This theme answers the Common App prompt “Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others”.
(For some background, it was said that surfing was first documented in-depth in Hawaii and has a lot of societal and spiritual meanings in Hawaiian culture.)
I am a girl who was born and raised in Maui, Hawaii. I learned how to surf in the summer of 2020. At age 15.5, I was finally able to get my learner’s permit and drive myself to Launiupoko beach in Lahaina. This was a big deal because my parents would not let me drive anywhere by myself and I finally felt independent. I liked to wake up before the sun rose, wax my board, and hit the empty beach to go surfing. Being out in the water that early by myself, there was no one to save me if I drowned, look out for me if a set of large waves came in, or make sure I was not in the sun for too long. Additionally, I needed to learn how to stand up on the board properly by myself and turn on the waves which took time and many pounding from big waves. However, after each wave I rode in, I paddled back out into the ocean to keep on going. I eventually learned which waves to go for and which to hold back on. (This could be metaphorical for opportunities in college).
There are many qualities that I have learned from surfing that have prepared me for college: a sense of independence, self-reliance, determination, and bravery, to face my fears of deep water. (You may include other qualities you think you could receive from surfing but I think the essay should stick to 2-3 values total that you see fit.)
Ideally, 70% of the essay could be developing a vivid picture of me during an early morning surf and the values I received from it, and the last 30% could picture me on a plane in the future leaving Hawaii, flying past the waves seen below/ finally in college and showing the similarities to what I learned from surfing, such as self-reliance, trying new things, determination, in a college campus and expanding on what I can offer to the school through my unique experience. (This is for the Common App personal statement so it would not be related to a specific college.)
