Prompt: The University of Richmond Supplement
Tell us about a time you learned something unexpected. What did you learn, and what happened next? (650 Words)
Essay
During my freshman year biology class, within the unit Intro to Neuroscience, we delved into the anatomy of the brain and how it works. I learned that the brain lives on for 7 minutes after our hearts stop beating. This fact fascinated me, as I had previously thought that it was impossible for any part of the body to function without the heart. As I further researched, I discovered that in those 7 minutes, the brain replays significant life moments.
Since then, I have often wondered what my 7-minute movie would look like. The thought of creating the best possible seven minutes has shaped how I approach each day. It reinforced my belief in doing something meaningful with my time, reminding me of a lesson from my late grandfather. While my time was cut short with him, I carry plenty of memories of spending full weekends with mi abuelo when my parents had a planned trip. I also treasure my last visit on his 75th birthday at the hospital. His larger-than-life presence often reminded me to make the most of my life as life is too short. His words still live on with me today and together with the knowledge that I gained in bio class, I try to make the most of each moment because YOLO (You Only Live Once).
However, this singular mentality began to shift the summer before my sophomore year in high school. My parents encouraged me to take a volunteer opportunity at the Turtle Back Zoo. As background, I have played ice hockey for the NJ Devils Youth Hockey Club for the better part of my life, starting when I was 6 years old. The zoo was no stranger to me as I often visited it as a child and even spent a fair share of my time on Halloween trick-or-treating at the zoo. I thought it might be fun to help the zoo and give back. During my summer as a counselor and teacher’s aide, I helped educate and take care of younger children. Some came from underprivileged communities. Those long summer days gave me a new perspective on how I could use my time not just for personal fulfillment, but to benefit others in my community. While the physical proximity between Richard J. Codey Arena hockey rink and the Turtle Back Zoo was less than 1/10 of a mile apart, there was a disparity in socioeconomic status between hockey camp attendants and the zoo campers. Through my volunteering experience, I gained an unexplainable type of joy from helping these children, whether it was educating them about wildlife or spending time caring for them and building friendships.
My once singular focus on living my best life shifted to include making a difference in others’ lives. Now, I measure my time by the positive impact I can have on those around me. Last year, I took this goal a step further and created the Ridge BounceBack Club at my high school. The mission is to help give back to our communities. I made a partnership with the St. John’s Soup Kitchen in Newark, NJ. Our club members travel to St. John’s to help serve hundreds of meals, create care packages, and distribute clothing donations to underprivileged communities in Newark. I am looking forward to continuing our work with St. John’s this year. Reflecting back on my 7-minute movie, I am optimistic that it will have happy memories but even more importantly, I hope it includes moments when I was making a positive difference in others lives.
Tips for Writing
- Start by researching the school.
- Check Richmond websites & essay tips to learn what admissions counselors want.
- Pick a prompt thoughtfully; Richmond offers three options.
- If unsure about the prompt, ask parents or a college counselor for advice.
- Choose a unique angle to make your essay memorable.
- I used the idea that the brain lives for 7 minutes after the heart stops, replaying memories.
- Connected this idea to how I make the most of my “7 minutes” and impact others.
- Focused on my community service experiences that shaped me during high school.
- When editing, get feedback, but avoid too many opinions to keep your voice strong.