The Secret to Immortality by Leonardo

The Secret to Immortality by Leonardo - February 2014 Scholarship Essay

The promise of living forever is paradoxical. On one hand, it'd be fantastic to spend eternity learning, and growing. On the other, what would be the point. In avoiding existentialism, recognize that the best form of immortality is through infinite recognition. Everyone wants to go down in history as a hero. We all want to be remember after our death. The best way to never die is to touch as many lives as you can.

Failure is something everyone faces. I grew up scared, lonely. This fear led to me avoiding failure. It was as though, if I never tried, I would never fail. For years I lived in my own mind. There I constructed camaraderie from emotional debris which stories inflicted. Literature became a better friend to me, than I bother to understand. However, I eventually broke out of my shell.

When I did, I realized I was socially inept. The stereotypes of bibliophiles making awkward statements, not knowing how to react, was true. Still, people were perpetually kind to me. My friendships were built upon platonic ideals from prepubescent dreams. Failure is a perpetual truth to this world. With it, comes wisdom and genius. Failure breeds competence. As a I failed at holding onto friendships, I looked towards literature.

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel - Maya Angelou. That quote reminds me of the story of Cain and Abel as interpreted by Steinbeck. After meditating on why I lost friends, why I lacked inspiration, I realized friendships are built upon emotions. Not what one says, or how one acts, but by emotions elicited.

Imagine a boy growing up so scared to fail, he decided not trying was better. A young boy living in an antiquated dream. As a child, it's easy to dissolve the real world and the imaginary. As age and responsibility caught up, I abandoned my quixotic standard. In a beautiful irony, I could easily be despondent. Miserable, because I was so alone.

Maya Angelou's quote taught me that people are valuable. Every one is deserving of companionship. The decisions made are in the past, if a person is willing to be kind and to open themselves emotionally, you must love them. In an arcane reality, love is more ever lasting than death. Mark Twain said that you die two deaths, once with your last breath, another when your name is last uttered.

To live forever in perpetual hubris. To be tied down to an elegant legacy, real human connections must be made. That is why I decided that introspection was necessary. When I die, decades from now, I hope people remember my successes and failures. I am no longer afraid to try. However, what I really hope they remember is how I affected them.

Just like I hope this essay affects you. Reading these words, recognize that how you treat your peers is more important than anything. Understand that through hell forged wrath, it is still possible to surrender yourself to kindness. In reflecting on my immature thoughts, because I am naive, realize the might of my dreams.

I am inspired with hopes of philanthropy and humanitarian desires. My life will be dedicated to helping others, to furthering humanity, and to creating a connection. The purpose of this essay is to have some support in my dreams. Decades from now, I want to look back and be completely thankful for the chance you give me. I want to throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbors, and catch the trade winds. There is nothing more wonderful than the prospect of exploring knowledge and emotions.