Common App Sample #1: Intro (Animation)

Jasmine Winters

19 Jun 202400:41

Summary

TLDRIn eighth grade, the speaker faced a dilemma when asked to share their hobbies and career aspirations. They were hesitant to admit their love for collecting cosmetics and their dream of becoming a cosmetic scientist, fearing judgment as superficial. They compared their interests to their peers' more conventional ambitions, such as working at the UN or in cybersecurity, and questioned the validity of their own passion, reflecting on societal expectations and the internalization of these pressures.

Takeaways

📝 The speaker was asked to write about their hobbies and career goals in eighth grade.
😳 They hesitated to share their hobby and career aspirations due to fear of judgment.
💄 The hobby was collecting cosmetics, which the speaker felt was not taken seriously.
🔬 The career goal was to become a cosmetic scientist, a path they were passionate about.
👥 They compared their interests to their friends' more traditionally respected career goals.
🏛 Friends' aspirations included working at the UN in foreign affairs or in internet security.
🤔 The speaker's insecurity suggested a societal bias against hobbies and careers related to cosmetics.
👧 The speaker felt they were being judged as superficial for their interest in cosmetics.
🌐 There is an implied critique of societal expectations and gender stereotypes in career choices.
💡 The script highlights the importance of self-acceptance and pursuing one's passion despite societal pressures.

Q & A

What was the task given to the speaker in eighth grade?
-The speaker was asked to write about their hobbies and career goals.
Why did the speaker hesitate to share their hobby and career goals?
-The speaker was embarrassed because their hobby was collecting cosmetics and they wanted to become a cosmetic scientist, fearing that others would judge them as too girlish and less competent.
What were the career aspirations of the speaker's friends that they compared themselves to?
-The speaker's friends wanted to work at the UN in foreign affairs or police the internet to crack down on hackers.
How did the speaker feel about their own hobby and career goal?
-The speaker felt insecure and considered their hobby and career goal as trivial and superficial.
What was the speaker's hobby that they were hesitant to share?
-The speaker's hobby was collecting cosmetics.
What career did the speaker aspire to pursue?
-The speaker aspired to become a cosmetic scientist.
What was the speaker's concern about the perception of their hobby by others?
-The speaker was concerned that others would view their hobby as girlish and judge them as less competent.
How did the speaker's insecurity reflect on their view of the cosmetics industry?
-The speaker's insecurity led them to view the cosmetics industry as trivial and themselves as superficial for being interested in it.
What was the speaker's internal conflict regarding their hobby and career choice?
-The speaker's internal conflict was between their passion for cosmetics and the fear of being judged for it, which made them question the validity of their interests.
How did the speaker's friends' career goals influence their own self-assessment?
-The speaker's friends' career goals made them feel that their own goals were less significant and led to self-doubt about their competency and interests.
What was the speaker's realization about their hobby and career aspirations?
-The speaker realized that their insecurity about their hobby and career aspirations was a reflection of societal expectations and judgments, rather than an inherent issue with their interests.

Outlines

00:00

💄 Insecurity in Pursuing a Passion

The speaker recalls an eighth-grade assignment where they were asked to write about their hobbies and career goals. They felt hesitant to disclose their hobby of collecting cosmetics and their aspiration to become a cosmetic scientist. They were concerned about being judged as superficial and less competent by their peers, who aspired to more traditionally respected careers like working at the UN in foreign affairs or combating cybercrime. This insecurity led the speaker to question the significance of their hobby and to doubt their own self-worth for finding joy in something perceived as trivial.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Hobbies

Hobbies refer to activities that people engage in for pleasure or relaxation during their leisure time. In the context of the video, the speaker's hobby of collecting cosmetics is highlighted as a personal interest that they were initially hesitant to share due to societal expectations and fear of judgment. This keyword is central to the video's theme as it explores the relationship between personal passions and societal perceptions.

💡Career Goals

Career goals are the objectives or aspirations an individual has for their professional life. The video script mentions the speaker's goal to become a cosmetic scientist, which is a specific and ambitious aim that reflects their passion for cosmetics. This keyword is significant as it ties into the narrative of personal ambition and the challenges of pursuing a career that aligns with one's interests.

💡Collecting Cosmetics

Collecting cosmetics is a hobby that involves acquiring and possibly organizing a variety of cosmetic products. The speaker's embarrassment about this hobby indicates the societal stigma attached to interests perceived as 'girlish' or 'superficial.' This keyword is crucial as it represents the personal interest that the speaker initially feels insecure about, which is a central conflict in the video.

💡Cosmetic Scientist

A cosmetic scientist is a professional who works in the development and formulation of cosmetic products. The speaker's aspiration to become one suggests a deep interest in the science behind beauty products. This keyword is integral to the video's message, as it challenges the notion that interests in beauty or cosmetics are trivial and underscores the scientific and creative aspects of the field.

💡Insecurity

Insecurity refers to a feeling of uncertainty or fear about one's self-worth or abilities. The speaker's insecurity about their hobby and career goal reflects a common struggle with societal norms and expectations. This keyword is pivotal to the video's narrative, as it illustrates the internal conflict the speaker experiences and the courage required to embrace one's true interests.

💡Judgment

Judgment implies the act of forming an opinion or evaluation about something or someone. In the script, the speaker's worry about being judged as 'too girlish' and 'less competent' highlights the external pressures that can influence personal choices. This keyword is significant as it represents the societal pressures that the speaker feels, which are central to the video's exploration of self-acceptance and authenticity.

💡Girlish

The term 'girlish' often refers to qualities or interests traditionally associated with young girls or femininity. In the video, the speaker's concern about being perceived as 'girlish' due to their hobby reflects gender stereotypes and the stigma attached to certain interests. This keyword is important as it ties into the broader theme of gender expectations and the freedom to pursue one's passions without societal constraints.

💡Competent

Competent means having the necessary ability, knowledge, or skill to do something successfully. The speaker's fear of being seen as less competent due to their hobby contrasts with the actual expertise required in the field of cosmetic science. This keyword is relevant as it challenges the assumption that certain hobbies or interests are indicative of one's professional capabilities.

💡Superficial

Superficial refers to something that is concerned only with appearances or surface aspects, rather than with substance or depth. The speaker's self-doubt about being a 'superficial girl' for loving cosmetics questions the depth and validity of their interest. This keyword is key to the video's message, as it addresses the stereotypes and judgments that can undermine the value of one's passions.

💡Self-Acceptance

Self-acceptance is the process of embracing and being comfortable with oneself, including one's interests, desires, and goals. The video's narrative likely revolves around the speaker's journey towards self-acceptance, as they confront societal judgments and personal insecurities. This keyword is central to the video's theme, as it represents the ultimate goal of overcoming external pressures and internal doubts to embrace one's true self.

💡Societal Norms

Societal norms are the shared expectations and standards that guide behavior within a community or culture. The video script suggests that the speaker's initial hesitation to share their hobby and career goal is influenced by societal norms that dictate what is considered 'appropriate' or 'worthy.' This keyword is essential to understanding the video's exploration of personal identity in the context of broader cultural expectations.

Highlights

In eighth grade, the student was asked to write about their hobbies and career goals.

The student hesitated to share their hobby and career aspirations.

They considered making something up due to embarrassment.

The hobby of collecting cosmetics was a source of insecurity.

The student aspired to become a cosmetic scientist.

There was a fear of being judged as too girlish and less competent.

Comparisons were made to friends with seemingly more prestigious career goals.

Friends aimed for careers in foreign affairs or cybersecurity.

The student felt their hobby was trivial and superficial.

Insecurity about the hobby was seen as evidence of its lack of importance.

The student questioned their own interests and aspirations.

The transcript reflects on the societal pressures to conform to certain career paths.

The student's experience highlights the challenges of pursuing non-traditional interests.

The narrative touches on the theme of self-doubt and external validation.

The student's story is a reminder of the importance of embracing one's passions.

The transcript suggests that societal judgments can hinder personal growth and exploration.

The student's internal conflict is a common experience for many young people.

The story encourages readers to reflect on their own career and hobby choices.

The transcript ends with a call to authenticity and self-acceptance.