Thanks For Being Here Lily's College Essay - "We Rise"

Kelly Corrigan Wonders

Kelly Corrigan Show

Society & Culture

4.8 • 3.2K Ratings

🗓️ 6 November 2022

⏱️ 6 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Lily Janas, now a student at Bowdoin College, wrote this stirring college admissions essay called “We Rise”. She sets the scene at 2am and goes on to describe one of the most impactful experiences of her young life. The story unfolds slowly, and Lily gives clues along the way but never fully reveals what she’s a part of - until the very end.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, everyone. Welcome to Thanks for being here. A short weekly pod to remind us of the many
0:06.7	essential and beautiful ways we affect one another. Every Sunday, I'll read a submission
0:12.8	from a listener of Kelly Corrigan Wonders. Could be wedding vows or about mitzvah toast,
0:18.5	a eulogy or retirement speech. We believe this is the loveliest way to tap into our better selves
0:26.3	and remember our highest values. We encourage you to share this podcast each week with one person
0:32.8	you love. Maybe someone you miss or need to bring closer. Someone you want to feel your appreciation
0:39.5	or admiration or both. This is Thanks for being here.
0:44.4	Today's Thanks for being here as a college essay that was written by Lily Janice, who is now at
0:58.0	Bowdoin College. She sets the scene at 2 a.m., hooking me instantly. It wasn't until the end of her
1:05.4	essay that she explains what she's part of, so I'll leave that for you to discover.
1:11.0	We rise before the sun. At 2 a.m., we move with silent purpose. We slip on our black socks,
1:18.3	lace our dinkles, tighten our suspenders, fasten each silver button on our jackets and smooth
1:23.7	our braids down. The noise at breakfast, the buzz of conversation and clink of silverware reminds us
1:29.7	that we'd all rather be sleeping, but we're up for a reason. Scanning the crowd, I can point out the
1:34.7	coffee addicts being deprived of their caffeine by the scowl they all sport as they eye the forbidden
1:40.5	dispensers in the corner. But we've learned from past mistakes and know that coffee before a parade
1:47.2	is a bad idea. I file a sleep on the bus to Pasadena and wake to Mr. Pence talking on the phone.
1:54.0	He turns to me with a trademark big smile and thumbs up. I know it's time. After hours of waiting
2:00.1	in the cold dark morning, we watch the sun rise over the silhouette of palm trees, unraveling
2:05.5	across the endless expanse of sky above us. It is a moment of reassurance. We make our way to our
2:12.7	starting point beset by stands of Utah fans, Donning Redgear and Underdog Enthusiasm. The staff
2:20.9	begin to count down to step off an hour, 30 minutes, 10, 5, now. Suddenly fireworks erupt
	...

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