Columbia 個人陳述文書案例：從怯場少年到MUN導師的蛻變

Columbia

PS範文

今天給大家帶來一篇來自哥倫(lun) 比亞(ya) 大學的PS範文，它不僅(jin) 講述了一個(ge) 成長的故事，還展現了主人公獨特的思考方式。他沒有簡單地寫(xie) “我失敗—我成功”，而是用細膩的情感描繪了自我懷疑、掙紮、調整，再到找到屬於(yu) 自己的價(jia) 值。

01、失敗與(yu) 自我懷疑

“Ice cream Fridays!” “Two hours of recess!” 500 middle schoolers stood and cheered, pounding their feet on the bleachers. Declan was the popular star quarterback and my opponent for school president. He looked like an adult in a tailored suit, gesturing with his hands, never checking his notes, casting looks at the girls sitting in the front row. He had long wavy hair, a smooth complexion, and charisma. I sat in my polyester blue blazer and rumpled khakis. I was becoming more emasculated and filled with self-doubt with each chant.

"冰淇淋星期五！""兩(liang) 小時的課間休息！"500名初中生站在看台上歡呼，用腳跺著看台。迪克蘭(lan) 是受歡迎的明星四分衛，也是我競選校長的對手。他穿著合身的西裝，看起來像個(ge) 成年人，用手比劃著，從(cong) 不檢查筆記，還向坐在前排的女生投去目光。他有一頭波浪長發，膚色光滑，魅力十足。我穿著藍色滌綸西裝外套和皺巴巴的卡其褲。每一次吟唱，我都變得更加懦弱，充滿了自我懷疑。

I had the best platform ideas and my aunt helped paint two dozen campaign posters. The year before, I carried the weight in student council while Declan skipped half our meetings. I was sure I could win. I clomped to the mic in my dad’s dress shoes. I read my long speech from my notes without enthusiasm. My only applause came from a couple of friends who felt bad for me.

我有最好的競選綱領，我姑姑還幫我畫了二十多張競選海報。前一年，我在學生會(hui) 中舉(ju) 足輕重，而迪克蘭(lan) 卻有一半的會(hui) 議都沒參加。我確信我能贏。我穿著爸爸的禮服鞋蹦蹦跳跳地走向麥克風。我毫無激情地念著筆記上的長篇演講稿。唯一的掌聲來自幾個(ge) 為(wei) 我感到難過的朋友。

02、MUN挫折與(yu) 邊緣化

Later, in high school, math and programming made sense to me — people didn’t. At a Model UN meeting, confident upperclassmen talked about the power of persuasion and public speaking. I felt like I didn’t belong, but their command of the stage made me want to be a part of it. At my first conference, representing Brazil’s humanitarian policies, I had developed what I thought was a brilliant proposal. I was confident and was the first to raise my placard. I had so many ideas but when I took the mic, I didn’t know where to start. I rambled on about background and never got to my main points. I felt foolish for thinking I was going to be so effective. My highwater pants and my sleeves hanging over my fingers added to my insecurity.

後來，我上了高中，數學和編程對我來說是有意義(yi) 的，但人卻沒有。在一次模擬聯合國會(hui) 議上，自信滿滿的高年級學生講述了說服和公開演講的力量。我覺得自己不屬於(yu) 這個(ge) 舞台，但他們(men) 的演講讓我想成為(wei) 其中的一員。在我代表巴西人道主義(yi) 政策參加的第一次會(hui) 議上，我提出了一個(ge) 自認為(wei) 非常出色的建議。我自信滿滿，第一個(ge) 舉(ju) 起了我的標語牌。我有很多想法，但當我拿起話筒時，卻不知從(cong) 何說起。我滔滔不絕地講述背景，卻始終沒有說到重點。我覺得自己很愚蠢，以為(wei) 自己會(hui) 很有效。我穿著高筒水褲，袖子耷拉在手指上，這讓我更加不自信。

I continued this pattern of my speaking skills not matching my confidence in the quality of my ideas. To compensate, I increased the intensity of my preparation. I’d fill a binder with hundreds of research documents, I immersed myself in my roles. I mistakenly assumed that good ideas alone would be enough to win. At one conference, two delegates asked me to join their bloc to get access to my ideas with no intention of giving me a meaningful role. They saw me purely as a policy wonk.

我的演講技巧與(yu) 我對自己觀點質量的信心不相稱，這種情況一直持續到現在。為(wei) 了彌補這一點，我加大了準備工作的力度。我用一個(ge) 活頁夾裝滿了數百份研究文件，我沉浸在自己的角色中。我錯誤地以為(wei) 光有好的想法就足以取勝。在一次會(hui) 議上，有兩(liang) 位代表要求我加入他們(men) 的集團，以獲得我的想法，卻無意讓我扮演一個(ge) 有意義(yi) 的角色。在他們(men) 眼中，我純粹是一個(ge) 政策專(zhuan) 家。

My fascination with geopolitical and economic issues were what kept me committed to MUN. But by the end of sophomore year, the co-presidents were fed up. “Henry, we know how hard you try, but there are only so many spots for each conference...” said one. “You’re wasting space, you should quit,” said the other.

我對地緣政治和經濟問題的癡迷讓我堅持參加模擬聯合國。但到了高二下學期，聯合主席們(men) 已經受夠了。"亨利，我們(men) 知道你很努力，但每次會(hui) 議的名額隻有這麽(me) 多...... "其中一位說。"你在浪費名額，你應該退出。"另一位說。

03、堅持與(yu) 成長

Nevertheless, I persisted. My junior year I ran for club secretary. Automating attendance and quantitative projects were my inclination. But members saw me as a younger, less intimidating officer, and started coming to me for guidance. When Gabby, a freshman, came to me for advice, I tried to pass her off to the co-presidents. She was terrified of speaking at conferences, and I didn’t know how to express my empathy. “They aren’t going to take me seriously, I don’t have charisma, I’m too short!” I saw my own insecurities in her. I didn’t feel like I was qualified to help, but I reminded her of the passion she had shown in meetings. Gradually, I became a mentor to her and many others. I was enjoying supporting them and was gratified by guiding their growth as delegates. One sophomore even anointed me “MUN soccer mom.”

盡管如此，我還是堅持了下來。高三那年，我競選社團秘書(shu) 。自動化考勤和量化項目是我的傾(qing) 向。但社員們(men) 認為(wei) 我是個(ge) 年輕、不那麽(me) 嚇人的幹部，開始向我尋求指導。當高一學生 Gabby 向我尋求建議時，我試圖把她推給聯合主席。她很害怕在會(hui) 議上發言，我不知道該如何表達我的同情。"他們(men) 不會(hui) 認真對待我的，我沒有魅力，我太矮了！"我從(cong) 她身上看到了自己的不安全感。我覺得自己沒有資格幫助她，但我提醒她在會(hui) 議上表現出的熱情。漸漸地，我成了她和其他許多人的導師。我很享受支持他們(men) 的過程，並為(wei) 引導他們(men) 成長為(wei) 代表而感到欣慰。一位高二學生甚至稱我為(wei) "MUN 足球媽媽"。

On the bus to her first conference, Gabby was in a panic, but throughout the day I saw her confidence grow. When she won Outstanding Delegate, beyond anyone’s expectations, our whole row erupted in wild cheers. When my name was also called shortly after, it felt anticlimactic. I was far more proud of succeeding in my new role as a mentor than I was of my own award.

在去參加第一次會(hui) 議的大巴上，加比有些慌亂(luan) ，但一整天下來，我看到她的自信心與(yu) 日俱增。當她出乎所有人意料地獲得 "優(you) 秀代表 "稱號時，我們(men) 整排人都爆發出熱烈的歡呼聲。當我的名字也在不久後被叫到時，我覺得這隻是一個(ge) 高潮。比起自己獲獎，我更自豪的是成功地擔任了導師這個(ge) 新角色。