653-word version: A small antique clock tinted in faded dark brown watches me with a soft gaze as my grandfather used to do when I was little—the calm, ticking sound of its hand ready to tell me its story... 714-word version (adapted for U of Chicago): A gargoyle contending with the seve..

546-word version: Line of Best Fit When I encountered various obstacles or novel situations, I tended to treat them as mere equations that just need the proper approach to solve... 570-word version: Line of Best Fit Until recently, my view of life was rather theoretically. Just as physicis..

595-word version: ...Yes, I was the captain of the ship of my “dreams.” ...Yes, I am the coxswain of our little boat, and every time I sit on it, I reflect on the first day I started crew... 696-word version: At the 50th round in the same old ice rink, the coach yelled out “..

228-word version: Although I could have stayed home...I decided against it because I wanted to find out for myself if I could do the work I aspired... 338-word version: Although I could have stayed home...I decided against it because I wanted to be...completely independent... I wanted to find..

1,132-word version: Twelve strings are awaiting the strokes of my fingers. I am sitting on the wooden floor, with my back straight and one end of my gayageum laying gently on my crossed legs. After calming myself and setting everything in order, I solemnly put my left index and middle fingers on t..

622-word version: A Warehouse under the Stairway & Ignorance "This way." said, Father 신부님성함, a clergyman who administered the House of Foreign Laborers. Eager to appoint my schedule for volunteer work and go home fast, I endured the sightseeing, reminding me that this room wa..