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.




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

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

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.