Perfect | Teen Ink

Perfect MAG

July 20, 2009
By thelastharpy SILVER, Granby, Connecticut
thelastharpy SILVER, Granby, Connecticut
8 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Love is selfless--and it's requited. Anything less is merely glorified infatuation."


My palms are not sweating as I type this.

I've never lied to my parents and said I was doing my homework when I was instant messaging friends, and then flunked an English essay as a result. I've never handed in work that was “just good enough” or disagreed with a teacher about a grade. I've never studied my butt off for finals just so I would get a 3.0 upon transfer to a new school. I've never cried at night because I was afraid I wasn't good enough. I've never done any of these things, because I'm perfect.

I always smile politely at people who taunt me. I never blow off a friend because I'm annoyed. I never, ever tell a lie. In spite of my ADD, I never fidget in class or fall asleep because my medication kept me up at night. I never make sarcastic comments in World Civilizations. I never have mood swings, and I never read science fiction during English, even when I hate the book we've been assigned.

I never blow off church on Easter because I'd rather eat chocolate and harbor doubts about Catholicism, even though attending mass would please my father. I never play “anywhere but here” when trying to find a seat in the cafeteria, or wish myself invisible during study hall. I never binge, even when depressed and angry with my mother. Speaking of mothers, I never fight with her either, even though we're too alike to live together.

Like I said, I have no flaws and I've never felt fear. I am a heroine and I love school, and I never, ever tell a lie or mess up or feel depressed when I break out or my hair's the size and shape of a space shuttle. I know emotionally and intellectually that beauty is on the inside.

You have just read a confession of my vices and shame and guilt. If you're still reading, you are probably the kind of person I want to learn from – patient, kind, and sick of reading sentimental essays about family tragedies.

I'm not perfect, and I won't pretend to be. I do want to be accepted by your school and make you see that I have good qualities. I want to be independent but also want help transitioning from school to life. I enjoy learning and debating. While I'm not always the best student, I try.

I'm competitive and argumentative. I love warm weather but tolerate anything as long as the company is good. I have mood swings, but I will try to manage them.

I will do my very best to succeed at your school, but I'll be honest about whether it's a good fit. I love writing, even essays, and I have a weird sense of humor. I wrote the first draft of this essay long before it was due.

I'm never, and do not aspire to be, perfect.


The author's comments:
Defy the expectations, because it's the only way you'll stand out.

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This article has 14 comments.


fuzzyx3 said...
on Sep. 24 2012 at 6:50 pm
I enjoyed this essay alot and it actually helped me write one of my essays so i just wanted to day Thank You :)

on Jun. 6 2012 at 1:08 pm
absolutely amazing!!!

on Mar. 21 2012 at 10:20 pm
Me.Myself.and.I BRONZE, South Pasadena, California
2 articles 2 photos 12 comments

Favorite Quote:
To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> - Ralph Waldo Emerson

amazing. 

anamack said...
on Dec. 28 2010 at 8:28 am
excellent.  i love the cadence and sense of humor.

PJ-ONE said...
on Oct. 1 2010 at 9:02 am
PJ-ONE, Freeport, Maine
0 articles 0 photos 3 comments
I liked this story a lot. At first I thought you were serious about being perfect, then I chose to read on. I like the ending on this story.

jyeloh888 said...
on May. 14 2010 at 4:53 am
can i use this for my college essay if it's okay with you?

on Apr. 1 2010 at 9:18 pm
Zithia PLATINUM, Cambridge, Massachusetts
27 articles 16 photos 20 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;It makes no difference who or what you are, old or young, black or white, pagan, Jew, or Christian, I want to love you all and be loved by you all, and I mean to have your love.&quot; -Victoria Woodhull

This was very enjoyable to read!

on Feb. 1 2010 at 7:25 pm
KennisLora GOLD, Palm Harbor, Florida
10 articles 2 photos 9 comments

Favorite Quote:
A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Loved this! I wish I had done something more like this than the dull, "what service has shown me."

I hope you got in where ever you used this essay!

on Oct. 7 2009 at 7:25 pm
I really enjoyed reading this. You took the task of writing an application essay and made it so interesting and fun to read. I absolutely love the way you wrote this. Great job.

on Sep. 15 2009 at 8:31 pm
thelastharpy SILVER, Granby, Connecticut
8 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Love is selfless--and it&#039;s requited. Anything less is merely glorified infatuation.&quot;

I'd appreciate it if you could tell me why you think it's horrible, rather than merely stating so.

Bex24 BRONZE said...
on Sep. 15 2009 at 8:25 pm
Bex24 BRONZE, Toronto, Other
3 articles 21 photos 79 comments
Oh wow, loved this! Very thought-provoking. I like your style of writing and your sentence structure. Well done :)

on Sep. 14 2009 at 10:47 am
thelastharpy SILVER, Granby, Connecticut
8 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Love is selfless--and it&#039;s requited. Anything less is merely glorified infatuation.&quot;

Thank you all so much!

jwonnie said...
on Sep. 13 2009 at 7:38 pm
jwonnie, Katy, Texas
0 articles 0 photos 3 comments
This reminds me of that one student’s essay that said “I did… and I did… I did…” and wrote a bunch of amazing things he did and at the end put “but I have not yet been to college” or something like that, but I like this too.

Creative. Good job. Love the first sentence!

katie said...
on Sep. 13 2009 at 12:27 am
This essay is really good! I've been trying to find good examples for mine and I love your humor in this one and the point is really good too.