College Application Essay #1

I lived on a farm in southern Indiana for seven years. This static way of life changed drastically and abruptly two years ago when my family moved to the suburbs of Indianapolis, thirteenth largest city in the country. During the summer months of 1983, I spent my time adjusting to city life. Moving from the farmhouse into an apartment was just one adjustment I had to make. Another was the proximity of stores, restaurants, and cinemas. "Down on the farm," the closest moviehouse was 20 miles away. I also rode the bus downtown and did volunteer work at the Benjamin Harrison home for several weeks. However, the environmental difference between country and city was not the the hardest thing to adjust to. That honor belonged to the enormous suburban school I reluctantly attended in the fall.

North Central, my new school and the largest in the state, was quite a change from Brownstown Central High School. The class of `86 at NC was larger than my old school in Brownstown. In fact, North Central's population was greater than that of Brownstown. The size of the school still awes me. I know that I haven't even seen everyone in my class in two years of hall roaming.

Another factor I had to adjust to was the number of brilliant students at NC. At Brownstown, I was considered the smartest person in the school--my nickname was Encyclopedia Ashton! To the students of North Central, however, I was merely another smart kid. This had the effect of broadening my views; although only five percent of the school was as intelligent as I, that five percent represented 150 fellow NC students--a humbling thought.

The quality and quantity of classes marked a major difference between NC and Brownstown. At Brownstown, three or four classes would be fairly easy; at NC only one or two of my classes would be cakewalks. The vast array of classes was a bewildering change from Brownstown, too. At Brownstown, for example, the only science classes offered were biology, chemistry, and physics. During my sophomore year at NC I took zoology!

All these changes I underwent illustrate this major turning point of my life. From third to ninth grade I was a farm boy. I was also the rather naive "Encyclopedia Ashton" who held his peers in awe. The summer before my sophomore year my life reached a turning point of sorts, in that my world changed. It changed from rural to urban, from small to big. It was not a complete turning point--I am a rather unique blend of two opposing lifestyles, and my thoughts, ideas, and actions reflect this blend.

Back to Stuff Page