Prompt: Brown Supplement
Brown students care deeply about their work and the world around them. Students find contentment, satisfaction, and meaning in daily interactions and major discoveries. Whether big or small, mundane or spectacular, tell us about something that brings you joy. (200—250 words)
Essay
Incense silently glides through the air, teasing my curious fingertips. The scent of home fills the kitchen as I lean into my mother’s touch. She slowly massages oil into my slick hair as I remain transfixed on the smoke gathering around me.
My mother and I share a tradition of Sunday spa days; for ninety minutes a week, we knead each other’s aches away, surrounded by incense and oil. She tells me this is how we nurture divinity and whispers prayers beneath her breath. When it is her turn, I gingerly pour oil into my palm and mimic her movements.
“I don’t know how to say any of your mantras,” I apologize.
“That is okay—the magic is in your hands, “ She mumbles back.
My mother’s eyes flutter close and I smile silently. I am almost as good as she is now. Trying not to wake her, I lean her head against the wall and kneel at her feet, slowly working at her pressure points. An indescribable feeling of achievement enters my hands and fills my veins as I feel her pains ebbing away. To me, this is intimacy, creativity, and love in its purest form. It is a conversation without words, a dance without music.
These ninety minutes teach me more about my mother and about myself; each deft movement is an analysis, each whispered prayer a promise. Although my tongue cannot form her words, my hands will always carry her message.
This is divinity.
Tips for Writing
A question like this is really looking for you to display your creativity and genuine passions. That’s why I would recommend writing in a more abstract form to paint a full picture of the activity of your interest. Plus, the activity you choose should say something about you- here I tried showing that my culture has above all shown me how to find enjoyment in service. Through symbols and metaphors, this kind of prompt gives you the opportunity to demonstrate your values as well as your creativity 🙂 Finally, make sure that you use your word count well- don’t write anything unimportant to get up to the requirement. Before writing any essay I like to map out the key points and essay structure to avoid going off topic.