The requirements for the admissions essay are as follows: Please complete an essay over the prompt below. The essay must be five paragraphs and under 1,500 words. Please enclose your essay with your necessary forms found in this packet and mail it to the address below before April 1, 2011.

This year's prompt is: Write about the word in the English language that means the most to you. Please include personal examples, quotes, and why you think this sums up what you have/want to accomplish in life.

Hope

By Erin Samantha Row

"We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope." This quote from Martin Luther King Jr. fully puts into words what I feel about the importance of this word to me. This is the reason that hope is the peak of all virtues, and what can get you through the worst of times. Among many other famous and beautiful artists and writers, Idina Menzel once dedicated an entire song to it. An excerpt from the song reads: "Only hope can light the way/Only hope can heal the heart/Only hope can keep the clouds/From hiding the moon and the stars." It goes on to name metaphors about hope being a bird with no wings, an underdog, which is what every person that is hoping for something in the first place is. Hoping is vulnerable since it puts you in a position in which you can only dream things. The verse just mentioned personifies hope being the light in our lives, and sometimes even the knight in shining armor. The way I see it, hope is inside of people, and it can either be a good thing or a bad thing. But the point is that it is always there. In the body of my essay, I'm going to compare the times that hope made me stronger, and what I hope for; what I wish.

The first is simply with two boys, which I am always surrounded with considering the schooling and American culture's age. The hope thing is quite shallow in this specific section of the piece, and probably a blip on my radar of life, however for right now it is important considering the circumstances. It is a short tale of two boys, two adolescents around my age. I met one at where I'm residing right now, which I will get to a bit later since it is vitally important to the chosen word. The one I met residing now has told me what not to do. He set the example of someone I don't want to be with and certainly don't want to become. Masochistic and ugly inside, and not going anywhere in life, I hope that he can clean himself up and not harm people again in any way. I hope for justice. The next male partner story is lighter. I've known him since elementary school, and as foolish as it sounds I may have feelings for him. I hope he never changes and never exits my life, because he has that good hope, that same hope I hope I possess and makes me happy to be around. Allows me to hope for a bright life with him and allows me to hope like a normal teenager.

The next two are also men, although neither of these comparisons have any tragic flaws. They are both so equally important to me, but it cracks me up to thing of the differences between the two. One is my father. My father is not a closed man, but he isn't really the ideal either. He is caring and loving, but he struggles showing it because of the uncomfortable position my mom left him in. He works and provides because that is the only thing he knows how to do. He is a shy man, timid and delving into his work to get away from the daily struggles of life. Affection is difficult from him, but that is just him. And I wouldn't change it. I would never want to. He makes me hope to work as hard, and hope to be there more as a parent. And then there's a person with no personal relationship to me, though I don't imagine it'll just be a person in passing after this whole fiasco. He's like a father figure, an outspoken one, but protective nonetheless, though I don't think it's exclusive to me. He seems to be that way to everyone, and while it's an endearing quality, it is strange at times. Having someone guard you and pull out their cannon side to protect you. It's weird. But it's made me hope that it doesn't ever leave, that feeling of safety, and makes me hope I can one day embrace that part of me and become that brave and courageous.

The last section is arguably the most important. It is the most important and clashing to me. You have first my blood relation, the very own womb I was birthed from. She's my mother. No, correction, she's simply my birth mother. I knew her for a couple years, but I don't think I ever really did at the same time. Knowing is a strong word. And I'm not sure if you ever fully know anyone. I wanted to though. God, I wanted to know her more than anything. She didn't want the same though. She's very deceiving my mother, she acts so appealing, so open and kind, when really it's a trap. She only wants you if she gets something out of you. The only thing I have to say about her is that I hope I'm never like that. The difference between her and the next woman is bigger than the gap between day and night. The only overlap is the gender there. No personality traits are shared at all. While my mother is brash and lying, my mentor is the opposite. I've only known her for awhile, but I can already tell her intentions for everything she goes are for the goodness of others. She's made me happy, and while I can't put her with a label or a title, she's too big hearted and unique for that, but I can say this. She makes me hope to be like her. And while that doesn't seem like a big honor or news flash, it is. I've never felt so inspired by a person before. I hope I never forget her, and I hope I can copy her ways.

As you can probably tell by now, hope has played a big part of my life. And while you can hope for a past, or hope in the present, I believe in hoping for the future, since it's the only thing you can control. Isn't that strange? The only thing you can control can still be thrown off. Life is a weird old rollercoaster, and all who've gone before have gone through it, lived and died through it. Hope is there whether you realize or not. Whether you want it to be or not. It's there consciously and unconsciously, subconsciously lingering in the back of your deepest realms. It may let you down, but it's always there to fall back on. And that's why you can never give it up. Push through with hope.

The End

The Author's Note of ridiculous proportions: Oh my God. It's over. It's actually over. Just to let you know this is the first full-length story I've ever stuck with to the end, and I'm floating on the clouds right now. Way back in March, I was really reluctant to starting and posting the first chapter, but now I'm so glad I did.

It definitely would not have been possible without all of you, and I say that honestly. Without all the reviews and support you've given me there's no way I wouldn't pushed myself through writer's block and three A.M writing cram sessions. I would've spent mental time in classes elsewhere rather than thinking of a juicy storyline and peering to see if the teacher was looking before jotting it down in my notebook really quickly. I really want to thank you all so much for sticking with me and celebrating this joyous yet bittersweet occasion of seven months (to the date!) of writing this story. I hope you all really enjoyed it as much as I did, although I'm not sure if that's physically possible. =)

Now onto the good stuff. I've gotten a lot of requests for a sequel. I'm a little reluctant considering the fact that most don't turn out as good as a first, tarnish the author's reputation, and disappoint all the die-hards that have been there from the beginning. However, considering all of you are so awesome and loyal it certainly is a huge possibility, and I promise this won't be the last you see of Erin. I have been thinking up some big plans and possible future storylines for her. Whether it'll be an actual story, some random one-shots or what I'm not sure, but there will be something, considering Erin and I are sort of BFF's now. She's pretty low-maintenance since she sort of writes herself now, and I've taught her well considering she's becoming more sarcastic and quick by the minute. Don't worry; you'll meet again in the future.

And I'm so excited to tell you about a new story I've already started! It's in the 'Glee' universe and focuses on Shelby Corcoran. (Played by the lovely Idina Menzel whom I've referenced countless times during this story, don't know if you caught it or not.) If you guys checked that out, I would be so grateful since it's a whole other world for me and I'll take as much support as I can get. It should be up soon, and I have some great stuff for that planned as well. I'm extremely pumped to see the reaction to that one. I think you'll like it, and would love you forever if you gave it a chance.

Again, thank you so much and I really had a wonderful time. It's possible I'm crying while I'm writing this since I'm just so happy about how this has turned out, but sad that's it's finally over. Thank you so much, and popping a final review in would be greatly appreciated. Again, best wishes and I express gratitude and virtual hugs in epic proportions.

Until next time,

TheTBone