Challenge 28: Life

107. What is your approach to life? Reveal your life philosophy.

Parents have always been around. They always look out for you and take care of you. They give you your pocket money, pay for your school fees, educate you about risks, make sure you have a happy life, show you the importance of love and friendship, and much, much more. To me, my parents are people whom I can always trust and go to whenever I need. They have raised me, loved me, and have always been there whenever everything seems to fall apart. But, how long is this going to last? They are going to die eventually, everyone is. I depend so much on them and then, one day, just like that, they are just going to disappear and I will never see them again. And this is true not only for parents, but for everybody. One by one, everyone is going vanish and soon, I will be left by myself. So, yes, we are all alone in this world. We are thrown into the world with people who care for us and love us. But eventually, we will be left all by ourselves, no matter who we are. That's how life works and that's reality. You cannot always have comfort around you; you need to suffer, get a taste of what it is like being alone because this is all part of being human.
Honestly, I have imagined many time what it will be like when the people I love around me are gone. I will be alone and unsafe, friendless and abandoned. I will be left in this world to fend for myself, think for myself, and will be barely making it. But, hey, what can I do about it? Well, nothing really. This cycle, where people come and go, is not going to end just because I remorse about it and wish for it to end. People cannot live forever. This is reality and I need to accept it.

Challenge 27: Book

63. Discuss an activity, interest, experience, or achievement in your life (this could be a book, movie, or an activity or experience at work, home, or at school) that has been particularly meaningful for you. (University of Florida)

They say don't judge a book by its cover. I tried not to when I first saw that book, but it had already grabbed my attention. The flames feeding on the paper, bright against dark background, with the title inscribed boldly onto the cover: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. It didn't take me very long to read that book; it was quite short. In the beginning, as in every other book I read, I was slightly distracted and confused, but as the plot and story line started falling into place, I understood the deeper, darker meaning of the book. The book is written during the Cold War, and Bradbury predicts state of the American society in the years to come. It is about firemen who, instead of putting out fire, light fire in order to burn books. The book also talks about technology taking over the everyday life of simple people. From the very beginning, I loved the book. The female character, named Clarisse McClellan, is my favorite. In the midst of all the chaos and destruction, she stands there, calm and collected, quite different from the world around her. She finds joy in little things that have no meaning to other people, but did otherwise. She is dreamy and creative and reminds me a bit of myself.

The book is harshly realistic. It talks about how humanity has destroyed literature and its values, forgotten all that gives true knowledge, and moved on to depend on something that can provide no true emotions: technology. I felt the shivers run down my spine when Bradbury described the blood being pumped out and replaced by mechanics from the body of the wife. It disturbed me to think that humanity could reach such a point. And throughout the book, the lives of the people are described as though these aren't humans living, but rather machines and robots trained to enjoy life the way society wants. Though the novel seems to carry a negative message, the ending states otherwise. In the end, the book-lovers gather and walk towards the destructed city in hopes of rebuilding what has been destroyed. This shows that although there are people in this world to whom the destruction of knowledge doesn't matter, there are others who is rise above and beyond and do everything in their power to mend what has been destroyed. And this is the kind of person I want to become too.

Books provide knowledge and wisdom. They consist of numerous works and creations that will be a loss to the world if ever destroyed. Therefore, after reading this book, the importance of books and their stories became clear in my head. I sometimes disregard books, leave them lying around, without giving much thought to their importance. After reading this book, I understood how much knowledge I could gain from it, and even when books are taken away from me, if ever, the knowledge and wisdom I have gained will rest with me for the rest of my life, in my tiny head. After all, the son who built a library lived the happiest life.

Challenge 26: Home

149. Once you have completed your education, would you return to your hometown to begin your adult life? Why or why not? (William and Mary)

The smell of steamed momo's along the streets. The yellow, red, orange lights that colorfully decorate buildings. The silence lingering in the streets after the sun has set. The feel of the busy road on a hot day. The sea of happy faces engaged in their own little worlds. The loud conversations of the shop keepers across the street. The swarm of local students in blue streaming out of the public school. The occasional baah from the cows roaming awkwardly down the paved roads. Yes, I am going to miss every bit of it. My country Nepal, my hometown, the place where I belong. A country so different yet so special.

I have thought about a million times and I still do. I am young and still have a long, long way to go in life. I have dreams I want to pursue, goals I want to meet, things I want to experience. I love my country, and yet, I feel like I haven't seen enough, done enough, been exposed to change. My country gave birth to me, shaped the way I think, gave me an identity, let me have a place to call home. Yet, sometimes, I catch myself thinking about living somewhere else, somewhere far away from home, in a place so unimaginably different. Right now, I feel like the journey with my country ends here. I wish to not return, but instead, travel to places so different and new, and discover another life. Although I will miss the comfort of my hometown, I think that this age is pushing me to look in another direction, think in another way. However, when I am old and withered-out, desperately holding onto the small amount of life inside of me, I will look back and remember the place I grew up. I will catch a plane from there and fly straight home. I will brush away the tears that will obstruct my vision as the plane descends down the horizon and the city starts taking shape. Then, as I step on the soil of my beloved nation, I will feel victory for accomplishing the single cycle of my life and ending just where I had begun.

Challenge 25: Colleges

69. One of Ramapo’s goals is to increase your capacity for learning and to teach you to think “outside the box.” Describe an experience that has had a significant impact on your intellectual development. (Ramapo College)

I had signed up for the trip, but on the night before, on Friday, I thought maybe I should not bother going. It was college fair in Doon School down in DehraDun. I had been there for another college fair, a Canadian one, but had got nothing out of it but just a visit to KFC. This time, however, it was a UK College Fair, where three top universities of the UK would be represented.

As I mentioned before, I had slept without giving the trip much thought and decided before falling asleep that I would skip this one. The next morning, however, my friends turned up early in the morning, at around 8:15 a.m., and told me to come along. I protested, but they started blackmailing me and telling me how important it was that I attend and that these were some of the best colleges in the UK. Grumpily, I got out of bed and hurriedly washed-up. I dressed quickly, ignoring my hair which needed urgent washing. I grabbed some breakfast, walked till New Road to get on the bus, and waited there for some of the late risers to turn up. While we were in the bus, our guidance councilor, who was accompanying us on the trip, prepared us for the trip.

Something she mentioned distracted me. She talked about how much importance these colleges gave to academics and grades and scores on external exams. She said that academics and your personal statement were the only things that mattered. I was shocked. This whole time, I thought about developing my personality, doing different things, engaging myself in a variety of activities to be an eligible candidate for colleges. And now, she stands in front of me and tells me how little these things are considered! And when we arrived there, too, the representative said that "we don't want to know you, your interests" and all.

It confused me. So is that all that college, in the UK mostly, was about? Having the highest grades? The best AP scores? Being the valedictorian? What about personality? Character development? Struggling? Overcoming obstacles? They didn't matter, now did they? That day I understood that I had to rise beyond my grades, beyond the academic barrier. And if these colleges don't want to see that, well, it's their loss. I will continue doing what I do and trying to give everything I do my best.

Challenge 24: Money

18. What invention would the world be better off without, and why? (Kalamazoo)

Money. Something we all need,

yet something that destroys us.

Something that strips us off of our trust,

and something that creates problems.

Money. Everybody wants some.

Some earn it, others work for it,

and some just steal it

because it seems to be the only way.

Money. You are judged by how much you have.

Can you afford the newest iPod?

Can you spend that much money every time you leave your house?

Can you buy a better car than before?

Money. Doesn't grow on trees.

Yet it seems to, when you have too much.

Doesn't grow on trees.

No, not for those in need.

Why? Why did they invent it?

Wasn’t taking my sock for your lace enough?

A fair give-and-take trade.

Simple and happily-resolved.

As I sit here in the dark hall,

Typing away in the computer,

I look at the money I just got,

And still can’t help but feel afraid.

Afraid of losing the money.

Afraid of being irresponsible.

Afraid of feeling the guilt.

Oh, to hell with money.

Challenge 23: BOLD Prediction

128. Make a bold prediction about something in the year 2020 that no one else has made a bold prediction about. (U of Virginia)

People today predict that the world is going to end in 2013. Maybe it's true, maybe it isn't; that doesn't bother me. I am not going to say that the world is going to end in 2020. No. There is, however, another prediction I am about to make. Now, you may be alive when 2020 comes around and you may not. But if you are, then you are going to suddenly become 30 years older in age. Yes, that's right. If you are 30, then you will become 60. If you are 25, then you will become 55; you get the idea. Some of you may survive when we hit 2020. If you are below the age of 60, then you may live another five or six years. If you are 90, then you will drop dead, immediately.

Now, you may ask why I am making this awful prediction. Well, the answer is quite simple: the question wants me to. I am not a pessimist. The idea just landed in my mind while I sit in this noisy library and try to get my work done. Why do I say you will add exactly 30 years to your age? Well, I don't know. I just thought of that number. I didn't think twice and I thought 30 would be a good age to add. Is the prediction going to come true? Probably not. I am not a psychic, just a student would wants to make bold predictions. But, becuase it did hit my mind, it must have some meaning behind it. I mean, why didn't I make a prediction about the sun disappearing from the sky, or about us running out of chairs? Maybe on second thoughts, the prediction will come true. Instead of turning 26 in 2020, I will turn 56. Oh. I don't like the sound of that.

Challenge 22: Third Stage

139. Spanish poet Antonio Machado wrote, “Between living and dreaming there is a third thing. Guess it.” Give us your guess. (U of Chicago)

When I am awake and living, I am confused. I am not sure what exactly is happening all the time. Maybe there is a math concept I don't understand, maybe the English essay seems to long, maybe the amount of information I collect throughtout the day is too much for my head. What do I do in these situation? Well, I sleep. Yes, just fall right asleep. Usually I dream about things that are bothering me, people I worry about, falling off cliffs, or getting chased by a man in black. When I get up in the morning, I still have that lingering feeling flowing through my body, whether it be frustration, anger, jelousy, nervousness, happiness, or satisfaction. However, the good thing about dreaming is, beside the feeling, I don't remember anything else when I wake up. It just floats right out of my mind and doesn't bother me anymore.

However, there is a third stage that lies between living and dreaming. Although quite important, this stage is often oblivious to some of us. The third stage is understanding. This stage is something we all need to go through and most of us do. During this phase, the human mind undstands something. It undestands the math concept, it understands the information provided, and it understand how to perform that specific task. It understands that the feeling felt after waking up from a nightmare is real. It understands that these feelings are hidden at the back and may only emerge while dreaming. Sometimes, in order to understand, the human mind must mix both reality and dreams, and somehow create meaning. Sometimes I feel like I am stuck between these two phases: dream and reality. I can't tell one from the other. Then, something clicks in my head. I understand something and it is part of both a dream and reality.

Challenge 21: Influence

71. Write about a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence. (Hope College)

He is my father.

He knows he is balding but tries to act like it doesn't bother him.

He wears the same watch and carries the same wallet for 20 years and still refuses to replace them.

He cannot make out the difference between his brown pants and his cream pants.

He always finishes every grain of rice on his plate.

He likes his tea without any milk and the tiniest bit of sugar.

He has portraits of people who inspire him hung around the house: B.P. Koirala, Buddha, and Mahatma Gandhi.

He loves hiking because he knows it does good to his old heart.

He hates it when people disturb him while he is doing something.

He cannot type so fast so he asks me to do it for him.

He does not have patience for a keyboard with malfunctioning keys.

He won't stop doing something just because it doesn't seem possible.

He likes to steal ice-cream from the refrigerator once in a while.

He likes shaving his beard with the door ajar so that my little brother can watch him in amazement.

He believes that one cannot be a writer if he is not a reader.

He likes to tease me about getting old and disconnecting from the family.

He hates it when my mother scolds my siblings and me.

He likes to bring Disney movies back from his travels although he knows his kids are growing up.

He loves traveling and has been to more than 25 countries.

He is not particularly fond of dogs and is only tolerating the one at home because of us.

He lives by the words of Budhha when he wants to live in moderation.

He likes to work late into the night, although he tells me not to do the same.

He shows me the importance of being with the elders in the family. He thinks that I cannot hike for two hours without complaining, no matter how much I deny that fact.

He loves red wine.

When he is drunk, it seems to me like all the worries in the world are put to a rest with his deep, hearty laughs.

I tease him of dressing up like a Nepali politician but I can see the pride when he wears his national clothes.

He has a longing passion for the work he does.

He truly believes that he can make some difference to the world.

This is my father, whom I love very, very much. The pride and faith he has in his family, his job, his country, and his culture never fails to amaze me. He is a man of simplicity and wants nothing for himself. He works hard to make a living, to make sure his children grow up the right way, and to make sure that everyone he cares about is happy. His passion for his job and what he stands for is something that not many people posses. He loves what he does, and when I ask him when he is planning to retire, he says he is going to work till the very end. What my father is is everything I want to be. The kind heart that he possess, the amount of love he has for those he cares about, and his carefree nature about what other people think is something that I want, something that I am striving to have. He is my father, my idol, my inspiration.

Challenge 19: Impression

142. First experiences can be defining. Cite a first experience that you have had and explain its impact on you. (University of Pennsylvania)

As I stepped into my bedroom, which would be the one I would stay in for the next two years, I had a little panic attack. Yes, I was a brand new student and had barely made any friends. I glanced at the door and looked at the names of my roommates who were complete strangers at that time: Fayza, Nina, Prakruti, Ji Sung, and Jin Young. I looked inside the room and found that I was the last one to arrive: all the beds except for one were made and the cupboards filled with clothes. None of my roommates were there at that moment. I smiled at the thought of having to sleep on a bunk bed as that too was new to me.

My parents and sister followed me close behind and we started unpacking my stuff. I set up my bed, put my clothes in the cupboard, and arranged my drawer. Before I could have my fill of chatting with my family, for I wouldn't be seeing them for the next five months, it was time to go. We walked to Ridge Wood field together, enjoying the last of the moments we had together before I was to leave them for, what seemed to me like, a long, long time. As they drove away in the small, white car, tears swelled up in my eyes and I quickly brushed them away. I stood there for some time, as the eleven-year-old inside me hoped to see the white car emerge from around the corner again. I realized that it wasn't going to happen, so I turned around and made my way back to Alter Ridge, and then to my room.

As I entered, I noticed that someone else was there. It was a small, Indian girl with short, curly hair. She was wearing a tiny-framed pair of glasses, and I remember thinking how very small her face was. She was sitting on the chair, calm and relaxed, next to a cupboard where her mother, I assumed, and big sister were unpacking the last bit of her clothes for her. As they saw me, they politely greeted me as did I. We introduced ourselves to each other. As I sat there, getting to know the girl and and her family, I felt happy. I was happy that I had finally started making friends.

Her mother and sister went out for a while while the girl and I continued to chat. She was jumpy and hyper and had lots of energy. She went on and on about herself, her sister, and her family. As we were talking, I saw an album on her table and asked her if I could take a look. I flipped through the album and saw many baby pictures of two little girls with one older-looking one. She told me that the big one was her elder sister and the little on was her twin sister. I remember thinking how cool it was that they didn't look similar at all. Then, she offered me some chocolate. Even today, we argue whether it was a KitKat she offered me or if it was Bar One.

Then, for the next five years, we became really close friends. We lived through middle school together and made some of the most unforgettable memories. When I look at her now, I still see the little, Indian girl who was the first friend I made when I was new, scared, and friendless.

Challenge 18: Negative

172. Discuss how some negative experience (disability, illness, failure) has had a positive influence on your life.

It was end of my second semester of tenth grade, and the holidays were approaching quickly. With my exams around the corner, I was busy being me: panicking, yet trying to stay calm at the same time. My homeroom teacher announced that soon, those who wanted to stand up for positions as the class representatives would have to give in their names in and give a speech to the whole class. I had been thinking for a long time to stand up for the Class Governor, although I was extremely nervous. I had not stood up for a position since middle school, and I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to pull myself together. I finally made the decision and prepared, what I though to be, quite a good speech.

The day finally arrived. I arrived early to homeroom and started rehearsing my speech. We had the homeroom outside and the weather was very beautiful. I had worn some bright pink to make myself feel better. Some of my friends wished me luck as they took their places. I looked around to see the places getting filled up and eager faces staring at me. The nervousness got even worse. I had never been a good public speaker, however, I understood how much I need to improve that skill. My homeroom teacher introduced the candidates for the position. There were two other girls standing up for the position as well. I wished them luck, as one after the other, they went up to give their speeches. I thought both of them did really well. When my turn came, I got nervous, but I went in front of the class and showed them what I had prepared. They all listened quietly.

After I was done, I went and sat back down and felt a kind of victory explode inside of me. I did it. And it felt good. From then on, it didn't even matter if I got the position because I had overcome something that felt like an almost impossible task. I waited for the results to come. When I saw that I hadn't gotten the position, I felt bad, but not too bad, because I knew that I had given it my best. The rest wasn't up to me. So, here I am today, a better-skilled person than yesterday.

Challenge 17: Jogging?

186. Jogging has become extremely popular. Explain why you jog or why you don't.

For the life of me, I cannot seem to understand why people like jogging. I mean, okay, maybe it is better than having to see your dog take a leak or crap in front of you. But still, why would anybody in their right minds would want to get up early in the morning, and I mean early, just to "enjoy the fresh air and the cool breeze and the beautiful sunrise." If I wanted to "enjoy the fresh air and the cool breeze and the beautiful sunrise," I would just go live on a stupid hill. (It's funny because I do live on a hill. Just saying.) Apparently, jogging provides a calm and relaxing environment for these helpless souls. As for me, I know that jogging definitely doesn't do the trick.

I don't jog because I think it is pointless. Like I said earlier, you have to wake up super early from your dream in the La La Land. Then, you put on some dirty clothes, your sweaty, disgusting running shoes from yesterday and do some lame breathing exercises. They you go out and jog. Right. Then what? I know that these joggers claim that it gives them a "fresh start in the morning." I can only imagine a day like that being anything but "fresh." Once I did jog in the morning in the gym and almost fell off the treadmill. Then, the rest of the day was a disaster because I was so sore and so sleepy that I couldn't concentrate in my classes. And I had to go down early to dorms to catch up on my sleep which was disrupted by two whole hours. That brings me to jogging in the evenings or not in the morning, lets say. I am a busy, busy girl, and I need my time off when I have it. So, jogging in the evenings is next to impossible because school and the workload wears me out so much that I'd rather just stay in bed and "enjoy the fresh air and the cool breeze" and the beautiful sunset, in this case, from my window.

Challenge 16: Advice

58. Discuss the most important piece of advice you have ever received and explain its effect on your life.

We have all heard it, many times, I might add. I even remember reading a story when I was little that gave the same advice I heard from numerous people. It is about a woman who leaves her baby with her pet mongoose as she goes to work in the farm. When she returns, she sees that the mongoose has blood stains on its mouth. Concluding that it must have killed the baby, the woman beats the mongoose to death. She rushes into her bedroom, where she finds her baby sound asleep with a dead snake lying on the ground.

After reading the story, I remember thinking how incredible stupid it was of the woman to rush into making such a hasty conclusion. I also remember thinking that I, being the egoistic person I was, was never going to make such an absurd mistake. I promised myself that I was always going to think before I leaped. Then it happened.

It was just the usual French class where my teacher would greet us politely, and we would start talking in French. In the beginning, we talked about our day, the weather, and other less important stuff before actually moving into the plan for the day. This particular French class, a boy was supposed to do an oral presentation. He was late, as usual, so the teacher asked us about the classes we had before French. She asked me what I had, and I said English. She asked me if I was in AP English or AS English. I told her that I was in the AP class. Then, her next question interrupted the rhythm of the class.

She asked me what the difference was. Of course, I knew that students who were struggling with English were usually in the AS class. However, what I said next didn't come out exactly the way I wanted it to. Now, for the benefit of the reader, and to avoid humiliation, I am going to skip my reply, but you can probably imagine what it was.

After I said what I shouldn't have said, without thinking much about it because I was in a particularly good mood that day, the class fell silent. Then, my teacher looked at me with great big eyes that seem to have magnified in the split of a second. Her mouth formed an oval as she sucked in a short breath, as did the rest of the class.

I stopped for a moment and realized what hurtful and insulting words had escaped my mouth. I immediately took back any offence, though I couldn't, and told the class that I was sorry and that it didn't come out the way I wanted it too. Some giggled, but we moved on after that, and by the end of the class, no one remembered what had happened.

As for me, throughout the whole class and through the day, I felt a big black hole emerging at my chest and eating up my insides. I felt guilty, extremely guilty. Even though nobody from the AS class was in my class, I still realized how rude it would have been of me to say something so blunt. I had always pictured myself to be collected and careful of what I said and did. However, that incident really forced my eyes open and I realized how I could hurt other's feelings if I wasn't careful with my words. I realized how important it was that I follow the advice that I have heard so many times that it seems almost meaningless: think before you speak.

Challenge 15: Adjectives

60. Select three adjectives that describe you and explain.

Simple question, but difficult to answer. People say a lot of different things about me. Some say I have a kind heart, others say I am too naïve, many say that I have a good sense of humor (although slightly strange at times), and also that I can be a little demanding at times. This is coming from people I know quite well, so I guess it is all true. As for me, there are certain things that I think of myself as.

I can be very childish. Yes, maybe your average teenager is not like that, but I am, especially when I am around my mother. Being in a boarding school builds an independent character inside you who does not rely on other people anymore. However, when I am around my mother or my family in general, that childishness buried deep inside me suddenly arises as my emotions start to amplify. My mother gets especially irritated when I ask her to feed me, giving her my pleading face. My mother takes one good look at me, and with a smile on her face, says, “I can’t understand if you are sixteen-years-old or sixteen-months-old! Even your brother can feed himself now, and he is only three!” I do get a little embarrassed by that fact, but I do not care because I know I can act the way I do because she is my mother and is older than me. Silly things make me cry, like when I hit my toe real hard or bang my foot somewhere. For some odd reason, I cannot bear to be scolded by my teachers, when instead, I should be talking back. I think.

I would also describe myself as being lazy, the typical kind of lazy. During weekends, I live on my bed, literally. I sleep till 11 a.m, wake up soon after, wash up, eat breakfast, and continue my T.V. series from last night. Then, I sit in the same position, for hours on end, browsing the net for hours, and not all of it is useless, I assure you. I do actually check the news and try to be informed, as living in Mussoorie is like living under a rock because we are so isolated. My roommate sometimes gets a little frustrated, so she tell me to move around a bit and exercise; I just offer her some chips. I feel guilty after some time, so I stop the movie marathon and try to read a few pages of the book that I am supposed to finish by the end of the week. I can also be lazy when it comes to finishing up my work. I leave it till Sunday evening and stay up till 12 a.m. doing my work. I hate myself for that, so each Saturday, I try to do as much work as I can so that it won't be piled up. And, in my defense, the week really wears me out so a little break is necessary.

Despite these negative aspects (as you may consider) of my personality, I would also call myself sensitive. This trait can be a positive and as well as a negative thing. When somebody angers me, the dislike for the person is magnified in my heart. Though I am poor at expressing my discomfort, the anger is there. When someone lies to me on my face, I feel confused because I do not know why they are doing such a thing. When I am watching a movie, and it becomes really sad as the daughter bids goodbye to her dying father, tears swell in my eyes and I start crying. When a child out in the street, with just a dirty vest on, begs me for money, compassion gets the best of me. When my friends say something hateful to me, be it a joke or not, it still hurts my feelings and I feel horrible. When a teacher scold me for being incompetent, I can get hurt easily. Despite these emotions, this is who I am and I am proud to be me.

Challenge 14: X

135. Find x. (University of Chicago)

X exists.

X can be found in the tears of a child.

X can be found in the tensed shoulders of a worried mother.

X can be found in the fabrics of a sweater.

X can be found in the pebbles of a bank.

X can be found in the caps of water bottles.

X can be found buried in the soil.

X can be found in the enamel of our teeth.

X can be found on the sharp lead of a pencil.

X can be found in the words of a book.

X can be found in the many layers of a tree trunk.

X can be found in the bright lining of the clouds.

X can be found on the weathered soles of our shoes.

X can be found in the yellow light of the bulb.

X can be found in the steep high school ramp.

X can be found in the weak chairs of the classroom.

X can be found on the rows of shelves of the library.

X can be found on the blur ink of a stamp.

X can be found in the uncomfortable toilet seat.

X can be found on the tall concrete steps.

X can be found on the wooden pegs.

X can be found on the creaky doors of my locker.

X can be found on a long, green pole.

X can be found in the conformed rows of wooden seats.

X can be found in the black and white keys of a piano.

X can be found in an isolated art room.

X can be found on the green fences of the school.

X can be found on the strange doors of strange people.

X can be found on the dark, paved roads.

X can be found along the green hillside.

X can be found in the colorful rows of shops.

X can be found on the tasty soup of a restaurant.

X can be found on the cheap sunglasses they sell by the roadside.

X can be found on a not-very-scary Pharaoh’s Wheel.

X can be found on the winding path of a journey.

X can be found in the stuffy compartments of a train.

X can be found in the atmosphere of an air-conditioned hotel.

X can be found in the two, black suitcases.

X can be found in the newly-renovated veranda of a home.

X can be found in the blue family car.

X can be found in the welcoming room of your parents.

X can be found on the toys from your childhood.

X can be found in the eleven-year-old tree outside your house.

X can be found in the tiny shop that never shuts down.

X can be found in the faces of my old friends.

X can be found in the movement of the wind chimes.

X can be found under the warm blanket.

X can be found in my dirty laundry.

X can be found in old, familiar storage room.

X can be found everywhere, as you might have noticed.

So what is X? Well, that is something that still is a mystery to me. X is unknown, and I cannot be sure as to what it is. However, there is one thing that I know for sure: X exists. It lives in all the things that are associated to me: the things I touch, I smell, I fell, I taste, I see, or I remember. X is the memories I make, the things I won’t forget. Maybe I will never be able to put a finger and tell you confidently that I have found X, but I can assure you that X exists. It is around me, all the time, because I know that it is a part of me. So don’t worry because even though I haven’t found X yet, I won’t stop looking.

Challenge 13: Experience

30. Evaluate a significant experience or achievement that has special meaning to you. (Harvard)

It was mid-June, during the holidays, and I was sleepy. I got up late, stayed up late, and tried to do something productive with my life. My mother, seeing the depressed state I was in, decided to take me out for a movie. She promised me that she would also help me choose a dress of the school dance. I was quite excited, I admit. I got dressed and we both left for the mall. The mall is a busy one as it was just build around what feels like a year ago. We went from shop to shop, trying to find he perfect dress. Then, we went to a shop that we visited quite often.

It was a pink shop, and my sister and I often buy our clothes from there. As I entered, I felt the cool air from the air conditioner brush my face. I liked the atmosphere. We started rummaging through the racks of dresses. Soon enough, I was in the changing room, trying on one dress after another. It took some time, and I could see that the lady who was assisting us didn't look so pleased about the mess I was making.

Soon enough, my mother found the dress. It was a tight, fitting, black dress with an animal-print off-shoulder. When I first looked at it, I had my doubts. It didn't look like the kind I would wear. Still, my mother insisted that I try it on. So, I went back into the changing room to change. Now, let me tell you a little secret, and believe me, this is true for many teenagers like me: during vacations, not matter how hard I try not to, I seem to just expand. Yes, my stomach explodes and lets not even get into the love-handles. It is quite horrific, I have to admit. Anyway, I slipped the dress on. I had a little hard time getting it through my head, but once I was in it, I looked at myself in the long mirror. I didn't look particularly great. The side deposits, as someone later called them, showed and I felt very conscience in that dress.

I came out of the changing room slowly and called my mother. She looked at me from head to toe and said, "Nanu, I think you look amazing! This is just the dress for you." She looked extremely happy.

I replied, pointing to my sides, "Aa, the dress is fine. But don't know think it looks slightly odd?"

"No, no. Not at all," she said. She turned around to the lady and said, "Excuse me, uh, yes, we will be taking this dress. Please pack it."

We packed it, paid, and left as soon as possible because the movie was about to start. Then, throughout the whole movie, I couldn't stop thinking about the dress. It was clouding my mind and I couldn't see past it. As we exited the cinema hall, I asked my mother something I shouldn't have asked.

"Mamu, lets go back and change the dress. There is something that I really don't like about it. Anyway, I liked the flower-print better," I said.

My mother stopped walking. Her eyes were raging with fire. "Nanu. This is your problem. You cannot decide anything for yourself. You just have to keep thinking and thinking again and changing your decisions. Just stick with what you have. Don't have such an unsure mind. It really frustrates me to have to listen to you, and it certainly does you no good."

As she said this, tears of helplessness flooded my eyes. Ever since I was a kid, I hated whenever my mother scolded me. As I angrily wiped them away, I replied, "It is not my fault! I told you I didn't want it!"

What happened after that is not important. But, what is important is that I learned a lesson that day. I understood something about myself that I should have discovered long before. Firstly, I should listen to my mother because I really did end up wearing that dress and looking great, as my friends said. Secondly, I understood what she meant and I knew that she was absolutely correct: I really was pathetic that way because I couldn't stick to my decisions. I cannot be absolutely sure of what I choose. That is my problem, and till today, I am trying to work towards fixing it.

Challenge 12: Memories

96. Look through old family photos and pull out a few that remind you of important times or significant moments. (Remember that the impact of a moment is what makes it significant. A hike through the woods can sometimes be more significant than a birthday.) Choose one of these "Kodak Moments" to describe and explain its significance to you. Speak about the photograph and your feelings about what you see in it.

When I was five, my family moved to Cambodia. My father had just gotten a job in the United Nations, and we were planning to stay in Cambodia for a year or two. I was pulled out of school for the time being, and because I was required to continue my schooling, I came back to Nepal soon after. My sister, not much younger than me, was three years old when we first moved. While we were in Cambodia together, we made many memories. I was small back then, so these memories are not so fresh in my head, but there are some that particularly stand out.

I remember when we went to the zoo once, and my father wanted my sister to stand in front of a cage with a small bear in it so that he could take a picture of her. My sister was very terrified and started screaming: “I am scared that the bear will eat my butt from the back!" It was very cute!

Then once, we went to the beach. It was the first time that I ever saw such a great amount of water. I pulled at my mother's sleeves, and she asked me what was wrong. I looked at her with eyes full of wonder, and said, "Mamu, who spilled so much water here?" My parents still laugh about it every time is comes up in our conversations.

Another time, when I was playing with the pebbles outside our home, our driver, who lived in the small room outside the house, came up to me and offered me fried frogs and snakes. I was terrified, I screamed, and with tears gushing out of my eyes, I ran into the house.

In the same house, I remember the first time I saw my mother's drawings. She drew a grape vine and a big wolf sleeping underneath it. I remember thinking how good she was and that I wanted to be just as good.

However, these are just little fragments of memories left with me from my time in Cambodia. The thing that made it so great was my sister. She loved to play pranks on me and would make me cry quite often. Though I often got irritated by her, I loved her, and I still do. When I look at the photography above, I understand how much my sister means to me. She is smarter than me, brighter than me, and has a much better personality. She gets excited every time I return home and saves up her money in order to buy me presents. She cares for me, and what is more is that I can feel how important I am in her life. Sometimes, I feel selfish and ignorant because I do not pay attention to her and all the things that she goes on and on about. However, ultimately, we are going to ride on the same bike throughout our lives, caring and looking out for each other as we enjoy our time together. I know that maybe she won't always be looking into the camera, knowing what is happening, as she has a curious mind, but I will just go on smiling and being happy to have such a great sister like her.

Challenge 11: Spending a Day

46. If you had a day to spend as you wish, how would you use your time? (Carleton College)

The winter sun would peek through the gaps of my curtains, bouncing off the bare walls of my room and creeping beneath my eyelids. I would lie awake for sometime, thinking about the things that I would be doing. A smile would play on my lips, and despite the cold atmosphere, I would jump right out of bed and get ready for a calm, yet exciting day. Without waking anyone up, I would sneak out of the dorm and take a long stroll outside. I would walk along Lover’s Lane, playing with the pebbles at my feet and absorbing the greenness of my surroundings. I would walk through Ridge Wood field and start making my way up to New Road. I would catch a local bus going somewhere, anywhere. I would let it take me to where it wants to go. I would enjoy the view of the beautiful hills and the endless, paved roads in front of me. I would let the light wind brush my cheeks and play with my hair. I would close my eyes and fall asleep for a while.

When I am awake again, I would look outside the window and see the overgrown trees of a beautiful forest. I would ask the driver to drop me there, without asking for the name of the place. He would give me a confused expression while I pay for the trip. I would step out of the bus and wait by the side of the road till the bus would take a turn and disappear from sight. I would sigh and start walking along the road. Then I would notice a trail leading off to the side and follow that trail. I would walk through the forest, observing the flowers dancing by the path, listening to the flow of the stream somewhere close by, taking in the fragrance of the soil, tasting the sweetness of the air, and feeling the calmness provided by the nature around me. I would find the clear stream in the midst of the forest. I would lie on the ground, enjoying the softness of the grass beneath me. I would listen to the river and the gushing of the wind. I would not speak a word. Then, I would get up and make my way back to the road.

I would start panicking. I would dig into my pockets and find my cell phone. I would check for signal. As I see no signal on the phone, my heart would skip a few beats. My eyes would become wide and alarmed. I would sit by the road and start crying. I would wait till somebody reports me missing and they would come looking for me. I would wipe away my tears and chuckle to myself at my absurdity.

Challenge 10: Advice

6. If you were to look back on your high school years, what advice would you give to someone beginning their high school career? (Simmons)

Even though I have been in high school for only two years, there are many things that I have already learned. The following list consists of some of the thing that I think newcomers in high school should be aware of before starting their high school careers.

1. Control the amount of tuck you eat; there is always plenty of junk food available, but you should always restrain yourself when it’s necessary.

2. Sweeping your room will be extremely frustrating: the broom will not reach all the ridiculous corners, under the beds, and between the furniture. Be prepared to discover spiders and end up with bleeding fingers by the time you have completed the task.

3. Don’t spend all your time watching movies. The freedom that it seems to ignite is not the whole story because the next day, a grumpy you will return to dorms feeling guilty of having watched a horror movie instead of completing your notes for Ms. Leon.

4. Read. As the work piles up, the time you used to spend reading, if you did spend any, will be taken away. Make time to read and build your vocabulary.

5. Be yourself. Don’t pretend to be somebody else, because as someone said, “everyone else is taken.”

6. Take part in sports, in the musical, and other extracurricular activities. It will help you develop as a person and help you build your personality and character.

7. Listen to good music. Music will help you ease away the stress and pressure from your teachers. It will calm you down.

8. Be prepared to fail. Though middle school was easy, high school is not the same. There are going to be many times where you are going to fail despite how much effort you put into something. You just have to make something out of your mistake and move on.

9. Make good friends because you will need them. They will be your pillars of support as you go through tough times of high school, like academic stress or painful break-ups.

10. Don’t be afraid to stand out. There will come many opportunities for you to stand out and show-off your talents; it is just a matter of choosing to embrace it or not.

11. Memorize stuff. You will learn so much content, especially in history, that if you don’t review and even memorize the things you learn, you will forget them.

12. Be prepared to meet teachers who will be absolutely useless. Yes, they will just stand in front of the class with a book in their hands and will literally read everything right out of the text. No explanations at all. You will be responsible to make the effort to understand the materials yourself.

13. Be careful in the locker areas. After the end of each period, they get extremely crowded and if will be unimaginably impossible to get to your next class. Also, be ready to have your head banged in the locker or your face shoved by an enormous elbow.

14. Spend time in the library. It has a really calm and quiet atmosphere (most of the time anyways) that will allow you to read and discover celebrated works of literature that will come handy later on in your junior and senior years.

15. Read the news every day. I know that in middle school, it is easy to live life under a rock, but in high school, it is important that you know your current events and what is happening in the world. Many of your classes will require you to discuss and understand current affairs.

16. Celebrate your birthdays. It may seem childish for you to celebrate your seventeenth birthday, but trust me, you will want to enjoy every moment of it with your friends.

17. Buy your camera. Capture precious moments because, sixty years from now, you will want to flip back to your high school years and think of the great times you spent.

Challenge 9: Photograph

28. Attach a small photograph of something important to you and explain its significance. (Stanford)

Winnie the Pooh, Pinocchio, Aladdin, Ariel, Bambi, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Tom and Jerry, the three little pigs, Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Tinker Bell, and the list goes on and on. As I kid, I always the thought the logo read "Disnep" instead of "Disney." I always wondered how anybody could make such a silly mistake, because back then, my life, like many others my age, revolved around Disney.

Earlier, I was talking to somebody and was telling him about the new Disney movie, Tangled. I asked him if he had watched it already and he gave me a confused face and said, "Disney movies are for kids. I stopped watching Disney after I was eleven." First, when he said this, I was shocked: How can anybody stop watching and enjoying Disney movies? And then, I felt pity for him. I felt pity because I could not imagine how horrible it must be to stop feeling thrill while watching Disney . I felt sorry for him because he had just lost an important part of his childhood, a part that made it so much more beautiful!

As for my childhood, my father was off traveling and working in foreign countries while I attended school in Nepal. Whenever he would return from his travels, he would always bring us tons of foreign chocolates. Each time he returned, both my sister and I would be really excited and ready to welcome him back home. It wasn't only the chocolates that made his return more exciting that it was. Each time he would come back home, he would buy us lots of Disney movies. Even today, Bambi, one of the cartoons we would watch regularly, is our favorite one; sometimes randomly in the lazy mornings, my father barges into the room, delightfully screaming, "Hiyyyya Bambi! Wake up! Come on, Bambi!"

Along with the return of my father, Disney also brought various lessons and messages that means a lot to me, even today. Winnie the Pooh taught me how important friends are. Ariel taught me that sometimes you will do some things that you are going to regret, but happiness will dawn in the end (at least in fairy tales). Cinderella taught me that there are people who will try to pull you down, but you just have to keep struggling till you get what you want. Peter Pan made me believe that I could fly (that didn't end too well). But along with these lessons, there came a message: it was okay to have a super-imagination. I understood that animals could not speak, that humans could not touch the sky, that there was no flying carpet or a genie who granted wishes. However, these realizations did not break my heart or crush my imagination. I could freely dream about flying, about living in a chocolate house, about singing underwater, and about have little rat friends. Disney enhanced my creativity and, as one may call it, freedom of imagining.

Bibliography: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/86/238814336_c98d003a25.jpg

Challenge 8: Embarassing Moment

Tell us about the most embarrassing moment of your life. (Santa Clara University)

One winter morning, as I were sitting in the balcony of our home, enjoying all the warmth I could get, my sister came and stood next to me and started giggling. I looked at her, asked her why she was being so annoying, didn't even wait for an answer and just continued to face the sun with my eyes shut. She continued laughing under her hands. Again, I asked her , seriously this time, why she was bothering me. Then, she said, "Mamu just told me about something you used to do when you were little. I bet even you don't know about it." This grabbed my attention: she knew something about me that even I didn't know. I made my scary-sister-face and demanded," Sanu, you better tell me what it is or else I'll tell Mamu that you made me drink your share of the milk today."

As I said this, her eyes widened, and she started pleading me: "No, no! Please don't do that. Okay, I will tell you what she said, just don't tell Mamu about the milk."

I nodded, keeping my face expressionless.

"The thing is," she said, "I don't know if you will be able to handle it yourself." She giggled some more and added, "We were talking about you in the kitchen earlier, and Mamu let slip that you used to eat ants when you were little. Just pick them up one after another and pop them into your mouth!"

I turned red in the face, turned around, and left with my sister's evil laugh still ringing in my ears. I went to my mother who was sitting there, watching my brother play, and humming to herself. I glared at her and asked, "Mamu! How can you say such an embarrassing thing to Sa when you know she is going to tease me forever?"

My mother just looked at me, smiled, and calmly replied, "You girls are sisters. This is how its meant to be. You get to tease and joke around with her and she gets to do the same to you . Don't be too upset about it, Na."

What my mother did that day was something that kept me mad for quite a while. I refused to talk to her the whole day, angry at her for telling my sister about such an embarrassing thing. My sister, on the other hand, tortured me the whole day and continuously called me an "ant-eater." She still teases me all the time, but the good thing is even I know some really embarrassing moments from her side. But, more on that later.