Finding My Niche: College Admission Essay Sample

We are live in five! Four! Three! Two! One!

“Jean, you’re directing tomorrow.”

I look at my teacher seriously, nodding. However, I was inwardly jumping with joy at the prospect of leading the whole broadcast.

Let me start from the beginning. Back in sixth grade, I look up, fixated, at my school’s morning news. I admired the anchors presenting the day's items with fervor, and I laughed with them when they made mistakes. In my heart, I promised myself that I would be one of those anchors, right on screen, when I entered high school.

Three years later, I walked into the broadcasting room tingling with apprehension. The first class of high school was not filled with the classmates I had known and interacted with for the past three years, but with upperclassmen whom I had always seen and admired, and felt vaguely intimidated by.

How can I compete with them? I thought, as I took a seat at the meeting circle to introduce myself to the seasoned students I would be working with for the rest of the semester.

I, as a small, ninth grader with almost no prior experience in the world of video media, plunged my hands deep into the business, working hard to somehow both fit in and stand out. When something needed to be done, even something so minute as adjusting the camera so that the broadcast would run smoothly, I would do it.

Cut to DDR2...now.

I received the opportunity to direct the whole broadcast a few weeks into my freshman year, and I was eager to learn this new task — it excited me to see a broadcast run smoothly. I would be able to guide my teammates to unmute the audio, transition to a video, or move the camera. I gripped the broadcasting script, reading through the transitions, readying myself for my task. However, to be entirely honest, I had help the first time I led: my teacher stood beside me, calling out extra shots when I failed to do so. I watched and listened to his instructions, and I remembered them all for the next time.

Let’s go to our field reporter to see our latest campus news...

By my second year, I became co-director with one of my teammates, but, due to the shortage of members, I also had to run the tricaster while directing. Needless to say, it was difficult. I had to guide my teammates while transitioning between camera shots on screen. Yet, I liked the challenge. Of course, the more I practiced, the more I improved in doing both tasks at once: the experience had taught me multitasking.

As the only four-year member in Broadcasting, I am called “Ms. Director” for my dedication in the class. Throughout my high school years, I received inspiration from my classmates to become more creative in my news projects, and likewise, I inspired my classmates to work hard. Ultimately, Broadcasting has taught me leadership. I am eager to direct and encourage my team to do our best in creating a good broadcast — we rise together, and we fall together.

“Good job guys! That was perfect.”

Thank you for watching the Knightly News. I’m Jean Chen. Have a great day.