Me, Myself, and I.: College Admission Essay Sample

Most people would say that walking backwards through life would make no sense, and in most cases I would agree. When I dance tango, however, walking backwards not only makes complete sense but also feels like the best way to get to where I want to go. The man may traditionally take on the ‘leader’ role in this passionate dance, but as the ‘follower’, I complete the team but I also seize every opportunity to decorate the ‘pasos’ the leader indicates to me, meaning that I direct the style and execution of the basic steps.

People often ask me why I love to dance tango. I answer that in addition to being a physical activity in which I excel, each step of a tango reflects a stride I have taken in my life. One of the basic tango moves, the woman crosses her feet in order to adapt to her partner's change in pace. I think that one of my strengths is the ability to adapt to new situations, which I have done in multiple international settings, both work-related and educational.

The ‘gancho’, or hook, is a tango step in which the woman has a moment to embellish, briefly hooking the man’s leg with hers before returning to the backwards walk. If my goals literally involved hooking men, I probably would not be writing this essay. Instead, I have always been driven to innovate in a way that makes a project or experience more interesting, without interrupting a positive flow. Another step, the ‘ocho’, involves the woman tracing a figure 8 with diagonal steps, taking advantage of the space around her to create interest in the dance and giving her partner time to decide where to go next. I have traced many proverbial figure 8s between my native London, my new home New York, and my beloved Latin America, and enjoy taking advantage of the many cultural opportunities that I have gained from living in these disparate environments. My career goals in non-profit management and economic policy stem from my desire to help others, especially by guiding them in ‘deciding where to go next.’ I feel that I have taken these strides, sometimes walking backwards, sometimes in a circle, to get to where I am now. I am exactly where I want to be.

The tango dance always ends with a dramatic pose, a photographic finish to a complex journey. I have always ambitiously pursued my goals. When I make a decision to do something, I investigate every possible means of doing it and do not give up until I reach my objective, my dramatic pose. My current aim is to solidify my skills in economics and finance to facilitate my work in improving the lives of impoverished Latin Americans. I will pursue this goal like I have done in the past, walking backwards and adding in my own flourishes to make the journey truly my own.