A Buried Talent?

It's very late, and the only reason I'm even writing this post is because Sara, in her sweetness, randomly invited CC over for a sleepover tonight. This gives me slight flexibility in my sleep plans for this evening, meaning that I can stay up a tad later and sleep in a little with Bridger in bed with me tomorrow morning.

Curt is applying to BYU. He needs to send in his admissions essays by October, and so, as the rest of my family has previously done, he asked me to sharpen them up a little. I'm sure he'd have loved it if I'd just written them for him. But ethically I didn't feel great about it, and I needed a little backbone and substance to work with anyway. So I told him to send me the essay instructions and his own version, and I would see what I could do.

In posting these I am not suggesting in any way that I am a fabulous writer. I know I have a knack for it. Language has always come easily for me, hence the degree I pursued. But on the contrary, I'd suggest that in the seven – yes SEVEN— years since I earned my BA in English, I've regressed in my abilities as a writer. I've not pursued them enough. I'd even say I’ve sprinkled a good amount of sand on them since then. I've become too friendly with the 'synonyms' tool in Word and the right button on my mouse checks my spelling far more often than it should. I should know better!

Now, I realize that there are three little blessings in my life that have taken their share of my time, brain resources and energy over the past seven years. During the three and a half years between having Tanner and becoming stable through the miracle that was my medicine, I could hardly pick up a book without triggering my symptoms. And science has taken its appropriate place in my life during the last two years. However, I could have done more to enrich myself appropriately. Too often have I chosen the remote over the bookshelf. I could tell you how Sydney Bristow, Rachel Greene and Debora Barone deal with their every-day, but ask me about Jane Eyre, Hester Prynne or even the lovely Miss Bennett, and I'd struggle.

Better late than never. I’ve contemplated writing a book ever since I struggled with having Tanner. Lately I’ve felt the spirit push me in that direction. And I do mean push. I think it’s really something I need to do. So in an attempt to prepare myself for this task, I’ve resolved to educate and enrich my brain through the written word.

Polishing up Curtis’s admission essays helped me remember how much I enjoy writing and gave me a little confidence in my craft. They aren’t spectacular, but I do think I made them something worth preserving for myself. Not much will improve one’s writing like having to stand out amongst thousands of others with only 200 words to do it. So here’s my latest testament to needing to turn off the TV and turn on my brain:

(I apologize for the font inconsistencies. I cannot figure it out! I've tried like three times, so just ignore them.)

Essay #1:

Please share your reasons for seeking admission as a transfer student - we invite you specifically to address your intended major or program of study, and your career/life ambitions.

Curt’s Essay:

While serving my mission I prayed frequently asking Heavenly Father to give me an inclination on the direction I should go for my future career. When finishing up and getting ready to fly home I had a strong impression that I needed to study law. Since being home I have worked really hard to take difficult courses to challenge my mind and try to see which pathway in law I should take. I have also done small Internships for law firms out of Denver Colorado. I know that if transferred to Brigham Young University the curriculum and experiences would be a lot more suiting for a future Law Student.

I am also engaged to be married in October in the Salt lake City Temple. My fiance is currently enrolled at Utah Valley University. We need to have our Universities closer to each other.

I have many different career and financial goals. A few of them include owning and operating both commercial and residential real estate. I also want to be a specialty lawyer that is sought for when families are having difficulties with Deeds and Wills that the government are trying to void and dismiss.

Revision:

When I had important decisions to make while growing up, I was taught to be judicious and seek the Lord’s counsel. So it was in this mentality that toward the end of my mission I asked Heavenly Father to help me choose a major in which I would excel and would enjoy.

After a short time I felt strongly that I should study law. Since being home, I’ve taken difficult courses to challenge myself, and I’ve completed a small internship with a law firm in Denver, Colorado. I know that attending BYU for the rest of my undergraduate education will further prepare me for the rigorous secular lifestyle that will be required of me in law school.

I look forward to the opportunity that BYU will provide me to lay a foundation for myself both professionally and for my future family. I am interested in becoming an attorney who specializes in protecting personal assets from the government. And it’s essential to me to set a standard of excellence for my children. I want to instill in them that obtaining a higher education is key to developing the greatest version of ourselves. Attending BYU will allow me to do this.

Essay #2:

Describe a setback you have encountered in your life. Explain how you have handled the situation and what you have learned from it.

Curt’s Essay:

For the past several years, I have endured my daily life with chronic back pain from an injury I sustained in 2007 working with a crew reconstructing spires on the Portland Oregon Temple. One day while painting, I slipped and fell over rotating my back on scaffolding.

Since then I have served an honorable mission in Sydney Australia, have continued my education at Brigham Young University-Idaho and have endured multiple Constructions jobs. I am currently engaged to the woman of my dreams. Last week I finished my fourth semester, and just had back surgery three days ago.

I have had to learn to put less trust in myself and more trust in those around me. I have learned that asking for someone’s help can be a sign of strength and humility for both participating parties. I also learned that by putting more of my trust in the Lord, he would strengthen me and help me to feel more comfortable in trusting others.

Looking over my past, the most important lessons I learned were the ones where I could easily look at the experience and be able to see how the lord was there beside me the whole time.

Revision:

Four years ago, at age eighteen, I suffered a serious back injury while working on the Portland, Oregon temple. Despite being harnessed, I fell off a spire, landed on some scaffolding and severely over-rotated my back. Since that day I have endured deep, chronic back pain.

I’ve handled this situation with faith that the Lord would stay with me and sheer day-to-day grit. With a crooked spine, I pushed myself through the pain, served an honorable mission and completed four semesters at BYU-Idaho. The Lord gave me strength during this while leading me to my sweet fiancé. I’ve been graciously blessed to accomplish everything I’ve planned for myself, despite this injury.

C.S. Lewis said “Experience is a brutal teacher. But you learn.” This experience has been brutal, but I did, in fact, learn. I learned humility by relying on others physically. I gained empathy for those who live with pain. And I further realized my Savior’s love for me as He guided me through this trial. Even now, three days after an invasive back surgery, the prospect of living a life free of this pain shines bright, further testifying of the love and compassion that Jesus Christ has for me.