Describe the world you come from — for example, your family, community or school — and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.

PLEASE give me feedback. It exceeds the word count, but I’m working on substance right now.

In a chemical equation, assorted raw chemicals are added together. This first segment is called a reactant. The purpose this equation holds is to combine, and properly balance to form a product. Like a chemical equation, who I am now is a direct result of the world I came from and the imbalances I faced in my life. With these unalterable inputs at hand, I went forth in hopes of finding some balance and stability in my life.

My equation, up until June of 2010, is what many would consider perfect; already balanced. My life was simple, and easy to maintain. But, like everything seemingly perfect in life, my equation diverted to another route in this month, throwing my life into a scattered disaster.

Raised in Irvine, California, a fortunate girl spent sixteen years of her life blessed with a perfectly functionable family, several friends, and knowledge acquired through steadily improving grades. On June 26th, 2010, however, life decided to throw something unimaginable at her. As she sat perched on the cold tiles, peering over the staircase, she overheard her parents, whom she had seen as happily married for twenty-five years, discussing a divorce.

Finally, after six months of uncertainty, it was time to say goodbye to anything perfect. With two days notice, she packed her life into brown boxes, and watched eyes full of tears, as her life was shipped elsewhere.

Arriving then, in Calabasas, California, all stability poured out of her every pore, as her life instead took on the role of instability. With no friends, little money, and tension coming from her now weak and unemployed mother, her chemicals changed, as who she dreamed to be, became only a distant vision. In technical terms, all future difficulties this girl was to face, could be attributed to this one spark of emotions. But technicality didn’t lie in her equation from this point forth.

A transferring senior, her chemical equation at this point, consisted of a positive five charge vulnerability. She spent her days alone, seeking answers, from a world that refused to share any. For in life, she soon saw, no answers. Forcing herself into isolation, she began spending her days writing. Personal stories soon turned into reflections on the life of any individual. In these moments, she could envision herself piecing together, forming who she would become in the future. Here, entered another chemical, desire. With a charge of negative five, perfect to balance out the prior chemical, it was apparent through her now decreasing academic grades, there was a passion missing in her life. Torn between the wishes her parents and the rest of society placed on her, she went forth, selfishly taking into consideration only herself.

In academics, she saw a clear route. Clarity though, led to the paths of everyone else before her. Conformity was something missing in her equation. Grades slipped, not because she suddenly lost all prior knowledge, but rather because she saw no hope in them. Trapped in a world where following her own path was seen as rebellion, she struggled trying to make out the dull images of her future. But in each passing day, she was racing with time. Grades lost importance, as individuality gained importance. Though, she was finally building some stability in her life, this was seen to those around her, as stupidity. What the rest of society neglected to see, was that school was a test of following directions, and listening. Both of which, she wasn’t interested in doing. Instead, she spent this time pondering her own quest. And in this, she soon learned knowledge was on a different plane from wisdom.

Somewhere down this path, the conclusion was drawn, that in order to make her impression on the rest of the world, some experience was necessary. And this is where, this essay falls into place. Though it may appear that my narrative on this girl, does not quite qualify me as a suitable candidate, I will not beg to differ. It is seen by many, that in order to be a perfect candidate, one must have all positive qualities. But in myself, I choose to disagree. My equation, though having taken a while to balance, is for the time being, balanced. And in this balance of both good and bad, lies strength in the individual I am. For this reason, I have chosen to not take the road most travelled (allusion), but instead create one of my own. This is not my attempt to impress, but rather my attempt to describe and lay forth the person I am. And in all my purity, I will take joy through both acceptance and rejection.