2346 Lilio is a pivotol asteroid belt discovered by french astronomer K. Reinmun, who subsquently discovered the apollo asteroids. However, I can guarentee anyone reading this blog entry has never heard of 2346 Lilio, nor probably would they care. However, as I have more frequent mental breakdowns due to the college process, I find myself being able to relate to Lilio. Just, here me out. Okay, so my GPA isn't stellar (pun intended) and I only have one extracurricular. I'm also a white kid who does not have an abusive, alcoholic father. I do not speak a foreign language fluently, nor do I have any direction for my life. All I know is that I enjoy being outside, and that I am extremely lost. And, to further exasorbate myself, on paper I am exactly the same as millions of other kids out there. There is no diversity. I am not a special little snowflake. I will probably blend in with everyone else. And yet, there is so much more. Even though they can't see that, truly, who I am, I am still an individual. I have read work from every author wikipedia characterizes as an influence in the transgressional literature movement.In tenth grade I wrote a term paper on the Lorković-Vokić coup, and it came 4th place in a term paper writing contest. Awards were given to first, second, and third place. I've been a strict vegetarian for 3 years, and have campaigned against slaughterhouses. I have every single album by the beatles, and have a signed album by the steve miller band. I would have been a member of the youth socialist organization of America for three years in a row, but I forgot to send in my dues the second year. I have been through turmoil, and I have had my own share of personal tragedy. And yet, I am the same as 2346 Lilio.
Although I think I may be great, I am not significant enough to be put into a text book. I'm not going to be the next harvard magna cum laude, and I probably won't be the next president (I don't meet age requirements). And I feel as if the message behind college is lost within the admission process. If you want to go to college to learn, and not party, you're in the minority. The key reasoning behind most student's choice to go to a university is their reputation - whether it be academic or socially inviting. So I'll just continue playing the politics of college, and hope that soon I'll be discovered and noted.
I hope that one day I shall not be judged on the basis of my accomplishments on a paper, but for the complexity of my character. I hope that other people in my situation can break from the constricting requirements of many institutions, and that I can still impact the world somehow.
P.s. - On an entirely different note, I find it extremely ironic that Fahrenheit 451 was banned in North Dakota for over 20 years. It's an entire novel about the future government banning (and burning) books because they could inspire critical thought. It's been banned because, in "Fahrenheit", one of the books that eventually gets burned is the Bible. But, I mean, the point of the book is to NOT BURN BOOKS AND THEREFORE THE BIBLE. Just sayin', it's common sense people. C'mon.
- Carson
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Wow! Your blog is very interesting and completely true. I agree that this admission process for college is pretty stressful. Most colleges primarily look for good grades and extracurricular activities of course. However, a couple of colleges that I am applying to want students to write essays that involve questions like “Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you” or “Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.” These types of questions are the times that you can express yourself and what makes you unique. I think that colleges give you the chance to right about a topic that makes you stand out, but at times it can be difficult to pick the right topic that will amaze them, and show them what makes you an “excelling student.” This whole college process makes me anxious and it is certainly not “exciting.” I am the oldest in my family with two younger sisters, so I don’t have much of a clue as to how all of this works, but slowly and surely I’m learning.
ReplyDeleteYou have no how much this resonates with me. I truly am in abhorrence of the college admission process and find it extremely flawed. Labeling teenagers by numbers such as GPA and SAT scores, in my opinion, is not right. These numbers are superficial and do not showcase the true potential of what students can bring to a college.
ReplyDeleteOn a side note, I find the cost of college to be just plain awful. Why does education now in day’s frequently equal debt? How come money has to be a factor? It just doesn’t seem right.
In addition, I love how you wrote this. I love how you start out with an obscure fact, and then tie that fact back into that paper later on. Case in point, “And yet, I am the same as 2346 Lilio”.
Currently, this is one of my most favorite things I’ve ever read. And no, I am not being sarcastic.