#emotsye

I had some trouble writing this essay because I don’t really have a happy place. (“don’t” is very finitive, maybe “a happy place never seemed to apply to me) “Julia, if you don’t have a happy place, why did you chose this prompt?”  (The reason why…”Good question. I was drawn to it. Maybe my tea leaves spelled it out, it was written in the stars, or my fortune cookie fortune hinted at it. For whatever reason, this prompt kept wiggling its way into my mind, suffocating my thoughts. I finally decided to choose this prompt under the sage advice of a thirteenth century Persian poet, Rumi, who apparently believed that “what you seek is seeking you.” And as the universe informed us, this prompt was seeking me.

So I’m not going to write about my happy place. Instead, I’ll tell you about my lack of a happy place and why that’s important to me. So buckle up kids, the story’s about to begin. (they’re school officials, you don’t want to be too informal, maybe try another lead in)

There are a few things in this world that always comfort me; the first and foremost being the English language. It’s difficult to make time to read but I always do (ok this is silly, but say something about time management, how even though you have a busy schedule you always find time to read, thus comforting yourself, they love knowing that you can handle your time, and can take time for yourself). I’ll read anything; poetry, science fiction, biographies, really old Persian poetry (obviously) and even those gossipy celebrity magazines. Words are just so exciting (I like your writing so say why “they take you on a journey or something) and the time that a writer puts into the piece is absolutely astonishing. Every little detail has a deeper meaning, always! Nothing of import is left unspoken and nothing unspoken is of any import. (<-love that) Books are amazing because they’re small and portable. It’s an activity that can be done anywhere, just like writing. In case you couldn’t tell (Try something else) I’m a writer as well. I don’t necessarily need to be in one place to write. I can write in the car or in school or at home. Whether it’s a sappy love poem or a ten page paper on George Washington, I’m content when I’m writing. I also love music. I can’t sing or play an instrument (you definitely don’t want to hear me try). But I’m constantly listening to music. I like Indie and Alternative bands but I find all music to be soothing. When words get tangled in my ears and silence slows my heart down to an uncomfortable beat, music serves as a happy medium. (This^ is fantastic, your writing is dreamy, song like and easy to read, the “I like” sentences are a tad choppy) Just like books, music is portable.

These three things make me feel content. I prefer to do them in a blanket-burrito with pillows cushioning every crevice of my body, but that isn’t necessarily a bed. Unlike most kids with divorced parents, I only have one bed (do you like how I nonchalantly slipped my parent’s divorce in there? Unfortunately this essay couldn’t only be about books and music. I figured I ought to include some good meaty topics in here as well (I wouldn’t put the explanation). My father’s house, located two hours away from my own, is pretty small so when I visit I sleep on the couch.

Since my parents’ divorce, I’ve been split. I have two families, two homes, even two religions (my mother’s Christian, my father’s Jewish). I don’t have a single bed that I sleep in every night, I don’t even have two beds. I have a bed and a cold, leather couch. It’s a strange situation. However, I’ve learned the art of flexibility from my strange situation. I can read while my father, a hardcore Packers fan, argues about football with my stepbrothers, hardcore Steelers fans. I can listen to my favorite songs in my house or my father’s house or at school or while walking down the street. I can do my favorite things, wherever I am. Thus, I can be content, wherever I am. Maybe I’m just an optimistic, but I’d have to say that my happy place is anywhere and everywhere. (I love this ending, plus being versatile is super important to a College, maybe include something like “my happy place isn’t stagnant, or tied to one thing, memory, or location, my happy place is ever evolving, ever changing, and ever moving with me, you started off saying how you’re going to explain your lack of a happy place so just want to touch on that again (as you can tell, nursing student, not writer))

Oh my god same, my ultimate goal is to meet him