Leap of faith free essay sample

A little girl runs fast across the parking lot, vibrant red sneakers slapping the rough pavement. Her sparkling purple barrette, nearly hidden among a shock of black hair, bobs up and down in time with each resilient step. A stream of bubbling laughter trails behind her. She closes her eyes and drinks in the rushing wind that to her sounds exactly like a conch shell pressed tight to her ear. Her small arms stretch the very widest they can go, and she pretends they’re her wings. In the thrill of the moment, she doesn’t notice a slight depression in the asphalt ahead—so insignificant that no grown-up would pay it mind, but the perfect size for a small, five-year-old’s shoe. Her toe catches, and as if in slow motion, the barrette falls from its precarious position atop her head. Her small body tumbles forward, and she opens her eyes to the sight of hard ground only a few inches from her face I stand at the back of the runway, heart pounding as I grasp the pole. I am not content with blending in with the crowd. I am driven to make a difference. I grew up on Beaver Lake, 300 acres of the bluest water imaginable. I sailed, swam, and played on the beach. My more scientific love for water began with the seventh grade science fair. I tested the water in the area watershed for nutrients, pH level, and turbidity and spent time taking samples of water from each body of water, testing the water, and recording results. Before high school, I volunteered for three summers testing the water and gained an appreciation for the lake I took for granted when I was younger. My findings led to professional water testing for algae and precautions to lake residents about swimming in unhealthy water. In tenth grade I wrote a research paper for a chemistry class. By talking to DNR officials and performing research, my knowledge of lake water health and its effect on surrounding life forms expanded. My years at Cornell University will let me plunge even deeper into the water. I look forward to participating in internships and in programs such as the Cornell AguaClara Project. These programs fulfill my desire to learn about the engineering of water resources in real life situations. My experiences traveling outside of the United States will sculpt my problem-solving and entrepreneurial skills and give me an appreciation for others. What matters most to me is the positive impact I can make on the world. Every time I encounter a new challenge, a single image pops into my head: a bell. Its far enough away that if I don’t try hard enough, I will never reach it. It doesn’t matter if the last time I tried I didn’t quite make it, or if I sailed through the air with ease. I am always determined to jump for that bell.