<p>This is the essay i plan to submit for the common app. The formating is all screwed up but thats ok. Let me know what you think.</p>
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<p>Much Ado About Bob Smith</p>
<p>All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,</p>
<p>William Shakespeare
As You Like It
Act II, Scene VII, lines 139-142</p>
<p>Curtain rises
Scene: Haifa, Israel, February 2009</p>
<pre><code>In the library of an average school in the city of Haifa, Israel, fourteen Americans and two chaperones sit and have a dialogue with fifteen Israelis. The schools principal welcomes Bob and the rest of the participants of (name of organization), a nonprofit organization that annually brings together seven Jewish eleventh graders and seven Catholic eleventh graders from across Long Island to learn about tolerance and become ambassadors upon returning home. To be accepted into (name of organization), Bob was nominated by his Rabbi and completed an extensive interview process. Starting in November, the fourteen scholars completed nondenominational social action projects, attended religious services of both faiths, and, now, during February break, they travel together on a full scholarship to Israel.
</code></pre>
<p>In the library, everyone in the circle states his or her name and something he or she enjoys. Bob tells the circle of people he likes sports and instantly the sixteen year old next to him lights up and shares his enthusiasm for basketball. For a more personal introduction, the two groups participate in a speed conversation in which an American and Israeli have a quick conversation and after two minutes, the participants rotate. After completing the exercise, the group reconvenes with a new bond.
The discussion grows intense. When the ever-present topic of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is raised, the students become more passionate, yet remain levelheaded. After long deliberations, the group of Jews, Catholics, and Muslims came to an optimistic conclusion: everything is about perspective and by understanding this, the world can have peace.
An eye-opening afternoon ends with a single Hebrew word: Shalom, which fittingly translates to hello, goodbye, and peace.
Curtain closes</p>
<p>Curtain rises
Scene: (Town) University Hospital, (Town), June 2009</p>
<p>Bob sits in the cold, cramped room, patiently watching an IV drip drugs into his sleeping mothers blood stream. He thinks about the events that have transpired to lead Bob and his mother to this bone-chilling room. He remembers the first day his mother found out the horrible news:
His mother, sobbing at the kitchen table, can barely speak:
The doctor called. I
I
I have breast cancer.
Bobs thoughts reenter the oncology room when his mom opens her eyelids and looks around confused. Warmly, he welcomes her back into consciousness reaching into the large cooler and taking out a water bottle and an Italian ice to soothe her dry mouth.
Slowly, Bobs mom regains energy and starts talking to Bob and the other woman attached to the wretched machines in the room. Looking to pass the time and lighten the mood, Bob turns on the rooms television, but quickly changes his mind. He could put on a soap opera that focuses on a patient with a terminal disease, or the news, which is running a story on the millions of Americans without health care, but neither are appealing options. Instead, he offers the best medicine he can provide for his mother: love, friendship, laughter, and optimism. The other patient asks Bob about his college application process and Bob replies, I havent done too much yet, but I know one thing Ill be writing about in my college essay. The three laugh at the irony of the situation. Bob sees a priceless smile on his mothers face and knows that he can help by being his mothers private comedian.
He smiles and looks out the window, saying to his mother, Its a nice day outside. Do you want to go for a walk? She laughs and looking at the tubes connected to her, replies, No, Im a little tired and Im enjoying sitting in this chair. Bob is convinced for that brief moment of her happiness the cancer has disappeared and her troubles are gone.
Curtain closes</p>
<p>In front of the lowered curtain the play continues
Scene: (School) Varsity Fencing Meet,
(School), November, 2009</p>
<p>Bob stands on the fencing strip eyeing his opponent. He thinks about his many years of training and of the hours of work he put to prepare for this moment, training at the fencing camps of University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, and Brown University in addition to the intense, year-round training program at his local fencing club. Bob, a captain and varsity starter of the (School) Varsity Fencing team, not only feels the pressure from his coach, his teammates, his parents, and everyone else in the gymnasium, but he feels the weight of all of the members of the team that came before him and will come in the future. Bob is a link in the chain of one of the most successful athletic programs on (place); the boys varsity team has only lost twice in eight years. Now it is Bobs turn to contribute to the legacy of the perennial champions.
On guard barks the bout director. Bob takes a deep breath.
Fence calls the director.
Bob, testing his opponent, moves back and forth and waves his eppe confidently. He notices a weakness and takes advantage of his opponents impatience by calmly hitting his opponents exposed wrist: One to zero. Bob wins the bout decisively and helps his team win the first meet of Bobs senior year. Bob is confident that he will use the skills he has dedicated many years to improving to help (school) remain undefeated (place) Champions.
Curtain opens
(town), NY, November 2009</p>
<p>Bob sits at his computer thinking about the year to come. Inspired by his favorite writer, he places his hands on the keyboard and begins: Much Ado About Bob Smith </p>