relate what I have learned to my life. Appreciating the reasoning behind electric fields and the importance of gender roles in Shakespeare’s As You Like It are enjoyable to me. I will happily dispute a theory that seems inaccurate or skewed; when presented with the arguments against my apprehension around squirrels, however, I cannot take them into full consideration or rid myself of this fear. As I look forward to college I know I will have many exciting experiences exploring new concepts, making friends and finding new passions. Unfortunately, it is possible that one will in some way involve a squirrel. I may never truly recognize these furry little fiends as a normal part of my life, and I am willing to accept that.

Elizabeth Cobb will be attending the Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University
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Welcome to the Literary Corner!

Welcome to the newest section of the newspaper web site! The Literary Corner is a joint venture of the Heliconian and the newspaper, meant to bring you creative work that doesn't quite fit into any other category.

Starting Thursday, January 24 (just in time for Junior College Night), we will begin bringing you our first project, a showcase of college essays by the members of the Class of 2008. Check back every Tuesday and Thursday for a new essay!

If you would like to submit your own essay, please contact one of the following people: Dan Katz '08; Jessica Penzias '08; Christopher Tucker (aka Toph) '08.
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