Preface: This is a personal essay I am writing for admissions to university. In this essay I really wanted who I am to come out, and I hope it did. Of course, all constructive criticism is welcome. Happy reading!
The Things I Carry
I am a pilgrim. My backpack contains my bare necessities: clothes, toiletries, a few dollars, and my journal. I look towards the map and decide on a destination; preference is extended towards the five boroughs and the Metropolitan Transit Authority, but occasional excursions on the Long Island Rail Road and Metro North are granted for good behavior, wallet permitting.
Throughout high school my personal journey has flourished from the good will of friends, friends of friends, and random people I have met who opened their doors to me for the weekend. A seemingly unusual phenomenon to the average bystander, opening your house to company is a common practice for religious Jews. There is a concept in the Torah known as Hachnasat Orchim or welcoming guests, an opportunity I exploit on a weekly basis. Almost every weekend for the Jewish Sabbath, I sleep over at a different family’s house. Besides the freedom I have acquired and the maturity it takes to travel alone, the thing I always carry with me is home.
For me, home is not and never will be a place. In a fast paced ever-changing world susceptible to natural disasters, greed, and unfortunate happenings, material objects and places are poor investments for attachment. Home is a mental feeling that I am comfortable with the path I am taking and happy with how I am living my life.
Wherever I go, I learn from my hosts what it means to give; the only true way of getting. True giving requires selflessness and donating your time to help others. By receiving unconditional hospitality, I undoubtedly feel the desire to dedicate my resources to benefiting other people, hence my staunch involvement with my Jewish community. Almost every minute of my time not spent on school is spent running learning events, programs, and trips for other Jewish teenagers and people interested in Jewish culture, or thinking of ways to better myself. I meet many different people from all over the world with stories to tell and advice to be shared; stories of survival, of faith, and of determination and advice for the continuity of thousand year old traditions.
My travels, along with attending a diverse NYC high school, have made me both a physical adventurer and more academically inquisitive. I enjoy encountering new people, ideas, perspectives, and concepts; I take these on my next sojourn. I haven’t seen it all, but I have seen a lot, and I am excited for what is in store for the college years. My open nature, low maintenance, and sense of wonder are what I will carry with me always.
Gender:
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