Sometimes I tell people that I got into college by writting an essay on bubbles, and understandably few believe me. While going through some old files on my computer recently I found that essay and have pasted it here. For all those who are applying to college I hope this is helpful to show you can write about anything…just do an ok job of it. For everyone else: I wasn’t kidding…this time:
What can calm a screaming baby, keep a two-year-old busy for hours, and break the awkwardness felt between preteens and teens? Truly the most powerful liquid in the world: bubbles.
Bubbles are appealing to everyone. Cheap, easily made and easily destroyed, beautiful, they are clear but very colorful, floating gently and peacefully. Blowing bubbles calms breathing and is very relaxing. The little gravity-defying balls can carry away breath and trouble, leaving one simply in awe of nature and science. Simply blowing the delicate spheres provides incredible effects. When I need to demonstrate my skills with children, I draw with my breath Giotto’s perfect circle.
I learned the power of bubbles in the playroom at the New England Medical Center, where I volunteered for five weeks this past summer. A hospital is a very scary place for children, who soon learn that they cannot trust every smiling adult. Since I was physically larger than the children, I also posed as a threat despite that at times I was only a few years older. Even though my job was to play and interact with the children, gaining trust and building friendship soon became my more important jobs. I found that talking, asking questions, and other doctor-like behavior is not the best way to gain trust. A similar interest or a simple yet entertaining activity was called for in all situations. In these crystal balls, I could find incredible connections with children. A small bottle of bubbles soon found a permanent home in my pocket.
The discovery of bubbles may seem trivial to some, but for me this liquid was a godsend. They became a tool for connecting with children who I thought I never could connect with. There is a universal reaction to bubbles. Even as the first stream comes off the tip of the wand, babies stop crying, children are captivated by trying to catch and pop them, and adults always remark on how pretty they are. They center one and give the opportunity to lose oneself. In a hospital, activities are valued by how long they can distract a child. Bubbles are solid gold. What is even more wonderful about bubbles, however, is they are more than just a distraction. They can be a tool for opening connections to people.
Bubbles represent two of my strengths: leadership and people skills. I learned leadership in the Boy Scouts, where I had plenty of opportunity to refine the skill. Many choices are taken away from children in hospitals; the playroom becomes the only place that they can control. Consequently I had to adapt my skills as a leader. The two significant aspects of leadership that I used the most at the hospital were creativity and organization. In order to always keep a couple of steps ahead of the children, I was concentrating constantly. It is exhausting to play all day, but very rewarding.
Little Bobby is a five year old ball of energy with wheels. I think they labeled him hyperactive; I related to him, though. He came up to my hip, was not fat, and had red hair that must have followed the light source because it did not follow anything else. There was no stopping Bobby, he would have missions that were to be completed ASAP. Known to the nurses as Dr. Bob, he was first on the scene to help any stuffed animal or lucky volunteer — usually me. His medical procedures always involved a large quantity of tape and Band-Aids. He was not a typical child in the hospital. Most of the children I interacted with were hesitant to talk or even touch objects which were foreign to them, such as some toys. Instead, Bobby, at first, saw me as just another volunteer and another potential patient. The first time he saw me as something more was when I accompanied him to his first procedure. This procedure could not have been worse for Bobby; it required him to remain still for almost three hours. Before hand we talked and he asked me many questions because he was nervous. Again bubbles proved the solution. Breathing out the steady stream and watching them float away, helped his nerves. Gradually, the bubbles became larger as his breathing calmed. By the time of the procedure he was calm for him or what others would probably call “excited”. Even though he did not thank me, I think he was grateful for my friendship, and I am sure the nurse who preformed the procedure was as well.
The playroom is piled high with an large quantity of toys and games. Sophisticated toys flash lights, talk to you, and move on their own. I found that however impressive these toys are, the toys that brought the most joy were the simple, time-honored ones. The “new and improved” toys are used by people who want to distract children for a short period of time. A leader recognizes the simple toys, like bubbles, as a way to build trust and understanding over the gap of physical size, age, background, and even language. Blowing bubbles is a simple skill, but a skill that can make all the difference to a sick child.
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