The Essence Jar
Ribbons, glitter, and some popsicle sticks in a mason jar, that’s all it took to create the best gift I’ve ever given. A combination of all of the small snippets of my life from memories, to jokes, and limericks. As I travel towards new adventures and go off to college, I reflect on what I would have in my own jar. It would most likely include these:
I pull out the first stick, written on it is, “Not a Masshole”: Massachusetts is often characterized by its arrogance and terrible driving skills. But I love where I’m from and it’s played a huge role in who I am today, from being an avid fan with the utmost pride for my sports teams: the Bruins, Celtics, and Patriots, to Dunkin Donuts iced coffee running through my veins, and being “Wicked Smaht”. I was raised on frequent weekend trips into Boston to walk through Boston Common and make way for ducklings or rides on the duck boats. It’s also given me a sense of community: from the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk and Making Strides walk to other large-scale community service activities, we stand together in times of need to support one another.
“Warm Chocolate Chip Cookies”: The day after Thanksgiving, after an excessive amount of family time with cousins and relatives, my family dedicates a night to decorating our Christmas tree. Holidays marked by competitive game nights that include lots of trash talking and my sweet, sweet victories. Inevitably, someone yells, “one more round!” after a painful loss. The smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies wafting through the air and the annual watching Jimmy Stewart help Clarence get his wings.
“Bulls and Bullet Holes”: Roman columns, volcanic ruins, bulls running through the streets, and amazing international cuisine. Traveling to Rome and seeing where Caesar was killed in the Roman forum, or where people were burned by flowing lava in Pompeii, I experienced history firsthand. Traveling to Germany and seeing bullet holes in buildings and half blown up cathedrals still standing as a reminder to its citizens showed me how important it is to embrace our history and not run from it.
“Dirty Knee Pads”: A persistent championship mindset. Countless hours of practice every week, loving every second of it. But what we learned from Coach Cawley during our season was far more than dive, dig, sprawl. Coach taught us the importance of social justice, the magnificence of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and how girls can do anything boys can do.
“Enzymes and Eloquence”: This represents my scientific proposal and in-progress research, an alternative treatment for patients with Type 1 diabetes. From cream alternatives with buffer-like qualities, to insulin pills that could evade decomposition by stomach acid during digestion, in the future I plan to aid those with Type 1 Diabetes by creating a solution to end finger pricks and insulin pumps.
“Butterfly Wings”: Fifteen years of dance has given me a place to be vulnerable and develop new skills. Through improvisation I’ve learned to let loose and be spontaneous following the musical cues. No preconceived ideas, just feeling the music. Tap has taught me diligence and technique, while ballet has taught me how grace and strength compliment each other. The work ethic and focus I have learned at the studio has guided me to new heights in my everyday life, from schoolwork, to the volleyball court.
In the future I am eager to add to my own “jar”, creating new memories and personality traits. From new friends, new organizations I partake in, and my future career in the medical field, going to college will be the basis for my growth as a student, as a friend, and as a member of a greater community.