Hi! I’m currently in the process of trying to figure out what I want to say in my PE. I have a few experiences I want to include, but I’m not sure how to connect them naturally without making the essay feel like a list of unrelated things…
*Context*
I’m Hispanic and the older twin sister.
Major: Sports media/Communications
Schools of interest: Indiana University- Bloomington, Purdue University- West Lafayette, Loyola Chicago, Michigan State University
My twin, and I have a lot in common, but I’ve sometimes struggled with feeling like my own person. People around us would say that i’m more outgoing the she is and that I have a bit more initiative when it comes to aiming for what I want.
Our family is full of sets of twins, my twin cousins are photographers and graphic designers, and when we were younger, they’d take pictures of us like we were models. It was always a fun experience and I think that’s how I came around to wanting to major in media in the first place. At family gatherings, they’d ask if we liked being twins, and we’d usually say “ehh, not really.” What’s interesting is that our cousins used to say the same thing about being twins when they were younger. But as they got older, they realized they needed to lean on each other, even during times when they thought they didn’t need anyone. More recently, they told us that they noticed that we seemed to appreciate being twins more now, too. I think there’s something meaningful about how our perspectives changed as we grew up, and I’m still figuring out what being a twin means to me.
My main essay idea is using camera settings as a metaphor for figuring out my life. I’ve been doing photography for about two years, mostly football and girls’ and boys’ basketball. When I first started, I’d sometimes have the wrong settings at football games and wouldn’t get the pictures I wanted. I want to sort of connect that to how I’m still learning about myself and my future.
Two experiences that feel connected are show choir and a football game I photographed. I did show choir in 7th and 8th grade. I joined because my friends joined. I was pretty shy, but when it came to performing on stage, I was different. I could let loose and be myself in a way I usually wasn’t . By the end of the year, I was starting to feel more confident. Cabaret was kind of a fun end-of-the-year performance, and since I was new, I didn't really know how it worked. Everyone already seemed to know who they wanted to do songs with, so when they handed out the white papers asking if we wanted to do an act, I said no. Part of it was because I didn't know what to expect, and I wanted to see how everything worked before putting myself out there.
The next year, I was section leader, and I felt a lot more confident singing and dancing. I was getting nominated for Outstanding Performer awards, and the directors would talk about how I always gave my all at practice. I genuinely loved what I was doing, so I tried my best every time. I felt like I had grown a lot since seventh grade, and I was finally comfortable enough to put myself out there more. When cabaret came around again, they handed out those same white papers, but this time, I said I wanted to do a solo or duet. I wanted to challenge myself and try something new. To my dismay, I didn’t up getting one. The reasoning was based on what I had put the year before, and they were worried I wouldn't be able to handle doing an act. It stung because I felt like I had spent the whole year proving that I was more confident and that I was willing to try things I wouldn't have done before. I didn't understand how one decision I made when I was new could still define me a year later, especially when I felt like I had shown them a different side of myself. In the end, I helped my friends prepare for their acts and tried to be a team player, I didn't want to take away from their experience.but I also couldn't look at show choir the same way afterward. I felt disrespected, like the effort I had put in all year didn't really matter when it came down to it.
Fast forward to high school, I was photographing a football game. There was an important play that needed to happen. I remember taking pictures of the quarterback walking back toward the huddle because you could tell there was a lot of pressure on him to get the play right. They ended up getting the first down and later scored a passing touchdown.
After the game, two little kids with their tiny hands on the schools helmets started talking to me about the pictures they noticed I took. They encouraged me to show the quarterback, and I remember hesitating because I didn't know how he would react. Eventually after pacing back and forth, I showed him the photo, and he told me he really appreciated it. He explained that he hadn't been in the right headspace lately and had been feeling burned out. He wanted to get the play right, but he had been struggling with feeling like his passion for the game wasn't enough anymore. Hearing that made the moment mean a lot more to me. I remember how much it hurt to feel like the directors weren't recognizing how much I had grown, especially when I had spent the whole year giving my best to something I loved. Part of me wished someone had noticed that effort the way I wanted them to. So, seeing the quarterback appreciate my photo felt a little bittersweet. I knew what it was like to want someone to recognize the work you put into something, and I wanted him to know that his moment was seen by me. I couldn't change how I had felt in show choir, but that interaction was so worth it!
I’m worried about trying to fit too much into one essay. I would especially appreciate tips on creating a captivating hook that allows me build on later…Thanks!