College Admissions Essay: The Peace Corps

Mature. The definition of mature is; one that is fully developed physically; fully-grown. To me, mature means you are able to watch out for yourself and others, you are able to have manners, and you are reliable as well as responsible. Mature doesn’t have an age to it. There are many kids who are very young, for example, six or seven, who are mature. Others don’t mature until they are about thirteen or fourteen. It really just depends on the background of that individual. Maturity all ties into the changes that Scout undergoes in the book To Kill a Mockingbird.

Have people ever told you that you are very mature for your age or that you have an old soul? If the answer is yes then you know the struggle of growing up too fast. Even though someone may tell you “your very mature for your age” may sound like a complement but to me it’s not. From a young age I remember being the kid never outside always in the house reading, writing, cleaning, and taking care of myself even when my mother, aunts, cousins, and grandma were home. I was forced to grow up faster than a child should during their childhood and teen years.

With this calling to be a teacher I want to attend Appalachian State University and gain my bachelors degree in education so I can teach and impact children in a positive way. I can contribute certain qualities to the Appalachian Community like my good leadership skills and being a good listener. I can help other students with their problems by listening to them and then use my discernment to lead them in a positive decision. I love the feeling of teaching someone in a way that they can teach others. I believe that when you feel confident in yourself it makes you feel special, and that is what I want to do for people. I want to lead people into feeling confident and letting them know that they are special, because once you know that you are worth so much, you can succeed in so many ways. I want to be a good role model for my peers and future students and I think that Appalachian would be a great place for me to proceed with these

I believe maturity is not dependent on a person’s age because humans are affected by different situations, are different genders and are raised differently.

Ask my teachers, friends, coaches, and family, they’ll all tell you that I’m mature. The way I hold myself responsible for my life, my studies, and my activities through the good and bad is a unique quality about me that they admire, but also know little to nothing about.

I have always prided myself in being involved in my community. Outside of school, I spend most of my free time volunteering at my church, First United Methodist Church of Waynesville. On Sunday nights I get the opportunity to share my love of music with my peers, leading them in worship as one of the lead singers of the Youth Praise band. On Wednesdays I volunteer teaching elementary school children music as well. I do several other odd jobs around the church as well, whenever I am needed. Besides music, one of my hobbies is hiking. Wilderness Trail is a backpacking ministry for youth based in south west Virginia. The past 3 years I have spent my summer volunteering for a month with the organization, both leading groups as well as helping organize future events. By getting the chance to combine my love to help with my love for the outdoors, it makes for the perfect marriage.

I grew up watching Sesame Street, spending days exploring the thick foliage surrounding my neighborhood, and making as many new friends as possible. I was always allowed to dance in the rain and was constantly reminded that spiders just as afraid of me and I am of them. I never had just one favorite color and I never had just one favorite book. And there were never enough answers to satiate my hunger for knowledge. My parents provided me with occasion to explore my interests and pursue my passions. I found joy in horseback riding, karate, and art classes. So I expressed myself in many ways. I explored creative writing, tennis, and mountain biking. Some hobbies faded into the woodwork, while others remained a part of me. It was my last year of high school where I found a passion that would change everything.

As a student, I have demonstrated many works of service to my community and school. Service opportunities have shaped me into the person I am today and these projects have made me realize how fortunate I am for all that I have. While I've been doing these service projects through the years, it has been a pleasure seeing the joy on the faces of people that aren't as fortunate as I am. Service projects that I have completed include managing the fish booth at the St. Leo's Parish Festival, being an altar server at St. Leo's Parish, helping cook dinner for the Ridgway Fire Department during carnival day setup, participating in the St. Marys Light Up Night by dancing, and Christmas caroling to local residents. I also participated in a zombie/princess

I do not believe that age has anything to do with maturity. I believe that the experiences someone has makes them mature;in addition, I also believe that what a person has been through has a lot to do with it.

When I was younger I had always been described as mature. Although I wasn’t anywhere near being “mature”, it was a word always used to describe me, well-mannered and mature. While my brother was goofy and social, I was shy and serious. We were twins yet total opposites. As a child, because that was the word almost always associated with me, it crae unusual, almost toxic idea about myself. I had to be mature to be what people liked about me. So, it never occurred to me to be able to not take myself seriously and say something like “Oops that was dumb” and laugh it off. For some reason that didn’t make sense to me to say silly things like that.

“You’re going to have to grow up sometime” something my mother still says to me now, even having turned 21 this year. I feel grown up simply because of my age but am I truly? Sure, the exciting times of living on your own, staying up as late as you want, and voting would qualify you as a grown up but honestly being an adult can be a bit of a bummer sometimes. Responsibilities, jobs, and bills; they’re all inevitable. However, we are fortunate enough to experience nostalgia or remember ‘the good old days’, reminiscing on events that remind us of childhood, a time when you hardly had to worry about anything other than your mom finding out that you got your brand new pants dirty after she told you not to wear them outside to play. But it’s hard

Everyday when I walk into work, I put on my pale blue shirt, the one that my coworkers and I constantly complain about, with pride and with a coffee in my hand. I know I have eight long hours ahead of me, and my feet will hurt by the end of the day from the constant walking back and forth, and there is a chance I make some person incredibly upset. Regardless of being cognizant of issues that may arise, I am incredibly content at work, and especially optimistic that I will assist at least someone (even if it is just unfortunately informing them we can only provide resources, rather than assisting). Whenever someone asks what exactly my work is I say, as I was taught, “it is the domestic version of the Peace Corps, and I’m also only in a courthouse.” This does not help many people understand my job requirement, as they just imagine me helping the prosecution, but what I do helps a lot more people than assisting a prosecutor.

Legally when you turn eighteen, you are considered to be an adult. Although this is prevalent, many eighteen year olds are still treated as immature children. Not yet being eighteen, and knowing I still have two years till I “reach maturity”, I personally feel I have matured more quickly than others my age. When I am stressed, delighted, or infuriated I feel as though I handle all manners and emotions at a mature level. In my life, my level of maturity goes unnoticed due to my age.

If someone asked me where I am going to be in ten years, this would be my answer. I will have a great, high-paying job, and beautiful wife and family, and a nice sports car parked in front of my lovely house. When I look into the future, I see myself being successful and happy. Even though I always pictured myself this way, I never worried too much about how I would get there. I feel the Suffolk University can lay the groundwork for making these dreams into reality.

Most people I know, consider me a mature individual. I try to make the smartest choices. I usually stay away from arguments. I try to make sure I am doing the correct thing. I take it as a job, not an object.