The Gravitron

(I submitted this as part of my application to Colgate)
Colgate Supplement - Please use this brief essay to help us get to know you beyond what is defined in your scholastic and extracurricular record. In 250 words or less, please respond to the following: What would the title of your autobiography be and why?

I would title my life "The Gravitron." In the midst of life I sometimes feel like I am riding around in circles, in both good and bad ways. This carnival ride resembles a small space-craft, equipped with vertical mats lining the walls for the passengers to lie on while the craft spins at high speeds, the force of gravity pressing you to the sides. Using the analogy of a ride on the Gravitron to life shows me the cycle of life and its inescapable pull. I can’t simply watch life go by because I am in it, right in the thick of it. Once it starts spinning I am pressed against the walls, out of control and trying to pry myself off to slow down. But I forget that the Gravitron ride is exactly that: a ride. Rides are fun; they give you a thrilling sensation and let you scream at the top of your lungs with no reservations. Rides can set you free. In life, I can forget that I’m supposed to be having fun; I get overwhelmed. If I could stand in the center and watch everyone spin around me, maybe I would know how to go on with some control. I wish I could rest awhile before spinning again, and hopefully I wouldn’t lose my lunch when I got back on. But just as on the Gravitron, I have learned to enjoy the ride and work with gravity, not against it, climbing the walls and folding my knees, discovering new, exhilarating ways to ride life. “No more working against me, gravity, I know your game. I’ll embrace the pull and ride along with you, letting life spin me dizzy and content.”