Common Application Essay 2016 Anonymous

Each time I open a new cage door, a new pair of eyes stares back at me. Although these may simply look like the same eyes that stare from the next cage, I see more than the midnight gaze that penetrates my mind and heart. I see more than an Australian Shepherd with scars down half of her face. I look beyond the appearance of the animal and become one with that animal's emotions. I see years of domestic abuse in the eyes of the calico. I empathize deeply the pain and agony from a vicious fight in the eyes of the shivering dog. I cannot ignore the helpless meows and barks; I do my share of comforting these creatures, distracting them from the restless surroundings of the shelter. Even if it is for a brief moment, I grasp the thoughts and emotions that are desperately conveyed through those eyes, and I feel as if I am one with the animal: safe for now yet always at risk of mortality here in the Humane Society of West Michigan.

In truth, I cannot remember how or when my love and affection for animals developed. Yet few of of my happiest moments in childhood did not involve the wagging of a tail or the soft hum of a purr. Whether curled up on the cold floor of the animal shelter I volunteer at, or at home with my own pets, I realize...