Peace Only Starts With You - MSU Personal Statement

TOPIC: Describe a significant event from the past two years which required you to interact with someone outside your own social or cultural group (ethnic, religious, geographic, socio-economic, etc.). How did this impact you? What did you learn and what surprised you? [400 word max.]

College life has is not easy for many people; being a religious Jew makes the task even harder. Can’t eat from the cafeteria. Need permission to miss an exam for Passover. Can’t even study properly on weekends due to the Sabbath. In November 2014 – February 2015, however, I had a most difficult, yet amazing, life changing experience.

            As president of the Jewish Student Organization at OCC, Michigan, I realized that with all the hate going on in the world, we must begin working properly towards cooperation world-wide. Diligently, I began putting together a Multi-Faith Panel event to help spread awareness and love throughout my college grounds.

            Preparations slowly began to gather our esteemed panelists. Deciding upfront that there will be a representative of six major faiths (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Atheism, & Hinduism), I knew it would take time to confirm the various speakers.

            Two months passed by, and still things had to be done. Fliers distributed, brochure made, forms filled out. Soon the day had arrived. On February 12, 2015, forty people including the Campus President and Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, gathered into a study hall to change the world for the better.

            The event was a grand success and I, personally, gained as much from the preparations as I did from the event itself. I realized just how far one must go to make sure not to say or do something that could potentially offend someone from a different background. I understand better now that just because you do not agree with someone else’s way of thinking, it does not necessarily make them wrong; it just means you are both at a body of water and are crossing it via your own unique pathway.

            Throughout the event, I gained a deeper insight as to what each of these many belief systems actually believe; as opposed to what I had previously assumed. I was surprised to learn, for example, that my concept of Atheism was false.

            This event, the planning and the attending, is without a doubt one of the highlights of my life. I felt like this is what college is about: learning to not be shy about something you are passionate about, and to work towards a goal. To appreciate your classmates for who they are, not what they believe in. To try and make a difference.

High School Musical 3: Senior (Modern Dance Essay)

            One of the most common musicals produced by the Disney Channel is the High School Musical series. Known for their beautiful way of intertwining a story with modern dance, HSM brought enchantment to many children, teenagers, and yes, even adults worldwide. Each song brings with it a force of beauty, awe, affection, and class. The use of many various dance techniques are portrayed throughout each of the three films; however I found Senior Year to be the most passionate and enthralling to watch.

            The first song of the film, “Now Or Never” is a perfect example of the power that dance can have to portray emotions, feelings, and thoughts. The scene is a basketball game, where the stakes are high. The actors are dressed in the team jerseys. The dance is very fast-paced using double time for their actions; most of which are locomotor. Due to being a basketball game, there are lots of various pathways being used with all possible levels. During a foul play, the dancer collapses suddenly to the ground; during a jump shot, the actor sustains in the air.

            By contrast, the song entitled “Can You Imagine?” is the complete opposite; yet shows the power of non-locomotor dance techniques. It is a very slow, half-time dance and is mostly non-locomotor; yet that is the beauty of it – there is so much told in the lack of movement! The two dancers switch from middle to high levels and contract inwards toward each other while towards their own body. There is also a sudden grab of the female dancer which proceeds to open up the dance to movement pathways.

            Another similar dance is entitled “Can I Have This Dance?” It, too, is a slow waltz (literally). As waltzes tend to be, this dance is done in half-time movements with slow steps throughout the stage. Both actors keep eye contact and mirror each other’s actions. The female is sustained in her fall by the male dancer as well as being suddenly tossed into the air halfway through the song. Towards the end, the female does a sustained pekay followed by twists mid-air. With twists and Shawshays, this dance, as well as the one prior mentioned, shows the art involved with ‘Show Don’t Tell’ that is the true power of dance.

            Throughout the above three songs, one can grasp the story within the story that is told via elegant dance. A song is pretty; dance makes it a wonder to watch. The art of the body expressed to the audience is what makes or breaks a musical. The gasp as the dancer sustains in pekay. The gaping mouths when he/she twirls through the levels. The suspense of watching a double-time leap. The beautiful difference in melt and rise. This is art. This is dance. This is beauty.

A Lion Stands Watch

Many say that nightmares
are nothing more than a dream.
They claim that there
is no meaning to be found.

Many accuse us of overthinking
the thoughts that arrive in the night.
They laugh at our fears
saying the monsters are in our head.

They will never know
the terror that we see.
They will never watch
our lives fall to hell.

I used to be afraid,
now I am no more.
For I have a Guardian Angel
ready to attack intruding dreams.

She stands tall and proud
waiting by my side.
She doesn't close her eyes
unless mine are wide open.

She will hug me when I'm scared;
caress me when I'm worried.
She will always be my friend
forever and ever.

My Nala shoos away the nasty thoughts
that try to take advantage of my fears.
My Nala will watch over me with love.
My Nala helps me find sleep at last.

And if anyone still will claim
that there is not a thing to worry for;
I tell them they are right,
For my Nala keeps them at bay.

Clock Control

The clock stands still for just a moment,
the world comes to a pause.
The silence is so peaceful,
We wish it would last forever.

But after just a moment,
the clock ticks yet once more.
The hands continue their journey,
the moment is now gone,

We live each day with our clock,
we decide how fast it goes.
We can change our world,
before the minute hand moves if we try.

We can take the needed time,
to appreciate each second as it does pass us.
Or, we can let it all rush on by,
and wallow in the chances that we gave up.

Ever-flowing Honey

The stifling heat surrounds us,
secretly cooking the egg and tuna salads.
A child's shriek of glee
ripples within the empty air.

The Sabbatical peace twinkles
its soft serenity upon the world.
The earth laughs in uncontrolled giddiness
as we roll in its green blanket.

Life quickly tumbles upside down.
The heaven is shredded by man-made clouds forced to hurtle towards the innocent below.
The child's shrieks take on a different tune
as it is drowned out by the wailing siren of death.

The land flows with the stickiness of blood instead of honey,
as together we listen in sheer horror.
Sitting ducks in an open field;
the table is our only hope.

The child softly whimpers
as we realize it is now our last.
I say goodbye to a mother across the ocean
and tremble at the thought of owning up to my sins.

Suddenly, a calming breeze takes to the daylight
and swiftly covers me in its fuzzy robe.
I feel a presence unseen by the naked eye,
as I hear a voice that is not there.

"I'm here. It will all be ok."
the ghost softly whispers into my ear.
I rise, proud of a heritage that no war can defeat
I rise together with my dearly missed sister.

Empty Chairs

Gathered together they wait patiently,
not a soul lingers nearby.
They wait without moving an inch,
unknowing who will be their future.

Seventeen of them are around,
waiting for the room to fill up.
Slowly one by one receives a soul,
it sits empty no more.

It has a gift of life,
for just an hour or three.
It hears the crying and the laughter
of whomever sits upon thee.

It learns a story of someone so special,
it is now content.
It becomes a reflection of the person,
it is their spot in the room.

Suddenly, without warning,
the human rises tall and proud.
Swiftly walks away and out the door,
never to be seen again.

It waits so anxiously,
for another to fill the void.
Will another come,
who may ever know?

We are all in this world,
for but a fleeting moment.
Our stories are told loudly,
and we laugh all together.

Yet a time does come when we get up,
we leave the room without a warning.
Just one question does remain,
that we must ask ourselves:

Will I remain an empty chair,
for I am leaving a legacy?
Or will I remain an empty chair,
for I am no one worth remembering?

It's More Than Just A Word

I've never come across a word quite like this one,
never thought I would have trouble speaking.
Yet, here I am, my mouth open wide,
but no sound escapes my lips.

Who could have foretold that it would end in this manner?
Who would have predicted this demise?
Was I blind and refused to see the signs around me?
I search for a different solution.

But NO!
This seems to be the truth.
There just is no changing life's direction.
What's over is simply over.
I must somehow move on.

It's time to say the word that I dread,
I can no longer pretend that this isn't the case.
My life is crashing down all around,
there is nothing left in my power to try.

So, I now say Goodbye.
It comes out choked and with tears,
If only there was a way to take it back.
I stretch my hand out - but it's gone.

I had no choice.
I was forced to say it against my will.
If only you would say "Nevermind",
and heal the pain.

I know you don't mean to make me feel this way,
You simply had no other option to choose.
I forgive you wholeheartedly.
I pray that you can move on easier than me.

It was perfect while it lasted,
Let us just stick with that fact.
Neither of us thought that we would say such a cruel word.
But it is time to say Goodbye,

Goodbye to what once was.
Goodbye to what we tried.
Goodbye to who we were.

Hello to what what we learned.
Hello to who we became.
Hello to what will be.

Goodbye to the duo you and me.
Goodbye, my friend.