Annie Stone
Ms. Amberg
Expos: Period 6
September 17, 2013
Common App Essay
Prompt: Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?
In the small town in Cologne it is no surprise that nothing changes – that is what makes it so special. From the earliest stages of my life my parents believed strongly in exposing me to various cultures all over the world. I have traveled to countries like Greece, Turkey, Italy, and France, but my natural home in German is the place I always finish my travels. Before embarking on the long journey back to California, I visit my spot, a wooden bench, in the middle of a grassy meadow just beyond my grandparents’ backyard and use that time to think about my life without the pressures of the outside world influencing me. I treasure the moments I spend on the bench surrounded by apple trees, a running stream, and knee-high green grass. In fact, I live for the opportunity to go back to that spot that never changes. The easy breeze that often blows through the quiet land is the gateway to my mind, and only on this bench can it truly open and explore. Whether I am reading a good book, relaxing, or writing, the bench and field provide a safe haven; the environment I’m in makes it all the more special because it is nothing like my hometown. Knowing that I can sit and read all day and that I have no other priorities is what alleviates the stress from my life and provides me with new energy and determination to tackle another year with great success.
The bench stays in Germany yet the feeling of peace and tranquility is transferrable when I close my eyes and imagine myself there. Whether I open my big notebook filled with poems and songs of my creations from the last six years, or read To Kill A Mockingbird for the tenth time, I can feel myself in that field. Not only does that spot in Germany bring me peace, it is also where I learned some of my greatest lessons from the books I read, and discovered my passion for music and writing. This spot is meaningful because it helps me find that same bliss when I’m at a place or in a situation that is stressful.
Though working as an intern at the Escondido Humane Society is an amazing job, keeping control over a class full of kids and animals can be a challenge. So when I am in need of a bit more patience or confidence, going back to my place of tranquility gives me the strength to do what I