Informal Essay (for College Counseling)
We were asked to write a short (no less than 250 words) essay to introduce ourselves to our college counselor.
The prompt I chose:
Along the edge of ancient maps it used to say 'Here there be monsters.' What does it say at the edge of your map and why does it say that?
Here there be dragons.
My dragons are huge, delightful and dangerous; colored blurs that streak across the landscape of my mind. They are as real as if they were flesh and bone, and they would protect me just as soon as they would hunt me down. I know this, and yet still I approach them, day and night.
Fantastic, hazardous, awe-inspiring dragons. Some would say imaginary, but not me. Dragons are more real than monsters, because dragons are dreams, hopes, and wishes, flighty things prone to fancy and inspiration. Dragons, friends or foes, are powerful creatures, and they are designed to take hold of your mind and your life.
Putting aside the analogy for a moment, these dragons are my dreams. Bordering the known territory of my carefully mapped life, my dreams lurk in the shadows, popping in now and then for a chat or a quick slap across the face- just enough to set me straight. The map may hope to warn explorers, because dreams, not to mention dragons, are dangerous, but I take it as an invitation.
Here there be dragons.
Here are your dreams.
I dream and I hope, riding on the backs of fiery creatures that tear through the night. Their breaths of fire light the land below, until it is no longer unknown, but rather familiar, mine for the taking. That is how my map grows. That is how I expand my life- my dreams and dragons illuminate the way with fire that would burn me just as it would burn anyone else. Dreams are dangerous, and dragons are feared, but I avoid neither.
I dream of knowledge and discovery heretofore passed over by humanity. My dragons take me to new depths and heights. I wish for the strength to do what is demanded of me. My dragons are as strong as a hundred score men. I hope for happiness and peace when all is said and done. My dragons guard me closely from discontent.
Dragons are dreams, and dreams are dragons. I do not fear them, and they do not fear me. Together, we will take on the world- even the shadowy outlands, those places none dare enter. Because that is who I am, and these are my dragons.
The prompt I chose:
Along the edge of ancient maps it used to say 'Here there be monsters.' What does it say at the edge of your map and why does it say that?
Here there be dragons.
My dragons are huge, delightful and dangerous; colored blurs that streak across the landscape of my mind. They are as real as if they were flesh and bone, and they would protect me just as soon as they would hunt me down. I know this, and yet still I approach them, day and night.
Fantastic, hazardous, awe-inspiring dragons. Some would say imaginary, but not me. Dragons are more real than monsters, because dragons are dreams, hopes, and wishes, flighty things prone to fancy and inspiration. Dragons, friends or foes, are powerful creatures, and they are designed to take hold of your mind and your life.
Putting aside the analogy for a moment, these dragons are my dreams. Bordering the known territory of my carefully mapped life, my dreams lurk in the shadows, popping in now and then for a chat or a quick slap across the face- just enough to set me straight. The map may hope to warn explorers, because dreams, not to mention dragons, are dangerous, but I take it as an invitation.
Here there be dragons.
Here are your dreams.
I dream and I hope, riding on the backs of fiery creatures that tear through the night. Their breaths of fire light the land below, until it is no longer unknown, but rather familiar, mine for the taking. That is how my map grows. That is how I expand my life- my dreams and dragons illuminate the way with fire that would burn me just as it would burn anyone else. Dreams are dangerous, and dragons are feared, but I avoid neither.
I dream of knowledge and discovery heretofore passed over by humanity. My dragons take me to new depths and heights. I wish for the strength to do what is demanded of me. My dragons are as strong as a hundred score men. I hope for happiness and peace when all is said and done. My dragons guard me closely from discontent.
Dragons are dreams, and dreams are dragons. I do not fear them, and they do not fear me. Together, we will take on the world- even the shadowy outlands, those places none dare enter. Because that is who I am, and these are my dragons.