‘I consider my work to be fun’
Prompt
What attribute of your personality are you most proud of, and how has it impacted your life so far. This could be your creativity, effective leadership, sense of humor, integrity, or anything else you’d like to tell us about. (200 – 250)
Response
Although there are many aspects of my personality of which I am proud — my sense of humor, dedication, and a healthy dose of skepticism — I’ve realized that most positive aspects of my personality trace back to one root: my love of learning.
Like most teenagers, I spend a lot of time on the Internet. Although I like a nice baby panda and enjoy a cat chasing a laser beam as much as the next girl, I pass the time not with cute animals but by learning about world history or relativity through Youtube channels like CrashCourse or Minute Physics.
Because I work pretty constantly, people I’ve just met often assume I do nothing “for fun”; however, I consider my work to be fun. I play tennis and enjoy spending time with my friends, but the highlight of my week is often going to class at Columbia on Saturdays, spending my morning learning about the flow of coal in the global economy or the function of restriction enzymes rather than sleeping in. I hate leaving problems unsolved or opportunities untaken. Others may perceive this quality as a drive to succeed, but I merely experience it as a drive to seek out new and interesting experiences.
Whether I am learning to bake, translate genetic code into protein or construct an equilateral triangle using only a compass and a straightedge, I enjoy the process just the same. This trait makes my life incredibly enjoyable — my work turns into play.