Week 2- Article 3: Of Youth and Age

Central Argument: Francis Bacon claims that a young mind has much more capacity to dream, discover, and create than does an old one.

They say as people get older, they become wiser. They have had experiences that have truly been a one of a kind. However, as Francis Bacon says, a young mind has much more potential to learn and discover, no matter how wise age makes you. Francis Bacon tells the truth when he says that a young mind his curious, creative, and can change ideas into reality.

A young mind has the potential to be curious and creative. For example, in the beginning of the novel, Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Caroll, Alice is sitting by the shore, bored, when suddenly, she sees a rabbit with a pocket watch. As her curiosity gets the best of her, she leaves her sister behind, and ignoring her calls, runs after the rabbit. Thus, her adventured in Wonderland begins, and she returns home after having an extraordinary experience. When she recites her adventures to her sister, she refuses to believe her. This story tells how an adventure-seeking and imaginative mind can create wonders. It shows the reader how, perhaps unlike an aged mind, a young mind doesn't hesitate even once before jumping right into something that it finds interesting.

Other than being curious, a young mind can dream and actually make it a reality. For example, Kony 2012 has grasped the attention of many. First, it started out as just the idea of a man working in Uganda. Because of a painful encounter with a boy who lost his brother to the rebel group there, the man decided to take the matters in his own hands and try to make a difference. He went back to the United States and to the government, asking the officials for their assistance in this ongoing struggle in Uganda which has lead to violence and abduction of many children. Then, as he gathered more and more people to support the idea, it actually started making a difference. The U.S. government sent in troops to Uganda to assist the local army to capture the deadly criminal, Joseph Kony. And now this year, more and more people are recognizing the severity of the situation and coming together to raise awareness. This case shows us how it takes just one, enthusiastic and determined young mind to make a difference. It shows us a young mind is capable of coming up with an idea and actually making it a reality.

As seen in the two examples, a youth is very capable of being creative and making dreams reality. The youth have the energy, the enthusiasm, and the thirst to keep moving forwards in this world.

Week 2- Article 1: Of Marriage and Single Life

Central Argument: Francis Bacon claims that being married is more advantageous than being single because marriage helps to build up men's personalities and values.

Some people today have a very stereotypical view about marriage. People joke about how after marriage, the man is stripped off of all his luxuries and comforts as a bachelor. After marriage, the woman becomes moodier and bossy, and according to men, she likes to control every aspect of her husband's life. People are so overwhelmed with these kinds of theories that they neglect the bright side of the bond between a couple. Marriage can bring a lot of joy and happiness to people as it proclaims that they are to spend the rest of their lives in each other's arms. Like Francis Bacon says in one of his many essays, "Of Marriage and Single Life," I believe a married man can extract many great things from a marriage that ultimately helps him build his character.

Marriage can teach couples about many important values about life. For example, a recent movie I watched called One Day told the story of a young couple. They had been friends for almost fifteen years until finally they decided to marry. As their days of marriage becomes a source of joy, the man starts changing and becoming a better person than he was before. He stays true to her for the rest of their time together, when before, he did not take relationships seriously. After her sudden death, he starts to fall apart and lose himself completely. However, with a little chat with his father, who lost his wife ten years ago, the man finally realizes that he has to live everyday like his dear wife was still alive. He understands that this is what she would have wanted. This self-discovery shows the viewer that because of their unconditional love and support for each other, the husband understood an important value in his life, which was to move on even if his wife was no longer living.

Marriage doesn't only help build values, but it also gives them a chance to test these values. I come from a very strict, religious family, and although my father is a little relaxed about rules, at home, we are obliged to follow them. In many Hindu houses, like my own, it is considered unclean for women, who are going through their monthly mensuration cycles, to go into the kitchen where meals are being cooked for the elders of the family. My mother is especially careful about this rule as my grandparents stay with us, and they are very religious people. Therefore, one day, when the milk was boiling and my mother was nowhere to be seen, I ran into the kitchen, when I shouldn't have, and turned off the gas before the milk spilled all over. When my father saw what I had done, he looked taken aback. My mother returned from upstairs only to find that the gas was turned off. She turned around and asked me who turned it off. I looked at my father pleadingly who, noticing my desperation, turned to my mother and said that he had turned it off. My mother was relieved and I wan't in trouble. I mouthed a small "thank you" to him, and we went on with our lives. However, that event showed me how having kids can teach a man important things, like responsibility, love, and sacrifice. It shows that marriage can test a father's character and allow him to show the values that he has gathered from his marriage.

With these examples in mind, I believe that marriage is more advantageous to a man than being single. It teaches them about significant values in life and allows them to test their character from time to time.

Week 1- Article 1: T.V.: Good for You?

Central Argument: Watching television is beneficial because it is a way to spread knowledge and education to people, especially women in rural India, who don't have access to any.

He sat in front of the television, without blinking, without speaking, without even breathing, it seemed. He was so engrossed in it that he would even respond to my father's friendly whistle as he returned from work. It was absolutely amazing to watch. What was he watching? Nothing in particular: just a Japanese cartoon dubbed in English, which he didn't even have the fundamentals of. But still, he sat and watched, and later, when I asked him who the characters were, he named them, A to Z. He knew all of it. That moment, I realized how important T.V. is, even for a four-year-old child. T.V. is a revolutionary force that not only taught children about magical creatures that can fly, but, as Joel Waldfogel says, has helped people be more educated and be aware of the things going around in the world.

Watching television can help change a woman's perspective about her place in society. For example. there is an advertisement on Indian television about a English-learning program. A housewife, probably from rural India, is doing laundry as she speaks in broken English. However, as she progresses with her story, her English and her pronunciation ameliorate so that by the end, she speaks like a native English-speaker. Although the woman portrays the role of a typical housewife  in India, the message is somewhat different. Aside from advertising purposes, the commercial is teaching young women that being  housewives does not limit their education. It is telling them that housewives can also be smart and learn English just like their spouses or children. This strong message has a positive impact on women watching this commercial, and ultimately, it can change their point of view and have a positive impact on their behavior as women.

Not only women, but children can also gain knowledge and inspiration watching television. In a novel called Little Prices, Conor Grennan wrote about his experiences as a volunteer worker in an orphanage on the outskirts of the Kathmandu Valley. While he volunteered in the orphanage, he continued working on a book in which he wanted to write about his experiences. There is a chapter in the book where it talks about how one day, when he returns from Thamel, he finds that his computer is missing. When he goes to check on the boys at the orphanage, he finds that they are watching a Bollywood movie on his laptop. Their laughter fills his ears, and the way they mimic the cheesy scenes in the film touches his heart. While I read, I thought about how big a part electronics, computers in this case (but it can also apply to television), play in a kid's life. It can be, at certain times, a source of joy and laughter and knowledge. This shows how even children can make the most out of televisions.

Therefore, I agree with the author when says that watching television can be beneficial. It can inspire and educate women, who don't have education, about the importance of women in society today, and it can also help children gain knowledge and have fun in their everyday lives. Inventing the television was a significant growth in mankind's part.

Week 1- Article 2: Meet My Son

 Central Argument: Emily Rapp defends women’s right to terminate a pregnancy with the knowledge and information deduced from prenatal testing.

 

                 Abortion has always been an issue of great debate and controversy for a few decades. People argue about the cases where abortion should or not. Many believe that in cases where the girl has been a victim of rape or sexual harassment or if she herself has decided to give up the baby, then abortion should be legal. However, others believe that no matter what, aborting a child means taking the life of a human being, which is a crime. In certain cases, like in the one of Emily Rapp, people can understand why abortion is necessary. Rapp highlights the problem of babies being born with physical or mental disabilities and incompetence. In cases like her own, doctors predict that these babies aren’t even going to live till they are two years old. And their lives for the two years comes with great difficulty and hardships: paralysis, low rates of responding to the environment, or being deaf or dumb. I think that Rapp is correct when she states that abortion should be legal, but only in cases like her son’s.  In other cases, legalizing abortion can have a negative effect.

                If the baby is born with severe disabilities, abortion should be legal. For example, a few years back, our English class analyzed a short story about a boy named Christy Brown. This boy, being the youngest of several children, was born paralyzed. The doctors believed that he could never walk or talk or be a “normal kid.” His mother, along with handling all of her others kids, had to pay special attention to Christy due to his disability. She had to dedicate all her strength into raising Christy the right way. Many a times, the story told the reader about the times the mother broke down because it was so overwhelming for her. Even though Christy ends up being able to write an “A” with his left foot, the story highlights the difficulty of being born with a disability. Even if the mother loved her son with all her heart, she still had to face a lot of problems as Christy lived a different lifestyle from his siblings. Therefore, in cases where both the parties are being hurt, abortion can only prove to have a more positive effect than a negative.

                However, legalizing abortions completely can have negative effects, especially in the culture aspects of life. For example, many villages in rural places of Asia have conserved their traditional ways and try to implement their customs and traditions in their daily lives. In places like China, India, and Pakistan especially, the uneducated villagers have the mindset that having a baby girl is a curse in the family. According to them, along with a baby girl comes the burden of raising her well only to give her away with a lot of dowry. Therefore, if abortion in legalized, and if these kinds people find out about the sex of the baby in a mother’s stomach somehow, they will only force the woman to adopt her baby. It is called female infanticide. To many people, legalizing abortions would mean a way to be warned about the “misfortunes” to come and being able to deal with them through abortions.

                All in all, I think that Emily Rapp is right when she says that abortion is a choice of a mother and should be legal when she chooses to take necessary steps. It could save a lot of suffering in the caretaker’s part and the victim’s. However, abortion can also have negative effects when it is used by backward people for female infanticide. What would be best would be to make abortions legal depending on the situation.

Bob Dylan: "The Man in Me"

Bob Dylan: "The Man in Me"

When I listen to this song, an image appears in my mind: a country man, with a brown hat and cowboy boots, sitting in a cafe, his stomach bulging out, and a thick glass of beer in his hands. At the beginning of the song, Bob Dylan tone is carefree and delightful, and his "lalala" instantly grabs the listener's attention, releasing any stress or tension and making her sway to the music. The accompaniment of the musical instruments in the beginning also helps enhance the childish aura of the song. Then, as Dylan starts singing, one can almost imagine him smiling to himself because of the hint of a teasing and mockery in his voice. Just like in Adele's song, he starts out soft in the beginning, while still slowly building up the tension. The notes at the end of the phrases are comparatively shorter with precise ends to the notes in the chorus. As he sings the chorus, his notes start becoming longer and his tone more even relaxed and playful. When he ends the chorus for the first time. he leaves the last note ringing for some time and then jumps back to the shorter phrases. The songs terminates with another, joyful "lalala" from the singer,  in a happy, positive note and leaving the listener searching for the "replay" button!

Challenge 80: Prison Inmates

181. Should prison inmates be allowed to take college courses? Explain why or why not.

People go to prisons because they have done something wrong and need to be punished. There lies the classic debate of nature verses nurture. Were they made of bad material since birth or did the circumstance oblige them to act in a vicious way? Irregardless of their way of ending up in prisons, they are nonetheless humans. They make mistakes and they pay the price. However, even while they are prison, they should not be treated like filthy animals. There are still humans and they need the respect. Therefore, I think it is completely wrong to strip prison inmates of their basic right to education. Despite having committed crimes, they still have the right to an education. They should still be educated like any other person. And who knows? Maybe giving them an education is like giving them another chance in life, a chance to be better than before. Maybe they will be motivated by the fact that they can use this education to do something good in life, for their families, for theirs, a of course, for themselves. Maybe finding an education will change the way they view the world. Maybe they would want to earn a loaf of bread rather than steal one. Education can change their viewpoint. Ultimately, with this reasoning, we could have a better society and a better world. Criminals will come out of jail becoming new people because they have had the opportunity to learn about the world and about themselves. If they were did wrong things previously and did not wish for an education, in prison, by offering college courses, they would be obliged to take those lessons and make something out of it. They would learn of the world that is so different and better than their previous ones, and they may want to change their ways to become better people. Although there are a lot of "maybe's," unless we actually try educating prison inmates, we will never know what effects it will have. 

Challenge 61: The Silver Pen

55. Discuss an important personal relationship you have had and explain how it has changed your life.


I was introduced to it when I was in the fifth grade. It was a rather special event because I had never been allowed to use it previously: the ink pen. As silly as it seems, holding the ink pen for the first time in class was a glorious moment for me. The pen had a soft silver flow and tiny blue and yellow flowers decorated the length of the pen. As the year proceeded, so did my development in mastering the arts of writing in ink. It was difficult as first and I remember having to wash off plenty of ink from my fingers during the short breaks. I remember spilling it on the carpet at home once and earning a good scolding for doing so. I remember getting blue fingerprints on the pages of a precious school-owed book and having to stand outside class, my ears glowing pink with embarrassment and with my hands stretched upwards as a punishment. Those were the first impressions and I have to say, using the ink pen wasn't as "awesome" as I thought. However, the relationship with my white ink pen decorated in flowers strengthened as I grew more and more familiar with it. I would write pages after pages in the blue ink, hoping to perfect my writing and avoid smearing ink all over myself. My ink pen was different from others; some of them had rough covers, while others had a big, ugly chunk of steel as the lead. My precious pen was much tinier and much better and easier to work with. The lead of my pen was bend in a peculiar way and you had to tilt it just in the right angle to get the smooth effect. After I wrote something, I would silently watch the ink shine for some time and slowly sink into the tiny fibers of the papers. 
I wouldn't say that the relationship with my ink pen has changed my life entirely. However, it has taught me a few lessons about life and the way to live. You have to wait patiently sometimes for the best results to find their way. If you rush something, it might get destroyed. You have to take it slow, give it some thought, and really hope for the best. Secondly, not everything will go as planned. Not everything will be as smooth as you may imagine it to be. Things can turn out differently than you expect. And during that time, you shouldn't just tear out the paper and shove it in the bin. Instead, you have to learn to work around that blob of ink, find another way to make it work. Then only can you move on in life and really learn to complete the things you have set out to do. Despite these lessons, I lost my silver pen after I left for Woodstock. I have looked for it many times, but all I find are the fragments of lessons and encouragement the soft, silver pen has left for me. 

Challenge 79: Another me!

162. If you could invent something, what would it be, and why? (University of Virginia)

Obviously, I would invent something I need, something that will mean less work for me, and more time to just, as they say, "chill." I should invent something that should be useful. So, the best I can come up with is another me. Yes, I would invent another Bidushi. I know that things like cloning exist but inventing another me is different. I would ask whatever I want from the duplicate me without hurting her feelings. She will do exactly what I ask of her because she is me and she cares for me. Firstly, that would mean that I would get away from doing a lot of boring work, whether it be cleaning up my room or solving math problems. The second me could do all that work and make time for me to have fun. Secondly, I could really watch myself at work and observe what I look like when I am intensely memorizing facts for the next exam or listening to music and doing to art work. I could admire myself. Thirdly, having another me would also mean that I would be able to be in two places at once and confuse people! They would wonder how I could have attended that meeting but also have had a long conversation with my friends. It would be fun to watch people think that they’re crazy by tricking them. Fourthly, it would feel absolutely great to go against all the rules of nature. It would feel amazing to counter all that scientists and theorists have come up with since the beginning of time. Fifthly, I could send my other self on a mission to Mars or something that incredible.

I think that these are enough reasons for me to invent another me. I could get away from work I don’t enjoy doing, I could observe myself to see what I look like when I’m working, I could trick people, I could go against the law of nature, and I could send myself to Mars!

(I'm sorry but this one is a rather careless one. In my defense, I am half asleep.)

Challenge 78: Lead Role

111. Imagine yourself being an actor/actress. Tell about your feelings before the opening night of the performance where you play the title role.

Everything feels to be passing in slow motion. My make-up artist is working over my face, applying the last-minute things before I appear on stage. I feel nauseous and there is a heavy load slowly building up at my chest. I try to smile away my discomfort, but it refuses to budge. I can see the eyes of the other actors; they are all excited and prepared. I feel a little jealous; I am not that confident even though I have more to speak. I should have never agreed to play the lead role. But it's too late. I can't back out now. I thought that it would be easier, though. I mean, there is just an excited audience behind that curtain and I just have to do my level best to please them, to make them stand up on their feet, and clap their hands together with admiration. Shouldn't be so hard, should it? Ah, the feeling is eating up my insides. I can't stand it no more. I feel like I have to throw up. Gosh, I wish this would go away. 

Maybe I should think about something else, something more soothing and calming. After all, that's what the director had suggested and she sure knows me well. Think about something happy, something funny. Oh, yeah, there was that time we went to the beach. Wait, what happened then? The beach. The beach. The beach... oh yeah, somebody fell into the water and we laughed. Was that all? Ah, this nauseating feeling is so frustrating. I cannot make it go away. 

I wish he would stop dabbing so much glitter on my face. It makes me look like a pampered princess. How is all that make-up supposed to hide the feelings I feel right now? Goodness, who hired him? Wow, is that the director signalling me. Yep, now is you time to shine, Bidushi! Yeah, great, thanks for the little push, Mr. Glitter-...Guy! Smile now, smile. Aw, my stomach feels so tight. I need to have some water. God, why do I need all this right now?

Okay. Now the show will begin. Right. I've gathered myself together and now, I'm going to put up an excellent show. That's it. I'm at the center of the stage. The curtains are lifting. Smile and let the performance begin!

Challenge 77: Improvisation

Modern improvisational comedy originated in Hyde Park on the campus of the University of Chicago with the Compass Players. Some of the Players went on to form the Second City comedy troupe, precursor to the Saturday Night Live show on TV. With this essay option we invite you to test your own improvisational powers by putting together a story, play, or dialogue that meets all of the following requirements:
A. You must begin with the sentence, “Many years later, he remembered his first experience with ice.”
B. All five senses—sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell—have to figure in the plot.
C. You have to mention the University of Chicago, but please, no accounts of erstwhile high school students applying to the University—this is fiction, not autobiography.
D. These items must be included: a new pair of socks, a historical landmark, a spork (the combination of spoon and fork frequently seen among airline flatware), a domesticated animal, and the complete works of William Shakespeare. Have fun, and try to keep your brilliance and wit to three pages max. (U of Chicago)

“Many years later, he remembered his first experience with ice,” said Peter. He turned around only to find that there was nobody listening to him anymore. Sure, the audience had been fairly large when he first started with the story, but by now, there was just a dog looking at him hungrily and waging its tail. He threw at it the remains of the bun in his hands. The dog gave a joyful yelp and jogged away, waging its tail happily. Great, Peter thought, even the dog doesn’t want to be with me.

Peter had always been told by those elder than him that his skills of storytelling were unlike what they’d heard before. This boosted his confidence, and he thought that maybe he could use this talent to fill his pockets. After all, the university he was applying for was no joke: The University of Chicago. Now, after his first attempt turning out to be utterly disappointing, the University felt like a distant dream.

Anyhow, he gathered up his belongings and the remaining of his disappointment and headed home. Living in the beautiful city, he had always loved walking whenever he could. He loved observing people and studying them; it definitely helped him with his storytelling. He was so brilliant that he could thread out wonderful stories of as simple a case as the woman sitting in the cafe with a cup of coffee or a bookstore with a portrait of Shakespeare on the door and, predictably, the inside filled with the complete works of Shakespeare.

As he passed the big Bo-tree two blocks away from his home, he noticed something had changed. Being a quick observer, he realized that they had placed a new bench just underneath the tree. He always thought that there ought to be one right there; it just seemed like the perfect setting. Tempted, he thought, Why not spend a few moments here. After all, I don’t have a place to go and tell stories, he thought sarcastically.

The bench was empty and there seemed to be nobody around. He threw his bag pack on the ground next to him and lazily flopped onto the seat. It sure did feel new. The surface was smooth and safe from uncomfortable bulges. The backrest felt perfect. His body quickly absorbed the coolness of the bench to calm his heated body down. A short laugh escaped his lips as he thought about the events of the day. Maybe, he thought, I dream too much.

He lay there for a few moments, his arms outstretched and his feet dangling, taking in the calmness of his surroundings. He listened to the distant roaring of the engines of so many vehicles. He heard the ruffled footsteps of the passer-bys as they rushed to another place they had to be, another meeting they had to attend, another part of their life that was so important. Why hadn’t he such a busy life? He was only a student, but still, he felt like he had too much time in his hands nowadays. No matter, he thought, I’m sure I will also be viciously sucked into that cycle of what they call “professional” life. Running from place to place, from people to people, all to make some more money? Is that how life was meant to be?

As the weather started cooling down and the sun started making way for the stars, he left the thoughts behind and continued his way back home. The cool breeze blew at his face, ruffling his hair, and pushing him backwards. But he continued walking, against the incredible force, until he was at his doorstep. Through the thick glass of his door, he saw that somebody was already inside, and from the smell of baked goods and roasted chicken, he could tell that it was his grandmother. She had promised him a visit after her year-round trip.  Carelessly shoving the keys back on the inside of his jacket, he knocked on the door. From the other side, he heard the a big bang, which sounded like a pan had fell to the floor, rushed footsteps, clanking of keys, and finally, the clicking of the door. There stood his grandmother, clad in her nightgown, a thick, red sweater, and a wise smile. She leaned towards him and hugged him.

“Grandmother!” he said. “It’s so great to see you!”

“It’s lovely to see you too, son,” she replied gleefully, freeing him from a warm hug.

After that he let her talk. She was a talkative woman and it was always best not to interrupt her. She could talk on for days of the things she was excited about. Her eyes would tinkle, her thin lips would form a smile, and her hands would try to paint the pictures of her mind into thin air. It was amazing to watch. 

From the moment he had entered the house to the time he had fallen asleep, he had learned a great many things. From learning of the beauty of the Eiffel Tower at night to the smelly, Indian feet in Taj Mahal, he heard it all. He had heard how little the pair of woolen socks was of use in the cold winter in Finland and how shiny the spork was in the Germanwings Airlines. But the best part was that his grandmother had patiently listened as he used his extraordinary storytelling to tell her the story he had recited earlier that day. She smiled throughout, nodding that she had understood, and proudly clapping her hands when he had finished. The last of his thoughts before he fell asleep were that perhaps there was still chance, a chance that his storytelling could survive.

Challenge 76: Ugly, Yellow Table

67. At a crucial point in his career, the African-American writer James Baldwin withdrew to a secluded spot in the Swiss Alps. “There,” he later wrote, “in that absolute alabaster landscape, armed with two Bessie Smith records and a typewriter, I began to try to recreate the life that I had first known as a child and from which I had spent so many years in flight … It was Bessie Smith, through her tone and her cadence, who helped me to dig back to the way I myself must have spoken…and to remember the things I had heard and seen and felt. I had buried them very deep.” Inevitable, certain things—songs, household objects, familiar smells—bring us instantly back to some past moment in our lives. Start an essay by describing one such thing and see where it takes you. (University of Chicago)

It is extremely short and doesn't even come up to your knees. If you don't watch your step, you might bang your shins against it, and believe me, although it is round, it is going to hurt. The legs are short and poorly carved out. The color is a rather ugly yellow with tiny, brown stripes, and there are points at which it has worn off to expose the rusty nails. The brown lining shines beautifully against the light, and I think that is the sole part that looks presentable. I cannot remember how long we have had that short, round table. We never get rid of it because it comes handy at one point or another.

***

My first memory of the table dates back to 2002. The T.V. is barging in the background with the singing of little elephants on a birthday party. My mother is not around and it's just my sister and me together. We turn the T.V off. Carelessly, we look through our cardboard box of toys to find the chalk that my mother bought so long ago. Finding the chalk, we head back to the table and flip it so that it's on it's head. We sit on the back and draw with the chalk. We make a big flower covering the whole of the back and draw little starts around. 

I take glance underneath the table and there, I still see the flower my sister and I made ten years ago! It is a little faded and worn out, but it still brings back the memories.

***

We are bored. We wait for our tuition teacher to arrive. He is late than usual. Both of us are ready with our books and everything set on the table. When it gets too much, my sister gets up and brings the page of stickers we just bought. I don't remember what those stickers bore, but I think some sort of a celebrity. We stuck it on the table and laughed. But once the tuition teacher comes and we are engrossed in the math problems, his fingers pick the sticker out unconsciously. There is nothing left but the scar of what had been a colorful sticker. Over the years, that white patch has turned a blackish brown color.

***

The shelf is too high for me to reach. I really that little statue of a girl. I want to bring it to my room and keep it. I stand on my toes and still can't reach it. I get frustrated. I look around. I see the table. It is a perfect stepping stone. I drag it to the shelf. With the innocence of a child, I step on the edge. The table isn't balance and can't hold my weight. It tilts my way and I fall. I sit there crying and hitting the table.

***

It has been quite some time since I've seen the table. And I know exactly why. It is hidden underneath the mountains of books in my father's study room. He doesn't like it when we enter the room, even if it is my mother. I can understand why. It is frustrating when you find that things have magically been displaced since your last return. I can see that the table is not of much use to him except for holding the books. Dust has covered some of the little exposed surface of the table. It is amazing how much the table can hold. I quickly find the book I'm looking for and leave the room.

***

I had returned from school. I need to study for the SAT. I ask my father for the table because it is the perfect height for sitting and working. He hesitates, but realizing it couldn't be of more use than that, he nods. I roll is away quietly and carry it myself up to my room. I place it on the carpet on the floor. Something looks wrong. It isn't coherent with the rest of the room which consists of newer furniture. Still, it serves its purpose. 

Challenge 75: Clarinet

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)

When I first took up clarinet almost five years ago, I didn't have the mind to continue playing it in high school. I took clarinet because I couldn't blow into the trumpet, couldn't make a sound through the flute, and couldn't even properly hold the trombone. However, when I took hold of the clarinet for the first time, I instantly knew that this was what I was going to settle for, as dramatic as that sounds. When I first blew through it, I created a beautiful G sound, according to the teacher, Mrs. Hugg, who told me that the clarinet was the best option. 

From then, I started playing the clarinet. As a beginner, I don't even have a count of how many reeds I broke. But,I kept playing, and being exposed to an instrument for the first time, I really enjoyed it. It was the beginning of a new part of my life, a new part of me. I was starting something that was previously foreign to me, just like learning a new language. It was challenging but by accepting that challenge, I made it a significant part of me. Although I had a hard time with little musical things like creating a perfect tone throughout and remembering my scales, I played it for five years happily. There were times when I really wanted to quit it because I got sick of playing the clarinet. However, I didn't quit because I thought I might as well perfect it as much as I could while I was still in high school.

I don't know if I will keep playing even after I have left high school. I don't know if I will even minor in music. Although I enjoy playing it, I think that there will come a time when I will just have to give it up. However, choosing to play the clarinet for six years was a good decision. It helped me take a break from school and let me play music that I had heard of. It was a good experience, and even if it was just for a few years, clarinet because a significant part of my identity. 

Challenge 74: Religion

36. Select any issue that is of importance to you and discuss your views. (New College of University of South Florida)

On my recent visit to the renowned Pashupati Nath Temple, I observed a few crucial things. One, there is this big stone just off the railing of the temple and you have throw coins at it. If you manage to make the coin stay at the surface, then you get to make a wish and it will come true. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get it to stay. Second, I noticed the amount of people that come to the temple to pray. Devotees all the way from isolated corners of Nepal to visitors from India, there were countless people. I thought about how much religion means to them. I thought about how they have traveled long and far to reach the temple in order to offer their prayers. They call themselves devoted Hindus. 

To me, their dedication makes me feel two different things. One is that I feel a certain kind of respect for people who are so devoted to god, whether it be a Christian god or a Hindu god or anything else for that matter. Regardless of what religion they follow, I admire their faith and their capacity to believe in something greater than humans. But, at the same time, there are certain religious people who anger me. They are very religious, following traditions and all the ways of their culture. But, when it comes to doing something moral, they turn their backs. If a charity organization comes at their doorsteps asking for a little money, these people shoo them off and shut the door on their faces. If there is a question about sparing a few coins for a beggar, they quickly walk off avoiding any kind of contact. Is this also what their religion teaches them? To turn their backs of helpless situations? If people really want to do good in life, they will not achieve this goal by just praying all day long or chanting in the temples. They have to actually go out and go something good for the world. Then only will their religion and faith account for something. 

Challenge 73: Telepathy

21. If you had the gift of telepathy, the ability to read other people’s minds, would you use this gift or not? Explain. (Middle East Technical University/93)

There have been several moments in my life when all I wanted really at that point was to read the other person's mind. The situation made it so that I could not tell at all what she was thinking. I wanted to know so badly what was going through her mind when she said those words. But now, I think that I was better off not knowing what she was thinking. Telepathy would be a useful tool in vital situations, as in the case of Edward Cullen for all those Twilight fans. However, reading other people's mind is like going through their stuff: it's offensive. Reading other people's mind is invading their privacy. There must be something that the person has in her mind that she doesn't want you to know and there must be a reason for that. And if you read her mind out of curiosity, you are not respecting her or her thoughts. There are some things that are buried deep inside my mind which I try not to think about. I don't want people to know these thoughts and these feelings because they are private. I would feel betrayed and disappointed if somebody tried to read these thoughts. And I imagine it will be the same for many people. There are some things that others shouldn't know and it’s better left that way. People talk about how they could do childish things with this gift if it existed, like cheating in exams or winning a heated argument. However, they fail to realize that this kind of dishonesty will not carve out their success in life.

I refuse to believe that I am the kind of person who will manipulate power. But, we don’t know what we are made of until the situation presents itself, until our characters are tested. So, another reason I wouldn’t use the gift of telepathy is because this gift may unleash the worst within me. 

Challenge 72: Invention the World is Better off Without

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

On one hand are my parents. They tell us great stories from their past, stories about falling off a rickshaw in old Birgunj to climbing up trees in the large fields. My mother tells me about how she and her sisters used to dress up in costumes to take pictures. My father tells me of the things he used to do in school, like sneaking away from the sleeping professor and going out to play in the fields and ponds. He tell me how he got his first calculator only after he went to Delhi University. When I hear them say these stories, I see the long-ago-in-my-days look in both of their eyes. 

And on another hand is my brother. I will exquisitely tell you his story. He is just four but knows how to play the games in my iPod Touch. He can find the music library on my father's cell phone and play the music. He knows how to draw on "Paint" on my computer. He knows where to press on the remote control to get the channel he wants: Cartoon Network. And there, he spends hours and hours (until the electricity is not out anyway), watching cartoons, when the sun is shining beautifully outside and the birds are chirping harmoniously.

I think one can make out the difference between the two generations. One was filled with physically active activities that took absolute advantage of the beautiful surroundings while the other is mostly based around electronics. Therefore, I think that the world is better off without some electronics, electronics that take up recreation times. I know of the great wonders that the new generation of electronics has to offer, from internet at every bend of life to the usefulness of touch screen. However, maybe if there weren't so many electronics to take up our time, our lives would be spent in a much healthier way. Instead of sitting with an iPod for hours on end and slashing fruits, my brother, and other children of the same age, could be out under the sun chasing the dog or playing with the mud. Instead of me hanging onto my computer all day, I could be practicing my music or reading a good book. But what has been invented cannot be ... un-invented. Therefore, I think all we can do right now is just manage our time in such a way that we give ourselves enough time to be out breathing fresh air and enjoying the sunshine.

Challenge 71: Neighborhood

12. Tell us about the neighborhood that you grew up in and how it helped shape you into the kind of person you are today. (Yale and the University of Chicago)

 Born and raised in Kathmandu, I always found the view of the dusty city and the uneven houses comforting and familiar whenever I flew back home from school. The distant Himalaya that the hostesses always mentioned as we descended were nothing more than a distant view for me as well. I had always been inside the premises of the valley and seldom left it for any other part of the country. When I was a little girl, I wanted our family to move to the hill stations I used to visit as a child: Godawari and Nagarkot. However, that was always left as a desire and the city really managed to bind itself to the first twelve years of my life.

When I was little, we moved a lot. My father had his job abroad and my mother, my sister, and I used to live at a rented house. There is a picture that keeps flashing back into my mind when I think of that place: I am cutting my seventh birthday cake and my cousins are all eagerly waiting for some cake. I have a "Hello Kitty" jacket on, the same one by sister wore after me and then my brother. That was some eleven years ago. My cousins all had their houses in the same street and that meant a lot of family-bonding time. As an individual, I think that helped me establish a strong relationship with them and conserve them, even as a child.

From there, we moved to another flat while our house was being built. The neighborhood was a silent one. There are just a few memories that pop up when I think of those times. During one Holi festival, I remember we threw a bucket full of water at a passer-by. He was so angry that he swore even to children. We laughed our heads off. That particular experience probably taught me that there were some grumpy people around that you just had to ignore. Another good memory was when I first learned to ride a bicycle. Although it was a four-wheeler, I was immensely proud when I could ride it around with just one hand on the handle. I remember receiving compliments from my neighbors and feeling high and mighty. Even though it only lasted for a few days, that experience helped me gain confidence in myself by trusting my abilities.

Our house was built by 2003 and we moved in. This neighborhood was a rather noisier one than our family preferred, but we learned to adjust. There is a big field right in front of the house. The sun shines beautifully through our window. I get to make the most of it during winter. The neighbors are usually kind people, although they anger me from time to time because of their irrational thinking. However, I have learned to not blame them for their thinking and rather, try to improve the situation. Other than that, I think that the neighborhoods I grew up in definately gave me some qualities that have grown in me. 

Challenge 70: "Hell is other people"

32. Sartre said, “Hell is other people,” while Streisand sang, “People who need people are the luckiest people in the world.” With whom do you agree? (Amherst)

First when I read this question, I thought the latter would definitely represent my views. But then, I thought again. Yes, we say that humans definitely cannot live alone in this world, without any family or friends. However, first, I think we need to know what hell is. According to religious books, hell is a place where people who are sinful go. They have wronged in this world and therefore, they must suffer in their afterlives. Contrary to heaven, hell makes us think of fire and devils and emotions like anger and pain and disappointed. However, where do all of these sins and negative feelings come from? Why do people get angry? Why do people feel pain?

I remember once when I had fought with a very close friend of mine. I had called my mom, crying and complaining that I didn't know what I had done wrong for things to end this way. My mother comforted me and said that as kids, these things are going to happen. You are going to get into a fight with somebody not knowing what you have done to disappointment her. And that's why, she said, instead of keeping just a few really close friends, you need to have a wider circle of friends so that when you do get into a fight with one, it won't hurt as much because you aren't particularly close with her. That... made sense. If I didn't have close friends, then these words wouldn't sting. I wouldn't be bothered about what they've said because they don't mean so much to me. And if they didn't mean so much to me, I wouldn't let their words play with my emotions. I wouldn't let them hurt my feelings so that I became angry and pained.

Therefore, I agree with Sartre. The words speak the bitter truth. Hell is other people because of the relationship we share with them. They inflict upon us the pain, the disappointment, and ultimately, they would lead us to have black spots in our hearts, like seeking for revenge. If we don't have strong bonds with other people, then they bitter words would not effect our feelings or actions. 

Challenge 69: Fifteen Minutes

7. It has been said [by Andy Warhol] that “in the future everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes.” Describe your fifteen minutes. (New York University)

My heart will be pounding. My cheeks would be burning. There would be a permanent smile playing at my lips. My eyes will be watering because of all the emotions flowing inside of me: joy and happiness, and a little shock at the current situation. My hands would be shaking from excitement. I wouldn't be able to keep my legs from fidgeting. My head would be held high because I am proud and confident and satisfied. What would I be famous for? Saving the whole world? No, nothing so huge. I would be famous for something I have done that had made a positive difference in someone else's life. I would be called for a talk show or a radio station of some kind to share what I have done with the whole world. I would deliver a positive message to everybody who is watching. I would tell people how much this little action has helped somebody else’s life. I would teach people that they can also do little things, make a small change in their lives in order to help others. I would tell these people to spread the message. I would tell my listeners to be better people, better humans. Everyone would be thoroughly impressed and inspired by me. They will take immediate actions. They will confidently talk about how they themselves are capable of brining such a change into this world. They will say that she did it, so why can’t we? And, even after the fifteen minutes of fame are over, people will still follow my words and do what I asked of them. They will continue to change things in their lives for the better. My words will have a lasting impression on all these people, long after I have been removed from the spotlight. 

Challenge 68: Sherlock Holmes

17. If you could spend a year with any real or fictional person in the past, present, or future, whom would you choose? Why? (Kalamazoo College/93)

Even as a kid, I loved mystery and ghost stories, especially the ones that ended with "although everything went back to normal, they still heard those bangles cling together from time to time." Oh, the tug I felt in my gut during those times. I used to curl up in the arms of my father as he told us the stories with a voice so deep and soft that it seemed to bring every aspect of the story to life. Those were wonderful moments! Other than listening to these stories, I loved reading them. I would read aloud the descriptions of the tall figure lurking behind the curtain or the black cat that seldom moved. I would read aloud dialogues and try to imagine what the rough, deep voice must have sounded. Mystery novels were attractive too; I would patiently wait in anticipation till the end to find out the explanations of all that didn't make sense. I would try and guess what the story was. I started watching T.V. series too about a homicide cop and how she discovers the story behind each murder. Then, recently, when I got hold of a mystery novel that I heard so much about from a friend, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, I didn't hesitate once before diving into the stories. There were absolutely great! The shrewdness and the intelligence with which Holmes unearthed all the cases were absolutely breathtaking. The way he could recite the story of the person standing before him by just observing his clothes or whatever was mind blowing! Reading the book made me want to be part of the stories. I wanted to be alongside of Sherlock Holmes as he discovered clue after clue and finally connected the whole story. I wanted to travel to places alongside this extraordinary thinker to unearth the details.  I wanted to be part of his adventures,  kind of like how Dr. Watson was. I wanted to go inside his head and see how he thought things through and how he managed to connect the pieces and break the case. Therefore, if I could spend a year, a week, a day, or even a few minutes with any fictional character, it would definitely  be Sherlock Holmes.

Challenge 67: A Novel

48. Name one book you have read in the past year, describe your reason for considering this book significant and what you gained from reading it. (Lewis and Clark College)

I thought I wouldn't read it when I checked it out from the library for the holidays, but just two or three weeks later, I found myself deeply engrossed in the adventurous world of these two girls. I finished the novel in just three days. The name? Well, you may know of it: Shanghai Girls. The book is about, well, two sisters from "modern" Shanghai in the first half of the nineteenth century (around 1940s). After a surprising turn of events, the girls are forced to retire from their exquisite and wealthy lives in the Paris of Asia and flee to the West where they are married off to strangers and have to adjust to the poverty and discrimination they face in their new home: Chinatown. The significance of this novel is fabricated within the main theme, and that is the deep bond between the sisters. It fascinates me to read about how they went through the worst that life has to offer, and yet, they survived, only because they had each other to rely on. There are many situations that are so extreme and so difficult that it almost led me to believe that the ties between the two were finally going to break. However, I was proved wrong when, again, with their determination and confidence, they overcome the situation and move forward. By reading this book, I gathered a better idea about what life was like during the times of war for an immigrant. I learned about the limits people reached just in order to keep on living a life. I learned about what discrimination was like to Chinese immigrants and how this severely effected their lives, whether it be not getting an education in a standard English-speaking school because of their nationality or whether it be being sued by American officers for reading a communism-based newspaper. Also, the strong relationship that the two sisters shared made me think about the relationship with my own sister. At home, we constantly get into little arguments that leaves the both of us frustrated and irritated at each other. But, at the end of the day, we sit side by side, yanking out each other's hair and teasing each other, while still making the best of what this sisterly relationship has to offer.