4篇普林斯頓大學優秀範文分享

隨著申請季的到來，同學們(men) 已經蓄勢以待想要大幹一場。在眾(zhong) 多申請材料中，文書(shu) 是至關(guan) 重要的一環，出色的文書(shu) 能夠吸引招生官的目光，增大被夢校錄取的機會(hui) 。我們(men) 一起來看看幾篇被普林斯頓錄取學生分享的‘文書(shu) 範文’！在招生官眼中，優(you) 秀的文書(shu) 究竟是什麽(me) 樣的？

01、Essay by Rosie

Princeton has a longstanding commitment to service and civicengagement. Tell us how your story intersects (or will intersect) with these ideals.

普林斯頓長期致力於(yu) 服務和公民參與(yu) 。請告訴我們(men) 您的故事如何與(yu) 這些理想相交融（或將相交融）。

The leaves crunched beneath my boots as l ascended the stone steps. Above me, squirels zipped through the trees. l was hikincthrough Bach Ma National Park with my World Wildlife Federation group in search for traps and snares. The park was protectedland, butilegal poaching was rampant. Wire traps were strung along the forest bed, ready to capture wild animals to be sold on theolack market. lt was just another threat to an animal population already endangered by expanding agriculture and infrastructuredevelopments.

As we stopped for a break, our mentor told stories of how she used to roam the forests, waiting until sundown to see if the elusivesaolas would come out. Her eyes lit up as she talked of their unicorn-like horns and striking white streaks. lt seemed downriahtmagical to me that such an animal was only discovered 30 years ago, and equally tragic that it had already reached criticallyendangered status in that time.

Over a year has passed since this hike, yet l still think about it all the time. Our work inspired me to build an adaptive animal soundrecoanition systemn - one that could gather real-time data about fauna populations in a non-invasive manner. For me, the key toconservation lies at the nexus of innovation and policy. l'm eager to harness the power of technology to protect natural habitats. But'm also excited to advocate for government initiatives that ensure these spaces remain sustainable for generations to come.

譯文

當我登上石階時，樹葉在我的靴子下發出嘎吱嘎吱的響聲。在我的頭頂上，鬆雞在樹上飛來飛去。我和我的世界野生動物聯盟小組一起徒步穿越巴赫馬國家公園，尋找捕獸(shou) 夾和陷阱。該公園是保護區，但偷獵非常猖獗。鐵絲(si) 網陷阱沿著林床串起，隨時準備捕捉野生動物拿到黑市上去賣。這對已經因農(nong) 業(ye) 擴張和基礎設施建設而瀕臨(lin) 滅絕的動物種群來說，隻是又一個(ge) 威脅。

當我們(men) 停下來休息時，我們(men) 的指導員講述了她過去如何在森林中漫遊，等到日落時分看羚牛是否會(hui) 出來的故事。在我看來，這樣一種動物在 30 年前才被發現，真是不可思議；同樣悲慘的是，在這 30 年間，這種動物已經瀕臨(lin) 滅絕。

這次遠足已經過去一年多了 但我仍時常想起它 我們(men) 的工作啟發了我建立一個(ge) 適應性動物聲音采集係統--一個(ge) 能夠以非侵入方式收集動物種群實時數據的係統。對我來說，保護的關(guan) 鍵在於(yu) 創新和政策的結合。我渴望利用技術的力量來保護自然棲息地。同時，我也很高興(xing) 能倡導政府采取措施，確保這些空間能世世代代保持可持續發展。

02、Essay by Kaya

Prompt: At Princeton, we value diverse perspectives and the ability to haverespectful dialogue about difficult issues. Share a time when you had aconversation with a person or a group of people about a dificult topic, What insightdid you gain, and how would you incorporate that knowledge into your thinking inthe future?

提示：在普林斯頓，我們(men) 重視不同的觀點以及就困難問題進行尊重對話的能力。請分享一次你與(yu) 一個(ge) 人或一群人就困難的話題進行對話的經曆，你從(cong) 中獲得了哪些啟發，以及你今後將如何把這些知識融入到你的思考中？

'En mi opinión, los abortos son malos." l was in Spanish class when those words--meaning "in my opinion. abortions are bad"came out of [Name Redactedl' mouth. ln Spanish IV, we discussed challenging topics while speaking in Spanish. This day, we weretalking about the restrictive abortion laws in Argentina. No one had asked lName Redactedl to share his personal feelings;, we werejust discussing factual evidence.l began to share my arqument: criminalizing abortions will cause unsafe DlY alternatives, manyabortions are the result of sexual assault and not poor planning, etc. Surprisingly, [Name Redactedl didn't talk over me; instead heistened to my points and then began explaining his position, which primarily focused on morals. l was slightly annoyed because wanted him to use facts to change my mind, not ethical arguments. lt was then l realized that neither of us were likely to change oulminds -and that was okay. We still understood each other and had a respectful conversation. He acknowledged the accuracy of mystatistics and never interrupted me; l saw how his argument reflected the value he placed on his religious and moral beliefs. Thisrevelation changed the way l approached the debate.l could simply share my point of view and listen to his. with the only goal togain a new perspective, not convert a peer.l want to continue exploring controversial subjects with people from across the spectrum.can comfortably express my views; however, i will also be open-minded and listen to all perspectives instead of expecting people toeither try and change my mind or convert to my way of thinking.

譯文

在西班牙語課上，我們(men) 用西班牙語討論具有挑戰性的話題。這一天，我們(men) 討論的是阿根廷限製墮胎的法律。我開始分享我的論點：將墮胎定為(wei) 犯罪會(hui) 導致不安全的DlY替代品，許多墮胎是性侵犯的結果，而不是計劃不周，等等。出乎意料的是，[姓名不詳]並沒有打斷我，而是聽取了我的觀點，然後開始解釋他的立場，他的立場主要集中在道德方麵。我們(men) 仍然相互理解，並進行了一場相互尊重的對話。他承認神秘主義(yi) 的準確性，從(cong) 不打斷我；我看到了他的論點是如何反映出他對宗教和道德信仰的重視。這個(ge) 啟示改變了我對待辯論的方式。我可以簡單地分享我的觀點，傾(qing) 聽他的看法，唯一的目的是獲得新的視角，而不是改變一個(ge) 同行。我想繼續與(yu) 來自不同領域的人探討有爭(zheng) 議的話題。

03、Essay

來源：匿名同學

“Culture is what presents us with the kinds of valuable things that can fill a life. And insofar as we can recognize the value in those things and make them part of our lives, our lives are meaningful.” – Gideon Rosen, Stuart Professor of Philosophy and chair, Department of Philosophy, Princeton University. (650 words)

“文化為(wei) 我們(men) 提供了豐(feng) 富多彩的寶貴事物。隻要我們(men) 能夠認識到這些事物的價(jia) 值並讓它們(men) 成為(wei) 我們(men) 生活的一部分，我們(men) 的生活就會(hui) 變得有意義(yi) 。”——吉迪恩·羅森，普林斯頓大學斯圖爾特哲學教授兼哲學係主任。（650 字）

“You’re too white.”

I stopped in my tracks in the middle of the mall parking lot, trying to comprehend the judgement that had been cast on me by my Arab girlfriends. Too white, my friend had said. I always knew that I didn’t fit perfectly into the mold of a Middle Eastern girl, but this was the first time I had been called too much of something.

I was raised by an Arab father and an Irish-American mother. Because my father was the ultimate authority in the household, his cultural values overruled my mother’s. I grew up learning how to prepare spreads of mansaf and dancing to Jordanian dabke songs on the Arabic channel.

I twirled in my Palestinian dress in front of the mirror and painted my eyes with kohl. I was submissive and complacent, seen but not heard. I learned how to be a good hostess and to act bubbly with my friends and guests. I learned the value of family and respect for elders. In short, I was the perfect Arab girl.

When I was sixteen, however, my mom, siblings, and I left my father and moved to a different state. My mom ran our household based on her cultural values, presenting an exhilarating amount of freedom. Instead of passing by American Eagle, I was allowed to buy a pair of distressed jeans. I ordered the number two at Burger King and danced to Katy Perry’s “Swish Swish” at non-Arab parties. I talked back to my mom and stormed out of the house angrily.

I never felt the “whiteness,” as some would call it, creeping up on me. I never woke up and just decided “I’m more white than Arab.” I simply took on the values that my mom’s family and my new friends expected me to have.

However, I felt that at any given time, I was either Arab or white, never both. With my Arab friends, I was the Middle Eastern fashionista princess. With my non-Arab friends, I was the rebellious American teenager. Of course, neither of these stereotypes represented my true personality; I was trying to mold myself into the cookie cutters others had created for me, so it hurt to be called too much of one thing. My cultural identity was dependent on the people I was with.

After adjusting to my new life of freedom, I reevaluated how I defined my cultural identity. Why am I limiting myself in who I can be? I thought. Why am I allowing culture to define my identity? Why do I feel the need to force myself into certain stereotypes in my family’s cultures? Faced with these questions, I realized that rather than fitting myself into my cultures, I should make the cultures fit me. I appreciate my heritage and many of the values I was raised on, but I am more than my cultural background. My experiences shape the lens through which I view and assimilate my Arab and American cultures.

My anthropology teacher once said, “Culture is a social construction. It’s what we make it.” My culture is not a force that defines me; rather, it is a conglomeration of my heritage and values that influences and guides me. Looking in the mirror, I don’t see just an Arab-American teenage girl. I see a person grown from years of stories, sorrows, and joys. I see the values that my mother and father have taught me. I see the people that have touched me.

I see the lessons I’ve learned from my mistakes. You’re too white. I can scoff at this remark now, knowing it is nothing but a cultural tag society places on me. As I continue down this lifelong path of identity formation, I will remember to keep my heart open to the lessons I can learn from experiences to shape me into the person I want to see in the mirror.

譯文

“你太白了。”

我在商場停車場中央停下腳步，試圖理解我的阿拉伯女友對我的評價(jia) 。我的朋友說，我太白了。我一直知道自己並不完全符合中東(dong) 女孩的形象，但這是我第一次被說成太過分了。

我的父親(qin) 是阿拉伯人，母親(qin) 是愛爾蘭(lan) 裔美國人。由於(yu) 父親(qin) 是家中的最高權威，他的文化價(jia) 值觀淩駕於(yu) 母親(qin) 之上。我從(cong) 小就學會(hui) 了如何準備 mansaf 麵條，並隨著阿拉伯頻道上的約旦 dabke 歌曲跳舞。

我穿著巴勒斯坦服裝在鏡子前轉圈，用眼影粉畫上眼影。我順從(cong) 而自滿，隻顧自己，不聽別人的話。我學會(hui) 了如何做一個(ge) 好女主人，如何與(yu) 朋友和客人開朗相處。我學會(hui) 了家庭的價(jia) 值和對長輩的尊重。簡而言之，我是一個(ge) 完美的阿拉伯女孩。

然而，當我十六歲的時候，我和媽媽、兄弟姐妹離開了我的父親(qin) ，搬到了另一個(ge) 州。我媽媽根據她的文化價(jia) 值觀管理著我們(men) 的家庭，表現出極大的自由。我不用路過 American Eagle，而是被允許買(mai) 一條破舊的牛仔褲。我在漢堡王點了第二條，在非阿拉伯派對上隨著凱蒂·佩裏的“Swish Swish”跳舞。我頂撞了媽媽，憤怒地衝(chong) 出了家門。

我從(cong) 未感覺到有人稱之為(wei) “白人身份”的東(dong) 西在向我襲來。我從(cong) 未一覺醒來就認定“我比阿拉伯人更像白人”。我隻是接受了我媽媽的家人和我的新朋友期望我擁有的價(jia) 值觀。

然而，我覺得在任何時候，我要麽(me) 是阿拉伯人，要麽(me) 是白人，不可能兩(liang) 者兼而有之。在阿拉伯朋友麵前，我是中東(dong) 時尚公主。在非阿拉伯朋友麵前，我是叛逆的美國青少年。當然，這兩(liang) 種刻板印象都不能代表我的真實個(ge) 性；我試圖把自己塑造成別人為(wei) 我創造的千篇一律的形象，所以被人說得太過分會(hui) 讓我很難受。我的文化身份取決(jue) 於(yu) 我身邊的人。

在適應了新的自由生活後，我重新審視了自己對文化身份的定義(yi) 。我思考，為(wei) 什麽(me) 我要限製自己，限製自己成為(wei) 什麽(me) 樣的人？為(wei) 什麽(me) 我要讓文化定義(yi) 我的身份？為(wei) 什麽(me) 我覺得有必要強迫自己接受家庭文化中的某些刻板印象？麵對這些問題，我意識到，與(yu) 其讓自己適應自己的文化，不如讓文化適應我。我欣賞自己的傳(chuan) 統和許多從(cong) 小就接受的價(jia) 值觀，但我不僅(jin) 僅(jin) 是擁有自己的文化背景。我的經曆塑造了我看待和吸收阿拉伯和美國文化的視角。

我的人類學老師曾經說過：“文化是一種社會(hui) 建構，是我們(men) 創造的。”我的文化不是定義(yi) 我的力量，而是影響和引導我的傳(chuan) 統和價(jia) 值觀的集合。照鏡子時，我看到的不僅(jin) 僅(jin) 是一個(ge) 阿拉伯裔美國少女。我看到的是一個(ge) 在多年經曆、悲傷(shang) 和歡樂(le) 中成長起來的人。我看到了父母教給我的價(jia) 值觀。我看到了那些感動過我的人。

我從(cong) 自己的錯誤中吸取了教訓。你太白了。我現在可以嘲笑這句話，因為(wei) 我知道這隻不過是社會(hui) 給我貼上的一個(ge) 文化標簽。在我一生的身份形成之路上繼續前行時，我會(hui) 記得敞開心扉，接受從(cong) 經曆中吸取的教訓，把我塑造成我想在鏡子裏看到的那個(ge) 人。

04、Essay

“Princeton in the Nation’s Service” was the title of a speech given by Woodrow Wilson on the 150th anniversary of the University. It became the unofficial Princeton motto and was expanded for the University’s 250th anniversary to “Princeton in the nation’s service and in the service of all nations.” Woodrow Wilson, Princeton Class of 1879, served on the faculty and was Princeton’s president from 1902–1910. (500-650 word limit)

“普林斯頓為(wei) 國服務 "是伍德羅-威爾遜在普林斯頓大學 150 周年慶典上發表的演講的標題。它成為(wei) 普林斯頓大學的非官方校訓，並在 250 周年校慶時擴展為(wei) “普林斯頓為(wei) 國家服務，為(wei) 所有國家服務”。伍德羅-威爾遜（Woodrow Wilson），普林斯頓大學 1879 屆學生，曾在該校任教，並於(yu) 1902-1910 年間擔任普林斯頓大學校長。(字數限製：500-650 字）

My seven-year-old cousin’s thirst for knowledge, as she meticulously traced letters of the alphabet into the sandy floor of her schoolroom in Vietnam, makes me wonder what would happen if her potential met optimal resources. My aunt has to tie strips of fabric onto public buses to know which ones to take home from the market because poverty prevented her from learning how to read.

These vivid memories after my family trip to Vietnam fuel my passion to return to my country to stimulate social change through empowering people to voice their needs in front of an audience of national legislators and international agencies. This will provide my cousin with the chance to put pen to paper and finally tell her stories. The hope that my aunt will be able to read the public buses’ destinations herself reassures me that the injustices in my country will be addressed with the presence of officials advocating for change.

During an intensive seven-week program at Princeton University, I examined the economic, technological, social, and environmental needs facing the globe in the 21st Century. Through state-of-the art innovative methodologies, such as role-play simulations, case studies, and presentations, I debated on topics ranging from the cycle of recidivism that fosters the prison industrial complex to the removal of people of color from 17th and 18th Century paintings in current academia.

These enriching dialogues at three in the morning allowed me to recognize that not only does my voice matter, but the voices of other underrepresented communities do as well. I learned that my leadership abilities are no longer confined by my skin color, gender, or social and economic standing.

More importantly, this program launched my continual pursuit of the core values—Excellence, Integrity, Compassion, and Community—to empower those voices that are underrepresented in my own communities: locally and internationally. I plan to employ these values and my Princeton education to impact the societal and environmental influences on health and well-being as a public health expert.

My interests in medicine, the human body, and social activism were magnified in this program because I began to recognize that my presence in Vietnam as a future public health expert will serve as a catalyst for change, inspiring my people to become assertive in their quest for aid in a way that giving a check never could.

With a world-class education from Princeton, I will explore my passion for service through conducting lectures on making access to healthcare a reality in developing nations at the annual Princeton-Fung Global Forum. I look forward to meeting with students and professors to learn and collaborate with the goal of collective global health leadership to become a more just and equitable society.

Returning to my birth country sparked my desire to bring justice and health care to those who are marginalized. My program at Princeton helped me realize that through activism and public health outreach, I can place a spotlight on the unheard voices in the developing world.

I often ask myself, is civic engagement the only catalyst for change or does one have to be in a position of power to create a more just and equal world? I am still wrestling with these questions as I strive to discover the right balance between making a contribution and raising awareness while maximizing the ultimate benefit to the recipients. Truly, I know that community service is for my cousin, aunt, and all the nations I seek to serve.

譯文

我七歲的表妹在越南的教室裏，一絲(si) 不苟地在沙地上寫(xie) 下字母，她對知識的渴望讓我好奇，如果她的潛力與(yu) 最佳資源相結合，會(hui) 發生什麽(me) 。我的姑姑不得不把布條綁在公共汽車上，以便知道從(cong) 市場上帶哪些回家，因為(wei) 貧窮使她無法學習(xi) 閱讀。

我全家去越南旅行後留下的這些生動記憶激發了我回到祖國的熱情，通過賦予人們(men) 權力在國家立法者和國際機構麵前表達自己的需求來促進社會(hui) 變革。這將為(wei) 我的表妹提供機會(hui) ，讓她動筆寫(xie) 下她的故事。我希望我的姑姑自己能讀懂公共汽車的目的地，這讓我確信，隻要有官員倡導變革，我國的不公正現象就會(hui) 得到解決(jue) 。

在普林斯頓大學為(wei) 期七周的密集課程中，我研究了 21 世紀全球麵臨(lin) 的經濟、技術、社會(hui) 和環境需求。通過角色扮演模擬、案例研究和演示等最先進的創新方法，我討論了從(cong) 助長監獄工業(ye) 綜合體(ti) 的累犯循環到當前學術界將有色人種從(cong) 17 世紀和 18 世紀繪畫中移除等各種話題。

這些淩晨三點的對話讓我意識到，不僅(jin) 我的聲音很重要，其他弱勢群體(ti) 的聲音也同樣重要。我了解到，我的領導能力不再受到膚色、性別或社會(hui) 和經濟地位的限製。

更重要的是，這個(ge) 項目激發了我對核心價(jia) 值觀的不斷追求——卓越、正直、同情和社區——以增強那些在我的社區（無論是本地還是國際）中未被充分代表的聲音。作為(wei) 一名公共衛生專(zhuan) 家，我計劃運用這些價(jia) 值觀和我在普林斯頓大學所受的教育來影響社會(hui) 和環境對健康和福祉的影響。

在這個(ge) 項目中，我對醫學、人體(ti) 和社會(hui) 活動的興(xing) 趣被放大了，因為(wei) 我開始意識到，作為(wei) 未來的公共衛生專(zhuan) 家，我來到越南將成為(wei) 變革的催化劑，激勵我的人民更積極地尋求援助，而這是支票永遠無法做到的。

憑借普林斯頓大學的世界一流教育，我將在一年一度的普林斯頓-馮(feng) 氏全球論壇上發表演講，探討如何讓發展中國家的醫療保健成為(wei) 現實，以此探索我對服務的熱情。我期待與(yu) 學生和教授們(men) 見麵，共同學習(xi) 和合作，共同打造更加公正和公平的全球衛生領導力。

回到我的出生國激發了我為(wei) 邊緣人群伸張正義(yi) 和醫療保健的願望。我在普林斯頓大學的項目讓我意識到，通過行動主義(yi) 和公共衛生宣傳(chuan) ，我可以讓世界關(guan) 注到那些被忽視的聲音。

我經常問自己，公民參與(yu) 是變革的唯一催化劑嗎？還是必須掌握權力才能創造一個(ge) 更加公正和平等的世界？我仍在努力尋找做出貢獻和提高認識之間的正確平衡，同時最大限度地為(wei) 受助者帶來最終利益。確實，我知道社區服務是為(wei) 了我的表弟、姑姑和所有我想要服務的國家。