iBook: College Admission Essay Sample

Admissions Board: In order to convey as much information as possible to you, I have written an essay that will help give an idea about what I am interested in, how I serve my peers and community, and the types of experiences that really stick in my mind and in my character.

With nine-hundred million clock cycles per second; 786,432 sensuous pixels and sixty billion seductive bytes of storage she purrs gracefully as she goes from power-down to GUI in ten seconds flat. Her generous curves are accented in a gorgeous snow-white polycarbonate number that makes one temporarily overlook her rigid magnesium frame hiding beneath. She's a 14-inch Apple iBook G3 and she's mine, all mine!

One day while my iBook and I were getting some work done in the counselor's office at school, I noticed another boy eying her with great interest. It came as no surprise to me that other people were drawn to her beauty, but his intense stare indicated to me that not only did he appreciate her outer charms, he also held an understanding of her inner workings. I found this intriguing and proceeded to ask him if he was interested in computers. His response was an emphatic, yet tragic, "Yes." He then continued to tell me that he had never owned a computer and that the only time he had to work with one was there in the counselor's office during lunch. I knew what I had to do. I decided that I couldn't let a fellow enthusiast, someone with a genuine interest in something I cared equally for, go without the equipment he needed. I didn't exactly have an unused computer sitting around, and I certainly didn't have enough money to buy another (having recently drained my accounts to buy my gorgeous aforementioned machine). Nonetheless, considering myself resourceful, I told him that I would gather up the necessary parts and put a computer together for him: one that he could use whenever he wanted, one that would help him with school work as well as personal pursuits. His face lit up at this. A big smile had been stretching across his face since I first spoke to him and it reached its climax as he told me how grateful he would be. As I made my way home that day I felt a bit different. I felt proud of what I had done... and at the same time I worried about providing what I had promised. I immediately began scouring all available outlets for a spare computer. It didn't have to be fast, nothing particularly new or extraordinary. Yet, as far as I searched, I could not find the pieces I needed. I gave up for the night and went to sleep, dreaming uneasily.

For the next few days I met the same discouraging result. No one had an extra PC, not even for a good cause. Every morning at school I found myself explaining to my new friend that I was still working on it, and that his computer would be coming together soon. He began to lose hope, I could tell. His constant smile in my presence started to recede and he told me that it was no big deal, that no one ever did much for him anyway, that he was surprised that I even spoke to him. This was the final straw, so to speak. I would not let him down.

Denying defeat I resorted to what I felt was necessary; I gave away a computer of my own. Not my glorious iBook, but second only to her, my previous love, a Pentium 2 desktop. While I was reluctant at first, I soon felt it rather fitting, as that machine had been my first real computer too. When I told the lucky recipient about his new toy he was positively ecstatic. That very day we spent the afternoon at his house, setting up his computer. With the insistence that it be as close as possible to his bed, I found myself donating also an extension cord and surge protector. As the power switch was flipped, his great smile quickly returned. He was proud and so was I.

I had never felt better. I had made a difference in someone's life. I had opened up a whole new set of possibilities for someone. Every time I see my friend (who remains nameless by request) he thanks me and tells me about his latest project. This experience has changed me greatly. Since I gave away that first computer, I have formed an organization that acts as a depository for unused computers and computer parts which are cleaned up, tested and given out, free of charge, to people who cannot access or afford a computer. I feel that with the experience of that first donation I gained not only a great friend, but also concern for those who are less fortunate. I am now dedicated to helping them. I have become more generous with the things I own and am ready to share much more if it may benefit someone else. And while I'm still very protective of my sweet little iBook, I can honestly say I'm not so jealous when I see someone else scoping her out.