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College Essays
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<p>This is going to be my common-app essay. I decided to create my own question for the sake of uniqueness and creative freedom.</p>

<p>What does your name signify about you?</p>

<p>Many motivational speakers proclaim that you are more than your label. You are larger than your name, bigger than that collection of letters. Unfortunately that is a lie. You are your name. Live with it and get over yourself. I am Bryce Donald Peppers. No more, no less.</p>

<p>Some names, however, seemingly ought to dictate people’s lives. Over fifty times I have been encouraged to become a doctor. I would get a PhD to be taken seriously, not to allow every single person I meet to laugh at a wearisome joke. Not to mention that I will never preside in a medical doctor’s office. Wouldn’t mind a physics lab, though – physics totally trumps biology in my books. At least I don’t have a name resembling the outcome of playing Twister on a giant keyboard. The life of Cynthia Onukwugha (yes, I know this person) must be tough. I’d hate to be her at an awards ceremony almost as much as I’d hate to be the announcer reading her name.</p>

<p>Bryce Donald Peppers isn’t a bad deal. Lots of people say it’s awesome, usually right before they say I should become a doctor. An overseas friend used my name in a short story, and his English teacher complimented the stylish name choice. Once you get over the profession suggestions, Donald Duck jokes, and simply strange “insults” (“I think I’ll eat some rice and peppers!”), it’s a perfectly fine name. Some flexibility with nicknames: B-Peps, Los Pepes, Pepsi, B’rizzle, Spice, Brine Shrimp, Sreppep, Vegetables, the list goes on. </p>

<p>It’s got interesting etymology, too. A name interpretation from Universal Studios (take that as you will) claims it meant “fast” in Celtic. I just wish I were fast. Sure, I did cross country for four years, but that sport is more sluggish than an outsider would expect. It’s closer to 5 kilometers of ignoring pain and your screaming, red-faced coach than a wild rollercoaster ride. Being fast is simply not my thing. I’m not even a fast reader, which often surprises my classmates. Most people don’t expect the senior editor of the school’s literary magazine to be slow turning the page. But hey, at least I’m not a label! I’m actually less than my name! I wonder if that’s what the motivational speakers were going for.</p>

<p>And so, I come to my final point about this frivolous issue. It’s true that you can be more (or less) than what your name suggests. However, your name is still who you are. People referring to you like to use your name. But while your name defines you, you define the person it matches, and your name won’t get in the way of that. At least mine won’t, not if I join the army and gain respect. Who would laugh at Sgt. Peppers?</p>

<p>ALL FEEDBACK WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED! IF YOU WANT ME TO ASSESS ONE OF YOUR ESSAYS, JUST ASK. I WAS SENIOR EDITOR OF THE SCHOOL’S LITERARY MAGAZINE, SO I KNOW HOW TO GRADE WRITING.</p>

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<p>What colleges are you applying to? That would help.</p>

3

<p>hey is it cool if i use this essay?</p>

4

<p>Good essay and a creative way to “define yourself.” However, I would caution using the word “you” as some people may not have the same feelings about the word although it sounds better with “you.”</p>

5

<p>whosrasputin: Mainly Ivies (HYP + Brown), Stanford, Rice, and three places I’m trying to get merit scholarships (Tulane, USC, UGA).</p>

<p>jd989898: Hahaha sure. Just gotta change your name first!</p>

<p>Stressedman: Thanks, good advice. Since creating this topic I’ve revised this essay, so I actually want to delete this topic. No good revising an old copy. Can you delete topics on CC?</p>

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<p>It’s would be better if you don’t mention the achievement you’ve done in your essay again, cuz you’ll likely said it in the application form.
BTW, really good essay, good luck~</p>