College Essay Draft I

If I had to pick one experience that made a difference would in my life it would be the first day I was in the older group in the after school program at the YMCA.  My mom had dropped me off at school on a half Wednesday--half Wednesdays were what the elementary school system called when the students get out at noon every other Wednesday so the teachers could have meetings—with my Hey Arnold lunchbox and told me that she’d packed an extra snack to have at the YMCA.  I complained about being the youngest—seven—kid in the group, but my mom told me to be good and that she’d see me at three.
         At noon I forced my feet to drag myself to the main office, where the counselor would pick me up.  I plopped myself into a bright orange chair and stared out at the kids who were being picked up by their moms and dads and I envied them.  I didn’t know what awaited me at the Y when I got there.
         A man checked into the office wearing a YMCA Staff shirt.  He cheerfully bounced over and smiled.  I stared at his black curly hair and mustache and beard.  His eyes were warm and brown and he was awfully tall.  “Hey,” he said to me.  “I’m Brian.  You must be Katie Pinto; Joe’s daughter.”  Joe Pinto, my dad, was the Youth Services Director, and therefore his boss.
         I nodded and stood up, remembering to grab my lunchbox.  I followed Brian out to the YMCA van.  He helped me into the van and buckled my seatbelt.  While he stopped at the red light he glanced at me in the rearview mirror, “What’s up?”
         I told him that I was afraid to be there; afraid of the big kids.  To my surprise he laughed and said that I’d soon see that there was nothing to be afraid of.  I gulped and nodded, not willing to believe him.  We arrived at the YMCA and I climbed the stairs to the Game Room, becoming more nervous with every step.  We entered the Game Room together and he brought me over to a table with a small group of older kids coloring.  My heart pounded so hard, I was convinced that they could hear it.  A Counselor In Training—CIT—named Ryan Murphy looked over at me and smiled.  People here must be really happy, I thought, and began to relax.
         “Hi,” he said.
         “Hi,” I answered shyly.  I told him that I was scared of the other kids and that I wanted to sit and color.
         “Nonsense!” he chuckled.  “Come and meet some of them!”  I noticed that he was also a very upbeat guy.
         He pointed the kids out at the table in turn: “Rob, Joe, Frankie, Chance, Sabrina, and Danny.”  The kids all stared at me.
         I recognized one.  Danny, who I’d known the year before he .  I walked over, “Hi,” I said.
         “Hi, want to play checkers or something?” he asked.
         “Sure!” I was psyched, someone wanted to play with me.
         By the end of the day, I’d made friends with half the children in my group, with Ryan and Danny’s assistance.
         That day changed me because I realized that I didn’t have to be scared of a new place.  I can adjust very well to new circumstances.  That lesson has stayed with me and will stay with me for a very long time.