I’m short. I’m five footfive – well, five foot six if I want to impress someone. If the average heightof American men is five foot ten, that means I’m nearly half a foot shorterthan the average Joe out there. And then there are the basketball players. Myheight has always been something that’s set me apart; it’s helped define me.It’s just that as long as I can remember, I haven’t liked the definition verymuch. Every Sunday in grade school my dad and I would watch ESPN PrimetimeFootball. Playing with friends at home, I always imagined the booming ESPNvoice of Chris Berman giving the play-by-play of our street football games. Butno matter how well I performed at home with friends, during school recess thestigma of “short kid” stuck with me while choosing teams.
Still concerned as senioryear rolled along, I visited a growth specialist. Pacing the exam room in ashaky, elliptical orbit worried, “What if I’ve stopped growing? Will my socialstatus forever be marked by my shortness?” In a grade school dream, I imaginedChris “ESPN” Berman’s voice as he analyzed the fantastic catch I had made for atouchdown when – with a start – the doctor strode in. damp with nervous sweat,I sat quietly with my mom as he showed us the X-ray taken of my hand. The bonesin my seventeen-year-old body had matured. I would not grow any more. Whoa. Iclenched the steering wheel in frustration as I drove home. What good were mygrades and “college transcript” achievements when even my friends poked fun ofthe short kid? What good was it to pray, or to genuinely live a life of love? Nomatter how many Taekwondo medals I had won, could I ever be considered trulyathletic in a wiry, five foot five frame? I could be dark and handsome, butcould I ever be the “tall” in “tall, dark and handsome”? All I wanted wassomeone special to look up into my eyes; all I wanted was someone to ask,“Could you reach that for me?”
讲述自己去检查身体的过程，提出“如果我不能长高可怎么办”，然后马上列出自己的一个想象：由于有优势的身高，完成了完美的接球。然后突然转折，说到自己 得知再也不会长高。I clenched the steering wheel in frustration as I drove home.这句话也让人仿佛看到shim沮丧的样子。他觉得如果自己无法再长高，那即便自己再成功，又有什么意义呢?读到这，读者就很想知道，接下来 shim的这些疑问是怎么解答的。
It’s been hard to dealwith. I haven’t answered all those questions, but I have learned that heightisn’t all it’s made out to be. I ‘d rather be a shorter, compassionate personthan a tall tyrant. I can be a giant in so many other ways: intellectually,spiritually and emotionally.
I’ve ironically growntaller from being short. It’s enriched my life. Being short has certainly hadits advantages. During elementary school in earthquake-prone California forexample, my teachers constantly praised my “duck and cover” skills. The schoolbudget was tight and the desks were so small an occasional limb could always beseen sticking out. Yet Chris Shim, “blessed” in height, always managed tosqueeze himself into a compact and safe fetal position. The same quality haspaid off in hide-and-go-seek. (I’m the unofficial champion on my block.)
这段讲到shim发现其实矮也有矮的好。比如，在地震的时候，他可以灵活自如的躲到别人躲不进去的桌子下面，而且在社区里，他也是捉迷藏时的“非正式冠 军”。他用这种看上去有些自嘲的方式展示了自己的乐观积极。值得一提的是，shim还提到The school budget was tight and thedesks were so small 这种非常细节的信息，非常有趣幽默。
Lincoln once debated withSenator Stephen A. Douglas – a magnificent orator, nationally recognized as theleader of the Democratic Party of 1858… and barely five feet four inches tall.It seems silly, but standing on the floor of the Senate last year I rememberedSenator Douglas and imagined that I would one day debate with a 4 futurepresident. (It helped to have a tall, lanky, bearded man with a stove-top hattalk with me that afternoon.) But I could just as easily become an astronaut,if not for my childlike, gaping-mouth-eyes-straining wonderment of the stars,then maybe in the hope of growing a few inches (the spine spontaneously expandsin the absence of gravity).
主要讲述自己在政治上和天文上的兴趣，同样描写生动的细节。
Even at five feet, sixinches, the actor Dustin Hoffman held his own against Tome Cruise in the movieRainman and went on to win his second Academy Award for Best Actor. Michael J.Fox (5’5”) constantly uses taller actors to his comedic advantage. Height hasenhanced the athleticism of “Muggsy” Bogues, the shortest player in the historyof the NBA at five foot three. He’s used that edge to lead his basketball teamin steals (they don’t call him “Muggsy” for nothing). Their height has put nolimits to their work in the arts or athletics. Neither will mine.
I’m five foot five. I’vestruggled with it at times, but I’ve realized that being five-five can’t stopme from joining the Senate. It won’t stem my dream of becoming an astronaut (Ieven have the application from NASA). My height can’t prevent me from directinga movie and excelling in Taekwondo (or even basketball). At five foot five Ican laugh, jump, run, dance, write, paint, help, volunteer, pray, love and cry.I can break 100 in bowling. I can sing along to Nat King Cole. I can reciteAudrey Hepburn’s lines from Breakfast at Tiffany’s. I can run the mile in undersix minutes, dance like a wild monkey and be hopelessly wrapped up in a goodbook (though I have yet to master the ability to do it all at once). I’velearned that my height, even as a defining characteristic, is only a part ofthe whole. It won’t limit me. Besides, this way I’ll never outgrow my favoritesweater.
他曾经因为自己的身高而困 扰，但是他现在意识到身高的问题不会阻挡他的任何一个愿望和理想，身高只是生命和生活的一小部分而已。在结尾，shim也没有抒情或者使用假大空的句式， 一句简单的Besides, this wayI’ll never outgrow my favorite sweater.将他幽默风趣的性格特点展示地淋漓尽致，引人会心一笑。
1.评价你的一个重要经历、成就、风险决定、或者你曾面对的两难选择的经历，并评价对你造成的影响。英文原文是：Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken,or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.
2.讨论某个个人的、地区性的、国家 性的、或国际性的关注话题以及对你的重要性。英文原文是：Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or internationalconcern and its importance to you.
3.说明一个对你有重要影响的人并描述对你的影响。英文原文是：Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, anddescribe that influence.
4.描述一个影响你的人物并说明对你的影响，该人物可以是小说中的、历史中的、或者某创新性作品(比如在艺术、音乐、科学等方面)中的。英文原文 是：Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creativework (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, andexplain that influence.
5.一系列诸如学术兴趣、个人前途、生活经历等能够显著增添教育多样性的事情。结合你个人的背景，描述一个可以说明你将会带给大学社区的多元化带来何种贡献的经历，或者一个表明多元化对你有重要意义的经历。英文原文是：A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and lifeexperiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background,describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversityin a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance ofdiversity to you.