<2014-2015 Columbia 합격생>

 

Let me tell you my story. I’ve always been jealous of my best friend, whose mother has a literature degree from Harvard. My closest friend would always just call up her mother whenever she needed help on an important writing assignment, and her college application was no exception. Having a mother who could barely understand the English language, I couldn’t even dream about asking my mom for her opinion on my writing. But I met David. David was more than just a counselor—he was a friend, a parent. He read my writing even more carefully than I ever could and listened to everything I had to say wholeheartedly. I could tell him everything even if he was a complete stranger at first, because I saw how much he cared. David recognized the hidden significance of every event that I simply overlooked as something trivial. Those little details that he caught that I had failed to notice soon became important keystones of my writing, truly capturing who I am and whom I want to be. David knows what matters when it comes to portraying what is unique about me, how I could add something special to a community. I wouldn’t have been able to write about myself half the way I did if it weren’t for the brainstorming sessions that we had together. In fact, I wouldn’t have been able to be so self-aware if I hadn’t met David. I think the biggest reason why I am grateful for meeting David is how he helped me see who I am, what I love, and why I live more clearly than ever before. And good personal essays come from those who know themselves well. How could you write a story if you don’t know the protagonists? I could dare say that meeting David was one of the major turning points in my life.