Reading My Common App Essay (Accepted at Ivy League, Stanford, USC, etc.)

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: @cyandanjouTwitter: @cyandanjouSome 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, YouTube 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: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMyudUrFlQQhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFFUVLsPi6A