Reading My Common App Essay (Accepted at Ivy League, Stanford, USC, etc.)
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- čas přidán 21. 07. 2024
- Hey there everyone! Here is my reading of the Common App Essay I submitted to all of my US schools. I hope that it is helpful to you!
(So sorry about the audio at the end!! I didn't realize the background music was that loud. If you turn on the 'CC' I will have subtitles for that portion if that is helpful to you.
I feel really proud of this essay because of how much time and effort was spent on it. It went through so many drafts and has had so many eyes on it before we finally decided it was complete. If you have any questions on how to come up with an idea for your essay feel free to reach out to me, and I'll do my best to answer as well as I can!
Instagram: @cyandanjou
Twitter: @cyandanjou
Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story:
~ I feel a familiar rush enter my stomach as I watch the earth beneath my seat pull closer; buildings and roads appear from stretches of carpeted white clouds. ~
On an airplane, diverse sets of people share the same space at the same time, sitting quietly in each others’ company for a few hours. The cabin lights turn on, and as the people around me wake up and open their window shades, I wonder, “what are their stories?” We all started from the same point and are headed to the same destination but each for vastly different reasons.
Since childhood, I have been interested in the stories of other people’s lives, never afraid to ask questions and excitedly awaiting the replies. I am always digging to find what lies beneath the surface of the skin, because I know the authentic account of a person lies much deeper. I've found that my curiosity about others often leads to me sharing my own story as well.
I am a Dutch, American, Jamaican, Asian, Guyanese girl. In the United States, at first-glance, all that people see is a Black girl. A Surinamese girl when in The Netherlands. An African in Indonesia. But my life is more nuanced than just one simple adjective. No matter what city I am in, predetermined stereotypes draw presumptive boundaries that limit opportunities to engage in unencumbered dialogue. Prejudices often thwart the chance to really get to know new people. In the air - above all that noise - the clouds act as a separation from that one- sidedness and the perspective shifts. Delving deeper into my story, the strong influences of growing up in a diverse family reveal layers of my life that go far beyond the color of my skin.
~ As the descent continues, I marvel at the sight of the city below - evolved from its urban planners’ intended aerial- view drawings and into physical, detailed forms. Disparate places across the globe become more and more connected, and from ground-level, I see that each city is unique; with its own personality waiting to be discovered, its own rules, and its own character. ~
Growing up in a multicultural family with immediate roots spanning five of the seven continents, learning about my own background was as much a process of discovery as an exploration of the cultures of others. When someone asks me, “where are you from?” I am grateful to have the chance to share more than what can be assumed from the surface. My Dutch background instills me with a no-nonsense approach to life, which keeps me grounded. My Jamaican heritage teaches me to take life as it comes and to be appreciative of what I have. My Indonesian influence ties together family, the importance of curiosity, and coexistence. And my Guyanese ancestry shows me the importance of hard work and relentless determination in every aspect of what I pursue.
Being a global citizen means that it is my responsibility to be curious and to uncover the storyline beyond what I see. Traveling is like sharing a meal with a stranger or speaking to someone in their first language; it is the most authentic way of learning new perspectives on life. In the same way, the airplane has always been one of my most inspirational classrooms, where I am both the teacher and the student.
~ As the plane breaks through the final layer of clouds, I see a vast, endless skyline free of boundaries, one-word labels, and skin-deep stereotypes. I see myself, Cyan D’Anjou, an out-of-the-box-thinking, soto ayam-loving, fashion trend-blazing, CZcams video-creating girl gliding across the sky with 100 other unique passengers who have ongoing ever-changing narratives of their own. By the time we land at our destination, I desire to unravel the stories of those around me, just as I would like for them to know mine. ~
Background Music: • Video
• Video
This was a beautiful essay. Seriously, one of the best on CZcams. Plus your voice and choice of music was so soothing. Congratulations on your accomplishments and keep inspiring the next generation with your positivity! From a fellow Guyanese girl🇬🇾🇬🇾🇬🇾
this is such a beautiful comment and absolutely made my day! Thank you so much Rashida
Your writing took me on the plane with you! Really enjoyed this essay
I wasn't expecting you've lived in Indonesia before! Im indonesian as well :) and ur essay is soo beautiful and meaningful! How you put cultures into those words is amazing! Gotta start my essay for short exchange program and glad i found yours! Aku juga suka soto ayam lmao
so inspirational ❤️ thank you!
I've heard SO MANY essays on youtube and this is THE BEST, no CAP! congrats for writing an essay so meaningful!
wow this literally made my day! thank you so much
love that you called an airplane an inspirational classroom bc of all the diversity on it. so creative
insanely creative loved it!!!
thank you so much! It was a lot of fun to write
Love your essay!
This is amazing!
Can y’all tell me the 3 things that she did well in her essay
What about Tone words, gotta have some of those
OMG that was so beautiful!
Claire Kafeero thank you so much!
ur essay is wonderful💞✨
thank you so much
Nice essay! I've been working on my own common app essay and I'm hoping to get into Stanford. -a fellow indonesian
This is sooooo good.
thank you so much!!
your essay is amazing! what was your gpa and sat
One the best college essays I’ve ever read!! Do you offer any help to students who are applying right now like reading essays and providing feedback? I would love to have you read some of my essays.
Hey, just wondering, do you read essays?
If I tell you that this essay brought tears to my eyes 🥺
and your comment did to me too
I'm Guyanese 🇬🇾BTW, applying to college this round as an international student... Wish me luck 🍀
Cyan I got into Stanford 🤗 OMG I can't wait to probably see you!
For the common app did you have to get different letter of recommendations for every sxhool
I pretty much submitted the same letters recommendations for all of my schools, with the exception being art universities vs. traditional universities. In those cases I would submit a rec. from my art school professor vs. a rec. from my math or French teacher, respectively. However, if traditional universities had the option of adding an additional recommendation, I would submit my art professor's one as a supplement.
Getting a solid ACT score was super important for me getting into Stanford. If you need to boost your SAT/ACT score check out SoFlo Tutors. They do amazing work and have tutors form top schools like Princeton and Georgetown. Learn more at bit.ly/Cyan-DAnjou
Hi, just wondering randomly: do you speak dutch?
Ja, ik spreek Nederlands :)
@@cyand gaaf!!
Great essay but your music is too loud at the end ...couldnt hear you!!!
alfonso soteno haha yup I noticed it too late as well, I posted the text in the description in case you wanted to read the last part!!