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College Admissions Essay: The Gentle Giant

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The Gentle Giant

I am an imposing figure. I stand at 6’3 210 pounds with a large frame and five o’clock shadow. My stature has lead to people to give me nicknames such as Redwood and Sequoia. In grade school, I was like Will Ferrell 's character in Elf, towering over all of my peers. I was 5 feet tall in 4th grade and 6 feet tall by 7th grade.

A first impression might cause people to think of me as the typical high school bully who would shove kids into lockers and give kids swirlies in the toilet. However, I am not that person. I am a “gentle giant”, a moniker given to me by my pediatrician when he looked at an enormous 1 month old baby. My gentle demeanor showed through during countless childhood soccer games when any collision …show more content…

Throughout school, kids have asked me to escort them to their classes, sit with them at lunch, and generally stick up for them when they were in a tough spot. In high school, I volunteer to run passes for the Dean so I learn about who is having a tough time and I seek them out if I can, and encourage them. As a hockey camp counselor, teaching hockey skills is important, but I am also aware of the campers’ social and emotional development. I have always found that people who are having trouble seem to gravitate towards me. They see me as a gentle giant that will look out for them.

You may wonder how a gentle giant plays a sport like hockey where physical contact is an integral part of the game. I am aware of my size and how I can easily hurt someone so I have honed my skills as a “smoosher” instead of a hitter. I can almost hear the sighs of relief from all the mothers in the crowd when I smoosh their player into the boards rather than smash him.

As Uncle Ben from Spiderman said “with great power comes great responsibility”. This quote resonates with me because of what I could have been and who I really am. I could have been the prototypical bully who ruins people’s confidence with an imposing stature and mean attitude. However, I decided to use my power for good by protecting people and supporting them, like a gentle

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