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Genuine, helpful, and innovative. These are the three words that my best friend would use to describe my personality. Genuine - I do believe that it's not necessary for other people to see me in a different identity than who I am. I won't claim different beliefs and thoughts just to please anyone. In a world full of fads, fashion, and personal brands where everyone wants what they don't have, nobody's content to be who they really are. I do not operate under false pretenses, nor am I two-faced; even if it comes to describing my shortcomings. Helpful - being described as a nerd and geeky doesn't prevent me from assisting others. As a sophomore, I tutored many students and helped them during their participation in many robotics contests as well as sharing my previous experience with them. Beside my academic studies, I am also willing to help the others in my social daily life. I remember participating in "Wesal" team, which is a community service team in my school. Last winter, we went to distribute blankets for the homeless people at Christmas. I can say confidently that drawing few smiles on people's faces is a great feeling. Innovative - creating new ideas from solving a math problem with a different approach to creating a new melody in a piece of music specialize my personality between the others. Creativity in my academics, as well as my talent, is evident in the way that I live my life. These are my best core values.

Genuine, helpful, and innovative. These are the three words that my best friend would use to describe my personality. Genuine - I do believe that it's not necessary for other people to see me in a different identity than who I am. I won't claim different beliefs and thoughts just to please anyone. In a world full of fads, fashion, and personal brands where everyone wants what they don't have, nobody's content to be who they really are. I do not operate under false pretenses, nor am I two-faced; even if it comes to describing my shortcomings. Helpful - being described as a nerd and geeky doesn't prevent me from assisting others. As a sophomore, I tutored many students and helped them during their participation in many robotics contests as well as sharing my previous experience with them. Beside my academic studies, I am also willing to help the others in my social daily life. I remember participating in "Weal" team, which is a community service team in my school. Last winter, we went to distribute blankets for the homeless people at Christmas. I can say confidently that drawing few smiles on people's faces is a great feeling. Innovative - creating new ideas from solving a math problem with a different approach to creating a new melody in a piece of music specialize my personality between the others. Creativity in my academics, as well as my talent, is evident in the way that I live my life. These are my best core values.

Response: It's okay to fail, but it is not okay if you do not learn from the mistakes that led to that failure. In 11th grade, I changed my optional subject from Economics to Computer Science midway through the school year. I made this decision after seeing my friend write codes on the bus and realising that Computer Science involved a lot of Mathematics. While attending Computer Science classes at school, I had set a goal in my mind, namely, to learn how to code. I started the class with great enthusiasm, but things started to go downhill after a little time. I realised that Computer Science was not just raw mathematics, as it also involved a lot of other things such as looping, code structure and algorithms. While I was trying to understand the basic concepts of programming such as my peers were learning advanced programming concepts such as data structures and loops. After a little time in the classes, I started to feel inferior to my classmates as all of them had a better understanding of the subject than me. I felt ashamed of asking doubts to my peers and teacher, as I was having a tough time to solve problems that they could solve easily. I started to fear the subject and, as a result, performed miserably on the final test. One thing that sports has taught me through all these years is getting up after falling down. I tried to figure out my mistakes and found where I went wrong. To perform well in the subject, I had to remove its fear as well as understand its basic concepts. I did this by staying after school, online courses and clearance of doubts with the help of my peers and mentors. I worked hard and finally raised my marks by a significant margin. Although I may not have gotten an extremely high score, I am still proud of it as the increase represents the efforts that I had put in throughout the year. Post this experience, I have furthered my Computer Science skills by learning new programming languages, working on a project combining engineering and CS and also volunteered to teach Computer Science to blind students. I wanted to know whether it is good or if it sounds cliched. Also feel free to give any suggestions that would improve the essay. Thanks in advance!

Response: It's okay to fail, but it is not okay if you do not learn from the mistakes that led to that failure. In 11th grade, I changed my optional subject from Economics to Computer Science midway through the school year. I made this decision after seeing my friend write codes on the bus and realizing that Computer Science involved a lot of Mathematics. While attending Computer Science classes at school, I had set a goal in my mind, namely, to learn how to code. I started the class with great enthusiasm, but things started to go downhill after a little time. I realized that Computer Science was not just raw mathematics, as it also involved a lot of other things such as looping, code structure and algorithms. While I was trying to understand the basic concepts of programming such as my peers were learning advanced programming concepts such as data structures and loops. After a little time in the classes, I started to feel inferior to my classmates as all of them had a better understanding of the subject than me. I felt ashamed of asking doubts to my peers and teacher, as I was having a tough time to solve problems that they could solve easily. I started to fear the subject and, as a result, performed miserably on the final test. One thing that sports has taught me through all these years is getting up after falling down. I tried to figure out my mistakes and found where I went wrong. To perform well in the subject, I had to remove its fear as well as understand its basic concepts. I did this by staying after school, online courses and clearance of doubts with the help of my peers and mentors. I worked hard and finally raised my marks by a significant margin. Although I may not have gotten an extremely high score, I am still proud of it as the increase represents the efforts that I had put in throughout the year. Post this experience, I have furthered my Computer Science skills by learning new programming languages, working on a project combining engineering and CS and also volunteered to teach Computer Science to blind students. I wanted to know whether it is good or if it sounds clichéd. Also feel free to give any suggestions that would improve the essay. Thanks in advance!

I'd look around my empty bedroom, reminiscing about the times spent goofing off with my best friends, attempting to finish homework, and pretending to be asleep when either one of my parents needed me to complete a chore. Closing the door, I sluggishly dragged myself towards the equally as empty living room and proceeded with a very unenthusiastic, "I'm ready to go." Being what many like to refer to as a "military brat", I'm no stranger to moving, after all I've lived in 6 different states. However, despite the frequency and knowledge of relocation, every move stung more than the previous and left me feeling defeated. Nonetheless, my experience with being a US Military dependent left me with long-lasting life lessons that helped shape me into the person I am today. Being the daughter of a father who was once in the US Army, I lived the cliche military kid life. After two, three years it was time to move again, as my dad had gotten another station change. With every move meant a new school, new friends, and a new environment that brought about a new culture and social norms. To many that sounds like a nice fresh start, however I craved nothing but stability. I wanted to be able to grow up with my childhood friends and refer to my house as my childhood home but the constant transitions never allowed that. My families continuous moves constituted to a new way of life and having to adjust to new conditions and its always been the biggest challenge in my eyes. I hated change, having to leave my close-knit friend group, never being able to paint my room the bright pink or the baby blue I wanted because it wasn't really our house and we'd be out in 2 years time and everything else that moving brought. Though this life was hard, especially as a child, I can't say that it was all heartbreak and sorrow. As I grew older I realized how thankful I am for my atypical childhood. I was able to meet people of varying cultures and learned the importance of embracing the different cultures I was exposed to. I got the privilege of exploring completely unalike geographical locations and ways of life and it's helped broaden my thinking and perspective. Through my many different communities, I learned how to embrace myself wholeheartedly because there's been times where I was the black sheep, and times where I was a part of the majority, and it's helped gain my sense of self on top of avoiding ignorance whether its racial, religious or cultural. I have a social circle that's spread out across the country and consists of amazing, reliable individuals who remind me that even if I'm alone, they'll never allow me to feel lonely. My experiences have shaped me into the open-minded, friendly and loving person I am today. I've learned the importance of being a mature and hardworking person who won't give up without a fight. Though it was through the harsh circumstances of deployment, I've also learned the significance of bravery and resilience, which are qualities that will stick with me for the rest of my life. My military brat experience has no doubt given me the best life lessons that one could ask for and though my childhood is coming to an end, these lessons will be essential in the next stage of my life. Though I no doubt still hate moving, I've come to the realization that change is inevitable and all of the change I've experienced in life was definitely for the greater good. In spite of the fact that my childhood seemed very lousy in the moment, with much reflection, I've realized it's my greatest blessing. Without it I wouldn't be the person I am today, and I just so happen to love the person I've become.

I'd look around my empty bedroom, reminiscing about the times spent goofing off with my best friends, attempting to finish homework, and pretending to be asleep when either one of my parents needed me to complete a chore. Closing the door, I sluggishly dragged myself towards the equally empty living room and proceeded with a very unenthusiastic, "I'm ready to go." Being what many like to refer to as a "military brat", I'm no stranger to moving, after all I've lived in 6 different states. However, despite the frequency and knowledge of relocation, every move stung more than the previous and left me feeling defeated. Nonetheless, my experience with being a US Military dependent left me with long-lasting life lessons that helped shape me into the person I am today. Being the daughter of a father who was once in the US Army, I lived the cliché military kid life. After two, three years it was time to move again, as my dad had gotten another station change. With every move meant a new school, new friends, and a new environment that brought about a new culture and social norms. To many that sounds like a nice fresh start, however I craved nothing but stability. I wanted to be able to grow up with my childhood friends and refer to my house as my childhood home, but the constant transitions never allowed that. My families continuous moves constituted to a new way of life and having to adjust to new conditions and It's always been the biggest challenge in my eyes. I hated change, having to leave my close-knit friend group, never being able to paint my room the bright pink or the baby blue I wanted because it wasn't really our house and we'd be out in 2 years time and everything else that moving brought. Though this life was hard, especially as a child, I can't say that it was all heartbreak and sorrow. As I grew older I realized how thankful I am for my atypical childhood. I was able to meet people of varying cultures and learned the importance of embracing the different cultures I was exposed to. I got the privilege of exploring completely unalike geographical locations and ways of life, and it's helped broaden my thinking and perspective. Through my many communities, I learned how to embrace myself wholeheartedly because there's been times when I was the black sheep, and times when I was a part of the majority, and it's helped gain my sense of self on top of avoiding ignorance whether its racial, religious or cultural. I have a social circle that's spread out across the country and consists of amazing, reliable individuals who remind me that even if I'm alone, they'll never allow me to feel lonely. My experiences have shaped me into the open-minded, friendly and loving person I am today. I've learned the importance of being a mature and hardworking person who won't give up without a fight. Though it was through the harsh circumstances of deployment, I've also learned the significance of bravery and resilience, which are qualities that will stick with me for the rest of my life. My military brat experience has no doubt given me the best life lessons that one could ask for and though my childhood is coming to an end, these lessons will be essential in the next stage of my life. Though I no doubt still hate moving, I've come to the realization that change is inevitable and all the change I've experienced in life was definitely for the greater good. In spite of the fact that my childhood seemed very lousy at the moment, with much reflection, I've realized it's my greatest blessing. Without it, I wouldn't be the person I am today, and I just so happen to love the person I've become.

The prompt is:Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. August 5th, 2001: My first day on this planet, but in an alternate reality, it could have been my last. Flash backwards a few hours. My parents were in a movie theater watching Rush Hour 2, but an hour or so into the film, my mom sensed something was wrong with the little boy still inside her stomach. My dad at the wheel, my parents urgently bolted to the nearest hospital -a small one called Swedish Medical Center. The doctors found some dire news. My mom's placenta had burst, and to make matters worse, I was choking on my own umbilical cord. The only way to possibly save me was to do a C-section. Hour after hour passed until I came out in one weak, dying piece. I was two weeks premature, I could not breathe. My lungs were not developed, I needed an artificial umbilical cord. This meager hospital had neither the tools, nor ability to give me this. We had to drive nearly halfway across Seattle, to the local Children's Hospital, for there they could possibly save me. I had to be put in a box for one week. Then another week, and another, and finally a fourth. After 28 long days, I was lucky to be alive. Any slight mishap over the month could have caused a completely different outcome. I am a Southeast Asian. my parents can trace their lineage to Indonesian islands. I am also cursed, since I at six was diagnosed with the fatal Asian defect-I was allergic to peanuts. In this region, the humble peanut is a staple of the cuisine, in the same way fried foods are enjoyed in America. If you travel anywhere in the region, from Vietnam to Malaysia, peanuts can be found in nearly every dish, such as the Malay and Indonesian satay, gado-gado, pecel, and many more. I feared, that when it came time to travel to Indonesia, I would starve. When this did in fact had, in 2011, I was ready. I decided that in order to survive I would simply eat only fried rice.Yet, after days of inquiring about the food to my relatives, I learned that a select few restaurants offered Peanut free variants for the skyrocketing populace of cursed foreigners like me. So I was finally able to enjoy the rich, tender skewered chicken dish called satay. I love computer programming. Ever since I was eleven, it has brought me unimaginable joy and satisfaction. I remember when I first learned to code. I longed to have the knowledge, but I just could not do it. To me, it was like learning a new language. However, I longed to make my own video games, to be the next Shigeru Miyamoto, I would not stop until I learned how to do so. Many months passed, long, arduous months filled of online course after online course. Young eleven-year-old me could understand only the simplest lines of code. Question after question, I slowly learned to write code. With this as a launching pad, my dreams of making computer applications could finally become reality. All of these obstacles in my way have guided me through the labyrinth of life. All the challenges have helped me through the labyrinthine maze known as life. The epic stories of my birth has shown me from the start that life would hurl challenge after challenge in my path. The labyrinth would never be easy, but I would not get lost. My allergy to peanuts has shown me to never take things at face value. Life could have many dead ends and pit traps, but to traverse this maze I had to think elaborately, to unravel a spool of thread to guide me in my journey. My ambition to learn to code has shown me the value of perseverance. I have learned to become adaptable. The hurdles of my 17 years on this Earth have given me endless methods to use in my journey through the labyrinth of life.

The prompt is:Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. August 5th, 2001: My first day on this planet, but in an alternate reality, it could have been my last. Flash backwards a few hours. My parents were in a movie theater watching Rush Hour 2, but an hour or so into the film, my mom sensed something was wrong with the little boy still inside her stomach. My dad at the wheel, my parents urgently bolted to the nearest hospital -a small one called Swedish Medical Center. The doctors found some dire news. My mom's placenta had burst, and to make matters worse, I was choking on my own umbilical cord. The only way to possibly save me was to do a C-section. Hour after hour passed until I came out in one weak, dying piece. I was two weeks premature, I could not breathe. My lungs were not developed, I needed an artificial umbilical cord. This meager hospital had neither the tools, nor ability to give me this. We had to drive nearly halfway across Seattle, to the local Children's Hospital, for there they could possibly save me. I had to be put in a box for one week. Then another week, and another, and finally a fourth. After 28 long days, I was lucky to be alive. Any slight mishap over the month could have caused a completely different outcome. I am a Southeast Asian. My parents can trace their lineage to Indonesian islands. I am also cursed, since I at six was diagnosed with the fatal Asian defect-I was allergic to peanuts. In this region, the humble peanut is a staple of the cuisine, in the same way fried foods are enjoyed in America. If you travel anywhere in the region, from Vietnam to Malaysia, peanuts can be found in nearly every dish, such as the Malay and Indonesian satay, gado-gado, Peel, and many more. I feared, that when it came time to travel to Indonesia, I would starve. When this did in fact had, in 2011, I was ready. I decided that in order to survive I would simply eat only fried rice. Yet, after days of inquiring about the food to my relatives, I learned that a select few restaurants offered Peanut free variants for the skyrocketing populace of cursed foreigners like me. So I was finally able to enjoy the rich, tender skewered chicken dish called satay. I love computer programming. Ever since I was eleven, it has brought me unimaginable joy and satisfaction. I remember when I first learned to code. I longed to have the knowledge, but I just could not do it. To me, it was like learning a new language. However, I longed to make my own video games, to be the next Shiner Miyamoto, I would not stop until I learned how to do so. Many months passed, long, arduous months filled of online course after online course. Young eleven-year-old me could understand only the simplest lines of code. Question after question, I slowly learned to write code. With this as a launching pad, my dreams of making computer applications could finally become reality. All of these obstacles in my way have guided me through the labyrinth of life. All the challenges have helped me through the labyrinthine maze known as life. The epic stories of my birth has shown me from the start that life would hurl challenge after challenge in my path. The labyrinth would never be easy, but I would not get lost. My allergy to peanuts has shown me to never take things at face value. Life could have many dead ends and pit traps, but to traverse this maze I had to think elaborately, to unravel a spool of thread to guide me in my journey. My ambition to learn to code has shown me the value of perseverance. I have learned to become adaptable. The hurdles of my 17 years on this Earth have given me endless methods to use in my journey through the labyrinth of life.

Despite minor grammatical errors is the overall topic of this essay odd? How should I adjust it to be better. I am also top 10% so it doesnt need to be amazing just not completely mediocre. Do the things you've got to do to do the things you want to do. One of my dads favorite thing to tell me. Not just in school, not just at home, but anywhere and everywhere. My dad and my mother both had to work very hard to get to where they are now. Being pregnant at just eighteen years old my mother was not able to finish her degree and had to stay at home. As a result my father also could not afford to stay at college and new what he needed to do in order to support our family while being financially smart, so he dropped out and began working immediately. I live in El Paso Texas, a small cultural city bordering Ciudad Juarez Chihuahua. My mother was born and raised in Juarez and moved to El Paso after she gained citizenship by marrying my father, who was born in El Paso. A culmination of Mexican and American cultures in which i was raised in. Growing up I spent a lot of time in Juarez, with my abuelita. I would walk across the street and swing at the park or even just slide down the slide. Often alone, or if i was lucky my sisters would come play with me, usually forced upon by my mother. Then all of a sudden we would visit much less, and when we did i wasnt allowed to go outside anymore! My mother always kept me by her side and we never did anything anymore. She tried to explain to me how dangerous the city was, but i didn't fully understand. How could a city just a few minutes away from my "safe" home be of such hazard? I just wanted to play at the park. As a kid i was so blind to all the danger and craziness going on. Soon enough my abuelita started visiting us in El Paso and even began renting an apartment just to see us. One of the most important lessons my abuelita taught me was dedication and hard work. As I grew up she began to teach me how to play the piano. This was a difficult task for me because it did not come easy to me at all. Although I continued to do these piano lessons to spend as much time as possible with my abuelita. Within a lot of practice i got the hang of it and i would even do concerts! There would be some brunches at the country clubs in Juarez that i would go and play it! It was such a beautiful experience seeing myself overcome this task and be able to play the piano. (??My abuelita sadly passed away after a long battle against Ovarian Cancer, although she is still with me everyday, and especially when i play the piano in her name. ?) When i wasn't in Juarez I was with my papa, my dads father. He taught me love and patience. I have few memories of him speaking English or holding a conversation with me. When I was about 5 years old unfortunately he had a stroke so his whole right side of his body could not function. Every Sunday we would go out to eat, usually Lubys one of his favorites. Because of his impairment that is where i gained the most patience, it was very difficult to understand what he was saying when he could only say one word and barely lift a hand. His only words he could say was "nada nada" always a minimum of two times up to who knows how many times. It was difficult to understand him at times but I always felt like we had a special connection. For some reason I always understood what he meant , although he could only say "nada nada" I knew sometimes that meant yes, or just about anything. He taught me how to appreciate everything around you because just about anything can be taken away from you at any moment. All of these role figures in my life have molded me into the person i am today and the person i desire to be. Without each of them I would not be the same. They have all taught me how to get through difficult times, successfully and with passion. It is with these same characteristics I want to use to further my career and goals especially at Texas A&M University.

Despite minor grammatical errors is the overall topic of this essay odd? How should I adjust it to be better. I am also top 10% so it doesn't need to be amazing just not completely mediocre. Do the things you've got to do the things you want to do. One of my dads favorite thing to tell me. Not just in school, not just at home, but anywhere and everywhere. My dad and my mother both had to work very hard to get to where they are now. Being pregnant at just eighteen years old my mother was not able to finish her degree and had to stay at home. As a result my father also could not afford to stay at college and new what he needed to do in order to support our family while being financially smart, so he dropped out and began working immediately. I live in El Paso Texas, a small cultural city bordering Ciudad Juárez Chihuahua. My mother was born and raised in Juarez and moved to El Paso after she gained citizenship by marrying my father, who was born in El Paso. A culmination of Mexican and American cultures in which I was raised in. Growing up I spent a lot of time in Juarez, with my Angelita. I would walk across the street and swing at the park or even just slide down the slide. Often alone, or if I was lucky my sisters would come play with me, usually forced upon by my mother. Then all of a sudden we would visit much less, and when we did I wasn't allowed to go outside anymore! My mother always kept me by her side, and we never did anything anymore. She tried to explain to me how dangerous the city was, but I didn't fully understand. How could a city just a few minutes away from my "safe" home be of such hazard? I just wanted to play at the park. As a kid I was so blind to all the danger and craziness going on. Soon enough my Angelita started visiting us in El Paso and even began renting an apartment just to see us. One of the most important lessons my Angelita taught me was dedication and hard work. As I grew up she began to teach me how to play the piano. This was a difficult task for me because it did not come easy to me at all. Although I continued to do these piano lessons to spend as much time as possible with my Angelita. Within a lot of practice I got the hang of it and I would even do concerts! There would be some brunches at the country clubs in Juarez that I would go and play it! It was such a beautiful experience seeing myself overcome this task and be able to play the piano. (?? My Angelita sadly passed away after a long battle against Ovarian Cancer, although she is still with me every day, and especially when I play the piano in her name. ?) When I wasn't in Juarez I was with my papa, my dads father. He taught me love and patience. I have few memories of him speaking English or holding a conversation with me. When I was about 5 years old unfortunately he had a stroke so his whole right side of his body could not function. Every Sunday we would go out to eat, usually Lubes one of his favorites. Because of his impairment that is where I gained the most patience, it was very difficult to understand what he was saying when he could only say one word and barely lift a hand. His only words he could say was "nada" always a minimum of two times up to who knows how many times. It was difficult to understand him at times, but I always felt like we had a special connection. For some reason I always understood what he meant, although he could only say "nada" I sometimes knew that meant yes, or just about anything. He taught me how to appreciate everything around you because just about anything can be taken away from you at any moment. All of these role figures in my life have molded me into the person I am today and the person I desire to be. Without each of them I would not be the same. They have all taught me how to get through difficult times, successfully and with passion. It is with these same characteristics I want to use to further my career and goals especially at Texas Camp;M University.

Hard work, leadership, and passion are only a few of the many things I have learned through my greatest skill: dancing. For me the famous saying "dance like no one is watching" is entirely true as I am known to dance anywhere and everywhere that I go. As a young girl I was apart of dance teams and companies where I learned to dance in various styles such as jazz, tap and ballet. At the age of 13 these classes became too costly for my parents which lead me to not take a conventional dance classes for the next four years. Even though I was not taking dance classes I used what I learned in prior classes to maintain my flexibility and continue to develop my dancing skills. Throughout this time my passion for dancing helped me learn how to be a leader and instructor as I coached myself, taught my sisters choreography and put on my own shows for my family. With the time and hard work that I put in the four years I couldn't take dance classes I was able to get onto my high school dance team. Over the next three years on the team I excelled and pushed my body to be the best dancer that I could be. While I excelled on the team and was able to be be in every group dance, a background leader, and awarded solos; I also struggled with various injuries. My first year on the team I sprained both of my ankles several times that lead to tear ligaments in my left foot. After a several month-long recovery, my second competition season resulted in patellar tendinitis in my knees that have yet to completely heal. Even with these injuries I was able to become a co-captain for the team my last year on the team and lead them to win the first national championship title in team history. Since high school I have taken several dance classes at Saddleback College, learned the limits of my body, and in this past year I have stopped taking dance classes as I heal my injuries from my time in high school.

Hard work, leadership, and passion are only a few of the many things I have learned through my greatest skill: dancing. For me the famous saying "dance like no one is watching" is entirely true as I am known to dance anywhere and everywhere that I go. As a young girl I was a part of dance teams and companies where I learned to dance in various styles such as jazz, tap and ballet. At the age of 13 these classes became too costly for my parents which lead me to not take a conventional dance classes for the next four years. Even though I was not taking dance classes I used what I learned in prior classes to maintain my flexibility and continue to develop my dancing skills. Throughout this time my passion for dancing helped me learn how to be a leader and instructor as I coached myself, taught my sisters choreography and put on my own shows for my family. With the time and hard work that I put in the four years I couldn't take dance classes I was able to get onto my high school dance team. Over the next three years on the team I excelled and pushed my body to be the best dancer that I could be. While I excelled on the team and was able to be in every group dance, a background leader, and awarded solos; I also struggled with various injuries. My first year on the team I sprained both of my ankles several times that lead to tear ligaments in my left foot. After a several month-long recoveries, my second competition season resulted in patellar tendinitis in my knees that have yet to completely heal. Even with these injuries I was able to become a co-captain for the team my last year on the team and lead them to win the first national championship title in team history. Since high school I have taken several dance classes at Saddle back College, learned the limits of my body, and in this past year I have stopped taking dance classes as I heal my injuries from my time in high school.

Would love to get some feedback on this: What's so odd about odd numbers?-Inspired by Mario Rosasco, AB'09 Odd numbers are ridiculously odd. In fact, the oddity of odd is such that even language has played an odd joke on it. The word odd and its synonyms, all have an odd number of syllables: odd, strange, weird, abn-orm-al, un-us-ual, and pec-ul-iar. Their lack of straightforward divisibility and simple symmetry is odd. There will always be that one stubborn remainder of thought that will stick around until it has made its (decimal) point. It is that natural determination and restlessness that defines their work ethic. Their willingness to take the hard way if necessary however isn't shared by the evens, which makes these odds unaided but consequently self-reliant. Despite adding countless evens to an odd number, it shall yet remain odd. This persistence to remain odd, is odd. Odds aren't scared to embrace their oddness, even under constant pressure to conform and submit to prevailing societal norms and beliefs. Odds have the courage to openly assert conflicting opinions and be original. However, odds do not shy away from correcting their stance under proper justification - odds can be evened if multiplied with evens. What's odd is that most odd numbers are exact figures that are rounded to even tens and hundreds. The odds don't even 99 into 100 per se. It is this strive for perfection and accuracy that makes the odds stand out but hard to keep up with. No matter how much hate these odds receive, they remain intact to their vision. The fact that they are called odd despite there being one odd integer for every even integer is also odd. Does that mean it is odd to call odd numbers odd? An odd inception? It seems that being odd isn't that very odd after all. Our skewed preferences for mainstream and convenient choices over bizarre ideas restrict us to develop an individual insight. In reality, odd is oddly odd and so is even oddly even. -My Name(A member of the odd society) (This essay is quite odd with 42 odds)

Would love to get some feedback on this: What's so odd about odd numbers?-Inspired by Mario Osasco, AB'09 Odd numbers are ridiculously odd. In fact, the oddity of odd is such that even language has played an odd joke on it. The word odd and its synonyms, all have an odd number of syllables: odd, strange, weird, abnormal, unusual, and peculiar. Their lack of straightforward divisibility and simple symmetry is odd. There will always be that one stubborn remainder of thought that will stick around until it has made its (decimal) point. It is that natural determination and restlessness that defines their work ethic. Their willingness to take the hard way if necessary however isn't shared by the evens, which makes these odds unaided but consequently self-reliant. Despite adding countless evens to an odd number, it shall yet remain odd. This persistence to remain odd, is odd. Odds aren't scared to embrace their oddness, even under constant pressure to conform and submit to prevailing societal norms and beliefs. Odds have the courage to openly assert conflicting opinions and be original. However, odds do not shy away from correcting their stance under proper justification - odds can be evened if multiplied with evens. What's odd is that most odd numbers are exact figures that are rounded to even tens and hundreds. The odds don't even 99 into 100 per se. It is this strives for perfection and accuracy that makes the odds stand out but hard to keep up with. No matter how much hate these odds receive, they remain intact to their vision. The fact that they are called odd despite there being one odd integer for every even integer is also odd. Does that mean it is odd to call odd numbers odd? An odd inception? It seems that being odd isn't that very odd after all. Our skewed preferences for mainstream and convenient choices over bizarre ideas restrict us to develop an individual insight. In reality, odd is oddly odd and so is even oddly even. -My Name(A member of the odd society) (This essay is quite odd with 42 odds)

Having no siblings to share this home with was a double-edged sword. I had all the care and love from my parents. They prioritized me above all and offered me everything selflessly despite any financial hardships. However, I was growing up egocentric and introvert to some extent. Being at the top of my class at elementary and preparatory schools intensified this feeling of self-centered. Major changes happened when I Joined (School Name) school. Being in a boarding school, I had to delay my return home to be once a week. I was anxious at the beginning of grade 10 due to the absence of this - once thought - eternal asylum. Learning depended mainly on presentations and group projects. This meant a lot of crowd-facing. I still remember my first presentation when I was nervous struggling to pull the words out of my mouth. Indeed, the first weeks were the toughest. Two main pillars that had sustained me have just disappeared: my home and my parents. Eventually, I adapted to this new environment. In fact, I believe now that joining this school was the best decision I had made. I had new friends with similar interests. Some even had the same problems that occurred to me. We helped each other to get over obstacles. Surrounded with intellectuals and caring friends, I felt home again. My self-esteem and confidence were greatly improved. I became more easy-going, open-minded and able to express myself. Instead of avoiding facing others, I was proud to represent my school and enjoyed presenting my projects. This personal growth and maturity were necessary for my future career. Exploring different fields, I developed a passion for biology, neuroscience. By the end of grade 11, I was well determined to pursue liberal arts education in the U.S and started preparing my college application. But the wind blew against my wishes. Once on a Monday, I went with my mother for her annual medical check. This Monday was meant to be a regular event except it wasn't. After scanning, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was stunned by this news. The thoughts that she might be absent from my life shocked me. Memories from my old home clouded my head. A cascade of emotions burst in my mind that I couldn't contain. I had to delay my career plans of course. As much as it was sad to stand by her in illness, it was also a substantial experience. Seeing her getting better after a surgery was reminding me of how she and my father helped me with my first shaking steps into school. I thought of how it was great to be part of a HOME. Following this hardship, I regained control of my life managing to graduate with a GPA of 4.00. I did my best taking standardized tests. I was ready to pursue a better future not just for myself but for the sake of my family who did their best raising me. After three years in high school, I still believe that home is the best. But this home doesn't have to be stationary. In fact, it is a dynamic abstract concept. Wherever we thrive, feel happy and surrounded by a family, is a home for us. A home that we can share where we can count on each other to get over the misfortunes of life.

Having no siblings to share this home with was a double-edged sword. I had all the care and love from my parents. They prioritized me above all and offered me everything selflessly despite any financial hardships. However, I was growing up egocentric and introvert to some extent. Being at the top of my class at elementary and preparatory schools intensified this feeling of self-centered. Major changes happened when I Joined (School Name) school. Being in a boarding school, I had to delay my return home to be once a week. I was anxious at the beginning of grade 10 due to the absence of this - once thought - eternal asylum. Learning depended mainly on presentations and group projects. This meant a lot of crowd-facing. I still remember my first presentation when I was nervous struggling to pull the words out of my mouth. Indeed, the first weeks were the toughest. Two main pillars that had sustained me have just disappeared: my home and my parents. Eventually, I adapted to this new environment. In fact, I believe now that joining this school was the best decision I had made. I had new friends with similar interests. Some even had the same problems that occurred to me. We helped each other to get over obstacles. Surrounded with intellectuals and caring friends, I felt home again. My self-esteem and confidence were greatly improved. I became more easy-going, open-minded and able to express myself. Instead of avoiding facing others, I was proud to represent my school and enjoyed presenting my projects. This personal growth and maturity were necessary for my future career. Exploring different fields, I developed a passion for biology, neuroscience. By the end of grade 11, I was well determined to pursue liberal arts education in the U.S. and started preparing my college application. But the wind blew against my wishes. Once on a Monday, I went with my mother for her annual medical check. This Monday was meant to be a regular event except it wasn't. After scanning, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was stunned by this news. The thoughts that she might be absent from my life shocked me. Memories from my old home clouded my head. A cascade of emotions bursts in my mind that I couldn't contain. I had to delay my career plans of course. As much as it was sad to stand by her in illness, it was also a substantial experience. Seeing her getting better after a surgery was reminding me of how she and my father helped me with my first shaking steps into school. I thought of how it was great to be part of a HOME. Following this hardship, I regained control of my life managing to graduate with a GPA of 4.00. I did my best taking standardized tests. I was ready to pursue a better future not just for myself but for the sake of my family who did their best raising me. After three years in high school, I still believe that home is the best. But this home doesn't have to be stationary. In fact, it is a dynamic abstract concept. Wherever we thrive, feel happy and surrounded by a family, is a home for us. A home that we can share where we can count on each other to get over the misfortunes of life.

Public speaking was never really something I would do for "fun". Of course, I've had to give presentations for certain classes, but only to complete an assignment. In contrast, there was one presentation which had a different meaning to it. I decided to sign up for the MESA course my sophomore year, expecting to build and test creations. To my surprise, two of my classmates and I were randomly chosen to take part in a public speaking assignment which would lead up to a statewide speech contest near the end of the year. At first, none of us were up for the task. We protested to the teacher, but to no avail. Eventually, I accepted my fate and moved on, but my teammates ventured on in protest. Time passed, and I began to like the idea of showcasing my ideas to experienced professionals. Assisting my teacher, I persuaded my team members to accept the challenge with an open mind. With argumentative strategies and elements at the ready, my persuasive arsenal was one which could have impressed Aristotle. How could they resist the desire to win? The desire to impress teachers and peers alike? Most importantly, how could they turn down the challenge so many others wouldn't dare to take on? In a way, this was my qualifying round of public speaking. My teacher knew he could trust me to steer the group in the right direction. Getting to work, I kept my group on task and determined to win. Throughout the year, our focus shifted from numerous things, such as pesticide misuse to self driving cars, but the end goal was the same. We had to win. Funnily enough, that year we took home the gold. I've felt the sweet taste of victory before, such as basketball games and spelling bees, yet this victory felt different. Not only did I win with my individual merit, I propelled my peers into succeeding.

Public speaking was never really something I would do for "fun". Of course, I've had to give presentations for certain classes, but only to complete an assignment. In contrast, there was one presentation which had a different meaning to it. I decided to sign up for the MESA course my sophomore year, expecting to build and test creations. To my surprise, two of my classmates and I were randomly chosen to take part in a public speaking assignment which would lead up to a statewide speech contest near the end of the year. At first, none of us were up for the task. We protested to the teacher, but to no avail. Eventually, I accepted my fate and moved on, but my teammates ventured on in protest. Time passed, and I began to like the idea of showcasing my ideas to experienced professionals. Assisting my teacher, I persuaded my team members to accept the challenge with an open mind. With argumentative strategies and elements at the ready, my persuasive arsenal was one which could have impressed Aristotle. How could they resist the desire to win? The desire to impress teachers and peers alike? Most importantly, how could they turn down the challenge so many others wouldn't dare to take on? In a way, this was my qualifying round of public speaking. My teacher knew he could trust me to steer the group in the right direction. Getting to work, I kept my group on task and determined to win. Throughout the year, our focus shifted from numerous things, such as pesticide misuse to self-driving cars, but the end goal was the same. We had to win. Funnily enough, that year we took home the gold. I've felt the sweet taste of victory before, such as basketball games and spelling bees, yet this victory felt different. Not only did I win with my individual merit, I propelled my peers into succeeding.

About half of the people I know have told me that it is impossible to make it in the arts or that I need to find a something else that is beneficial in our society and just make art as a hobby. I do not blame them for thinking that way, because it is a very steep career in this demanding society, and not a lot of rational thinking people would put in all the effort in the arts knowing that this field is overly saturated and very competitive. I am well aware of all these judgements, but these preconceived notions are not affecting my career choice as an artist. I value my craft as much as the criticisms I receive after finishing a piece. I put in a lot of passion and time to make it all worth it, and study each and every single detail that is critical in my craft, because I have always believed that art is about making history and that the determined artists often go to the places they have always dreamed of. I have been illustrating my whole life. I made imaginary album covers, redesigned the book covers of my favorite books, and made movie posters. In high school, I started to really focus on my work. I was able to use different mediums and special types of papers I didn't know existed, then progressed to computerize my works where I applied my skills on a computer and learned different types of creative softwares. During my first year as an illustration major from the School of Visual Arts, I was fortunate enough to meet one of my favorite illustrators, Christoph Neimann. His creative process of his work gave me a lot of inspirations. Illustration stand out to me the most, because it is versatile, ubiquitous, and most importantly, entertaining in many ways. They are used in book covers, posters, packaging, textile, and many more. It is, in my opinion, the most flexible form of art. I have seen my favorite illustrators putting animations in their work and it just amazes me how the synergy behind the two very different art forms are intriguing. Sometimes context is not necessary to prove a point, this is one of the strongest abilities of Illustration. The ability to spread a message to everyone with the use of shapes, colors, and textures in a unique fashion. In addition, Illustration plays a big role in our society and it has been successful in impacting people's lives, such as issues regarding our way of life, politics, health, love, friendships, and many more. I have been in various art activities in the city. I completed two programs in high school from the Art Directors Club, where they choose 50 qualified students from the five boroughs to participate a hands on learning experience about logo design and meet people who are very passionate in making art. I won a scholarship program from The Cooper Union to participate an intense one month long art intensive program, specifically for graphic design and drawing. I have received The Jeremy Medal, The Golden Eight Medal, and The Wolfied scholarship from the Star Art League in high school. One of my pieces was hanged at The Megan Museum of Art, as I was part of the Joss Found art competition finalists. Ultimately, I received the gold medal of fine arts in our high school. I reached out to popular social media pet accounts and made illustrations to put on a shirt and helped a local dog shelter in Manhattan from the profits made. My determination and commitment in art led me to the right direction. I believe that I have the skill set necessary to achieve what I have already started. I think Fashion Institute of Technology will help my vision come true and make history. I had a remarkable and outstanding background in the arts and I am looking forward to learn more and share my ideas in the future.

About half of the people I know have told me that it is impossible to make it in the arts or that I need to find a something else that is beneficial in our society and just make art as a hobby. I do not blame them for thinking that way, because it is a very steep career in this demanding society, and not a lot of rational thinking people would put in all the effort in the arts knowing that this field is overly saturated and very competitive. I am well aware of all these judgements, but these preconceived notions are not affecting my career choice as an artist. Furthermore, I value my craft as much as the criticisms I receive after finishing a piece. Furthermore, I put in a lot of passion and time to make it all worth it, and study each and every single detail that is critical in my craft, because I have always believed that art is about making history and that the determined artists often go to the places they have always dreamed of. Furthermore, I have been illustrating my whole life. Furthermore, I made imaginary album covers, redesigned the book covers of my favorite books, and made movie posters. In high school, I started to really focus on my work. I was able to use different mediums and special types of papers I didn't know existed, then progressed to computerize my works where I applied my skills on a computer and learned different types of creative pieces of software. During my first year as an illustration major from the School of Visual Arts, I was fortunate enough to meet one of my favorite illustrators, Christoph Neumann. His creative process of his work gave me a lot of inspirations. Illustration stand out to me the most, because it is versatile, ubiquitous, and most importantly, entertaining in many ways. They are used in book covers, posters, packaging, textile, and many more. It is, in my opinion, the most flexible form of art. I have seen my favorite illustrators putting animations in their work, and it just amazes me how the synergy behind the two very different art forms are intriguing. Sometimes context is not necessary to prove a point, this is one of the strongest abilities of Illustration. The ability to spread a message to everyone with the use of shapes, colors, and textures uniquely. In addition, Illustration plays a big role in our society, and it has been successful in impacting people's lives, such as issues regarding our way of life, politics, health, love, friendships, and many more. I have been in various art activities in the city. I completed two programs in high school from the Art Directors Club, where they choose 50 qualified students from the five boroughs to participate a hands-on learning experience about logo design and meet people who are very passionate in making art. Furthermore, I won a scholarship program from The Cooper Union to participate an intense one-month-long art intensive program, specifically for graphic design and drawing. Furthermore, I have received The Jeremy Medal, The Golden Eight Medal, and The Wolfed scholarship from the Star Art League in high school. One of my pieces was hanged at The Megan Museum of Art, as I was part of the Joss Found art competition finalists. Ultimately, I received the gold medal of fine arts in our high school. I reached out to popular social media pet accounts and made illustrations to put on a shirt and helped a local dog shelter in Manhattan from the profits made. My determination and commitment in art led me to the right direction. I believe that I have the skill set necessary to achieve what I have already started. I think Fashion Institute of Technology will help my vision come true and make history. Furthermore, I had a remarkable and outstanding background in the arts, and I am looking forward to learning more and share my ideas in the future.

The greatest educational barrier that I have faced and am still faced with is dyslexia. I was tested for dyslexia while I was in elementary school in an effort to find out why I wasn't able to keep up with the rest of my class. With this information my family and I were faced with the decision to either hold me back a grade or not. Knowing that I was struggling to keep up, I decided to move along with the rest of my class on the condition that I would have to do extra work outside of school. While I received help from teachers, tutors and my family the person who has helped me the most in achieving my academic success is my grandmother. My grandmother is a retired elementary school teacher who has worked in an English as a Second Language school, and with countless of children with different disabilities. Because of this she knew exactly what it would take for me to get to where I am today. She would spend hours with me after school and during summers to make sure that I was getting more instruction in reading, writing, and spelling. In addition to the regular homework that I had for class we would do various activities to work on my reading and spelling such as phonics that correlates sounds with groups of letters. In elementary school I started off not enjoying reading or writing, but with the help of those around me, and especially my grandmother, I was able to learn how to read, write, and spell and catch up with the rest of my class by the time I went to middle school. In my last year of high school I was able to take advanced world literature and composition, and at Saddleback College I have taken honors principles of composition. In all, growing up and living with dyslexia is hard but I have never let it set me back in life or deter me from my academic goals.

The greatest educational barrier that I have faced and am still faced with is dyslexia. I was tested for dyslexia while I was in elementary school in an effort to find out why I wasn't able to keep up with the rest of my class. With this information my family and I were faced with the decision to either hold me back a grade or not. Knowing that I was struggling to keep up, I decided to move along with the rest of my class on the condition that I would have to do extra work outside of school. While I received help from teachers, tutors and my family the person who has helped me the most in achieving my academic success is my grandmother. My grandmother is a retired elementary school teacher who has worked in an English as a Second Language school, and with countless children with different disabilities. Because of this she knew exactly what it would take for me to get to where I am today. She would spend hours with me after school and during summers to make sure that I was getting more instruction in reading, writing, and spelling. In addition to the regular homework that I had for class we would do various activities to work on my reading and spelling such as phonics that correlates sounds with groups of letters. In elementary school I started off not enjoying reading or writing, but with the help of those around me, and especially my grandmother, I was able to learn how to read, write, and spell and catch up with the rest of my class by the time I went to middle school. In my last year of high school I was able to take advanced world literature and composition, and at Saddle back College I have taken honors principles of composition. In all, growing up and living with dyslexia is hard, but I have never let it set me back in life or deter me from my academic goals.

I was twelve years old when I bought my first computer. Little did I know, it would set me on a journey that would lead to me finding my calling. Now there's not a doubt in my mind that I want to pursue Information Technology as my career path, and I feel that UNC Wilmington is the best option for me. There's still a lot for me to learn, I believe that UNC Wilmington will give me the tools and the resources to achieve the knowledge necessary to succeed in my desired career path. Not only does UNC Wilmington have classes pertaining to Information Technology, but they also have clubs that would allow me to demonstrate what I've learned, such as the Cyber Defense Club. The habitat provided by UNC Wilmington will be the perfect place for me to put my passion and knowledge into. By enrolling in the Information Technology program, I will be given the opportunity to meet many like-minded individuals who share the same passion as I do. Anything can happen when people with the same passion get together, and that's what excites me the most about UNCW. The atmosphere for learning and bettering one's self, especially with my desired major, is unmatched by every other school in North Carolina. I also believe that the lessons learned while enrolled at UNC Wilmington will help me function better not only as a student but as a member of the workforce and society. The majority of the classes I've already taken have been taken online, resulting in me being mostly disconnected from the school. Being required to really "get out there" and get involved with the school will teach me greater personal involvement with what I'm focused on. Instead of working alone, I'll be engaged with a body of people who are all out to learn. University is one of the best places to learn these life lessons, and UNC Wilmington has the best Information Technology program in the state, I couldn't imagine wanting to go anywhere else. Thanks for any pointers you give me! Lay it on me, no mercy.

I was twelve years old when I bought my first computer. Little did I know, it would set me on a journey that would lead to me finding my calling. Now there's not a doubt in my mind that I want to pursue Information Technology as my career path, and I feel that UNC Wilmington is the best option for me. There's still a lot for me to learn, I believe that UNC Wilmington will give me the tools and the resources to achieve the knowledge necessary to succeed in my desired career path. Not only does UNC Wilmington have classes pertaining to Information Technology, but they also have clubs that would allow me to demonstrate what I've learned, such as the Cyber Defense Club. The habitat provided by UNC Wilmington will be the perfect place for me to put my passion and knowledge into. By enrolling in the Information Technology program, I will be given the opportunity to meet many like-minded individuals who share the same passion as I do. Anything can happen when people with the same passion get together, and that's what excites me the most about UNC. The atmosphere for learning and bettering one's self, especially with my desired major, is unmatched by every other school in North Carolina. I also believe that the lessons learned while enrolled at UNC Wilmington will help me function better not only as a student but as a member of the workforce and society. The majority of the classes I've already taken have been taken online, resulting in me being mostly disconnected from the school. Being required to really "get out there" and get involved with the school will teach me greater personal involvement with what I'm focused on. Instead of working alone, I'll be engaged with a body of people who are all out to learn. University is one of the best places to learn these life lessons, and UNC Wilmington has the best Information Technology program in the state, I couldn't imagine wanting to go anywhere else. Thanks for any pointers you give me! Lay it on me, no mercy.

Even little things make a big difference! Helping others is my passion. Realising that our lives are great when we share and that great inner joy comes from helping others to better their lives is the reason why I am strongly passionate about helping others. It is not about the significance of the help I offer but about how much love and compassion I put into helping. I remember in school when my fellow classmates would ask me to help with some work, I would work with them. Even when I was not sure of my answers, I would end up being corrected as well. One writer once said, "To find yourself, lose yourself in the service of others" It has been my experience that when I focus on helping others, I am less likely to be consumed by my own concerns and challenges. Helping provides me the opportunity to look beyond my own world of problems and see the bigger picture. As I go by my daily errands, I feel important when I help the elderly with their stuff or even the disabled. That smile on their faces after I help kindles my self-esteem, brings me happiness and integrity. At church I would take the little ones and help them in Sunday school studies and I would see joy in them during these sessions. Helping helps me realize all the love I have to give and makes me feel more connected to goodness and kindness.

Even little things make a big difference! Helping others is my passion. Realizing that our lives are great when we share and that great inner joy comes from helping others to better their lives is the reason why I am strongly passionate about helping others. It is not about the significance of the help I offer but about how much love and compassion I put into helping. I remember in school when my classmates would ask me to help with some work, I would work with them. Even when I was not sure of my answers, I would end up being corrected as well. One writer once said, "To find yourself, lose yourself in the service of others" It has been my experience that when I focus on helping others, I am less likely to be consumed by my own concerns and challenges. Helping provides me the opportunity to look beyond my own world of problems and see the bigger picture. As I go by my daily errands, I feel important when I help the elderly with their stuff or even the disabled. That smile on their faces after I help kindles my self-esteem, brings me happiness and integrity. At church, I would take the little ones and help them in Sunday school studies and I would see joy in them during these sessions. Helping helps me realise all the love I have to give and makes me feel more connected to goodness and kindness.

I feel that it is impossible for me to trace it all down to a single place. Who I am as a person is like a pot of jollof rice, all of the ingredients are equally important in creating a wholesome meal. That is why I would like to highlight some of these ingredients and how they each added to shape the person that I am. Everything begins at home, as they say, this is very true in my case because my upbringing was one of the key components that made me the man that I am today. I come from a Nigerian household and one of the foundations that hold up a Nigerian family, and our culture as a whole is respect. My mom who frequently speaks in Yoruba proverbs etched the saying, "iwa rere leso eniyan"(try pronouncing that), into my brain. This closely translates to "good character is a person's jewel," so she has always made an active effort in making sure that my jewel shines. That is why she always made it a priority for me to greet my elders appropriately, cautioned me when I pointed at people and always made sure I did not collect things with my left hand(which is considered rude in Nigerian culture). I can definitely attribute my respectful nature to my mom. My education has been special because I have seen both sides of the coin. My elementary school was full of kids who were just like me. It was a Nigerian institution, and any foreigners were few and far between. This school expected order from students. Every Monday at assemblies, the teachers check to see if we were in uniform, if our shirts were tucked in, if our hair was cut properly, and our nails were trimmed neatly. During the day, we would be made to line up in a single file or we would not be allowed to go to recess or lunch. At lunch, nobody ate until there was pin-drop silence in the dining hall. If anyone failed to follow these rules, the students would pack up all of the dishes and wash them with the cleaning staff while the other kids were out playing. It felt very militaristic how we would have to follow all of these precise rules. However, in hindsight, I can see that the school was simply trying to mold us into students who took after the school's core values of respect, excellence, and service. Values that were definitely imparted in me because I received the Best Student Award 3 different years and I won the mathematics trophy. So looking back, my elementary school gave me the blueprint to become a model citizen of Nigeria My middle school was an international school, which was a complete change from my elementary school. For the first time, nobody was like me at all. There were so many students from all over the world that the school looked like a UN summit to me. This was the first time I had been in a truly diverse environment. I obviously went through some culture shock at first, but I found it easy to make friends from many different cultures. This is because I had a large capacity to respect other people, due to my parents' guidance and the values of my previous school. Soon, I adapted to this new environment and over the next four years, I made it a goal to establish a global identity. The fact is that the world is becoming such a small place, and that is what puts myself and my generation in such a great situation, We have the opportunity to expand and touch every corner of the world in ways generations past never had, we can do all of this no matter where you are, or where you are from. Altogether, my elementary and middle school, even though they were on opposite sides of the spectrum, both had a tremendous impact on my life and how I perceive life. My elementary school made me a model citizen of Nigeria and my middle school made me a model citizen of the World. My parents teaching me respect from such a young age made it possible for me to adapt to new places and environments. These along with many other experiences are the ingredients that make my pot of jollof rice unique. *I tried to make mine kinda unique be as critical as possible

I feel that it is impossible for me to trace it all down to a single place. Who I am as a person is like a pot of follow rice, all the ingredients are equally important in creating a wholesome meal. That is why I would like to highlight some of these ingredients and how they each added to shape the person that I am. Everything begins at home, as they say, this is very true in my case because my upbringing was one of the key components that made me the man that I am today. I come from a Nigerian household and one of the foundations that hold up a Nigerian family, and our culture as a whole is respect. My mom who frequently speaks in Yoruba proverbs etched the saying, "IRA rear less Kenyan"(try pronouncing that), into my brain. This closely translates to "good character is a person's jewel," so she has always made an active effort in making sure that my jewel shines. That is why she always made it a priority for me to greet my elders appropriately, cautioned me when I pointed at people and always made sure I did not collect things with my left hand(which is considered rude in Nigerian culture). I can definitely attribute my respectful nature to my mom. My education has been special because I have seen both sides of the coin. My elementary school was full of kids who were just like me. It was a Nigerian institution, and any foreigners were few and far between. This school expected order from students. Every Monday at assemblies, the teachers check to see if we were in uniform, if our shirts were tucked in, if our hair was cut properly, and our nails were trimmed neatly. During the day, we would be made to line up in a single file, or we would not be allowed to go to recess or lunch. At lunch, nobody ate until there was pin-drop silence in the dining hall. If anyone failed to follow these rules, the students would pack up all the dishes and wash them with the cleaning staff while the other kids were out playing. It felt very militaristic how we would have to follow all of these precise rules. However, in hindsight, I can see that the school was simply trying to mold us into students who took after the school's core values of respect, excellence, and service. Values that were definitely imparted in me because I received the Best Student Award 3 different years and I won the mathematics trophy. So looking back, my elementary school gave me the blueprint to become a model citizen of Nigeria My middle school was an international school, which was a complete change from my elementary school. For the first time, nobody was like me at all. There were so many students from all over the world that the school looked like a UN summit to me. This was the first time I had been in a truly diverse environment. I obviously went through some culture shock at first, but I found it easy to make friends from many cultures. This is because I had a large capacity to respect other people, due to my parents' guidance and the values of my previous school. Soon, I adapted to this new environment and over the next four years, I made it a goal to establish a global identity. The fact is that the world is becoming such a small place, and that is what puts myself and my generation in such a great situation, We have the opportunity to expand and touch every corner of the world in ways generations past never had, we can do all of this no matter where you are, or where you are from. Altogether, my elementary and middle school, even though they were on opposite sides of the spectrum, both had a tremendous impact on my life and how I perceive life. My elementary school made me a model citizen of Nigeria and my middle school made me a model citizen of the World. My parents teaching me respect from such a young age made it possible for me to adapt to new places and environments. These along with many other experiences are the ingredients that make my pot of follow rice unique. *I tried to make mine kinda unique be as critical as possible

Hey guys, any and all criticism on my essay is greatly appreciated. Salman's friends would say he is someone who is very exuberant, interesting, authentic, adventurous and is always down to try out new things. He could also be quite spontaneous at times and has an effervescent personality. While he is a realist in most scenarios, he could be pretty optimistic at times. His close friends know there is another side of him; one that is a bit less wild, more thoughtful and is really attuned to the needs of those around him. They would also vouch for his honesty, trustworthiness and how he is always appreciative and encouraging of them. I believe that my parents and my siblings are my biggest fans. My parents constantly remind me of how proud they are of me and that I never give them an opportunity to get mad at me by always showing my utmost respect to them, doing my part around the house and fulfilling my responsibilities. I'm most proud of my unrelenting perseverance and tolerance when it comes to difficult situations which I've developed through the years by learning to welcome challenges and getting comfortable with uncertainty which is the only thing that is certain. If I have my mind set on achieving something, I wouldn't just travel the extra mile, I'll do whatever it takes to get it. It has been this unwavering attitude to problems that has gotten me to where I am now and I believe will continue to be my greatest asset in future challenges.

Hey guys, any and all criticism on my essay is greatly appreciated. Salman's friends would say he is someone who is very exuberant, interesting, authentic, adventurous and is always down to try out new things. He could also be quite spontaneous at times and has an effervescent personality. While he is a realist in most scenarios, he could be pretty optimistic at times. His close friends know there is another side of him; one that is a bit less wild, more thoughtful and is really attuned to the needs of those around him. They would also vouch for his honesty, trustworthiness and how he is always appreciative and encouraging of them. I believe that my parents and my siblings are my biggest fans. My parents constantly remind me of how proud they are of me and that I never give them an opportunity to get mad at me by always showing my utmost respect to them, doing my part around the house and fulfilling my responsibilities. I'm most proud of my unrelenting perseverance and tolerance when it comes to difficult situations which I've developed through the years by learning to welcome challenges and getting comfortable with uncertainty which is the only thing that is certain. If I have my mind set on achieving something, I wouldn't just travel the extra mile, I'll do whatever it takes to get it. It has been this unwavering attitude to problems that has gotten me to where I am now, and I believe will continue to be my greatest asset in future challenges.

I am my father's vintage brown leather suitcase traveling around different corners of the world, from the Rhodope mountains in Eastern Europe to the tropical beaches of South East Asia. Wherever he goes I was right there with him attending conferences, meeting Heads of States and experiencing cross-cultural environments. However, having this joy was mixed with the reality of belonging to a family salaried. I saw my world change when my father was appointed the Ambassador of Pakistan to Bulgaria. I entered an entirely different world compared to the life I had back home aesthetically and culturally; evident on my first of many drives to my new school in Sofia. I felt like an alien before I even stepped onto the bus being forced to adjust to life in Eastern Europe but it was a world I was eager to be accustomed to. I initially struggled to regain friendships that I left behind being a timid and shy boy. I had to reconstruct a new identity in a society that was foreign to me. however, I assimilated to the school's culture fairly quickly by putting on a facade in the eyes of my friends. I thought during that time that I had to put on a certain persona to hide my insecurities while appealing to my friends who came from families from lavish backgrounds. The idea of being equal amongst my peers was rather important for me and this opportunity availed itself through athletics. My athletic background allowed me to establish myself among my peers and showcase my abilities. Participating in an array of sports and activities from soccer, cross country, volleyball, and basketball My coaches were able to use my raw potential and translate that to winning medals. The competitive nature of the school from athletics, as well as academics, really made me self-driven and I felt that was the only way I could truly show my true colors by proving myself to everyone. Although this allowed to grow individually as I integrated into Bulgarian culture with the help of my friend Vladimir. I experienced that I was losing my true roots. Unfortunately, reality hit me as my father's career as a diplomat demanded him to retire at age 60 and return to Pakistan. This came as a real shock as we were expecting an extension within my first few months of freshmen year. I struggled to adjust back to a world I left behind and to a new type of schooling system that was not familiar with. Once again I have torn away from the world I wanted to belong. My confidence slowly waned as my peers judged me for not being able to speak my own mother tongue fluently which I grew insecure about. I could not appreciate the world around me being spoilt by the life I use to have and I didn't know what I want. The tipping point was when I got into a car accident in which I had broken my nose, lost my front 5 teeth and a metal beam went straight the flesh of my bone. Despite the pain and agony during recovery memories had a flash of the series of events that occurred where the local people around me that I didn't have any commonalities with still helped me out off the car with blood drench on my clothes (human concept). The opportunities they had and the life they were living. It impacted the outlook I had on my life. It was the moment I truly realized that I was too naive to think about the opportunities waiting for me. Thinking about the people who were not able to have the liberties or life I could possibly have. This experience would inspire me and divert my attention to setting new goals and building a new found confidence.Even though I could not apply my athletic capabilities being in a wheelchair for 4 months in school in Pakistan. I was able to shed my insecurities and blossom by pushing myself in the classroom achieving more than I ever could think possible academically and when I recovered fully in one years time. I started on making a volleyball team as it was something I feel was lacking in Pakistan. However, that tragic experience allowed me to also recognize the privileges I had and inspired me to help out community around who aided me during a time when I needed them the most by taking time out exploring new ways in figuring out alleviate poverty. I wanted to find a platform to help the marginalized earn a living and possibly get out of the cycle of poverty. I made a point to use the varied perspectives that I carried and apply to life in Pakistan. Although I still had a language barrier not being able to speak native Punjabi. I am able to use my varied experiences as a platform to link unique perspectives. For instance, my aunt was looking in new ways to expand her aid to the foundation she works at which was my opportunity to showcase my varied perspective. During a discussion, I introduced the idea of Microfinance as a means to allow the impoverished to get opportunities they wouldn't be able to have otherwise. I was able to foster an agreement with the board of the organization and start a new project. Although it has not been as successful as would imagine. I continue to strive to fight poverty in the area. That mere experience had allowed me to realize that I am able to broaden my horizon to the realm of my own possibilities as well as accept myself for who actually I am and not cast a facade to be someone I am not. These experiences I have guided me into foraging the independent and knows what I want persona that would continue to shape the person that I am still becoming.

I am my father's vintage brown leather suitcase traveling around different corners of the world, from the Rho dope mountains in Eastern Europe to the tropical beaches of South East Asia. Wherever he goes I was right there with him attending conferences, meeting Heads of States and experiencing cross-cultural environments. However, having this joy was mixed with the reality of belonging to a family salaried. I saw my world change when my father was appointed the Ambassador of Pakistan to Bulgaria. I entered an entirely different world compared to the life I had back home aesthetically and culturally; evident on my first of many drives to my new school in Sofia. Furthermore, I felt like an alien before I even stepped onto the bus being forced to adjust to life in Eastern Europe, but it was a world I was eager to be accustomed to. Furthermore, I initially struggled to regain friendships that I left behind being a timid and shy boy. Furthermore, I had to reconstruct a new identity in a society that was foreign to me. However, I assimilated to the school's culture fairly quickly by putting on a facade in the eyes of my friends. I thought during that time that I had to put on a certain persona to hide my insecurities while appealing to my friends who came from families from lavish backgrounds. The idea of being equal amongst my peers was rather important for me and this opportunity availed itself through athletics. My athletic background allowed me to establish myself amongst my peers and showcase my abilities. Participating in an array of sports and activities from soccer, cross-country, volleyball, and basketball My coaches were able to use my raw potential and translate that to winning medals. The competitive nature of the school from athletics, as well as academics, really made me self-driven, and I felt that was the only way I could truly show my true colors by proving myself to everyone. Although this allowed to grow individually as I integrated into Bulgarian culture with the help of my friend Vladimir. I experienced that I was losing my true roots. Unfortunately, reality hit me as my father's career as a diplomat demanded him to retire at age 60 and return to Pakistan. This came as a real shock as we were expecting an extension within my first few months of freshmen year. I struggled to adjust back to a world I left behind and to a new type of schooling system that was not familiar with. Once again I have torn away from the world I wanted to belong. My confidence slowly waned as my peers judged me for not being able to speak my own mother tongue fluently which I grew insecure about. I could not appreciate the world around me being spoiled by the life I use to have, and I didn't know what I want. The tipping point was when I got into a car accident in which I had broken my nose, lost my front 5 teeth and a metal beam went straight the flesh of my bone. Despite the pain and agony during recovery memories had a flash of the series of events that occurred where the local people around me that I didn't have any commonalities with still helped me out off the car with blood drench on my clothes (human concept). The opportunities they had and the life they were living. It impacted the outlook I had on my life. It was the moment I truly realized that I was too naive to think about the opportunities waiting for me. Thinking about the people who were not able to have the liberties or life I could possibly have. This experience would inspire me and divert my attention to setting new goals and building a new-found confidence. Even though I could not apply my athletic capabilities being in a wheelchair for 4 months in school in Pakistan. I was able to shed my insecurities and blossom by pushing myself in the classroom achieving more than I ever could think possible academically and when I recovered fully in one year time. I started on making a volleyball team as it was something I feel was lacking in Pakistan. However, that tragic experience allowed me to also recognize the privileges I had and inspired me to help out community around who aided me during a time when I needed them the most by taking time out exploring new ways in figuring out alleviate poverty. I wanted to find a platform to help the marginalized earn a living and possibly get out of the cycle of poverty. I made a point to use the varied perspectives that I carried and apply to life in Pakistan. Although I still had a language barrier not being able to speak native Punjabi. I am able to use my varied experiences as a platform to link unique perspectives. For instance, my aunt was looking in new ways to expand her aid to the foundation she works at which was my opportunity to showcase my varied perspective. During a discussion, I introduced the idea of Microfinance as a means to allow the impoverished to get opportunities they wouldn't be able to have otherwise. I was able to foster an agreement with the board of the organization and start a new project. Although it has not been as successful as would imagine. I continue to strive to fight poverty in the area. That mere experience had allowed me to realize that I am able to broaden my horizon to the realm of my own possibilities as well as accept myself for who actually I am and not cast a facade to be someone I am not. These experiences I have guided me into foraging the independent and knows what I want persona that would continue to shape the person that I am still becoming.

I believe that Engineers are the wheels on which the carriage known as society is placed upon. With every turn of the wheel, there is a new advancement in the world. The very first turn which is usually the most important was ironically, the invention of the wheel. After countless turns made by the countless bright minds, society has made countless breakthroughs in terms of technology. We harnessed lightning to create electricity, we conquered the land with automobiles, we even ascended Earth itself and flew to the moon. However, in my opinion, the most influential turn was in fact the most recent one - the rise of modern technology. The emergence of computers and the Internet has utterly revolutionized the world as we know it. We are now connected in ways that engineers of the past could only dream of. There is so much untapped potential in terms of Computer Science. For instance, the development of artificial intelligence, virtual reality, blockchain, machine learning, along with many others are set to take the world by storm in a few years. Ever since I was young, I had always wanted to make a mark on my country. I knew that wherever I find myself, no matter the industry, my ultimate goal would be to find a way to make Nigeria a better place. This is what I plan on using my Computer Science education to do, to become a part of the wheel system and improve the technological sector of Nigeria. There are many ways that I could do this and to be frank, I am not fully sure on how I will get there. However, I am sure that with the continued guidance and support from the Texas A&M community, I will achieve all of my goals. My mom, told me to learn how to code when I was in 9th grade, because it was the future of the world. She encouraged me to try it because she noticed that I was always glued to my computer screen. I gave it an honest try by spending some time visiting Codecademy and learning Javascript. I soon gave it up, due to my lack of understanding of the concepts behind the techniques. In 11th grade, I gave coding another chance, when I took the IB Computer Science class. This class was the biggest influence in deciding on my path to a Computer Science career. It was also one of the biggest challenges I've ever faced in my high school career. At first, I along with many other students struggled greatly in the class. It seemed that every week there would be more empty seats than before. However, through perseverance I was able to conquer the basics and from then it was smooth sailing. After the understanding came, an appreciation followed. Before I knew it, out of sheer interest, I'd be reading articles about topics we didn't cover in class. From then I knew that this was the field that I would dedicate my education to. The amazing thing is that the computer science world is like picking from a set of roller-coasters, each different but still exhilarating in their own way. I know that Texas A&M will give me a chance to try every single ride.

I believe that Engineers are the wheels on which the carriage known as society is placed upon. With every turn of the wheel, there is a new advancement in the world. The very first turn which is usually the most important was ironically, the invention of the wheel. After countless turns made by the countless bright minds, society has made countless breakthroughs in terms of technology. We harnessed lightning to create electricity, we conquered the land with automobiles, we even ascended Earth itself and flew to the moon. However, in my opinion, the most influential turn was in fact the most recent one - the rise of modern technology. The emergence of computers and the Internet has utterly revolutionized the world as we know it. We are now connected in ways that engineers of the past could only dream of. There is so much untapped potential in terms of Computer Science. For instance, the development of artificial intelligence, virtual reality, blockchain, machine learning, along with many others are set to take the world by storm in a few years. Ever since I was young, I had always wanted to make a mark on my country. I knew that wherever I find myself, no matter the industry, my ultimate goal would be to find a way to make Nigeria a better place. This is what I plan on using my Computer Science education to do, to become a part of the wheel system and improve the technological sector of Nigeria. There are many ways that I could do this and to be frank, I am not fully sure on how I will get there. However, I am sure that with the continued guidance and support from the Texas Camp;M community, I will achieve all of my goals. My mom, told me to learn how to code when I was in 9th grade, because it was the future of the world. She encouraged me to try it because she noticed that I was always glued to my computer screen. I gave it an honest try by spending some time visiting Codecademy and learning JavaScript. I soon gave it up, due to my lack of understanding of the concepts behind the techniques. In 11th grade, I gave coding another chance, when I took the IB Computer Science class. This class was the biggest influence in deciding on my path to a Computer Science career. It was also one of the biggest challenges I've ever faced in my high school career. At first, I along with many other students struggled greatly in the class. It seemed that every week there would be more empty seats than before. However, through perseverance I was able to conquer the basics and from then it was smooth sailing. After the understanding came, an appreciation followed. Before I knew it, out of sheer interest, I'd be reading articles about topics we didn't cover in class. From then, I knew that this was the field that I would dedicate my education to. The amazing thing is that the computer science world is like picking from a set of roller-coasters, each different but still exhilarating in their own way. I know that Texas Camp;M will give me a chance to try every single ride.

Hi, can someone please help me edit this essay for a summer research fellowship. It is the personal statement that I am planing on submitting. I really would like to know how the essay stands up to now, in terms of language structure syntax grammar. Story flow and overall appearance. Your help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance. Living in poverty for most of my childhood, has been a pivotal factor in stimulating my interest for a career as a medical physician. Since a very young age, I struggled seeing how my mother battled the dreadful effects of Diabetes. Seeing her struggle to take pills after pills to help treat such pernicious disease was mind bugling for me to witness. Part of the reason for this was because I was only five years old when she was diagnosed with the disease, while she was twenty-six. This experience has enabled me to become profusely introspective about not only Diabetes but also other types of autoimmune diseases, with the hope of one day being a pioneering contributor to a possible cure. For this reason, only a career in medicine and research would offer me the opportunity to live a life committed to learning new things related to autoimmune diseases and other pathological illnesses. My exposure to small research opportunities in my school have given me the ability to know that this is something that I truly want to do for the rest of my existence. These small research experiences have little by little indulged me in a world of intellectuality and incredible wonders. My career goal is to become a medical scientist, and obtain both my doctorate and medical degree, in a field that would allow me to study the connectivity between autoimmune diseases and the biology of the brain. For this reason, one of my short-term goals is to obtain my Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Biology with a specialization in Neuroscience. It is my hope to spend approximately five years completing this degree, as I have also taken on the responsibility of completing my premedical requirements. With the fifth and extra year as an undergraduate student, I plan to enroll in some graduate school courses. This will allow me to enter graduate school better prepared for the many challenges that may await ahead. Following the completion of my undergraduate degree I plan on pursuing my PhD and spend the next six years conducting high caliber research related to brain function and its relation to autoimmune diseases. After this, I plan to take some time off with the hope of getting involved in some volunteer related to my desired specialty. The reason for this is because I would like to become better acquainted with how pathogenicity correlates with the myriad of diseases that inhabit us on a daily basis. Finally, I hope to enroll in medical school and continue the life long journey of learning the art of medicine. My participation in the Mayo Clinic's Undergraduate Fellowship Program would help continue to foster my curiosity for science all while allowing me to broaden my professional networking skills and connections. Part of the reason for this is because only through connections and teamwork can we as future scientist probe and untangle the nuances that make problems in the world of medicine so elusive to resolve. As a minority and first-generation student who has strong interest in pursuing a career as a medical physician, I could not think of a better program to join than Mayo Clinic's Undergraduate Fellowship Program. The Neuroscience and Immunology department at Mayo Clinic provides students the chance to gain a diverse perspective on whatever study they choose within both of these specialties. Because of this, I would like to focus in conducting research on a project that would enable me to combine Neurobiology and Immunology. Being exposed to a research opportunity of this magnitude will allow me to gain access to opportunities that my school does not have. Furthermore, this program offers students the opportunity to become better acquainted with the path towards a graduate school degree. By exposing individuals to the laboratory culture of the research group, lab meetings, and other weekly group led research activities, Mayo Clinic promises the success of minority and underrepresented students in graduate school. With the slow and unsteady increase in the number of minority students that have gone on to pursue post-undergraduate level education, I hope to contribute by committing to pursue my dreams of obtaining my doctorate and medical degree. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science is an institution renowned for its high caliber research. Having said this, this institution offers students, regardless of their financial barriers, the chance to become a part of the academic family. Being given the opportunity to conduct real life and independent scientific research is something that I would love to take part in. The reason for this is because the independence within the laboratory is what allows students to experience graduate school life at its best and most genuine way. Participating in this, once in a lifetime experience will impel me to think deeper about issues that continue to prevail in medicine and science while simultaneously seeking for solutions to these problems. This Program offers students the ability to work closely with faculty while bringing to fruition a lasting mentoring relationship that promises to keep students interested in pursuing graduate degrees, such as PhD and MD. Likewise, this program offers students the freedom to enjoy asking questions that may not have answers to. This is what helps stimulate the sense of independence that allows the student to feel comfortable and unafraid to venture into the unknown. It is this fact-driven world that I would like to be a part of; a world that fosters and values individuality while contributing to that individual's mental and intellectual maturity.

Hi, can someone please help me edit this essay for a summer research fellowship. It is the personal statement that I am planing on submitting. I really would like to know how the essay stands up to now, in terms of language structure syntax grammar. Story flow and overall appearance. Your help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance. Living in poverty for most of my childhood, has been a pivotal factor in stimulating my interest for a career as a medical physician. Since a very young age, I struggled to see how my mother battled the dreadful effects of Diabetes. Seeing her struggle to take pills after pills to help treat such pernicious disease was mind bugling for me to witness. Part of the reason for this was because I was only five years old when she was diagnosed with the disease, while she was twenty-six. This experience has enabled me to become profusely introspective about not only Diabetes but also other types of autoimmune diseases, with the hope of one day being a pioneering contributor to a possible cure. For this reason, only a career in medicine and research would offer me the opportunity to live a life committed to learning new things related to autoimmune diseases and other pathological illnesses. My exposure to small research opportunities in my school have given me the ability to know that this is something that I truly want to do for the rest of my existence. These small research experiences have little by little indulged me in a world of intellectually and incredible wonders. My career goal is to become a medical scientist, and obtain both my doctorate and medical degree, in a field that would allow me to study the connectivity between autoimmune diseases and the biology of the brain. For this reason, one of my short-term goals is to obtain my Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Biology with a specialization in Neuroscience. It is my hope to spend approximately five years completing this degree, as I have also taken on the responsibility of completing my premedical requirements. With the fifth and extra year as an undergraduate student, I plan to enroll in some graduate school courses. This will allow me to enter graduate school better prepared for the many challenges that may await ahead. Following the completion of my undergraduate degree I plan on pursuing my PhD and spend the next six years conducting high caliber research related to brain function and its relation to autoimmune diseases. After this, I plan to take some time off with the hope of getting involved in some volunteer related to my desired specialty. The reason for this is that I would like to become better acquainted with how pathogenic correlates with the myriad of diseases that inhabit us on a daily basis. Finally, I hope to enroll in medical school and continue the lifelong journey of learning the art of medicine. My participation in the Mayo Clinic's Undergraduate Fellowship Program would help continue to foster my curiosity for science all while allowing me to broaden my professional networking skills and connections. Part of the reason for this is that only through connections and teamwork can we as future scientist probe and untangle the nuances that make problems in the world of medicine so elusive to resolve. As a minority and first-generation student who has strong interest in pursuing a career as a medical physician, I could not think of a better program to join than Mayo Clinic's Undergraduate Fellowship Program. The Neuroscience and Immunology department at Mayo Clinic provides students the chance to gain a diverse perspective on whatever study they choose within both of these specialties. Because of this, I would like to focus in conducting research on a project that would enable me to combine Neurobiology and Immunology. Being exposed to a research opportunity of this magnitude will allow me to gain access to opportunities that my school does not have. Furthermore, this program offers students the opportunity to become better acquainted with the path towards a graduate school degree. By exposing individuals to the laboratory culture of the research group, lab meetings, and other weekly group led research activities, Mayo Clinic promises the success of minority and underrepresented students in graduate school. With the slow and unsteady increase in the number of minority students that have gone on to pursue post-undergraduate level education, I hope to contribute by committing to pursue my dreams of obtaining my doctorate and medical degree. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science is an institution renowned for its high caliber research. Having said this, this institution offers students, regardless of their financial barriers, the chance to become a part of the academic family. Being given the opportunity to conduct real life and independent scientific research is something that I would love to take part in. The reason for this is that the independence within the laboratory is what allows students to experience graduate school life at its best and most genuine way. Participating in this, once in a lifetime experience will impel me to think deeper about issues that continue to prevail in medicine and science while simultaneously seeking for solutions to these problems. This Program offers students the ability to work closely with faculty while bringing to fruition a lasting mentoring relationship that promises to keep students interested in pursuing graduate degrees, such as PhD and MD. Likewise, this program offers students the freedom to enjoy asking questions that may not have answers to. This is what helps stimulate the sense of independence that allows the student to feel comfortable and unafraid to venture into the unknown. It is this fact-driven world that I would like to be a part of; a world that fosters and values individuality while contributing to that individual's mental and intellectual maturity.

As a shy introvert middle schooler, who always lived with his family, living alone and taking care of myself was difficult at first. In my first month of living in a dorm; I would always find myself wearing headphones, so I don't have to talk to my roommates, or missing first courses because I overslept. After lengthy one month of lonely evenings and multiple meetings with counselor, I realized I was doing an injustice to myself. When I can learn from this experience and exceed my potential, I was using it as excuse to dodge my responsibilities. I started changing myself little by little: making small conversation with my roommates, making daily schedules. 3 months later when my family finally got an apartment, not only I had many friends in my dormitory, but I also did well in managing my time, which helped me do well academically win several physics competition that year. Living alone helped me overcome my shy personality and developed my time management skill. Adapting to different environment was one of the most significant challenge I faced, but it was one of the biggest blessing in my life too.

As a shy introvert middle schooler, who always lived with his family, living alone and taking care of myself was difficult at first. In my first month of living in a dorm; I would always find myself wearing headphones, so I don't have to talk to my roommates, or missing first courses because I overslept. After lengthy one month of lonely evenings and multiple meetings with counselor, I realized I was doing an injustice to myself. When I can learn from this experience and exceed my potential, I was using it as excuse to dodge my responsibilities. I started changing myself little by little: making small conversation with my roommates, making daily schedules. 3 months later when my family finally got an apartment, not only I had many friends in my dormitory, but I also did well in managing my time, which helped me do well academically win several physics competition that year. Living alone helped me overcome my shy personality and developed my time management skill. Adapting to different environment was one of the most significant challenge I faced, but it was one of the biggest blessing in my life too.

Stunning was the only word that could come to mind. Those broad sharp edges only lured me to come closer. Every consonant and vowel that spelt out my name emphasized that the pay check belonged to me; I'd never seen anything so heavenly. When I had completed high school, I was enthusiastic to explore the world and discover what lay beyond those classroom walls that I had been subjected prisoner to for twelve years. One evening, I went up to my mother and asked her for some money to go shopping. "Wankunda how many times do I have to tell you I don't have money!" my mother scolded. That was the last straw and I stormed off to my room. I lay vexed in bed; I'd had enough of taking no for an answer. The sudden need for water to calm my nerves encouraged me to seek a pitcher of water. As I walked to the kitchen, I heard silent sobs. My feet seemed to have a mind of their own as my ears guided me closer to the sob's bearer. As I gained in on the culprit, my pupils spotted a hunched silhouette by the window gazing into the dark night sky, and I stopped in my tracks. When the faint moon light fell on her face, I realized it was mother. I wondered if my tantrum had upset her, and in that moment it dawned on me. With my grandfather's weakening health and my little brother's pending fees, my parents were unable to meet the family's financial needs. I returned to my room with a lump of guilt in my throat instead of water. I knew what I had to do; I decided to take the mature step-look for a job. Without much of a qualification to tug to my name, the only job I was eligible for was as a casual worker. Finding a job had proven itself a difficult endeavor. The vibrant energy I had started my day with diminished as I walked out each store. My feet burned and somewhat seemed to want to give up on me, and my head throbbed from hearing the monotonous phrase ''Sorry we have no jobs available". "Is this what they must put up with to put a roof over our head?" I questioned for a layer of dust on my black Nikes and extra moisture on my forehead were the only thing I had acquired. I had the profound certainty that the day was going to end as hapless as it had started not knowing fortune was ten steps away. The urge to rest on a nearby bench on a side walk landed me on a jackpot." BEAUTY SPOT SALON LOOKING FOR A YOUNG VIBRANT RECEPTIONIST", the advertisement read; I looked to the heavens and I knew then it was my omen. I hurriedly copied down the details and the slight hope that had rekindled made the mile walk back home short. I filled in my application letter and submitted it the following day. After a week of suspense, I was called for interviews and I got the job. While my friends went out for parties, I worked hard to cover up my shifts. While they slept in late, I rose early to hustle through the day. I came to see the world for what it really was. The pay was not much, but I Loved my job because I was able to contribute the little I had to keep us afloat. I learned to work and interact with people much older than me, and I realized that nothing comes easy and often demands a little sweat. The first time I had set me eyes on my pay check I was overwhelmed and proud because every fiber in body had worked hard to get it.

Stunning was the only word that could come to mind. Those broad sharp edges only lured me to come closer. Every consonant and vowel that spelled out my name emphasized that the pay check belonged to me; I'd never seen anything so heavenly. When I had completed high school, I was enthusiastic to explore the world and discover what lay beyond those classroom walls that I had been subjected prisoner to for twelve years. One evening, I went up to my mother and asked her for some money to go shopping. "Wakanda how many times do I have to tell you I don't have money!" my mother scolded. That was the last straw and I stormed off to my room. I lay vexed in bed; I'd had enough of taking no for an answer. The sudden need for water to calm my nerves encouraged me to seek a pitcher of water. As I walked to the kitchen, I heard silent sobs. My feet seemed to have a mind of their own as my ears guided me closer to the sob's bearer. As I gained in on the culprit, my pupils spotted a hunched silhouette by the window gazing into the dark night sky, and I stopped in my tracks. When the faint moon light fell on her face, I realized it was mother. I wondered if my tantrum had upset her, and At that moment it dawned on me. With my grandfather's weakening health and my little brother's pending fees, my parents were unable to meet the family's financial needs. I returned to my room with a lump of guilt in my throat instead of water. I knew what I had to do; I decided to take the mature step-look for a job. Without much of a qualification to tug to my name, the only job I was eligible for was as a casual worker. Finding a job had proven itself a difficult endeavor. The vibrant energy I had started my day with diminished as I walked out each store. My feet burned and somewhat seemed to want to give up on me, and my head throbbed from hearing the monotonous phrase ''Sorry we have no jobs available". "Is this what they must put up with to put a roof over our head?" I questioned for a layer of dust on my black Nike's and extra moisture on my forehead were the only thing I had acquired. I had the profound certainty that the day was going to end as hapless as it had started not knowing fortune was ten steps away. The urge to rest on a nearby bench on a sidewalk landed me on a jackpot." BEAUTY SPOT SALON LOOKING FOR A YOUNG VIBRANT RECEPTIONIST", the advertisement read; I looked to the heavens and I knew then it was my omen. I hurriedly copied down the details and the slight hope that had rekindled made the mile walk back home short. I filled in my application letter and submitted it the following day. After a week of suspense, I was called for interviews and I got the job. While my friends went out for parties, I worked hard to cover up my shifts. While they slept in late, I rose early to hustle through the day. I came to see the world for what it really was. The pay was not much, but I Loved my job because I was able to contribute the little I had to keep us afloat. I learned to work and interact with people much older than me, and I realized that nothing comes easy and often demands a little sweat. The first time I had set me eyes on my pay check I was overwhelmed and proud because every fiber in body had worked hard to get it.

The camp auditorium began to echo to the sound of national pride and loyalty. The commanding officer instructed all new enlistees to rise for the national anthem, I stood there, frozen. With a hand on my pounding heart, mumbling the words of the anthem, a single question lingered in my head. "How can I serve a country that doesn't feel like home?" "There's our little soldier!" was the classic greeting I received from my parents' friends. On the outside, I had a fake grin on my face, but on the inside, the very thought of being a "soldier" made me quake. The two-year mandatory military service is deemed as a rite of passage for all Singaporean sons. I had heard stories about how the military made boys into men, and yet I couldn't see myself do the same. For me, "home" was more of a concept rather than a place. Living in six countries over the span of 18 years, exposed me to different cultures and unique experiences. We were never too sure how long we would stay in one place, therefore I would make the most out of each opportunity. I learned to ride a bicycle on the cobbled streets of Amsterdam, ate a variety of tropical fruits in the Philippines, and mastered the art of the Chinese Yo-Yo in Hong Kong. All these experiences helped shape my character and made me the global citizen I am today. When asked where I'm from, it's followed by a long explanation of my life and the places I've lived. It never felt right calling myself Singaporean. Although my passport says Singapore, it was never a place I identified as home. Walking through the "Citizens" immigration line and being greeted with the words "Welcome Home" just felt wrong. When enlistment day finally arrived, my parents and I joined the flood of families into the army camp leading to a tour of my new home for the coming months. We were then brought to an auditorium for our oath taking. My heart dropped as we recited words pledging our allegiance to both Singapore and the armed forces. In a fearful daze, I gave an emotional hug to my parents then joined the rest of the recruits. We were instantly thrust into a regime of discipline-rising at five, finishing breakfast by six, followed by hours of physical training. Our days were packed with lectures, practicals, and trainings on all facets of basic infantry skills. We were educated on our national security and well-being, bringing purpose to our training. Our commanders tested our limits but with each passing day, we carried our sore bodies and drained minds together as a platoon. I was fearful my background would stop me from fitting in, but basic training became a place where I could embrace my differences. The army ingrained a deep sense of camaraderie and the ethos of having each other's back. I saw people from all walks of life bond over the one major similarity, Singapore is our home. Even with my very colorful background, I was able to connect with others and gained everlasting friendships with my batchmates. I even started acting more Singaporean, as far as gaining the local Singlish accent in my daily speech. I was seen as another "Bro" who suffered and persevered like all Singaporean sons. The months of training came to a climactic end with our graduation parade. Marching in step, yelling army songs at the top of my lungs, I felt a great sense of pride wearing my uniform. I was surrounded by brothers in arms that helped me through this rite of passage. The national anthem began to echo once again, however this time, a strong sense of belonging welled up in me. With my hand on my heart, I could finally say the words that lacked meaning till this moment. "This is my home."_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Hi everyone, just wanted some input on my essay as I've been editing and reworking it since about end of July. I had already submitted this essay for my ED in NYU, however, I still am open to suggestions if I were to submit this essay to other schools outside of the common app. Greatly appreciate your input.

The camp auditorium began to echo to the sound of national pride and loyalty. The commanding officer instructed all new enlistees to rise for the national anthem, I stood there, frozen. With a hand on my pounding heart, mumbling the words of the anthem, a single question lingered in my head. "How can I serve a country that doesn't feel like home?" "There's our little soldier!" was the classic greeting I received from my parents' friends. On the outside, I had a fake grin on my face, but on the inside, the very thought of being a "soldier" made me quake. The two-year mandatory military service is deemed as a rite of passage for all Singaporean sons. I had heard stories about how the military made boys into men, and yet I couldn't see myself do the same. For me, "home" was more of a concept rather than a place. Living in six countries over the span of 18 years, exposed me to different cultures and unique experiences. We were never to sure how long we would stay in one place, therefore I would make the most out of each opportunity. I learned to ride a bicycle on the cobbled streets of Amsterdam, ate a variety of tropical fruits in the Philippines, and mastered the art of the Chinese Yo-Yo in Hong Kong. All these experiences helped shape my character and made me the global citizen I am today. When asked where I'm from, it's followed by a long explanation of my life and the places I've lived. It never felt right calling myself Singaporean. Although my passport says Singapore, it was never a place I identified as home. Walking through the "Citizens" immigration line and being greeted with the words "Welcome Home" just felt wrong. When enlistment day finally arrived, my parents and I joined the flood of families into the army camp leading to a tour of my new home for the coming months. We were then brought to an auditorium for our oath taking. My heart dropped as we recited words pledging our allegiance to both Singapore and the armed forces. In a fearful daze, I gave an emotional hug to my parents then joined the rest of the recruits. We were instantly thrust into a regime of discipline-rising at five, finishing breakfast by six, followed by hours of physical training. Our days were packed with lectures, practicals, and trainings on all facets of basic infantry skills. We were educated on our national security and well-being, bringing purpose to our training. Our commanders tested our limits but with each passing day, we carried our sore bodies and drained minds together as a platoon. I was fearful my background would stop me from fitting in, but basic training became a place where I could embrace my differences. The army ingrained a deep sense of camaraderie and the ethos of having each other's back. I saw people from all walks of life bond over the one major similarity, Singapore is our home. Even with my very colorful background, I was able to connect with others and gained everlasting friendships with my batch mates. I even started acting more Singaporean, as far as gaining the local English accent in my daily speech. I was seen as another "Bro" who suffered and persevered like all Singaporean sons. The months of training came to a climactic end with our graduation parade. Marching in step, yelling army songs at the top of my lungs, I felt a great sense of pride wearing my uniform. I was surrounded by brothers in arms that helped me through this rite of passage. The national anthem began to echo once again, however this time, a strong sense of belonging welled up in me. With my hand on my heart, I could finally say the words that lacked meaning till this moment. "This is my home."_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Hi everyone, just wanted some input on my essay as I've been editing and reworking it since about end of July. I had already submitted this essay for my ED in NYU, however, I still am open to suggestions if I were to submit this essay to other schools outside the common app. Greatly appreciate your input.

Just a few months ago, I waited anxiously as a vial of Drosophila Melanogaster was delivered to the steps of my high school. To an outsider, a fruit fly delivery may not seem too exciting, but for an aspiring biological researcher, it was quite thrilling. After hours of reading the Drosophila Care Manual, I knew exactly what to do to maintain their survival. But it seemed the more I prepared, the more nervous I became. Throughout high school, I have taken nearly every science course in the building. Never in my time during countless biology, chemistry or physics courses had I ever been nervous, not even before grade-defining midterms or AP tests. I was always prepared; I knew my memory and study skills were enough to ace any test. But it dawned on me that I had not been nervous because there was never anything life-altering at stake. It seemed like if I could not keep the fruit flies healthy, I would never be equipped to perform biological research. But as time progressed, my worries faded. I became exceedingly comfortable in the lab. I had no problem keeping the flies alive; it was merely a first step to the exciting work I am doing. My career goals include only biological research. I have an undeniable passion for biology and an unwavering desire to discover. Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences gives me the ability to combine my interests in biology and research! I would be grateful to study from all of Cornell's professors, but to study those who share my passion for biological research is the driving force behind my interest in Cornell. I want to meet professors such as Linda Nicholson, to pick her brain about protein dynamics and their implications on Alzheimer's disease, and Daniel Barbash, to discuss how animals develop, evolve and form new species, and Carl Batt, to ask about the role of therapeutic agents in combating cancer. Learning my role models would be an honor and a privilege, that I could only experience at Cornell. If I am lucky enough to receive admission, I plan to major in biological sciences with a concentration on biochemistry. I will take courses focused on understand the inner workings of cells, such as BIOMG 4450 "Stem Cells and Regeneration", CHEM 7880 "Structural Methods in Biochemistry", and BIOMG 4880, "Cancer Genetics." In addition to understanding complex ideas, the courses will also teach me skills necessary for my future in biological research, like x-ray crystallography and electron microscopy. I would also love take BIOMG 1320 "Orientation Lectures in Molecular Biology and Genetics," a course where six Cornell professors simply discuss their research. The way Cornell integrates research into a formal teaching setting is truly amazing. This course would not only pique my curiosity but also allow me to gain insight on what my future career field entails. In addition to the incomparable academic and career opportunities at Cornell, I also love the campus. From the breathtaking waterfalls and historic architecture to the welcoming students and acclaimed faculty, I couldn't imagine a better place to spend the next four years.

Just a few months ago, I waited anxiously as a vial of Drosophila Melanogaster was delivered to the steps of my high school. To an outsider, a fruit fly delivery may not seem too exciting, but for an aspiring biological researcher, it was quite thrilling. After hours of reading the Drosophila Care Manual, I knew exactly what to do to maintain their survival. But it seemed the more I prepared, the more nervous I became. Throughout high school, I have taken nearly every science course in the building. Never in my time during countless biology, chemistry or physics courses had I ever been nervous, not even before grade-defining midterms or AP tests. I was always prepared; I knew my memory and study skills were enough to ace any test. But it dawned on me that I had not been nervous because there was never anything life-altering at stake. It seemed like if I could not keep the fruit flies healthy, I would never be equipped to perform biological research. But as time passed, my worries faded. I became exceedingly comfortable in the lab. I had no problem keeping the flies alive; it was merely a first step to the exciting work I am doing. My career goals include only biological research. I have an undeniable passion for biology and an unwavering desire to discover. Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences gives me the ability to combine my interests in biology and research! I would be grateful to study from all of Cornell's professors, but to study those who share my passion for biological research is the driving force behind my interest in Cornell. I want to meet professors such as Linda Nicholson, to pick her brain about protein dynamics and their implications on Alzheimer's disease, and Daniel Bar bash, to discuss how animals develop, evolve and form new species, and Carl Matt, to ask about the role of therapeutic agents in combating cancer. Learning my role models would be an honor and a privilege, that I could only experience at Cornell. If I am lucky enough to receive admission, I plan to major in biological sciences with a concentration on biochemistry. I will take courses focused on understand the inner workings of cells, such as BIOME 4450 "Stem Cells and Regeneration", CHEM 7880 "Structural Methods in Biochemistry", and BIOME 4880, "Cancer Genetics." In addition to understanding complex ideas, the courses will also teach me skills necessary for my future in biological research, like x-ray crystallography and electron microscopy. I would also love to take BIOME 1320 "Orientation Lectures in Molecular Biology and Genetics," a course where six Cornell professors simply discuss their research. The way Cornell integrates research into a formal teaching setting is truly amazing. This course would not only pique my curiosity but also allow me to gain insight on what my future career field entails. In addition to the incomparable academic and career opportunities at Cornell, I also love the campus. From the breathtaking waterfalls and historic architecture to the welcoming students and acclaimed faculty, I couldn't imagine a better place to spend the next four years.

I would like some last minute feedback for this, I am very open to changing it up just don't know where! (also its 296 words which is technically over 250 count but there is a 300 max limit in the text box) Many of my family members reside in Bangladesh. My mother's side of the family lives in mud huts in a small village where electricity, heat, and other commodities are not often available. My widowed aunt and my two young cousins do not have the luxury of having a fridge. Because of this, they can only have foods like meat, fish, and other perishable foods in small quantities, if ever. To alleviate their situation a little, I would like to design a fridge that runs off renewable energy. In the village, sunlight is plentiful, thus placing photovoltaic solar panels outside, connected to the fridge using a wire, will allow refrigeration to run with little to no cost. To prevent damage to the solar panels, they would be placed on the roofs of the mud huts, so they are not harmed during the monsoon seasons. The use of solar energy is especially helpful when considering the limited resources that my relatives can spend on. Because sunlight energy is free and can be stored, the fridge will remain running even in the absence of light. The current design of a fridge uses an expansion valve, compressor, evaporator, condenser, and refrigerant. These items work in conjunction to allow the expansion and compression of gas to change the temperature. The expansion valve controls the amount of refrigerant that is released into the compressor, where it is either condensed or evaporated in the appropriate area to release or store heat. This simple mechanism will be used in my fridge because it is the most efficient method of refrigeration. Through the funding for a solar powered fridge project, at least one family in a third world country will live slightly more comfortably having access to foods that they once saw as a luxury.

I would like some last minute feedback for this, I am very open to changing it up just doesn't know where! (also its 296 words which is technically over 250 count, but there is a 300 max limit in the text box) Many of my family members reside in Bangladesh. My mother's side of the family lives in mud huts in a small village where electricity, heat, and other commodities are not often available. My widowed aunt and my two young cousins do not have the luxury of having a fridge. Because of this, they can only have foods like meat, fish, and other perishable foods in small quantities, if ever. To alleviate their situation a little, I would like to design a fridge that runs off renewable energy. In the village, sunlight is plentiful, thus placing photovoltaic solar panels outside, connected to the fridge using a wire, will allow refrigeration to run with little to no cost. To prevent damage to the solar panels, they would be placed on the roofs of the mud huts, so they are not harmed during the monsoon seasons. The use of solar energy is especially helpful when considering the limited resources that my relatives can spend on. Because sunlight energy is free and can be stored, the fridge will remain running even in the absence of light. The current design of a fridge uses an expansion valve, compressor, evaporator, condenser, and refrigerant. These items work in conjunction to allow the expansion and compression of gas to change the temperature. The expansion valve controls the amount of refrigerant that is released into the compressor, where it is either condensed or evaporated in the appropriate area to release or store heat. This simple mechanism will be used in my fridge because it is the most efficient method of refrigeration. Through the funding for a solar-powered fridge project, at least one family in a Third World country will live slightly more comfortably having access to foods that they once saw as a luxury.

Prompt: Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? People really don't like math all that much. Ever since I was a kid, I've always known that people didn't like math and wondered why. Whether I liked the convenient solutions, I didn't like all my other classes relatively, or because I felt I had to like math due to family pressure, I always told myself that I liked math. However, the way that I viewed mathematics was fundamentally flawed. I thought that math was purely systematic, that there was only one way or a set, that was taught to me, to solve problems. For the majority of my life, I never understood what math truly was and just viewed it very statically, as just some numbers you do stuff to in specific ways to get a desired result. I remember always hating word problems in math, and looking back on it it was a true testament to how badly my view of math was. Math is a language. I feel like if I were to tell this to anyone they would just think I'm being pretentious. Despite this, I carry on with this mantra as my new view on mathematics. The first mathematicians were not even really thinking about math; they were just some people who wanted to know how the world worked. From its first conception, math has been a method by which we further our understanding of the world around us. Math is the base of our understanding of the world. From math to physics to chemistry to biology and every other school of academia in between. All of this built upon the language that people from the past centuries and millennia have used to explain the world, mathematics. With this, it hurts to see people view mathematics how I did. The fixed way of thinking about mathematics was my view until roughly 11th grade. I'm not going to be pretentious and say that I had some huge epiphany during 11th grade about math; I had just started watching a lot of videos about math on YouTube and slowly started to understand it much better than I did before. Since this new thought of thinking about math, I had not just started understanding how math worked in my classes, but I had started to genuinely enjoy it. For example, simultaneously learning about the unit circle in precalculus and then learning about oscillatory motion and waves in physics made me appreciate how perfectly math connected with the how the world worked. I would consider that as the crux of my appreciation of mathematics and ever since, I have wanted for people to see that math isn't the bland subject that next to all teachers make it to be. The teaching methodology is at the core of the problem; they force equations to be memorized rather than explaining their derivation, don't show the applications of math, etc. As a result of a combination of these things, most people just hate math and find it to be useless. Currently, I am in calculus and I can genuinely say that I am enjoying its content greater than any of my other classes. It is just really nice to see because calculus deals with ideas that build upon each other that manage to collectively solve only a couple core problems that have a beautiful solution. Then, seeing this application to my current physics class (which is algebra based but is combined with another calculus-based physics class) starting with the position, velocity, and acceleration vs time graphs and going to solving the pressure on areas of an irregularly shaped object submerged in a fluid. Seeing math in this new way has turned a subject that I did not care about studying to one that I actively look forward to. Word Count: 632

Prompt: Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? People really don't like math all that much. Ever since I was a kid, I've always known that people didn't like math and wondered why. Whether I liked the convenient solutions, I didn't like all my other classes relatively, or because I felt I had to like math due to family pressure, I always told myself that I liked math. However, the way that I viewed mathematics was fundamentally flawed. I thought that math was purely systematic, that there was only one way or a set, that was taught to me, to solve problems. For the majority of my life, I never understood what math truly was and just viewed it very statically, as just some numbers you do stuff to in specific ways to get a desired result. I remember always hating word problems in math, and looking back on it is was a true testament to how badly my view of math was. Math is a language. I feel like if I were to tell this to anyone they would just think I'm being pretentious. Despite this, I carry on with this mantra as my new view on mathematics. The first mathematicians were not even really thinking about math; they were just some people who wanted to know how the world worked. From its first conception, math has been a method by which we further our understanding of the world around us. Math is the base of our understanding of the world. From math to physics to chemistry to biology and every other school of academia in between. All of this built upon the language that people from the past centuries and millennia have used to explain the world, mathematics. With this, it hurts to see people view mathematics how I did. The fixed way of thinking about mathematics was my view until roughly 11th grade. I'm not going to be pretentious and say that I had some huge epiphany during 11th grade about math; I had just started watching a lot of videos about math on YouTube and slowly started to understand it much better than I did before. Since this new thought of thinking about math, I had not just started understanding how math worked in my classes, but I had started to genuinely enjoy it. For example, simultaneously learning about the unit circle in precalculus and then learning about oscillatory motion and waves in physics made me appreciate how perfectly math connected with how the world worked. I would consider that as the crux of my appreciation of mathematics and ever since, I have wanted for people to see that math isn't the bland subject that next to all teachers make it to be. The teaching methodology is at the core of the problem; they force equations to be memorized rather than explaining their derivation, don't show the applications of math, etc. As a result of a combination of these things, most people just hate math and find it to be useless. Currently, I am in calculus and I can genuinely say that I am enjoying its content greater than any of my other classes. It is just really nice to see because calculus deals with ideas that build upon each other that manage to collectively solve only a couple core problems that have a beautiful solution. Then, seeing this application to my current physics class (which is algebra based but is combined with another calculus-based physics class) starting with the position, velocity, and acceleration vs time graphs and going to solve the pressure on areas of an irregularly shaped object submerged in a fluid. Seeing math in this new way has turned a subject that I did not care about studying to one that I actively look forward to. Word Count: 632

"Now repeat after me," I said to the third-grader who I was tutoring, "Attitude.""Attitude.""Predict, " I continued, pausing every now and then to correct her pronunciation.I started tutoring English as a part-time job during the summer of my freshman year. As a homeschooler in China, I wanted to take advantage of my bilingual identity and utilize my free time to the fullest, and I found opportunities to do so through reaching out to family friends and church members. By the beginning of sophomore year, I was tutoring three children at completely different age levels. Each child had a distinctive personality and they learned best through different teaching styles, so I tried to accommodate to their needs. For the sixth-grader who learns visually, I assigned hand-drawn vocabulary note cards. For the second-grader who has trouble staying focused, I created word games like crossword puzzles and charades to be more interactive. For the third-grader who likes to listen to music, I recommended plenty of English songs. Tutoring English has taught me to present learning in a way that my students can understand and enjoy. I became more flexible, enthusiastic, and accepting through my tutoring experience, and I improved my communication skills in active listening and considering target audience. Doing so, I built and consolidated my relationship with each of the students. In college, I want to expand my horizons. By pursuing in Communications, I hope to be equipped with skills to effectively communicate with not just a single person, but a diverse audience as well.

"Now repeat after me," I said to the third-grader who I was tutoring, "Attitude."" Attitude."" Predict," I continued, pausing sometimes to correct her pronunciation. I started tutoring English as a part-time job during the summer of my freshman year. As a homeschooler in China, I wanted to take advantage of my bilingual identity and utilize my free time to the fullest, and I found opportunities to do so through reaching out to family friends and church members. By the beginning of sophomore year, I was tutoring three children at completely different age levels. Each child had a distinctive personality, and they learned best through different teaching styles, so I tried to accommodate to their needs. For the sixth-grader who learns visually, I assigned hand-drawn vocabulary note cards. For the second-grader who has trouble staying focused, I created word games like crossword puzzles and charades to be more interactive. For the third-grader who likes to listen to music, I recommended plenty of English songs. Tutoring English has taught me to present learning in a way that my students can understand and enjoy. I became more flexible, enthusiastic, and accepting through my tutoring experience, and I improved my communication skills in active listening and considering target audience. Doing so, I built and consolidated my relationship with each of the students. In college, I want to expand my horizons. By pursuing in Communications, I hope to be equipped with skills to effectively communicate with not just a single person, but a diverse audience as well.

Prompt: Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. Movie spoilers. When presented, people look away with a groan and a face filled with rage and disgust. They're deplorable, unwanted, and the bane of all moviegoers' existence. Like most people, I desperately fend off spoilers in an attempt to keep the treasure of the surprise ending protected. I don't only try to avoid Twitter spoilers, movie articles, or conversations about movies, I also avoid their trailers. This idea was introduced to me in my favorite podcast, Hello Internet. In this podcast, Youtube content creators C.G.P. Grey and Brady Haran discuss a plethora of topics that range from technology etiquette to vexillology, the study of flags. During a discussion about an upcoming Star Wars movie, C.G.P. Grey refused to watch the trailer. He reasons that all movie trailers reveal small but significant snippets of the storyline without the full context of the rest of the film, resulting in premature bias. In trailers, the best jokes, the most breathtaking scenes, and the most spine-tingling scenes are displayed. When trailers reveal the best segments of movies without their full context, how can anyone intimately enjoy the movie when watched in totality? The best way to watch a movie is cold, with absolutely no prior knowledge about the film, allowing the events of the story to reveal themselves in the way the director wanted. With his approach in mind, I stopped watching all movies trailers and started going into movies cold. I let movies such as Fences, Seven Samurai, Moonlight, and Inglourious Basterds unfold themselves as the artistic masterpieces that Washington, Kurosawa, Jenkins, and Tarantino intended. For example, by going into Inglourious Basterds cold, I could feel the overwhelming tension from the battle between SS officer Hans, who was looking for jews, and the farmer, LaPadite, who was hiding them. It kept me fearful and guessing the next scene. If I had watched the trailer, I would've seen Nazi soldiers raiding the house and a subsequent scene of a tearful bloodstained Jewish girl fleeing the scene, unveiling the victor and eliminating the tension from the scene. As I watched these movies I realized that this principle could be applied to many more mediums of art. I began to listen to music starting from the first track of the album instead of jumping to the few hit songs. My appreciation for the flow and storytelling of my favorite albums increased as I listened to Kendrick Lamar's 'Good Kid, M.A.A.D City and Public Service Broadcasting's The Race for Space starting from track 1. I stopped listening to podcasts such asThis American Life and99% Invisible at 2x speed in order to notice and appreciate every single pause of silence and the exact pacing the podcast creators intended. Now, as I'm approaching adulthood, I further realize that I want to live a spoiler-free life, devoid of preconceived opinions, including my own. I want to see what life and the world truly are with an open mind. When I begin my journey into college I will meet new people, experience new ideas, and encounter a world of possibilities. When my ideas are challenged by a professor, a student, a colleague, or anyone else, an open mind will allow me to free myself from my own ideas and to consider new ones. When new frightening opportunities present themselves, such as a chance to study abroad, or an opportunity to help a desperate community, an open mind will allow me to see those possibilities and take them. Above all else, by having an open mind, I'll be able to appreciate the nuances of life and allow the story of my life to unfold on its own. If anyone were to offer me any advice on life, I would say, "Please, no spoilers." Word Count: 633

Prompt: Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. Movie spoilers. When presented, people look away with a groan and a face filled with rage and disgust. They're deplorable, unwanted, and the bane of all moviegoers' existence. Like most people, I desperately fend off spoilers in an attempt to keep the treasure of the surprise ending protected. I don't only try to avoid Twitter spoilers, movie articles, or conversations about movies, I also avoid their trailers. This idea was introduced to me in my favorite podcast, Hello Internet. In this podcast, YouTube content creators C.G.P. Grey and Brady Harlan discuss a plethora of topics that range from technology etiquette to vexillology, the study of flags. During a discussion about an upcoming Star Wars movie, C.G.P. Grey refused to watch the trailer. He reasons that all movie trailers reveal small but significant snippets of the storyline without the full context of the rest of the film, resulting in premature bias. In trailers, the best jokes, the most breathtaking scenes, and the most spine-tingling scenes are displayed. When trailers reveal the best segments of movies without their full context, how can anyone intimately enjoy the movie when watched in totality? The best way to watch a movie is cold, with absolutely no prior knowledge about the film, allowing the events of the story to reveal themselves in the way the director wanted. With his approach in mind, I stopped watching all movies trailers and started going into movies cold. I let movies such as Fences, Seven Samurai, Moonlight, and Inglorious Basters unfold themselves as the artistic masterpieces that Washington, Kurosawa, Jenkins, and Tarantino intended. For example, by going into Inglorious Basters cold, I could feel the overwhelming tension from the battle between SS officer Hans, who was looking for Jews, and the farmer, Apatite, who was hiding them. It kept me fearful and guessing the next scene. If I had watched the trailer, I would've seen Nazi soldiers raiding the house and a subsequent scene of a tearful bloodstained Jewish girl fleeing the scene, unveiling the victor and eliminating the tension from the scene. As I watched these movies I realized that this principle could be applied to many more mediums of art. I began to listen to music starting from the first track of the album instead of jumping to the few hit songs. My appreciation for the flow and storytelling of my favorite albums increased as I listened to Kendrick Lamar's 'Good Kid, M.A.A.D City and Public Service Broadcasting's The Race for Space starting from track 1. I stopped listening to podcasts such this American Life and99% Invisible at 2x speed in order to notice and appreciate every single pause of silence and the exact pacing the podcast creators intended. Now, as I'm approaching adulthood, I further realize that I want to live a spoiler-free life, devoid of preconceived opinions, including my own. I want to see what life and the world truly are with an open mind. When I begin my journey into college I will meet new people, experience new ideas, and encounter a world of possibilities. When my ideas are challenged by a professor, a student, a colleague, or anyone else, an open mind will allow me to free myself from my own ideas and to consider new ones. When new frightening opportunities present themselves, such as a chance to study abroad, or an opportunity to help a desperate community, an open mind will allow me to see those possibilities and take them. Above all else, by having an open mind, I'll be able to appreciate the nuances of life and allow the story of my life to unfold on its own. If anyone were to offer me any advice on life, I would say, "Please, no spoilers." Word Count: 633

Prompt: Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. Movement one is mainly rhythmic, with sounds of the refrigerator door, the soft thuds of found ingredients on the counter, and the angry chopping of the knife. The piece starts with a mellow feel to it by smoothly slicing through the bell pepper, then suddenly exploding with the tearful emotion of the diced onion. The movement ends abruptly with a desperate need to wipe my eyes and blink the pain away. This is not the only time that cooking has brought me to tears. My first encounter with this recipe was a couple weeks after tearing my ACL last year. I was heartbroken after weeks on the couch, feeling absolutely useless. When I was finally able to hobble around, I needed to find something that I could do on my own. My mom, the Pampered Chef, suggested I take up cooking. When I did, I discovered a way that I regain some control in my life, and create these amazing compositions for me, and for my family. The second movement comes to life with the soft sizzle of coconut oil. The pepper and onion accompany the melody with a bold harmony, providing the perfect fanfare for what's to come. I linger here, letting it pick up some steam. After a few minutes, the melody shifts into dense block chords as the ground beef is added. I reach for my spatula and start hacking away at the meat, increasing the tempo until all that remains are fragmented notes, fifths among sevenths, mixing and complementing the background harmony of veggies. Chaos ensues in the third moment, revving up with a countermelody from the sauce. Color notes appear, introducing the flavors of new ingredients sizzling in the saucepan. In a passionate fervor, I start improvising, throwing in oregano, pepper, basil, insecurity, worry, ridding everything clouding my mind until I need to set my baton down to take a deep breath. I often felt this overwhelmed as I recovered from the knee injury. I hadn't ever faced a obstacle as limiting before. My frustration kept building as I continuously found different things I couldn't do, like expressing myself through dance, taking solo drives on the weekend, and going on simple walks with the dog. Cooking became an outlet where this frustration could explode among the frothing ingredients and boiling passion, and melt away as the heat subsided. The fourth movement begins with clashing chords as the sauce mixes with the melody. They fight to harmonize until a balance is reached and one perfect chord rings true. The chord strengthens over time until finally, the pan is taken off of the heat. I put my baton down as the music fades slowly to a close. The first time I conducted the symphony, I felt overjoyed. I proved to myself that I wasn't useless, I wasn't powerless, because I created this amazing piece. Sure, it wasn't beautiful, it was a messy jumble of sloppy joe-but music isn't always beautiful. Sometimes it's the crunchy chords and the changing melody that tells the story, and makes it special. I know my life has full of dissonance lately, but I know someday that it will resolve into something spectacular. Until then, I have this symphony to guide me through. I bring the pan to the table, and invite my family to join me at the table. Movement five is rhythmic, relating back to the beginning of the piece, except it is full of sliding chairs, clinking utensils, and friendly chatter. I smile as I hear the hums of satisfaction the subtly linger on through the meal, until finally the fermata is cut off and the symphony is brought to an end.

Prompt: Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. Movement one is mainly rhythmic, with sounds of the refrigerator door, the soft thuds of found ingredients on the counter, and the angry chopping of the knife. The piece starts with a mellow feel to it by smoothly slicing through the bell pepper, then suddenly exploding with the tearful emotion of the diced onion. The movement ends abruptly with a desperate need to wipe my eyes and blink the pain away. This is not the only time that cooking has brought me to tears. My first encounter with this recipe was a couple of weeks after tearing my ACL last year. I was heartbroken after weeks on the couch, feeling absolutely useless. When I was finally able to hobble around, I needed to find something that I could do on my own. My mom, the Pampered Chef, suggested I take up cooking. When I did, I discovered a way that I regain some control in my life, and create these amazing compositions for me, and for my family. The second movement comes to life with the soft sizzle of coconut oil. The pepper and onion accompany the melody with a bold harmony, providing the perfect fanfare for what's to come. I linger here, letting it pick up some steam. After a few minutes, the melody shifts into dense block chords as the ground beef is added. I reach for my spatula and start hacking away at the meat, increasing the tempo until all that remains are fragmented notes, fifths among sevenths, mixing and complementing the background harmony of veggies. Chaos ensues in the third moment, revving up with a countermelody from the sauce. Color notes appear, introducing the flavors of new ingredients sizzling in the saucepan. In a passionate fervor, I start improvising, throwing in oregano, pepper, basil, insecurity, worry, ridding everything clouding my mind until I need to set my baton down to take a deep breath. I often felt this overwhelmed as I recovered from the knee injury. I hadn't ever faced an obstacle as limiting before. My frustration kept building as I continuously found different things I couldn't do, like expressing myself through dance, taking solo drives on the weekend, and going on simple walks with the dog. Cooking became an outlet where this frustration could explode among the frothing ingredients and boiling passion, and melt away as the heat subsided. The fourth movement begins with clashing chords as the sauce mixes with the melody. They fight to harmonize until a balance is reached and one perfect chord rings true. The chord strengthens over time until finally, the pan is taken off of the heat. I put my baton down as the music fades slowly to a close. The first time I conducted the symphony, I felt overjoyed. I proved to myself that I wasn't useless, I wasn't powerless, because I created this amazing piece. Sure, it wasn't beautiful, it was a messy jumble of sloppy debut music isn't always beautiful. Sometimes it's the crunchy chords and the changing melody that tells the story, and makes it special. I know my life has full of dissonance lately, but I know someday that it will resolve into something spectacular. Until then, I have this symphony to guide me through. I bring the pan to the table, and invite my family to join me at the table. Movement five is rhythmic, relating back to the beginning of the piece, except it is full of sliding chairs, clinking utensils, and friendly chatter. I smile as I hear the hums of satisfaction the subtly linger on through the meal, until finally the Fermat is cut off and the symphony is brought to an end.

"It's okay. You can definitely do this." The previous leader smiled proudly as she handed me a little blue tag, marking my new position as the head of the youth group. I felt the same way too; I was deeply passionate about serving people in my youth group, and I loved the idea of leading them as we went on retreats and service trips, even if it came with many responsibilities. Soon enough, before the summer of 2016 began, I was tasked with the responsibility of planning the annual service trip. The trip is held in Anhui, a rural province in the eastern region of China, and I needed to make reservations for food and lodging, plan activities for the program, and gather all the required supplies in one month. Though the adult leaders offered to guide me along the way, I refused and insisted that I can do it on my own. I hated reaching out to someone for help, because I associated it with vulnerability and failure. Being raised in a strict Chinese culture that values success, soft-spokenness, and obedience, it was difficult for me to speak up and admit my struggles and incompetence. I was used to carrying the weight on my shoulders. However, because of my reluctance to ask for help, I suffered from large consequences. Being a fifteen-year-old, I had no connections to find a place in Anhui that holds and feeds nearly a hundred children and teens at once. I had no volunteers to lead the program. The weight on my shoulders came tumbling down as I frantically tried to balance between the task, my academics, and extracurricular activities, although in front of others I acted as if nothing happened. As a result, I could not finish the task of planning the service trip on time, and the adult leaders had to push back the date. I realized that I certainly had to stop pretending like I can do everything on my own anymore, so I asked for a second chance. This time, when I planned the trip, I asked members in my church for connections and delegated tasks to others; I was also willing to share about what I was worried of or unsure of during the process. To my surprise, people gladly agreed to cooperate, making me feel less nervous to ask them for help. As I stepped out of my comfort zone, I found it easier to open my mouth. Even though I had to ask for a second chance, I believe I achieved success because I acknowledged my flaws and tried to perfect them. I recognized that, by not confessing defeat and approaching others for help, I had missed countless opportunities throughout high school to not just enhance my academic performance, but also learn from my mistakes and become a better person. Nonetheless, I am still a work in progress, but I am utilizing the lessons I learned from youth group in other areas of my life too--step by step. In the future, as I prepare to overcome more obstacles in college and beyond, I am confident that I will embrace failure, be fearless of appearing weak, and continue to improve and challenge myself.

"It's okay. You can definitely do this." The previous leader smiled proudly as she handed me a little blue tag, marking my new position as the head of the youth group. I felt the same way too; I was deeply passionate about serving people in my youth group, and I loved the idea of leading them as we went on retreats and service trips, even if it came with many responsibilities. Soon enough, before the summer of 2016 began, I was tasked with the responsibility of planning the annual service trip. The trip is held in Anhui, a rural province in the eastern region of China, and I needed to make reservations for food and lodging, plan activities for the program, and gather all the required supplies in one month. Though the adult leaders offered to guide me along the way, I refused and insisted that I can do it on my own. I hated reaching out to someone for help, because I associated it with vulnerability and failure. Being raised in a strict Chinese culture that values success, outspokenness, and obedience, it was difficult for me to speak up and admit my struggles and incompetence. I was used to carrying the weight on my shoulders. However, because of my reluctance to ask for help, I suffered from large consequences. Being a fifteen-year-old, I had no connections to find a place in Anhui that holds and feeds nearly a hundred children and teens at once. I had no volunteers to lead the program. The weight on my shoulders came tumbling down as I frantically tried to balance between the task, my academics, and extracurricular activities, although in front of others I acted as if nothing happened. As a result, I could not finish the task of planning the service trip on time, and the adult leaders had to push back the date. I realized that I certainly had to stop pretending like I can do everything on my own anymore, so I asked for a second chance. This time, when I planned the trip, I asked members in my church for connections and delegated tasks to others; I was also willing to share about what I was worried of or unsure of during the process. To my surprise, people gladly agreed to cooperate, making me feel less nervous to ask them for help. As I stepped out of my comfort zone, I found it easier to open my mouth. Even though I had to ask for a second chance, I believe I achieved success because I acknowledged my flaws and tried to perfect them. I recognized that, by not confessing defeat and approaching others for help, I had missed countless opportunities throughout high school to not just enhance my academic performance, but also learn from my mistakes and become a better person. Nonetheless, I am still a work in progress, but I am utilizing the lessons I learned from youth group in other areas of my life too--step by step. In the future, as I prepare to overcome more obstacles in college and beyond, I am confident that I will embrace failure, be fearless of appearing weak, and continue to improve and challenge myself.

Hi, so I'm applying for JHU for ED this year. I really want to get into the school and would like to edit my essay as perfect as possible. Any comment and suggestion is welcomed:) Thank you! (p.s I know I've exceeded word limit) Prompt: Write a brief essay (300-400 words) in which you respond to the following question.Successful students at Johns Hopkins make the biggest impact by collaborating with others, including peers, mentors, and professors. Talk about a time, in or outside the classroom, when you worked with others and what you learned from the experience. Ever since I learned how to hold a pen, sketching has always been my passion. Yet regardless of my constantly changing style, the sketch of a chubby girl with curly pigtails always remains my favorite. Until March of 2017, however, I did not realize how big an impact she could have on my life. During break one day, some boys saw my chubby girl sketch and began to make fun of it. Surprisingly, one of them came to me afterwards, not only to compliment my sketches but also to show me some of his. Realizing how my sketches were pale in comparison with his, I decided to add some watercolor to them. The next day when I showed him the improved version, we were both shocked at the similarity between my chubby-girl-sketch and the nineteen-year-old Taiwanese student who has been sexually assaulted last year. Unlike my cheerful girl, unfortunately, the student was humiliated and forced to publicly apologize to her university for ruining its reputation. Angered by how Fu-Jen University has dealt with her assault, we were determined to bring justice to her by promoting victim's rights in Taiwan. Before starting our project, neither of us truly realized how sensitive and even repelled most people were towards such a topic; even our parents questioned the feasibility of our plan. Through collaboration, nonetheless, the trust we invested in one another guided us through our darkest hours. After countless other attempts, we chose to design and sell T-shirts with chubby girl image. With no budget for production, we organized our first fundraiser on NPO Channel; through the website, we spread our ideas with Taiwanese audiences and coincidently built up the partnership with Chinese Taipei Human Rights Association. When we eventually gathered enough funds, we realized solely selling the T-shirts in our school limited our project's potential. Consequently, we created a web-page through Roots & Shoots program and connected with groups from other schools; since then, we had raised 120,500 NTD to provide financial and mental support for over 50 victims. Through collaboration, I was able to remain courageous and confident while advocating of an issue that was so incredibly taboo in Taiwanese society. My chubby little girl, once so insignificant, is empowered by the hope we placed on her. Through this bumpy journey, I understand collaboration is about sharing the desire to speak louder, clearer, better about an idea we truly believe in; as long as the passion prevails, partnerships are simply unbreakable.

Hi, so I'm applying for JHU for ED this year. I really want to get into the school and would like to edit my essay as perfect as possible. Any comment and suggestion is welcomed:) Thank you! (p.s I know I've exceeded word limit) Prompt: Write a brief essay (300-400 words) in which you respond to the following question. Successful students at Johns Hopkins make the biggest impact by collaborating with others, including peers, mentors, and professors. Talk about a time, in or outside the classroom, when you worked with others and what you learned from the experience. Ever since I learned how to hold a pen, sketching has always been my passion. Yet regardless of my constantly changing style, the sketch of a chubby girl with curly pigtails always remains my favorite. Until March 2017, however, I did not realize how big an impact she could have on my life. During break one day, some boys saw my chubby girl sketch and began to make fun of it. Surprisingly, one of them came to me afterwards, not only to compliment my sketches but also to show me some of his. Realizing how my sketches were pale in comparison with his, I decided to add some watercolor to them. The next day when I showed him the improved version, we were both shocked at the similarity between my chubby-girl-sketch and the nineteen-year-old Taiwanese student who has been sexually assaulted last year. Unlike my cheerful girl, unfortunately, the student was humiliated and forced to publicly apologize to her university for ruining its reputation. Angered by how Fuel University has dealt with her assault, we were determined to bring justice to her by promoting victim's rights in Taiwan. Before starting our project, neither of us truly realized how sensitive and even repelled most people were towards such a topic; even our parents questioned the feasibility of our plan. Through collaboration, nonetheless, the trust we invested in one another guided us through our darkest hours. After countless other attempts, we chose to design and sell T-shirts with chubby girl image. With no budget for production, we organized our first fundraiser on NPO Channel; through the website, we spread our ideas with Taiwanese audiences and coincidently built up the partnership with Chinese Taipei Human Rights Association. When we eventually gathered enough funds, we realized solely selling the T-shirts in our school limited our project's potential. Consequently, we created a web-page through Roots camp; Shoots program and connected with groups from other schools; since then, we had raised 120,500 NTD to provide financial and mental support for over 50 victims. Through collaboration, I was able to remain courageous and confident while advocating of an issue that was so incredibly taboo in Taiwanese society. My chubby little girl, once so insignificant, is empowered by the hope we placed on her. Through this bumpy journey, I understand collaboration is about sharing the desire to speak louder, clearer, better about an idea we truly believe in; as long as the passion prevails, partnerships are simply unbreakable.

"So, how do you pronounce your name?" "You can just call me Jasmine," I replied, as I forced a smile on my face. This is always the first question that people come up to me and ask. Truthfully, I don't blame them for inquiring about my name. Having a widely-recognized first name as a last name is certainly unusual, and frankly, I would do the same thing if I were them. Prior to leaving for Boston, Massachusetts as a high school transfer, my name was the least of my concerns; instead, I expected it to be one of the more appealing conversation starters that I could use when meeting new people at school. So why do I find it arduous to fully express such a significant piece of my identity? Yes, my last name is Jasmine, but it isn't my surname. My father is Korean and my mother is Indonesian. Just like any married couple, they held a wedding ceremony and have been living with each other under the same roof. However, due to the political climate in Indonesia in the late 1990's, they were never recognized as husband and wife; they didn't have marriage papers or hold dual citizenships. By law, they are two different citizens, but by heart, they are parents to three children. Despite our differences in our last names, it didn't make me any less of my Dad's daughter, and it certainly did not make me any less unique. I've been going by "Jasmine" for as long as I can remember; my Mom can even recall my chatty, blabbering two-year-old self taking pleasure in running around the park of our narrow neighborhood exclaiming, "JA-MINE, JA-MINE!" While I've grown to accept my last name as my nickname over the years, a part of me still feels missing. My first name, "Hany". But what does it mean? Why is it my first name? And how do I pronounce it? My younger self was absorbed in asking those questions, and it was partially due to my distaste in being called by my first name. But it all changed after a trip to my Dad's hometown of Busan, South Korea in the summer of 2012. It was my very first visit to Korea. I had never met my Dad's side of the family before, so the fact that I didn't speak Korean only increased my reluctance in meeting them. However, as soon as my family and I touched down at Gimhae International Airport, our relatives welcomed us with open arms. Within just a week, I was exposed to Korea more than ever before; from authentic kimchi jjigae to k-drama nights with family and friends, I found myself immersed in a new reality that had long been subconsciously ingrained in my identity. That week, when my relatives referred to me as "Hany" with their Busan dialect instead of "Jasmine", I didn't feel ashamed or embarrassed; instead, a sprout of validation grew inside of me, and I finally felt whole for once. Things didn't feel the same when I reverted back to my daily routine in Jakarta - the week that I had spent in Korea suddenly felt forgotten. It then dawned on me that I had been disregarding my Korean heritage all this time, and it was my fault for not contributing enough to accept who I am - both as Korean and Indonesian. Now, as the only Indonesian student in the United States, I have never felt so strongly about expressing my individuality. In a reality that can often feel homogenous, I strive to be confident of myself - to be proud of my cultural heritage; and my name is just a starting point. To my friends, teachers, coaches, and dentists who often mistook my first name for my last, you can still call me "Jasmine", but I'll always be the out-of-the-box-thinking, kimchi-jjigae-loving, computer analyst-aspiring, and Korean-Indonesian-identifying "Hany Jasmine".

"So, how do you pronounce your name?" "You can just call me Jasmine," I replied, as I forced a smile on my face. This is always the first question that people come up to me and ask. Truthfully, I don't blame them for inquiring about my name. Having a widely-recognized first name as a last name is certainly unusual, and frankly, I would do the same thing if I were them. Prior to leaving for Boston, Massachusetts as a high school transfer, my name was the least of my concerns; instead, I expected it to be one of the more appealing conversation starters that I could use when meeting new people at school. So why do I find it arduous to fully express such a significant piece of my identity? Yes, my last name is Jasmine, but it isn't my surname. My father is Korean, and my mother is Indonesian. Just like any married couple, they held a wedding ceremony and have been living with each other under the same roof. However, due to the political climate in Indonesia in the late 1990s, they were never recognized as husband and wife; they didn't have marriage papers or hold dual citizenship. By law, they are two different citizens, but by heart, they are parents to three children. Despite our differences in our last names, it didn't make me any less of my Dad's daughter, and it certainly did not make me any less unique. I've been going by "Jasmine" for as long as I can remember; my Mom can even recall my chatty, blabbering two-year-old self taking pleasure in running around the park of our narrow neighborhood exclaiming, "JA-MINE, JA-MINE!" While I've grown to accept my last name as my nickname over the years, a part of me still feels missing. My first name, "Any". But what does it mean? Why is it my first name? And how do I pronounce it? My younger self was absorbed in asking those questions, and it was partially due to my distaste in being called by my first name. But it all changed after a trip to my Dad's hometown of Susan, South Korea in the summer of 2012. It was my very first visit to Korea. I had never met my Dad's side of the family before, so the fact that I didn't speak Korean only increased my reluctance in meeting them. However, as soon as my family and I touched down at Gimme International Airport, our relatives welcomed us with open arms. Within just a week, I was exposed to Korea more than ever before; from authentic kimchi judge to k-drama nights with family and friends, I found myself immersed in a new reality that had long been subconsciously ingrained in my identity. That week, when my relatives referred to me as "Any" with their Susan dialect instead of "Jasmine", I didn't feel ashamed or embarrassed; instead, a sprout of validation grew inside me, and I finally felt whole for once. Things didn't feel the same when I reverted to my daily routine in Jakarta - the week that I had spent in Korea suddenly felt forgotten. It then dawned on me that I had been disregarding my Korean heritage all this time, and it was my fault for not contributing enough to accept who I am - both as Korean and Indonesian. Now, as the only Indonesian student in the United States, I have never felt so strongly about expressing my individuality. In a reality that can often feel homogenous, I strive to be confident of myself - to be proud of my cultural heritage; and my name is just a starting point. To my friends, teachers, coaches, and dentists who often mistook my first name for my last, you can still call me "Jasmine", but I'll always be the out-of-the-box-thinking, kimchi-jjigae-loving, computer analyst-aspiring, and Korean-Indonesian-identifying "Any Jasmine".

I come home at 9:00 PM, smelling strongly of coffee and surprised by my exhaustion. When I applied for a job at Starbucks, I knew it would be a challenge. However, I thought I would be different - able to leave that day's struggles at the door. My expectations were soon subverted. A shift always begins with punching into the electronic timekeeping system. While the job may seem romantic - whirling around and creating beautiful cappuccinos and lattes has a certain appeal - in reality, most of my tasks is comprised of keeping the store clean. Nonetheless, the camaraderie developed between my colleagues and me make my twenty-five hours a week in their company a true pleasure. Some might find the daily routine of it all - grinding coffee, taking orders, emptying the trash, brewing coffee, sweeping and mopping the floors - monotonous, but I find the tasks grounding. No matter what else is happening in my life, these chores stay the same. They have made me value stability; of having a circle of individuals and a place to where I can return, and be supported, sans the judgement of family or close friends. My coworkers and I come from different backgrounds. Many are mired in the workload of community college and work, often trading academic success for another Starbucks shift. I am one of two still in high school. My job is not mandated by any dire financial circumstances. On the contrary, my mother has offered to pay me to stop working there. I thought that incidents at Starbucks would not affect me once I punched out. But like school, simply walking through a door does not erase emotion and history. They manifest in different ways: swollen feet, an aching back, homework, and friendships. The most distressing events replay in my mind on a repeat. A disgruntled customer threatening to call the district manager, frustrated at the miscommunication between us, accidentally shaking an open container of soy milk and to coat myself in a layer of sticky discomfort, and other routine humiliations suffered. My job has created a new dynamic in my family. Whether they care to admit it or not, I have sensed a newfound respect from my mother and father, as they understand that I can balance school, extracurriculars, and work. Though I have had the fortune to grow up without financial strain, working at Starbucks imbues me with a sense of independence. The feeling of spending someone else's hard-earned money is uncomfortable. Yet no longer am I dependent on my parents for permission to complete certain purchases, or activities. My childish whims are indulged by me, not them. The need to feel grateful towards them is substantially lessened. The ways that I indulge them are more material: the sandwiches, pastries and iced tea that appear in the refrigerator upon my return home at the end of a closing shift. I enjoy working at Starbucks. At the end of the evening, my colleagues and I can laugh at the day's small crises. At school, norms are different. My school friends face obstacles like the revoking of privileges by parents. My Starbucks colleagues' problems are more in tune with the real world; one woman often discusses her struggle to wake up at 2:45 AM, in order to arrive at work by 3:45 AM and earn the income necessary to pay her rent. I take pride in my job because it is a preliminary foray into the adult world. Whether 40 or 17 years old, employees are treatedconsidered equally. Even as a minor, I am trusted to represent the company, something I consider quite significant. It is the only space where I am truly treated as an adult - and I, in turn, can answer as one.

I come home at 9:00 PM, smelling strongly of coffee and surprised by my exhaustion. When I applied for a job at Starbucks, I knew it would be a challenge. However, I thought I would be different - able to leave that day's struggles at the door. My expectations were soon subverted. A shift always begins with punching into the electronic timekeeping system. While the job may seem romantic - whirling around and creating beautiful cappuccinos and lattes has a certain appeal - in reality, most of my tasks comprises keeping the store clean. Nonetheless, the camaraderie developed between my colleagues and me make my twenty-five hours a week in their company a true pleasure. Some might find the daily routine of it all - grinding coffee, taking orders, emptying the trash, brewing coffee, sweeping and mopping the floors - monotonous, but I find the tasks grounding. No matter what else is happening in my life, these chores stay the same. They have made me value stability; of having a circle of individuals and a place to where I can return, and be supported, sans the judgement of family or close friends. My coworkers and I come from different backgrounds. Many are mired in the workload of community college and work, often trading academic success for another Starbucks shift. I am one of two still in high school. My job is not mandated by any dire financial circumstances. On the contrary, my mother has offered to pay me to stop working there. I thought that incidents at Starbucks would not affect me once I punched out. But like school, simply walking through a door does not erase emotion and history. They manifest in different ways: swollen feet, an aching back, homework, and friendships. The most distressing events replay in my mind on a repeat. A disgruntled customer threatening to call the district manager, frustrated at the miscommunication between us, accidentally shaking an open container of soy milk and to coat myself in a layer of sticky discomfort, and other routine humiliations suffered. My job has created a new dynamic in my family. Whether they care to admit it or not, I have sensed a newfound respect from my mother and father, as they understand that I can balance school, extracurriculars, and work. Though I have had the fortune to grow up without financial strain, working at Starbucks imbues me with a sense of independence. The feeling of spending someone else's hard-earned money is uncomfortable. Yet no longer am I dependent on my parents for permission to complete certain purchases, or activities. My childish whims are indulged by me, not them. The need to feel grateful towards them is substantially lessened. The ways that I indulge them are more material: the sandwiches, pastries and iced tea that appear in the refrigerator upon my return home at the end of a closing shift. I enjoy working at Starbucks. At the end of the evening, my colleagues and I can laugh at the day's small crises. At school, norms are different. My school friends face obstacles like the revoking of privileges by parents. My Starbucks colleagues' problems are more in tune with the real world; one woman often discusses her struggle to wake up at 2:45 AM, in order to arrive at work by 3:45 AM and earn the income necessary to pay her rent. I take pride in my job because it is a preliminary foray into the adult world. Whether 40 or 17 years old, employees are treated considered equally. Even as a minor, I am trusted to represent the company, something I consider quite significant. It is the only space where I am truly treated as an adult - and I, in turn, can answer as one.

Thank you for the help in advance. I greatly appreciate any input. From a young age, math had come easily to me, and tackling a problem seemingly out of reach elicited a surge of excitement. In October of my freshman year, I completed my first problem on Brilliant.org, "If 7 cows need 7 days to eat 7 grass fields, how many days would it take 5 cows to eat 5 grass fields?". Riddles like these kept me engaged, and over time, as my abilities have improved, I continue to attempt problems on AoPS, USAMTS, Project Euler, and the seasonal Online Math Opens under NIMO. More often than not, I cannot solve the problems, but with a greater struggle comes exponentially greater feelings of accomplishment and growth when I do finally solve them.

Thank you for the help in advance. I greatly appreciate any input. From a young age, math had come easily to me, and tackling a problem seemingly out of reach elicited a surge of excitement. In October of my freshman year, I completed my first problem on Brilliant.org, "If 7 cows need 7 days to eat 7 grass fields, how many days would it take 5 cows to eat 5 grass fields?". Riddles like these kept me engaged, and over time, as my abilities have improved, I continue to attempt problems on Tops, USA MTS, Project Euler, and the seasonal Online Math Opens under IMO. More often than not, I cannot solve the problems, but with a greater struggle comes exponentially greater feelings of accomplishment and growth when I do finally solve them.

I enjoy nothing more than computer science, and at Purdue, I can finally explore the depths of my passion. On my college visit to Purdue, I was highly impressed with the vibrancy and diversity that helps foster success. Activities such as the Association of Information Technology Professionals and ACM SIGGRAPH would allow me to diversify my interests. In addition, pursuing organizations such as MiniMake, the Purdue Science Olympiad Club, and the ITaP Student Software Trainers would help me advance my leadership skills. Through the computer science opportunities provided by Purdue, I can gain the appropriate skills to better my future. Could you please let me know if there are any issues with grammar or content? Thank you so much! Also, I am at the 100 word limit.

I enjoy nothing more than computer science, and at Purdue, I can finally explore the depths of my passion. On my college visit to Purdue, I was highly impressed with the vibrancy and diversity that helps foster success. Activities such as the Association of Information Technology Professionals and ACM DIGRAPH would allow me to diversify my interests. In addition, pursuing organizations such as Minimal, the Purdue Science Olympiad Club, and the Tap Student Software Trainers would help me advance my leadership skills. Through the computer science opportunities provided by Purdue, I can gain the appropriate skills to better my future. Could you please let me know if there are any issues with grammar or content? Thank you so much! Also, I am at the 100-word limit.

After the happiest fourteen days of my life on a volunteering trip to Costa Rica, the next three days were doomed."You can't go back to the United States, your visa expired." said the airline agent when I gave him my passport to check in. My first reaction was denial - 'How did I travel here without anyone telling me that my visa expired?' - and then it turned to anger, depression, and finally acceptance. I was stuck in a foreign country, surrounded by strangers, speaking a language in which I only knew how to ask for the bathroom. I was not frightened, though-I consider myself more generally sanguine than others- because I learned earlier that being a crybaby does not solve any problem in life. A staff member from an organization of the trip, named Erika, helped me through the process of getting my temporary visa. We waited outside an embassy for five hours, only to be told by the security guard that we must have an appointment to be let in. Otherwise, we would have to wait two days. While I was calculating how many days I could stay in Costa Rica without going bankrupt, I remembered feeling frustrated like I was at the time by my inability to change my circumstances. When I had just immigrated from Korea without knowing any English, I could not defend myself against bullies in school, and my mother would scold me for getting C's in classes where I had to use a translator for everything. I had no one to stand up for me then, but this time was different: I had Erika. My Spanish-speaking savior tearfully said to the security guard, "She is only fifteen years old! Her mother wants her home. Can you please help her go back?" Miraculously, the security guard felt sorry for me and made an emergency appointment, which made it possible for me to get my visa to fly back home. I was surprised that Erika was so selfless in helping me and remained kind to me despite the trouble I caused her. It meant so much to me because growing up with a working mother and a father living abroad, I had to mature quickly and rely solely on myself to work out my problems since the last thing I wanted to do was to worry my parents. Such times became a solid basis of my path to become an active advocate for people who are ostracized and unable to speak for themselves due to factors like the language barrier, age, and race. Life does not always work out the way you want it to or I would be engaged to Prince Harry right now. So I just decided to learn from the times when my life does not go the way I want it to; I learned to always look for ways in which I can make my life better, which made me go out of my comfort zone to find new things. Looking for something engaging made me become involved in activities I now am fond of like tennis, working at the library, leading Youth to Youth club, and participating in a volunteering trip to Costa Rica. Along the way, I was lucky enough to find people who were like sunlight in my growing and undoubtedly, Erika was one of them. With great appreciation for how she was putting my needs before her own to assist me, her kindness has stuck with me since then and it inspires me to do the same for others.

After the happiest fourteen days of my life on a volunteering trip to Costa Rica, the next three days were doomed." You can't go back to the United States, your visa expired." said the airline agent when I gave him my passport to check in. My first reaction was denial - 'How did I travel here without anyone telling me that my visa expired?' - and then it turned to anger, depression, and finally acceptance. I was stuck in a foreign country, surrounded by strangers, speaking a language in which I only knew how to ask for the bathroom. I was not frightened, though-I consider myself more generally sanguine than others- because I learned earlier that being a crybaby does not solve any problem in life. A staff member from an organization of the trip, named Erika, helped me through the process of getting my temporary visa. We waited outside an embassy for five hours, only to be told by the security guard that we must have an appointment to be let in. Otherwise, we would have to wait two days. While I was calculating how many days I could stay in Costa Rica without going bankrupt, I remembered feeling frustrated like I was at the time by my inability to change my circumstances. When I had just immigrated from Korea without knowing any English, I could not defend myself against bullies in school, and my mother would scold me for getting C's in classes where I had to use a translator for everything. I had no one to stand up for me then, but this time was different: I had Erika. My Spanish-speaking savior tearfully said to the security guard, "She is only fifteen years old! Her mother wants her home. Can you please help her go back?" Miraculously, the security guard felt sorry for me and made an emergency appointment, which made it possible for me to get my visa to fly back home. I was surprised that Erika was so selfless in helping me and remained kind to me despite the trouble I caused her. It meant so much to me because growing up with a working mother and a father living abroad, I had to mature quickly and rely solely on myself to work out my problems since the last thing I wanted to do was to worry my parents. Such times became a solid basis of my path to become an active advocate for people who are ostracized and unable to speak for themselves due to factors like the language barrier, age, and race. Life does not always work out the way you want it to, or I would be engaged to Prince Harry right now. So I just decided to learn from the times when my life does not go the way I want it to; I learned to always look for ways in which I can make my life better, which made me go out of my comfort zone to find new things. Looking for something engaging made me become involved in activities I now am fond of like tennis, working at the library, leading Youth to Youth club, and participating in a volunteering trip to Costa Rica. Along the way, I was lucky enough to find people who were like sunlight in my growing and undoubtedly, Erika was one of them. With great appreciation for how she was putting my needs before her own to assist me, her kindness has stuck with me since then, and it inspires me to do the same for others.

As my fingers meet the keys all my worries vanish. Music and programming take me away from the realities of my daily life and allow me to express myself through melodies or code. I replayed Valentina Lisitsas performance of the Moonlight Sonata several times, trying to capture as much information as I could. I was in awe of her control of the dynamics and the clear touch of each note. Every day after school I rushed to my piano and opened Volume one of Ludwig van Beethoven's Complete Piano Sonatas and turned to page 248. I placed my fingers on the smoothly polished keys and watched them fly along the keyboard. Then I closed my eyes and let my other senses take over. Before I knew it the room darkened and my fingers began to feel tired. Motivated by my constant improvements I repeated this for months. One day after weeks of practicing the same section I started to feel like I was stuck. I wondered why I was still working on the same thing even after weeks of practice. The keys groaned as I banged on them out of frustration. I felt deeply and insecure and sat there quietly on the verge of tears. What was the point of practicing if I wasn't improving? A few days later in my programming class, we learned about iterative loops and recursive methods. Iteration and recursion both repeatedly execute a set of instructions to reach the desired outcome. The main difference between recursion and iteration is that in a recursion the current state is passed as parameters of the method. However, in an iteration, the current state is updated as the loop progresses. I finally realized what my problem was. I couldn't just keep repeating the same process over and over again. In order to get the results I wanted I needed to iterate. I needed to analyze the decisions I made as I played and repeatedly modify them until I reach the desired outcome. I had just hacked into my brain and figured out how to rewrite the musical code years of recursion had written there. Now when I sit down at the piano I gently place my fingers on the keys. As I let my fingers dance across the keyboard, I felt the corners of my mouth gradually turn up. I could finally enjoy playing the piano again. Music and programming have this symbiotic relationship where in order to become a better musician I needed to become a better programmer and vice versa. When I first started programming I immediately became addicted to the surge of energy I felt through my body when I found a bug a or solved a difficult problem. I loved the feeling of creating something so complex from such simple symbols and words. Music helped me to realize that there was so much more to programming than ones and zeroes. In order to be a successful developer, I must understand how to connect with millions of people's emotions. Knowing how my product will affect them will give me a clearer understanding of the purpose of my application and help me create a product that real and genuine. In music, there are certain techniques you can use to evoke a certain emotion. For example, if you want to create a sad tone you can try slowing down the tempo or play in a minor key. Similarly, in programming, understanding how to use different design patterns and how to implement certain features is crucial for evoking the emotion I want for my intended audience. Both of my passions motivate me to improve every day and understanding the connections between both my passions made practicing them much more enjoyable. I look forward to using my knowledge as a musician and a programmer to connect with millions of people around the world and improve their lives. I hope my code will captivate people's emotions and inspire them in the same way Beethoven's composition captivated mine.

As my fingers meet the keys all my worries vanish. Music and programming take me away from the realities of my daily life and allow me to express myself through melodies or code. I replayed Valentina Visitors performance of the Moonlight Sonata several times, trying to capture as much information as I could. I was in awe of her control of the dynamics and the clear touch of each note. Every day after school I rushed to my piano and opened Volume one of Ludwig van Beethoven's Complete Piano Sonatas and turned to page 248. I placed my fingers on the smoothly polished keys and watched them fly along the keyboard. Then I closed my eyes and let my other senses take over. Before I knew it the room darkened and my fingers began to feel tired. Motivated by my constant improvements I repeated this for months. One day after weeks of practicing the same section I started to feel like I was stuck. I wondered why I was still working on the same thing even after weeks of practice. The keys groaned as I banged on them out of frustration. I felt deeply and insecure and sat there quietly on the verge of tears. What was the point of practicing if I wasn't improving? A few days later in my programming class, we learned about iterative loops and recursive methods. Iteration and recursion both repeatedly execute a set of instructions to reach the desired outcome. The main difference between recursion and iteration is that in a recursion the current state is passed as parameters of the method. However, in an iteration, the current state is updated as the loop progresses. I finally realized what my problem was. I couldn't just keep repeating the same process over and over again. In order to get the results I wanted I needed to iterate. I needed to analyze the decisions I made as I played and repeatedly modify them until I reach the desired outcome. I had just hacked into my brain and figured out how to rewrite the musical code years of recursion had written there. Now when I sit down at the piano I gently place my fingers on the keys. As I let my fingers dance across the keyboard, I felt the corners of my mouth gradually turn up. I could finally enjoy playing the piano again. Music and programming have this symbiotic relationship where in order to become a better musician I needed to become a better programmer and vice versa. When I first started programming I immediately became addicted to the surge of energy I felt through my body when I found a bug a or solved a difficult problem. I loved the feeling of creating something so complex from such simple symbols and words. Music helped me to realize that there was so much more to programming than ones and zeroes. In order to be a successful developer, I must understand how to connect with millions of people's emotions. Knowing how my product will affect them will give me a clearer understanding of the purpose of my application and help me create a product that real and genuine. In music, there are certain techniques you can use to evoke a certain emotion. For example, if you want to create a sad tone you can try slowing down the tempo or play in a minor key. Similarly, in programming, understanding how to use different design patterns and how to implement certain features is crucial for evoking the emotion I want for my intended audience. Both of my passions motivate me to improve every day and understanding the connections between both my passions made practicing them much more enjoyable. I look forward to using my knowledge as a musician and a programmer to connect with millions of people around the world and improve their lives. I hope my code will captivate people's emotions and inspire them in the same way Beethoven's composition captivated mine.

My Response :-I am a wild fire of determination satiated by the fuel of knowledge. My ardent desire to accomplish various feats no matter how adverse the situations are has earned me the title of being "Ambitious". It fits me & helps me harness my full potential. Being the school topper I could be contented, but I knew I could achieve much more. It has been a major driving force in many competitions that I have won may it be the Inter-School Rotary Quiz or the Inter-School Debate competition. It was never the ambition to win but that to learn which has made me who I am today. I pursued advanced level courses in physics, chemistry & math to prepare for the JEE Advanced exam because it helped me master the concepts to a level much beyond our school curriculum. Being a fearless orator is what I am proud of. It didn't come all of a sudden, I messed up many times & learned it the hard way. The initial mockery & embarrassment was the price of my ambition. I realised that the fears we don't face become our limits. I decided to shatter those limits. I attended the Toastmasters club & learned the art of public speaking by participating in various competitions. My efforts paid off as today I am the recipient of 8 English & 4 hindi speaking prizes. To be honest, it is the struggle that I endured and not the awards that I am proud of today. Please rate it out of 5 points

My Response :-I am a wildfire of determination satiated by the fuel of knowledge. My ardent desire to accomplish various feats no matter how adverse the situations are has earned me the title of being "Ambitious". It fits me camp; helps me harness my full potential. Being the school topper I could be contented, but I knew I could achieve much more. It has been a major driving force in many competitions that I have won may it be the Inter-School Rotary Quiz or the Inter-School Debate competition. It was never the ambition to win but that to learn which has made me who I am today. I pursued advanced level courses in physics, chemistry camp; math to prepare for the SEE Advanced exam because it helped me master the concepts to a level much beyond our school curriculum. Being a fearless orator is what I am proud of. It didn't come all of a sudden, I messed up many times camp; learned it the hard way. The initial mockery camp; embarrassment was the price of my ambition. I realized that the fears we don't face become our limits. I decided to shatter those limits. Furthermore, I attended the Toastmasters club camp; learned the art of public speaking by participating in various competitions. My efforts paid off as today I am the recipient of 8 English camp; 4 Hindi speaking prizes. To be honest, it is the struggle that I endured and not the awards that I am proud of today. Please rate it out of 5 points

People never realize what is going on behind closed doors, you may seem fine to everyone at first but deep down you might be battling something deep down inside. Personally, dealing with anxiety and stress was taking a toll on my personal and academic life. Managing school was a struggle at first especially when you have overwhelming thoughts but telling someone is the first step. Life goes on and I have learnt to be strong and realize that there is more to life than just unwanted thoughts about myself and the other around me. Today I am still leaning to manage it, but it is more controlled. Overcoming anxiety was something new to me, I never really dealt with something like that before. My mind was racing all over the place, I was worrying about things that never use to bother me in the past. It was hard to concentrate in school when all my insecurities bothering me, I decided that enough is enough. I decided to go to therapy, I needed a way where I could open my mind to new thoughts, see them from a different or more positive perspective. Of course, it was not easy at first, it took some time to get my mind to think differently, I practiced different techniques that would contribute to having anxiety in control. I took up journaling to write out my thoughts and feelings. After a while I noticed slight changes in my behavior and mood, I felt less cluttered mentally. I felt more motivated to do my school work and I had a better understanding of what I'm learning in school. Maintaining stress was an easier situation to fix than the anxiety that correlated with it. I have always dealt with stress in my academic life, but growing up, especially in high school, many things started piling up and felt overwhelming. I did not know how to take out all that negative energy out and it started to build up over time. Eventually I would let everything out and have a clean state of mind, I needed a new technique to at least calm me down whenever that occurs; I started doing meditation to calm my stress signals and loosen up the tension I felt within. Once I felt that straining overwhelming feeling, I stopped what I was doing took a deep breath, listened to a guided meditation track and finally continue working. Over time I eventually gained control of my stress, having a calmer state of mind. Having these obstacles in my life were strenuous but I was able to look at them in a positive way. It made me stronger and more capable to handle things that I thought I never could, taking up hobbies to keep my mind occupied was something I enjoyed doing because I got to show my creative side. Overall, I am glad of the person I became today, I have come so far from that day and there is no going back.

People never realize what is going on behind closed doors, you may seem fine to everyone at first but deep down you might be battling something deep down inside. Personally, dealing with anxiety and stress was taking a toll on my personal and academic life. Managing school was a struggle at first especially when you have overwhelming thoughts but telling someone is the first step. Life goes on, and I have learned to be strong and realize that there is more to life than just unwanted thoughts about myself and the surrounding other. Today I am still leaning to manage it, but it is more controlled. Overcoming anxiety was something new to me, I never really dealt with something like that before. My mind was racing all over the place, I was worrying about things that never used to bother me in the past. It was hard to concentrate in school when all my insecurities bothering me, I decided that enough is enough. I decided to go to therapy, I needed a way where I could open my mind to new thoughts, see them from a different or more positive perspective. Of course, it was not easy at first, it took some time to get my mind to think differently, I practiced different techniques that would contribute to having anxiety in control. I took up journaling to write out my thoughts and feelings. After a while I noticed slight changes in my behavior and mood, I felt less cluttered mentally. I felt more motivated to do my school work and I had a better understanding of what I'm learning in school. Maintaining stress was an easier situation to fix than the anxiety that correlated with it. I have always dealt with stress in my academic life, but growing up, especially in high school, many things started piling up and felt overwhelming. I did not know how to take out all that negative energy out, and it started to build up over time. Eventually I would let everything out and have a clean state of mind, I needed a new technique to at least calm me down whenever that occurs; I started doing meditation to calm my stress signals and loosen up the tension I felt within. Once I felt that straining overwhelming feeling, I stopped what I was doing took a deep breath, listened to a guided meditation track and finally continue working. Over time, I eventually gained control of my stress, having a calmer state of mind. Having these obstacles in my life were strenuous, but I was able to look at them positively. It made me stronger and more capable to handle things that I thought I never could, taking up hobbies to keep my mind occupied was something I enjoyed doing because I got to show my creative side. Overall, I am glad of the person I became today, I have come so far from that day and there is no going back.

The first time I learned the word "family" was in kindergarten. My teacher told me that family is a group of people that are related to me. However, I've learned over time that the word "family" is not only restricted to my parents or my siblings, but it includes whoever I enjoy spending time with. I grew up being a very shy person. I was that one kid in preschool that would always cry in the teacher's lap every morning because I was scared of leaving my mom. Being a timid person, my family was simply just my parents and my brother, so I grew up being very close to them. As I got older, I started to become less shy and made new friends. However, I was never comfortable around my friends, because I thought there was supposed to be a distinct line between family and friends. As I started getting closer to them, I slowly realized that my friends are not just people I see in school, but they are also like my family. I redefined the word "family" so that it meant a group of people who I can easily talk to and be myself around them. The line between family and friends disappeared. Family is my favorite word, since it helped me change from a shy person to someone who is excited to meet new people. At college, I hope to teach more people my definition of family and create a family over there. Hi! Can someone help edit my essay? The max word count is 250 and currently i have 249 words. And please don't be scared to offend me, I am open to take as much criticism as possible!

The first time I learned the word "family" was in kindergarten. My teacher told me that family is a group of people that are related to me. However, I've learned over time that the word "family" is not only restricted to my parents or my siblings, but it includes whoever I enjoy spending time with. I grew up being a very shy person. I was that one kid in preschool that would always cry in the teacher's lap every morning because I was scared of leaving my mom. Being a timid person, my family was simply just my parents and my brother, so I grew up being very close to them. As I got older, I started to become less shy and made new friends. However, I was never comfortable around my friends, because I thought there was supposed to be a distinct line between family and friends. As I started getting closer to them, I slowly realized that my friends are not just people I see in school, but they are also like my family. I redefined the word "family" so that it meant a group of people who I can easily talk to and be myself around them. The line between family and friends disappeared. Family is my favorite word, since it helped me change from a shy person to someone who is excited to meet new people. At college, I hope to teach more people my definition of family and create a family over there. Hi! Can someone help edit my essay? The max word count is 250 and currently I have 249 words. And please don't be scared to offend me, I am open to take as much criticism as possible!

Since I loved teaching, I volunteered to teach students of settlement areas. We had sharing session after the class where one volunteer questioned, "Why are there less female students?" I was intrigued by the question and instantly remembered my Mathematics classroom-class with almost all empty benches. I checked the data and number it spoke the same-- less students study mathematics. I searched about factors influencing subject selection and the ways the number of mathematics students can be increased, but made no headway. This question made me restless, and the answer continued to elude me. I talked about reason for less Mathematics students to my teachers and Mathematicians but didn't get satisfactory answer. In the meantime, while discussing with my friends, term "Research" popped out. We were excited but none of us had prior research opportunity or knew how it worked. As we thought it is perfect opportunity to learn about research and contribute something to the society-we chose to go that route. We requested 15 mathematics teachers and 4 university professors to guide us in research. The answer was-"NO" or sometimes "It's not for children, do it as your Doctorate thesis". Though we saw no light forward, we continued. We had studied about research and research methodologies through various books and decided on perception survey. When the time for literature review, I was alone, my friends had backed out. In the meantime, the battle started within me-should I continue or not? I decided not to give up. Subsequently, my principal, came as a hope, giving me the way to move forward recommending some books and sources. As I had to devote substantial amount of time to learn and prepare drafts, I stepped down from leadership position at Partnership in Education and eventually left it. In the course, I realized, I had stopped debating and missed several school functions. I was trading a great school experience to literally get my hands into cutting-edge research activity. Finally, when track was open, I prepared the questions, administered the survey, and completed the work. My paper titled, "Why less Mathematicians- Increasing the STEM students" provides solution to increase Mathematics students in (country name). My journey in research world didn't end with completing a paper. I completed several other papers-in Economics, Astrophysics, and presented paper in National Youth Research Competition. Surprisingly, I every other student there was undergraduate, graduate and doctorate student and I was the only high school student. Consequently, I worked in research labs and my proposal for research on "Filtration of smoke: A theoretical Approach" was accepted at National Academy of Science and Technology and Research Academy of Science and Technology of ..X.. University, making me the only high school student to have a proposal selected at both top labs of the country. This remarkable experience opened path for various opportunities and inspired me to perform better in any task I undertake. I consider it a turning point in my academic life. It has increased my passion for research and my determination to work to improve people's quality of life. I have also become more confident in my research efforts and am able to contact any researcher to pursue a position in their laboratory. Now I can submit my papers for presentation in any forums or submit papers for publication in any research journals. I have realized that there are many opportunities for students like myself to contribute to labs and brainstorm solutions for current problems. I realized, a slow and gradual change had occurred in me. In the course, I grew more matured, and I learned to face difficulties boldly. Moreover I realized something important. In various conditions of one's life, there are many roads which have to be travelled alone and many moves that have to be made even though we see no light of success. The only thing we should have on our mind is hope. Running to complete the research, I learned to learn. Now I am all set to run the road of my life.

Since I loved teaching, I volunteered to teach students of settlement areas. We had sharing session after the class where one volunteer questioned, "Why are there less female students?" I was intrigued by the question and instantly remembered my Mathematics classroom-class with almost all empty benches. I checked the data and number it spoke the same-- fewer students study mathematics. Furthermore, I searched about factors influencing subject selection and the ways the number of mathematics students can be increased, but made no headway. This question made me restless, and the answer continued to elude me. I talked about reason for fewer Mathematics students to my teachers and Mathematicians but didn't get satisfactory answer. In the meantime, while discussing with my friends, term "Research" popped out. We were excited but none of us had prior research opportunity or knew how it worked. As we thought it is perfect opportunity to learn about research and contribute something to the society-we chose to go that route. We requested 15 mathematics teachers and 4 university professors to guide us in research. The answer was-"NO" or sometimes "It's not for children, do it as your Doctorate thesis". Though we saw no light forward, we continued. We had studied about research and research methodologies through various books and decided on perception survey. When the time for literature review, I was alone, my friends had backed out. In the meantime, the battle started within me-should I continue or not? I decided not to give up. Subsequently, my principal, came as a hope, giving me the way to move forward recommending some books and sources. As I had to devote substantial amount of time to learn and prepare drafts, I stepped down from leadership position at Partnership in Education and eventually left it. In the course, I realized, I had stopped debating and missed several school functions. I was trading a great school experience to literally get my hands into cutting-edge research activity. Finally, when track was open, I prepared the questions, administered the survey, and completed the work. My paper titled, "Why less Mathematicians- Increasing the STEM students" provides solution to increase Mathematics students in (country name). My journey in research world didn't end with completing a paper. I completed several other papers-in Economics, Astrophysics, and presented paper in National Youth Research Competition. Surprisingly, I every other student there was undergraduate, graduate and doctorate student, and I was the only high school student. Consequently, I worked in research labs and my proposal for research on "Filtration of smoke: A theoretical Approach" was accepted at National Academy of Science and Technology and Research Academy of Science and Technology of . X. University, making me the only high school student to have a proposal selected at both top labs of the country. This remarkable experience opened path for various opportunities and inspired me to perform better in any task I undertake. I consider it a turning point in my academic life. It has increased my passion for research and my determination to work to improve people's quality of life. I have also become more confident in my research efforts and am able to contact any researcher to pursue a position in their laboratory. Now I can submit my papers for presentation in any forums or submit papers for publication in any research journals. I have realized that there are many opportunities for students like myself to contribute to labs and brainstorm solutions for current problems. I realized, a slow and gradual change had occurred in me. In the course, I grew more matured, and I learned to face difficulties boldly. Moreover, I realized something important. In various conditions of one's life, there are many roads which have to be travelled alone and many moves that have to be made even though we see no light of success. The only thing we should have on our mind is hope. Running to complete the research, I learned to learn. Now I am all set to run the road of my life.

I have two types of English. There's the English I speak to my friends and teachers with-polished, articulate, and spoken in a fairly monotone voice-and then there's the English I use with my parents at home. This is nothing like the first type: it is more fast-paced, filled with inflections, and sprinkled with Gujarati words. I am a first-generation born American, and being raised in an immigrant household meant that I had a slightly different childhood than others. I grew up hearing the stories of Krishna and Shiva from Hindu mythology and celebrated Diwali instead of Christmas. English was my second language. I have never been to a barbecue (granted, I am vegetarian, but it's the thought that counts). Things like sleepovers were unheard of until high school, and I never stayed a friend's house past eleven. As I got older, I became more aware of these differences. I was envious of my white peers, who always had the coolest clothes, knew the latest songs, and were able to fit in so easily. This caused me to start distancing myself from my Gujarati roots. Perhaps the fact that I didn't really feel that Indian, either, made it so easy. I was always tripping over words in Gujarati when family from India called, and it was hard to connect with my culture when it was 8,000 miles away. It was as if I thought that cutting out a piece of my identity would make me feel more complete. I refused to let my mother put oil in my hair after a girl in school asked why it was always so smelly. I demanded something "normal," like a sandwich, for lunch instead of the fragrant vegetable curries my mom used to give me. I started to get embarrassed when my mom pulled out her coupons at the grocery store and pushed away my dad's hugs in the morning when he dropped me off at the bus stop. However, sometime during junior high, my perspective starts to shift. There wasn't a specific light-bulb moment which catalyzed the transition-it was more of a few little sparks that just came together. One moment I remember vividly is when my counselor stopped me in the hall when I was on my way to class and asked me if I was celebrating Diwali, which was going on at the time. When I said yes, her face immediately spread into a smile and she started asking me questions behind the significance of the festival. I remember a wave of emotions flooding through my head-at first shock and happiness, but then disappointment at myself. The shock and happiness came from the fact that someone who barely knew me was so interested in my culture. But the disappointment that crashed into me was because I realized that I didn't know the answer to her questions. It belatedly dawned on me that, in trying to fit in with those around me, I had neglected my own culture, my roots, and the ideas that defined my existence. Soon, I started to pay more attention to the beauty of my culture. And what I found there was amazing. I learned the values of strength and perseverance from stories of Hindu mythology. I became more confident in my status as an Asian-American. I embraced the food as, though it was smelly, it was delicious. I started willingly putting coconut hair masks in my hair. And, I realized that my parents were only trying to look after me when they said no to sleepovers. Growing up in an immigrant household definitely has its challenges. But, these challenges are minuscule when compared to the way I have grown as a person.

I have two types of English. There's the English I speak to my friends and teachers with-polished, articulate, and spoken in a fairly monotone voice-and then there's the English I use with my parents at home. This is nothing like the first type: it is more fast-paced, filled with inflections, and sprinkled with Gujarati words. I am a first-generation born American, and being raised in an immigrant household meant that I had a slightly different childhood than others. I grew up hearing the stories of Krishna and Shiva from Hindu mythology and celebrated Diwali instead of Christmas. English was my second language. I have never been to a barbecue (granted, I am vegetarian, but it's the thought that counts). Things like sleepovers were unheard of until high school, and I never stayed a friend's house past eleven. As I got older, I became more aware of these differences. I was envious of my white peers, who always had the coolest clothes, knew the latest songs, and were able to fit in so easily. This caused me to start distancing myself from my Gujarati roots. Perhaps the fact that I didn't really feel that Indian, either, made it so easy. I was always tripping over words in Gujarati when family from India called, and it was hard to connect with my culture when it was 8,000 miles away. It was as if I thought that cutting out a piece of my identity would make me feel more complete. I refused to let my mother put oil in my hair after a girl in school asked why it was always so smelly. I demanded something "normal," like a sandwich, for lunch instead of the fragrant vegetable curries my mom used to give me. Furthermore, I started to get embarrassed when my mom pulled out her coupons at the grocery store and pushed away my dad's hugs in the morning when he dropped me off at the bus stop. However, sometime during junior high, my perspective starts to shift. There wasn't a specific light-bulb moment which catalyzed the transition-it was more of a few little sparks that just came together. One moment I remember vividly is when my counselor stopped me in the hall when I was on my way to class and asked me if I was celebrating Diwali, which was going on at the time. When I said yes, her face immediately spread into a smile, and she started asking me questions behind the significance of the festival. I remember a wave of emotions flooding through my head-at first shock and happiness, but then disappointment at myself. The shock and happiness came from the fact that someone who barely knew me was so interested in my culture. But the disappointment that crashed into me was because I realized that I didn't know the answer to her questions. It belatedly dawned on me that, in trying to fit in with those around me, I had neglected my own culture, my roots, and the ideas that defined my existence. Soon, I started to pay more attention to the beauty of my culture. And what I found there was amazing. I learned the values of strength and perseverance from stories of Hindu mythology. I became more confident in my status as an Asian-American. Furthermore, I embraced the food as, though it was smelly, it was delicious. Furthermore, I started willingly putting coconut hair masks in my hair. And, I realized that my parents were only trying to look after me when they said no to sleepovers. Growing up in an immigrant household definitely has its challenges. But, these challenges are minuscule when compared to the way I have grown as a person.

It was the night of the freshman winter concert. Hundreds of young boys and girls were shuffled upon the risers dressed from head to toe in black. The audience was full to the brim with smiling parents and video cameras. Excitedly, I scanned the audience for a face I recognized; I could not find one. I was crushed. I made my way through the entirety of the concert with little regard for the harmony I should have been signing during Silent Night or the how I should have been "smiling with my eyes", during Jingle Bells. After, I watched as my friends were showered with hugs and flowers. I waited nearly an hour for my aunt to take me home, while my classmates left on celebratory ice cream runs. When I finally returned home, I sobbed tirelessly, wishing that my parents, or anyone for that matter, had come to watch me perform. I desperately wanted someone to care. This was not my first or last experience with disappointment. Growing up in Beverly Hills, one of the wealthiest communities in California, I was constantly surrounded by "picture-perfect" kids, with overly supportive families, and elaborate lives. I, on the other hand, ate cereal three meals a day, rarely went to the doctor, and never made it anywhere on time. So as a young girl, I envied my peers. Even inconvenient things, like when my friends were grounded, filled me with jealousy because my parents would never care enough to ground me. I craved the stability, the structure, these kids inherently had. As time progressed, my circumstances didn't change, but I did.I could not rely on my family for transportation, so I learned to be resourceful. I rode my bike to and from school each day, rain or shine, despite living several miles away. The school nurse still continues to joke about how I rode my bike to after school physicals. And now, as a licensed driver, not only am I extremely punctual, I always get my younger brother where he needs to be. Nothing was handed to me. If I needed new shoes, I had to buy them. I joined the workforce at a young age, working desk jobs in tennis pro shops. When what I earned from my desk jobs didn't cover my car payments, I took teaching courses and became a certified tennis instructor through the professional tennis registry to increase my salary to a whopping twenty dollars an hour. While my friends are working on there tans, I'm working six days a week The lack of attention I received, taught me not to seek out acknowledgment. I no longer scan the audience at my school concerts. My accomplishments are based solely on self-motivation. I study to further my education, not for my parents' appraisal of my report card. I practice tennis for hours on end, because I want to win a county championship, not to impress my peers. While this essay reflects on the shortcomings of my family, they do what they can. Everyone has a different skill set; responsibility did not fit within theirs. I have learned to love my parents for the fun, forgetful people they are. My outlook on life has become extremely positive. I no longer wish I was another one of the "picture perfect" kids. I do not pity myself anymore, nor do I envy my peers. I am sincerely grateful for the struggles I've endured because they have made me who I am today. I have grown into a more resourceful, independent, appreciative and hardworking individual than I ever thought possible.

It was the night of the freshman winter concert. Hundreds of young boys and girls were shuffled upon the risers dressed from head to toe in black. The audience was full to the brim with smiling parents and video cameras. Excitedly, I scanned the audience for a face I recognized; I could not find one. I was crushed. I made my way through the entirety of the concert with little regard for the harmony I should have been signing during Silent Night or how I should have been "smiling with my eyes", during Jingle Bells. After, I watched as my friends were showered with hugs and flowers. I waited nearly an hour for my aunt to take me home, while my classmates left on celebratory ice cream runs. When I finally returned home, I sobbed tirelessly, wishing that my parents, or anyone for that matter, had come to watch me perform. I desperately wanted someone to care. This was not my first or last experience with disappointment. Growing up in Beverly Hills, one of the wealthiest communities in California, I was constantly surrounded by "picture-perfect" kids, with overly supportive families, and elaborate lives. I, on the other hand, ate cereal three meals a day, rarely went to the doctor, and never made it anywhere on time. So as a young girl, I envied my peers. Even inconvenient things, like when my friends were grounded, filled me with jealousy because my parents would never care enough to ground me. I craved the stability, the structure, these kids inherently had. As time passed, my circumstances didn't change, but I did. I could not rely on my family for transportation, so I learned to be resourceful. I rode my bike to and from school each day, rain or shine, despite living several miles away. The school nurse still continues to joke about how I rode my bike to after school physicals. And now, as a licensed driver, not only am I extremely punctual, I always get my younger brother where he needs to be. Nothing was handed to me. If I needed new shoes, I had to buy them. I joined the workforce at a young age, working desk jobs in tennis pro shops. When what I earned from my desk jobs didn't cover my car payments, I took teaching courses and became a certified tennis instructor through the professional tennis registry to increase my salary to a whopping twenty dollars an hour. While my friends are working on their tans, I'm working six days a week The lack of attention I received, taught me not to seek out acknowledgment. I no longer scan the audience at my school concerts. My accomplishments are based solely on self-motivation. I study to further my education, not for my parents' appraisal of my report card. I practice tennis for hours on end, because I want to win a county championship, not to impress my peers. While this essay reflects on the shortcomings of my family, they do what they can. Everyone has a different skill set; responsibility did not fit within theirs. I have learned to love my parents for the fun, forgetful people they are. My outlook on life has become extremely positive. I no longer wish I was another one of the "picture perfect" kids. I do not pity myself anymore, nor do I envy my peers. Furthermore, I am sincerely grateful for the struggles I've endured because they have made me who I am today. Furthermore, I have grown into a more resourceful, independent, appreciative and hardworking individual than I ever thought possible.

"As long as there is silica remaining and the rate of cooling is slow, this proceeds down the discontinuous branch: olivine to pyroxene..." My eyes watered ... "pyroxene to amphibole" ... my heartbeat slowed ... "amphibole to biotite" ...my breathing steadied ... "biotite to" ... thump. My forehead hit the edge of my laptop, jolting me awake. Again: "As long as there is silica remaining ..." I can balance redox reactions in my head and name each lymphocyte of the immune system. I've mastered kinematics and magnetism units. I enjoy the physical sciences-just not Geology. So why was I up late memorizing the Bowen reaction series? As the newbie on the team, I was assigned the least popular subject. I was supposed to be mastering the required material the day before the local competition. Instead, I spent the dwindling hours of the night in the margins of the text, embellishing doodles drawn by previous prisoners of Physical Geology. Blame it on the confusing diagrams or the absence of caffeine in my system-the textbook was more soporific than any sleeping pill. The day of the competition, flipping the pages of the test booklet, I racked my brain for answers that didn't exist. When the winning scores were displayed, my lack of preparation was exposed-I was not even on the scoreboard. My face turned red, hot like lava. I felt the silent reproach of my teammates. As I offered hollow excuses, I realized my lack of interest in the subject was at fault. I hit rock bottom. "I definitely need help." Reeling from the embarrassment of failure, I mustered the courage to ask the team biologist to work through the tedious material with me. The following day, I met with her to review the test questions. Each member of the team contributed, whether by sharing their expertise or simply sharing their donuts. Tolerating the resident mathematician's Yoda impression-"Equilibrium you seek? Determine the oceanic crustal mass, you must!"-and persisting through the textbook, facts and figures began to sink in. Walking back from school one day, I saw a familiar shape in an ant-hill. I immediately pointed to my friend and exclaimed, "Syncline!" "What?" "You wouldn't understand. It's a Geology thing." Week after week, devouring news articles about volcano eruptions, tsunamis, and climate change, I began to appreciate the dynamic planet we live on as well as the necessity of the subject. The day of the state competition soon arrived. Leaping on the test packet, tearing the answer sheet off in one fluid motion, I was an athlete sinking a three-pointer to tie the game, a soloist nailing the cadenza in her concert piece, a geologist sharing her discoveries with the world. How did my name appear, brilliant in neon, at the top of the rankings? The good kind. The kind of tensile stress that shifts plates, that moves mountains. Like an undersea earthquake creates a tsunami, so my actions impacted my teammates. When the first-place team was announced and the sea of red-shirted kids around me erupted in cheers, I attributed the gold medal to each person who helped me along the way. However, I have a confession: I still fall asleep reading Physical Geology. But do star athletes really enjoy cardio? To what extent can a human being pretend to like kale? At times, learning can be a grueling process. But my responsibilities to my teammates, to myself, and to my future patients push me to discover the diamonds in the dust. Today, as the leader of Science Olympiad, I perfect my Yoda impression while coaching others. I challenge myself to explore every crevice and cavern of knowledge to be found. And when I inevitably find a junior teammate using a textbook as a pillow, I am sure to let them know: "You definitely need help."

"As long as there is silica remaining and the rate of cooling is slow, this proceeds down the discontinuous branch: olivine to pyroxene..." My eyes watered ... "pyroxene to amphibole" ... my heartbeat slowed ... "amphibole to biotite" ...my breathing steadied ... "biotite to" ... thump. My forehead hit the edge of my laptop, jolting me awake. Again: "As long as there is silica remaining ..." I can balance redox reactions in my head and name each lymphocyte of the immune system. I've mastered kinematics and magnetism units. Furthermore, I enjoy the physical sciences-just not Geology. So why was I up late memorizing the Bowen reaction series? As the newbie on the team, I was assigned the least popular subject. I was supposed to be mastering the required material the day before the local competition. Instead, I spent the dwindling hours of the night in the margins of the text, embellishing doodles drawn by previous prisoners of Physical Geology. Blame it on the confusing diagrams or the absence of caffeine in my system-the textbook was more soporific than any sleeping pill. The day of the competition, flipping the pages of the test booklet, I racked my brain for answers that didn't exist. When the winning scores were displayed, my lack of preparation was exposed-I was not even on the scoreboard. My face turned red, hot like lava. I felt the silent reproach of my teammates. As I offered hollow excuses, I realized my lack of interest in the subject was at fault. I hit rock bottom. "I definitely need help." Reeling from the embarrassment of failure, I mustered the courage to ask the team biologist to work through the tedious material with me. The following day, I met with her to review the test questions. Each member of the team contributed, whether by sharing their expertise or simply sharing their donuts. Tolerating the resident mathematician's Yoda impression-"Equilibrium you seek? Determine the oceanic crustal mass, you must!"-and persisting through the textbook, facts and figures began to sink in. Walking back from school one day, I saw a familiar shape in an ant-hill. I immediately pointed to my friend and exclaimed, "Syncline!" "What?" "You wouldn't understand. It's a Geology thing." Week after week, devouring news articles about volcano eruptions, tsunamis, and climate change, I began to appreciate the dynamic planet we live on as well as the necessity of the subject. The day of the state competition soon arrived. Leaping on the test packet, tearing the answer sheet off in one fluid motion, I was an athlete sinking a three-pointer to tie the game, a soloist nailing the cadenza in her concert piece, a geologist sharing her discoveries with the world. How did my name appear, brilliant in neon, at the top of the rankings? The good kind. The kind of tensile stress that shifts plates, that moves mountains. Like an undersea earthquake creates a tsunami, so my actions impacted my teammates. When the first-place team was announced and the sea of red-shirted kids around me erupted in cheers, I attributed the gold medal to each person who helped me along the way. However, I have a confession: I still fall asleep reading Physical Geology. But do star athletes really enjoy cardio? To what extent can a human being pretend to like kale? At times, learning can be a grueling process. But my responsibilities to my teammates, to myself, and to my future patients push me to discover the diamonds in the dust. Today, as the leader of Science Olympiad, I perfect my Yoda impression while coaching others. I challenge myself to explore every crevice and cavern of knowledge to be found. And when I inevitably find a junior teammate using a textbook as a pillow, I am sure to let them know: "You definitely need help."

A red light lights up in front of me, along with a loud 'BWAA' indicating that something somewhere has gone awry. Dials are bouncing off the walls and levers are being pulled frantically. And where am I? Well I'm not doing much of anything actually. Just sitting here, at my computer, writing this essay. I like to imagine that this is what happens when I'm around any machine. Everyone panicking and perhaps fearing for their lives and me standing there right in front of something about to explode just staring in awe at it. Even if its not tangible, like a program happening on a computer, I see it doing one of those old cartoon dances, bouncing up and down all happy and stuff, while chugging away at whatever it's doing. Or it could be like HAL in a suit exterminating astronauts but is actually just sorting items into an array. Aw man, that makes me sound insane, but I really like this sort of stuff. I think that Michigan would allow me to just go nuts over this stuff. For example, one of the freshman level classes is called 'Thriving in a Digital World.' More like 'Computer Overlord Survival Guide' to me. 'Electronic Sensing Systems'? How about 'Learn to find your targets and destroy them' instead? One of the programs at the University is literally called COM-BAT. If that doesn't sound like it'd be a heck of a time there, playing around in microchip design, than I don't know what would. Going to Michigan and being in the classes would feel like either a gladiatorial battle to see who can be the best or some D&D campaign run by an especially cruel person that we need to outwit in order to succeed. What I'm getting at here is that one thing that I found out while touring the campus was that Michigan's classes are graded comparatively and you can either work against each other in order to succeed individually or work together to boost everyone's grades at once. It gives you a lot of freedom on how to study and participate in classes. Going back to that thing I said about the cruel D&D leader, Michigan is hard. Just being accepted is probably the easiest part. What you do for the next four years will suck. I've heard horror stories of people staying up until 3 just to finish a day of homework. People shy away and go to another college like that weird green place with an unsuccessful city-state citizen as its mascot. I say bring it on. The challenge excites me. I might fail, but I want to try, just to see what I can do.

A red light lights up in front of me, along with a loud 'BAA' indicating that something somewhere has gone awry. Dials are bouncing off the walls and levers are being pulled frantically. And where am I? Well I'm not doing much of anything, actually. Just sitting here, at my computer, writing this essay. I like to imagine that this is what happens when I'm around any machine. Everyone panics and perhaps fearing for their lives and I standing there right in front of something about to explode just staring in awe at it. Even if it's not tangible, like a program happening on a computer, I see it doing one of those old cartoon dances, bouncing up and down all happy and stuff, while chugging away at whatever it's doing. Or it could be like HAL in a suit exterminating astronauts but is actually just sorting items into an array. Aw man, that makes me sound insane, but I really like this sort of stuff. I think that Michigan would allow me to just go nuts over this stuff. For example, one of the freshman level classes is called 'Thriving in a Digital World.' More like 'Computer Overlord Survival Guide' to me. 'Electronic Sensing Systems'? How about 'Learn to find your targets and destroy them' instead? One of the programs at the University is literally called COM-BAT. If that doesn't sound like it'd be a heck of a time there, playing around in microchip design, than I don't know what would. Going to Michigan and being in the classes would feel like either a gladiatorial battle to see who can be the best or some Damp;D campaign run by an especially cruel person that we need to outwit in order to succeed. What I'm getting at here is that one thing that I found out while touring the campus was that Michigan's classes are graded comparatively, and you can either work against each other in order to succeed individually or work together to boost everyone's grades at once. It gives you a lot of freedom on how to study and participate in classes. Going back to that thing I said about the cruel Damp;D leader, Michigan is hard. Just being accepted is probably the easiest part. What you do for the next four years will suck. I've heard horror stories of people staying up until 3 just to finish a day of homework. People shy away and go to another college like that weird green place with an unsuccessful city-state citizen as its mascot. I say bring it on. The challenge excites me. I might fail, but I want to try, just to see what I can do.

There are three rules for a great TV show. It has to hold my attention. It makes me want to watch the next episode instead of doing my homework and each episode takes me on a new adventure. For me, Iron Chef America checked off all the boxes for great TV. What better than to watch my favourite chefs, like Bobby Flay, duke it out over challenges based around a theme ingredient? From one ingredient, Chef Flay would take me on a journey through American, Asian, and Italian cuisine and show something new every time. Inspired by this, I began my own journeys through cooking and it was during these that I realized that I approach cooking much the same way that I approach the rest of my life. To me, cooking is a science: the chemical reaction between ingredients that produce a dish. Each and every dish begins with a hypothesis where I consider what potential flavours might work well together. In one of my experiments with butternut squash soup, I investigated if adding five-spice powder would add an Asian flair to the dish that would improve the overall flavour. I conducted numerous trials in which the amount of seasoning, proportion of ingredients, addition of other spices like ginger, or time of cooking were varied to determine whether or not a flavour combination was effective. Creating a tasty dish is the goal but for me, understanding why the dish was tasty was the true science. Whether it be because the spices overpowered the rest of the dish or the vegetable mixture worked well in the squash soup, there was always something to be learned in each test. Cooking is all about precision, analysis and adapting based on the results. Cooking is just delicious chemistry. Cooking is science, but, to me, science is also cooking. The Canadian Young Physicists Tournament is a competition where students examine the physics behind various phenomena and conduct experiments on them. One of these problems was to investigate water bottle flips. The general recipe for a successful bottle flip is to use one's hand to flip a bottle that's one-third full. But this recipe serves only as a guide. I create the final result. Like I learned from Iron Chef America, if cooking was just about getting the meat to the right temperature then everyone would have perfect steaks every day at every restaurant. But it's not that simple. A successful dish must consider all the different elements and pairings. Science is much the same. I experimented with different launch forces, launch methods, volumes of water and even bottle types in order to better understand the mechanics of bottle flipping. What combination of these produced the best results? It was important to me not only to understand what made a bottle flip successful but also what caused it to fail. Failure meant looking beyond the obvious and beyond what was known. Failure occured because questions were asked, results were doubted and uncertainties emerged. Because of failure, I could put together what was learned from both it and success to explain the bottle flip phenomena. To many, food and cooking is just another inevitable part of our daily routines. Something that has to be done every day, but I think there is so much more to cooking. Cooking is an endless realm of exploration and experimentation and has shown me that the rest of the world is just the same.

There are three rules for a great TV show. It has to hold my attention. It makes me want to watch the next episode instead of doing my homework and each episode takes me on a new adventure. For me, Iron Chef America checked off all the boxes for great TV. What better than to watch my favorite chefs, like Bobby Flay, duke it out over challenges based around a theme ingredient? From one ingredient, Chef Flay would take me on a journey through American, Asian, and Italian cuisine and show something new every time. Inspired by this, I began my own journeys through cooking, and it was during these that I realized that I approach cooking much the same way that I approach the rest of my life. To me, cooking is a science: the chemical reaction between ingredients that produce a dish. Each and every dish begins with a hypothesis where I consider what potential flavors might work well together. In one of my experiments with butternut squash soup, I investigated if adding five-spice powder would add an Asian flair to the dish that would improve the overall flavor. I conducted numerous trials in which the amount of seasoning, proportion of ingredients, addition of other spices like ginger, or time of cooking were varied to determine whether a flavor combination was effective. Creating a tasty dish is the goal but for me, understanding why the dish was tasty was the true science. Whether it be because the spices overpowered the rest of the dish or the vegetable mixture worked well in the squash soup, there was always something to be learned in each test. Cooking is all about precision, analysis and adapting based on the results. Cooking is just delicious chemistry. Cooking is science, but, to me, science is also cooking. The Canadian Young Physicists Tournament is a competition where students examine the physics behind various phenomena and conduct experiments on them. One of these problems was to investigate water bottle flips. The general recipe for a successful bottle flip is to use one's hand to flip a bottle that's one-third full. But this recipe serves only as a guide. I create the final result. Like I learned from Iron Chef America, if cooking was just about getting the meat to the right temperature then everyone would have perfect steaks every day at every restaurant. But it's not that simple. A successful dish must consider all the different elements and pairings. Science is much the same. I experimented with different launch forces, launch methods, volumes of water and even bottle types in order to better understand the mechanics of bottle flipping. What combination of these produced the best results? It was important to me not only to understand what made a bottle flip successful but also what caused it to fail. Failure meant looking beyond the obvious and beyond what was known. Failure occurred because questions were asked, results were doubted and uncertainties emerged. Because of failure, I could put together what was learned from both it and success to explain the bottle flip phenomena. To many, food and cooking is just another inevitable part of our daily routines. Something that has to be done every day, but I think there is so much more to cooking. Cooking is an endless realm of exploration and experimentation and has shown me that the rest of the world is just the same.

I am a very vocal and outspoken person. I had never been the one to sit back and just watch. I like to lead from the front and to organize everything on my own. I aspire to bring about the change that I want to see in the society. Even in my school life, I never settled upon achieving good grades only in fact I participated in each of the extracurricular activities, whether it be sports, speeches, hosting functions, commentating in sport festivals or quiz competitions because I wanted to give a shot to everything so that I wouldn't regret later. I love to read & to watch American tv series in my free time. From my early childhood, there was one thing that my parents particularly instilled in my mind that always give your best and then don't worry about the results. I had always been a high achiever(topper) but not the one who crams every single word. I did my intermediate from one of the best colleges in Pakistan; Punjab College, on full scholarship. I am currently in the 3rd semester of bachelors(hons) in biosciences. I choose biosciences because it is a vast field. I didn't want to restrict myself to any of the subfields of biology at such an early stage because I want to explore more options until I zero down my options to one particular research field that aspires me the most. Being one of the most developed countries in the world, travelling to the US can actually broaden up my horizons, and it can help me achieve a new & different outlook upon the world. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity and it help me to enhance the softer image of Pakistan.

I am a very vocal and outspoken person. I had never been the one to sit back and just watch. Furthermore, I like to lead from the front and to organize everything on my own. Furthermore, I aspire to bring about the change that I want to see in the society. Even in my school life, I never settled upon achieving good grades only in fact I participated in each of the extracurricular activities, whether it be sports, speeches, hosting functions, commentating in sport festivals or quiz competitions because I wanted to give a shot to everything so that I wouldn't regret later. I love to read camp; to watch American TV series in my free time. From my early childhood, there was one thing that my parents particularly instilled in my mind that always give your best and then don't worry about the results. I had always been a high achiever(topper) but not the one who crams every single word. I did my intermediate from one of the best colleges in Pakistan; Punjab College, on full scholarship. Furthermore, I am currently in the 3rd semester of bachelors(hons) in biosciences. Furthermore, I choose biosciences because it is a vast field. Furthermore, I didn't want to restrict myself to any of the subfields of biology at such an early stage because I want to explore more options until I zero down my options to one particular research field that aspires me the most. Being one of the most developed countries in the world, travelling to the US can actually broaden up my horizons, and it can help me achieve a new camp; different outlook upon the world. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and it helps me to enhance the softer image of Pakistan.

A few years ago I read a quote on the wall of my school''Talent is equally distributed but opportunity is not''To this day this quote remains true. There are countless talented people in this world but there are few who get an opportunity to prove themselves. Some who get an opportunity avail it while others let it pass. I always try to avail every opportunity I am given. If I am given a chance at this program I will try to fulfill this duty entrusted to me. The sole motive I had while applying for this program was to gain knowledge about the different parts of the world and spread this knowledge among my peers. I believe that knowledge is a gift entrusted by God to few of his people. It is the duty of those entrusted with this gift to spread it among all. I try to spread everything I learn to people around me just so this world could become a brighter place by the light of those who are willing to learn. Studying different cultures and art has always been my favorite pastime. I had the opportunity to understand Arabic art while completing my education in Saudi Arabia. I am a proud bearer of the understanding of two cultures. I try to broaden my experience by learning the arts of other countries. I want to gain as much as possible knowledge of the people that inhabit this world so that I can share my experience with others. This world is expanding quickly with each passing day and the need for love among all people is stronger than ever. Our survival depends on peace and harmony among all people of the world. Bringing people from different cultures together is a way of spreading love and understanding among all. This program will give me a chance to understand other people and tell the world the tales of my homeland. It will give me a chance to show others the art of my country while completing my education. I want to explore the world while completing my degree in applied microbiology. Exploring teaches us more than anything can. I am an active student at my university and I aim to excel in my field. I always try to participate in any event that I know of. I am active academically as well as non-academically. I believe that this program will help in boosting my confidence. Learning in a different environment with different techniques will surely broaden my experience. I aim to tell my peers all that I learn so that we all can work for the progress and prosperity of our motherland. I am ready to represent my country as a land of educated and sophisticated people with the help of my character and manners.

A few years ago I read a quote on the wall of my school''Talent is equally distributed, but opportunity is not''To this day this quote remains true. There are countless talented people in this world, but there are few who get an opportunity to prove themselves. Some who get an opportunity avail it while others let it pass. I always try to avail every opportunity I am given. If I am given a chance at this program I will try to fulfill this duty entrusted to me. The sole motive I had while applying for this program was to gain knowledge about the different parts of the world and spread this knowledge among my peers. I believe that knowledge is a gift entrusted by God too few of his people. It is the duty of those entrusted with this gift to spread it among all. I try to spread everything I learn to people around me just so this world could become a brighter place by the light of those who are willing to learn. Studying different cultures and art has always been my favorite pastime. I had the opportunity to understand Arabic art while completing my education in Saudi Arabia. I am a proud bearer of the understanding of two cultures. Furthermore, I try to broaden my experience by learning the arts of other countries. Furthermore, I want to gain as much as possible knowledge of the people that inhabit this world so that I can share my experience with others. This world is expanding quickly with each passing day and the need for love among all people is stronger than ever. Our survival depends on peace and harmony among all people of the world. Bringing people from different cultures together is a way of spreading love and understanding among all. This program will give me a chance to understand other people and tell the world the tales of my homeland. It will give me a chance to show others the art of my country while completing my education. I want to explore the world while completing my degree in applied microbiology. Exploring teaches us more than anything can. I am an active student at my university and I aim to excel in my field. I always try to participate in any event that I know of. Furthermore, I am active academically as well as non-academically. Furthermore, I believe that this program will help in boosting my confidence. Learning in a different environment with different techniques will surely broaden my experience. I aim to tell my peers all that I learn so that we all can work for the progress and prosperity of our motherland. I am ready to represent my country as a land of educated and sophisticated people with the help of my character and manners.

Art is about making mistakes. From the moment the paintbrush hits the paper to the second the pen lifts up, there are an infinite number of miniscule differences from what the picture looked like in my head to what it looks like on canvas. But art is also about adapting, about accepting criticisms and persevering by turning imperfections into flowing singularity. Those skills are what drawing and painting have taught me: to keep persisting even when reality is different from my imagination, transforming stumbles into a graceful final work. It is considered plain fact that art and science are distinct subjects, the idea of a 'left' and 'right' brain dominating education. But for me, finding my love for art was a key step in discovering my passion for chemistry. These lessons in perseverance I learned from drawing and painting are what motivate me to keep trying to solve a difficult calculus problem or repeating a chemistry lab instead of giving up. (the previous sentence sounds choppy : )Art is a lesson in tenacity, and an experience which has taught me skills that every scientist and engineer has used to endure failures and overcome disappointments in order to make discoveries, cure diseases, and change the world. (199 words200) ---------------------------- I will also be including a link to some pics of my art, you can look at it at this link!

Art is about making mistakes. From the moment the paintbrush hits the paper to the second the pen lifts, there are an infinite number of miniscule differences from what the picture looked like in my head to what it looks like on canvas. But art is also about adapting, about accepting criticisms and persevering by turning imperfections into flowing singularity. Those skills are what drawing and painting have taught me: to keep persisting even when reality is different from my imagination, transforming stumbles into a graceful final work. It is considered plain fact that art and science are distinct subjects, the idea of a 'left' and 'right' brain dominating education. But for me, finding my love for art was a key step in discovering my passion for chemistry. These lessons in perseverance I learned from drawing and painting are what motivate me to keep trying to solve a difficult calculus problem or repeating a chemistry lab instead of giving up. (the previous sentence sounds choppy :)Art is a lesson in tenacity, and an experience which has taught me skills that every scientist and engineer has used to endure failures and overcome disappointments in order to make discoveries, cure diseases, and change the world. (199 words200) ---------------------------- I will also be including a link to some pics of my art, you can look at it at this link!

I think that my interest in the engineering field lies in the fact that in its purest form, engineering poses and answers questions. My interest in engineering first stemmed from growing up in South Korea where I lived in high rise apartment complex where a good view of frequent fireworks from the park was available. While the rest of my family were captivated by the beauty of these projectiles, I was captivated by the science that allowed them to fly. Obsessed with making aerial projectiles, my friends and I constructed a makeshift rocket using coke and Mentos, and this became my first attempt to "engineer" something. This surely won't be my last as Princeton offers Freshman Seminars, where I can engage in interesting topics such as this with my fellow peers and professors in an intellectually cultivating environment. Following this, I dabbled in little bits of engineering such as taking Robotics in 8th grade and learning basic mechanical engineering through Lego EV3 and 3D Printing modeling. My hobbies in sketching complex mechanical parts like the robots from Transformers and steampunk art intersected with my passion for assembling parts like Legos. For an art project, I made a simple moving version of a steampunk machinery I had drawn using wind up toy parts and the fact that I could make something move on its own with such basic materials made my vitality for engineering grow. Funnily enough, my first experience of recognizing the merit of engineering didn't come from any of this. Challenging science courses I took in high school were enjoyable to me but the excessive focus on concepts was starting to make me a little unsure about pursuing my path in engineering as what had initially got me into it was the building aspect. The spark came in the missions trip to Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota that I did for all four summers of high school. Tasked with running a vocational bible school program, I noticed that the kids were getting bored and as a way to grab their attention, I presented them with every kid's hobby: making paper airplanes. I used my physics knowledge and couple youtube videos I had seen prior to make an airplane that handily outflew everyone else's. The excitement in their eyes when I was explaining the basics and the passion they showed over something considered child's play reinvigorated the passion of engineering in me. Princeton's application based engineering education and the availability of research through independent work junior and senior year means I can be one step closer to my goal of benefiting my community and the world. As my interests in engineering grew, I stumbled upon an article about how the washing machine was picked as the most impactful invention since the industrial revolution, beating out the likes of the Internet, GPS system, the automobile, and others. Since engineering, at its roots, was the process of proposing a solution to preexisting problems, the innovation that single-handedly bettered women's lives across the world by reducing the time of laundry from a whole day job to under an hour being picked wasn't that surprising. A large part of engineering is recognizing problems in the world like this and the interdisciplinary curriculum Princeton offers me the chance to do this. Education in humanities will allow me to have a better understanding of the culture that I live in and how engineering can play a role in it. I was given the opportunity to really see this in action when I interned at a materials engineering lab in the University of Illinois at Chicago over the summer. Helping out with multiple projects that addressed real-life problems such as microencapsulation technique for road salt to prevent damage to the environment and water harvesting technique to develop surfaces that can collect water from the air in places with scare access to water was an eye-opener as it helped me realized the kind of large-scale impact engineering could have in this world. Princeton, with its Engineers Without Borders program, can allow me to have this type of hands-on impact through engineering and projects like the portable water project by the Peru team would be an amazing extension of my internship. Studying engineering at Princeton would assist my endeavors of impacting society and fulfill my self-efficacy of bettering people's lives.

I think that my interest in the engineering field lies in the fact that in its purest form, engineering poses and answers questions. My interest in engineering first stemmed from growing up in South Korea where I lived in high rise apartment complex where a good view of frequent fireworks from the park was available. While the rest of my family were captivated by the beauty of these projectiles, I was captivated by the science that allowed them to fly. Obsessed with making aerial projectiles, my friends and I constructed a makeshift rocket using coke and Mentos, and this became my first attempt to "engineer" something. This surely won't be my last as Princeton offers Freshman Seminars, where I can engage in interesting topics such as this with my fellow peers and professors in an intellectually cultivating environment. Following this, I dabbled in little bits of engineering such as taking Robotics in 8th grade and learning basic mechanical engineering through Lego EV3 and 3D Printing modeling. My hobbies in sketching complex mechanical parts like the robots from Transformers and steampunk art intersected with my passion for assembling parts like Legos. For an art project, I made a simple moving version of a steampunk machinery I had drawn using wind up toy parts and the fact that I could make something move on its own with such basic materials made my vitality for engineering grow. Funnily enough, my first experience of recognizing the merit of engineering didn't come from any of this. Challenging science courses I took in high school were enjoyable to me, but the excessive focus on concepts was starting to make me a little unsure about pursuing my path in engineering as what had initially got me into it was the building aspect. The spark came in the missions trip to Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota that I did for all four summers of high school. Tasked with running a vocational bible school program, I noticed that the kids were getting bored and as a way to grab their attention, I presented them with every kid's hobby: making paper airplanes. I used my physics knowledge and couple YouTube videos I had seen prior to make an airplane that handily outflow everyone else's. The excitement in their eyes when I was explaining the basics and the passion they showed over something considered child's play reinvigorated the passion of engineering in me. Princeton's application based engineering education and the availability of research through independent work junior and senior year means I can be one step closer to my goal of benefiting my community and the world. As my interests in engineering grew, I stumbled upon an article about how the washing machine was picked as the most impactful invention since the industrial revolution, beating out the likes of the Internet, GPS system, the automobile, and others. Since engineering, at its roots, was the process of proposing a solution to preexisting problems, the innovation that single-handedly bettered women's lives across the world by reducing the time of laundry from a whole day job to under an hour being picked wasn't that surprising. A large part of engineering is recognizing problems in the world like this and the interdisciplinary curriculum Princeton offers me the chance to do this. Education in humanities will allow me to have a better understanding of the culture that I live in and how engineering can play a role in it. I was given the opportunity to really see this in action when I interned at a materials engineering lab in the University of Illinois at Chicago over the summer. Helping out with multiple projects that addressed real-life problems such as microencapsulation technique for road salt to prevent damage to the environment and water harvesting technique to develop surfaces that can collect water from the air in places with scare access to water was an eye-opener as it helped me realized the kind of large-scale impact engineering could have in this world. Princeton, with its Engineers Without Borders program, can allow me to have this type of hands-on impact through engineering and projects like the portable water project by the Peru team would be an amazing extension of my internship. Studying engineering at Princeton would assist my endeavors of impacting society and fulfill my self-efficacy of bettering people's lives.

"What are you going to be?" A simple question for anybody, but a tall order for me. The journey to find my destined career path has been a rough one, but definitely worthwhile: It represented a maturity in my outlook on the world. As a young child, I had imagined becoming a courageous policeman catching lawbreakers; or a daring pilot eager to explore the deepest corners of the sky... like any other boys who wished to embrace a lucrative occupation. But time was devious: It went by, took away children's innocent aspirations and placed the reality in front of their eyes. "Great powers come great responsibility" - Achieving success in such demanding fields require a tremendous amount of dedication and risk-taking willingness, which did not fittingly match my personality. Yet I still consider them as vivid reminders of a once-dreamy childhood. During middle school years, one regretful mistake I had made was devoting too much time to keeping up with the superfluous academic "race" to please my parents and teachers while neglecting my "duty" to figure out my true passion. In the end, four precious years languished without any considerations for the future, and I was still baffled by the question of my chosen career at an important crossroad of life and the transitional stage to adulthood - high school. Before starting high school, an intense conflict of ideals rises within my troubled mind: Whether to continue on with the uninspiring existence as before or aim for a more exciting yet more challenging lifestyle? Eventually, the change-yearning heart won me over, setting the dawn of a new page in my development. With a renewed determination, I set eyes on the extracurricular activities that I used to blatantly ignore, but could be the key to explore my potential. With a great command in English, I took on language-required roles such as TED Volunteer Translator and news editor for a community of superhero enthusiasts. Converting speeches from a language to another at high accuracy and condensing them into short, interpretable texts might sound a menial and time-consuming task, but the more I indulged myself into the job, the more I grew to love it, as not only could my language utilization skill be sharpened but my wisdom were also enriched with a treasure trove of specialized knowledge. The turning point occurred when I was admitted into Liberate Yourself - a student organization that I admired for their pioneering mindset - and Asia Student Summit 2018 - a gathering of innovative and aspiring young leaders across Asia hosted in Seoul, South Korea. Contributing to collaborative projects and engaging with Asian youth community to interpret the world-changing impacts of social media platforms had truly broadened my perspective. Since then, I found myself greatly enticed by the prospect of launching a career in digital media field where I could use my knowledge and experience to inspire youths into finding their dream path and become a guiding light to help them make informed choices on their own - things that I could not learn without the help of burgeoning media itself. Now I can imagine myself of 10 years later being a social media personality working towards helping teenagers losing track of their lives to rediscover their role and value in the society. "What are you going to be?" I used to be overwhelmed by the inability to give a satisfying answer, but after embarking on the journey to rediscover my potential, I can now proudly say that there is finally a place where I truly belong to. Lastly, I would like to give a message to the forthcoming generation: Sometimes in life you can feel unmotivated. If you are bogged down, do not worry. Keep your head up and go on searching for your value, your passion. The day of success will not be too far ahead!

"What are you going to be?" A simple question for anybody, but a tall order for me. The journey to find my destined career path has been a rough one, but definitely worthwhile: It represented maturity in my outlook on the world. As a young child, I had imagined becoming a courageous policeman catching lawbreakers; or a daring pilot eager to explore the deepest corners of the sky... like any other boys who wished to embrace a lucrative occupation. But time was devious: It went by, took away children's innocent aspirations and placed the reality in front of their eyes. "Great powers come great responsibility" - Achieving success in such demanding fields require a tremendous amount of dedication and risk-taking willingness, which did not fittingly match my personality. Yet I still consider them as vivid reminders of a once-dreamy childhood. During middle school years, one regretful mistake I had made was devoting too much time to keeping up with the superfluous academic "race" to please my parents and teachers while neglecting my "duty" to figure out my true passion. In the end, four precious years languished without any considerations for the future, and I was still baffled by the question of my chosen career at an important crossroad of life and the transitional stage to adulthood - high school. Before starting high school, an intense conflict of ideals rises within my troubled mind: Whether to continue on with the uninspiring existence as before or aim for a more exciting yet more challenging lifestyle? Eventually, the change-yearning heart won me over, setting the dawn of a new page in my development. With a renewed determination, I set eyes on the extracurricular activities that I used to blatantly ignore, but could be the key to explore my potential. With a great command in English, I took on language-required roles such as TED Volunteer Translator and news editor for a community of superhero enthusiasts. Converting speeches from a language to another at high accuracy and condensing them into short, interpretable texts might sound a menial and time-consuming task, but the more I indulged myself into the job, the more I grew to love it, as not only could my language utilization skill be sharpened, but my wisdom were also enriched with a treasure trove of specialized knowledge. The turning point occurred when I was admitted into Liberate Yourself - a student organization that I admired for their pioneering mindset - and Asia Student Summit 2018 - a gathering of innovative and aspiring young leaders across Asia hosted in Seoul, South Korea. Contributing to collaborative projects and engaging with Asian youth community to interpret the world-changing impacts of social media platforms had truly broadened my perspective. Since then, I found myself greatly enticed by the prospect of launching a career in digital media field where I could use my knowledge and experience to inspire youths into finding their dream path and become a guiding light to help them make informed choices on their own - things that I could not learn without the help of burgeoning media itself. Now I can imagine myself of 10 years later being a social media personality working towards helping teenagers losing track of their lives to rediscover their role and value in the society. "What are you going to be?" I used to be overwhelmed by the inability to give a satisfying answer, but after embarking on the journey to rediscover my potential, I can now proudly say that there is finally a place where I truly belong to. Lastly, I would like to give a message to the forthcoming generation: Sometimes in life you can feel unmotivated. If you are bogged down, do not worry. Keep your head up and go on searching for your value, your passion. The day of success will not be too far ahead!

Response: My interest in Computer Science developed in 11th grade. On my way to school, I sat next to my friend who used to write codes on the bus. At first, I could not understand what he was typing, but after seeing him run the program codes, I realized that it was something related to mathematics. As I am a math lover, I assisted him in writing codes that involved complex mathematical logic. We would become very happy when our logic worked and the program ran successfully. Gradually, my interest in Computer Science increased, and I decided to change my optional subject from Economics to Computer Science. When I sat in the Computer Science classes, I had set a goal in my mind to learn to code. Although it was difficult for me to learn the basics of the language at first, I put in a lot of efforts to learn C++ through online courses and the help of my peers. During this process, I could appreciate the beauty of Computer Science and the numerous ways in which technology can help mankind. After graduating high school, I have explored Computer Science and learned to program in Java and C. I have also tried to understand the real world applications of coding through projects such as home automation using Arduino. My interest in Mathematics developed due to my love for solving problems. A lot of my childhood days were spent playing math games and challenges with my mom such as Sudoku. I was also learning the abacus around that time, which furthered my interest in numbers and calculations. Later in my high school, I relished the opportunity to further my interest in Mathematics. I took part in math competitions and exhibitions held at my school. I also worked on a project which incorporated fundamental concepts of physics and mathematics to show how to score a basket. This was the first time, I was able to use some abstruse formulas in a real-world situation. At UIUC, I desire to major in Mathematics & Computer Science which will enable me to explore areas such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. To create something useful is an expression of great value, leading to a door of infinite possibilities. The abundant research opportunities at UIUC will help me fulfil my goal of creating something useful.

Response: My interest in Computer Science developed in 11th grade. On my way to school, I sat next to my friend who used to write codes on the bus. At first, I could not understand what he was typing, but after seeing him run the program codes, I realized that it was something related to mathematics. As I am a math lover, I assisted him in writing codes that involved complex mathematical logic. We would become very happy when our logic worked and the program ran successfully. Gradually, my interest in Computer Science increased, and I decided to change my optional subject from Economics to Computer Science. When I sat in the Computer Science classes, I had set a goal in my mind to learn to code. Although it was difficult for me to learn the basics of the language at first, I put in a lot of efforts to learn C++ through online courses and the help of my peers. During this process, I could appreciate the beauty of Computer Science and the numerous ways in which technology can help mankind. After graduating from high school, I have explored Computer Science and learned to program in Java and C. I have also tried to understand the real world applications of coding through projects such as home automation using Arduino. My interest in Mathematics developed due to my love for solving problems. A lot of my childhood days were spent playing math games and challenges with my mom such as Sudoku. I was also learning the abacus around that time, which furthered my interest in numbers and calculations. Later in my high school, I relished the opportunity to further my interest in Mathematics. I took part in math competitions and exhibitions held at my school. I also worked on a project which incorporated fundamental concepts of physics and mathematics to show how to score a basket. This was the first time, I was able to use some abstruse formulas in a real-world situation. At UIC, I desire to major in Mathematics camp; Computer Science which will enable me to explore areas such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. To create something useful is an expression of great value, leading to a door of infinite possibilities. The abundant research opportunities at UIC will help me fulfil my goal of creating something useful.

No holiday is as stressful to my family as Christmas. With 46 cousins, my family's long standing tradition of Secret Santa makes the snowy season seems at times more competitive than the Olympics. Just imagine over 60 people constantly trying to one up each other each year. I come from a homogenous yet diverse background. Both of my parents were from Vietnam and immigrated during their youths. That's where the commonality ends. My maternal family has a strong conservative-christian background, while my paternal family, the more progressive side, holds Buddhist values. This probably explains why 45 of my cousins come from my mother's side. Our differences don't stop there, however. Although both sets of my grandparents settled in Kansas, my relatives have diffused all across America, from the rockies to the Jersey shore. But despite our differences in beliefs and lifestyles, It's not just our shared DNA that makes us family. In any time of need, my family is prepared to make sacrifices to support each other. When my mother died, my many aunts and uncles each took turns driving up to our household to stay and help my dad raise us. I've learned from my relatives that anyone group of people who truly cares for each other can be a family, and I believe that Duke is a campus that fosters such a mentality, where even people like my cousins, who always give their Secret Santa recipients deer heads which they've hunted, we love all the same. Thanks.

No holiday is as stressful to my family as Christmas. With 46 cousins, my family's long-standing tradition of Secret Santa makes the snowy season seems at times more competitive than the Olympics. Just imagine over 60 people constantly trying to one up each other each year. I come from a homogenous yet diverse background. Both of my parents were from Vietnam and immigrated during their youths. That's where the commonality ends. My maternal family has a strong conservative-christian background, while my paternal family, the more progressive side, holds Buddhist values. This probably explains why 45 of my cousins come from my mother's side. Our differences don't stop there, however. Although both sets of my grandparents settled in Kansas, my relatives have diffused all across America, from the Rockies to the Jersey shore. But despite our differences in beliefs and lifestyles, It's not just our shared DNA that makes us family. In any time of need, my family is prepared to make sacrifices to support each other. When my mother died, my many aunts and uncles each took turns driving up to our household to stay and help my dad raise us. I've learned from my relatives that anyone group of people who truly cares for each other can be a family, and I believe that Duke is a campus that fosters such a mentality, where even people like my cousins, who always give their Secret Santa recipients deer heads which they've hunted, we love all the same. Thanks.

I was scolded by my American literature teacher for the 3rd time this semester. He had told me countless times to keep my pace when completing the reading assignments and literary projects, but I just couldn't help myself. This habit flourished in the 7th grade, when my language teacher had assigned us a book essay that would be due in a month. While others simply dismissed the assignment, scrambling around on the last day to complete it, I had finished my Tangerine review by the second day. It started out as a logical viewpoint for finishing school tasks, then it quickly developed into a habit. In my early years of high school, we were given projects, article reviews, essays, and presentations every month, and I would be told my teachers to take my time, again and again. I couldn't help it, I had reinforced the behavior so frequently, that assignments began pounding on my mind as time passed by. Once, only 5 hours after the assignment had been given, I spent the entire Tuesday evening researching why the "V" formation was crucial to the migration of birds. So it was ironic when the teacher decided to cancel the assignment and give us an in-class essay instead. Using the knowledge I had obtained the night prior, I focused my essay on the aerodynamics of flying in a "V" formation and got the second highest score in my class! I understand that it is not wise to distribute my time like this, but I reasonably utilize my time to meet more urgent matters before attending to long-term tasks right away. I intend to continue this trend of completing lengthy tasks swiftly but cautiously in college, so I can be productive with time and as a means to combat such taxing stress.

I was scolded by my American literature teacher for the 3rd time this semester. He had told me countless times to keep my pace when completing the reading assignments and literary projects, but I just couldn't help myself. This habit flourished in the 7th grade, when my language teacher had assigned us a book essay that would be due in a month. While others simply dismissed the assignment, scrambling around on the last day to complete it, I had finished my Tangerine review by the second day. It started out as a logical viewpoint for finishing school tasks, then it quickly developed into a habit. In my early years of high school, we were given projects, article reviews, essays, and presentations every month, and I would be told my teachers to take my time, again and again. I couldn't help it, I had reinforced the behavior so frequently, that assignments began pounding on my mind as time passed by. Once, only 5 hours after the assignment had been given, I spent the entire Tuesday evening researching why the "V" formation was crucial to the migration of birds. So it was ironic when the teacher decided to cancel the assignment and give us an in-class essay instead. Using the knowledge I had obtained the night prior, I focused my essay on the aerodynamics of flying in a "V" formation and got the second-highest score in my class! I understand that it is not wise to distribute my time like this, but I reasonably utilize my time to meet more urgent matters before attending to long-term tasks right away. I intend to continue this trend of completing lengthy tasks swiftly but cautiously in college, so I can be productive with time and as a means to combat such taxing stress.

"Each of us strengthens all of us" is a concept that resonates deeply in the Villanova community. While this phrase may mean many different things, one aspect is that Villanovans rely on each other. Share a situation when you have needed help and what you have taken away from this experience. The time had come for me to retire my plaid kilt and red polo shirt. I attended a small catholic school from kindergarten all the way through eighth grade. Growing up with the teachings of God was way of life for me. I found myself in the same building every day along with the other 60 kids in my grade and 500 kids in my school. I had found comfort in being part of a community, having a place, always feeling like I belonged. The red polo shirt and green and red kilt provided me a safe haven. But,beginning freshman year of high school I would depart from a safe space and venture into one of the largest schools in the county, into one of the most diverse schools in the country. This change came with some major consequences. Picking my outfit out for school was a daunting task, something I had never done my entire life. I thought it was crazy that kids could be on their phones in the hallways. I felt like a mino in a river of sharks. When the bell rang to go to the next class I was terrified. It was so hard to make friends. School was difficult, I understood nothing. I had no motivation to do anything at home either I just wanted to go home and curl up with my dogs. I was stressed and had no one to go to. Freshman year felt like it had gone on for decades I really struggled until the second semester of sophomore year. I had to study and put in extreme hours of work outside the classroom to see the results that I had wanted. I became more involved in school, and discovered my passion of law. Making the varsity softball team freshman year was what really turned around my experience at Northwest. I found myself with 15 new best friends all in different grades. I began to have faces to say hi to in the hallway. A team to go out with after practice for dinner. Small things that spark a sense of community was really what started to make me feel comfortable. We were such a tight knit team. We would hang out almost every day, we would go to the amusement park, have sleepovers, basically anything to be together. What made it so special was that I had no real superior relationship with anyone. I was close with everyone, we each had our own memories, jokes, and nicknames for eachother. Our bond was inseparable. And this eventually lead to the winning of the State Championships in 2017, which had never been done before in school history. I became more confident at school, more outgoing, through some of my friends on the team I would find mutual friends, such as people who were in my classes. Having a support system made the world of a difference. I now had the confidence to join other activities and put myself out there. Through this experience, I have realized that connections with others is what really helps you in times of need. Small acts of kindness really do make a difference. Having a support system really turned by life around, not just socially, but also academically.

"Each of us strengthens all of us" is a concept that resonates deeply in the Villanova community. While this phrase may mean many things, one aspect is that Villanova rely on each other. Share a situation when you have needed help and what you have taken away from this experience. The time had come for me to retire my plaid kilt and red polo shirt. I attended a small catholic school from kindergarten all the way through eighth grade. Growing up with the teachings of God was way of life for me. I found myself in the same building every day along with the other 60 kids in my grade and 500 kids in my school. I had found comfort in being part of a community, having a place, always feeling like I belonged. The red polo shirt and green and red kilt provided me a safe haven. But, beginning freshman year of high school I would depart from a safe space and venture into one of the largest schools in the county, into one of the most diverse schools in the country. This change came with some major consequences. Picking my outfit out for school was a daunting task, something I had never done my entire life. I thought it was crazy that kids could be on their phones in the hallways. I felt like a minor in a river of sharks. When the bell rang to go to the next class I was terrified. It was so hard to make friends. School was difficult, I understood nothing. I had no motivation to do anything at home either I just wanted to go home and curl up with my dogs. I was stressed and had no one to go to. Freshman year felt like it had gone on for decades I really struggled until the second semester of sophomore year. I had to study and put in extreme hours of work outside the classroom to see the results that I had wanted. I became more involved in school, and discovered my passion of law. Making the varsity softball team freshman year was what really turned around my experience at Northwest. I found myself with 15 new best friends all in different grades. I began to have faces to say hi to in the hallway. A team to go out with after practice for dinner. Small things that spark a sense of community was really what started to make me feel comfortable. We were such a tight-knit team. We would hang out almost every day, we would go to the amusement park, have sleepovers, basically anything to be together. What made it so special was that I had no real superior relationship with anyone. I was close with everyone, we each had our own memories, jokes, and nicknames for each other. Our bond was inseparable. And this eventually lead to the winning of the State Championships in 2017, which had never been done before in school history. I became more confident at school, more outgoing, through some of my friends on the team I would find mutual friends, such as people who were in my classes. Having a support system made the world of a difference. I now had the confidence to join other activities and put myself out there. Through this experience, I have realized that connections with others is what really helps you in times of need. Small acts of kindness really do make a difference. Having a support system really turned by life around, not just socially, but also academically.

"You call that 'mature'?" Again, I failed to hold back my tears from falling. My brain was trying so hard to form a sentence, but all I could think about wasI need a tissue. My nose was partially blocked from crying, and my breath was heavy and irregular. I glanced at my mom, trying to send her signals to defend me. I am mature! I thought. I knew I was mature enough to have my own iPhone, or to go to the movies with my friends. Or to decide that I did not want to spend my whole summer in this church program. Dad, I am a grown up now. Please let me make my own decisions-- and don't call me immature! Maturity is a weird concept. What actually defines maturity? Is it when you can financially support yourself? Is it when you reach a certain age? Is it when you put other people before yourself? Well, when I first boarded on a flight without my parents, I thought, wow, I am an adult! I grew up arguing with my dad a lot. He has this ability to turn small talks at the dining table into deep, meaningful life lessons. From small things like asking permission to hang out with friends to bigger ones such as college decisions, everything becomes an argument. In middle school, I would prefer to stay at home rather than going to the movies with my friends, because my dad would insist on accompanying me. Sleepovers or trips were nonexistent in my teenage years. Boyfriend? Forget about that. To say that he is overprotective would be a understatement. If I recall all these arguments, I always lose. Most of it ended with the exact scene I described before. Tears. However, I discovered maturity through these series of arguments with my dad. He is difficult, but he has always had me on his shoulder, metaphorically and literally. Despite the challenging experiences, the tough love he has shown me all these years helped me broadened my self-awareness and perspectives. As soon as I grew older, I learned that the obstacles he intentionally gave me were meant to help me achieve better and higher. I learned to to listen when he speaks and to think before I speak. I learned to apologize. I learned to understand the reasons behind his reasonings. All these things which seemed so simple yet so hard to actually do. I stopped debating-I communicate. Our last argument was last week. And for the first time, I won.

"You call that 'mature'?" Again, I failed to hold back my tears from falling. My brain was trying so hard to form a sentence, but all I could think about was need a tissue. My nose was partially blocked from crying, and my breath was heavy and irregular. I glanced at my mom, trying to send her signals to defend me. I am mature! Furthermore, I thought. Furthermore, I knew I was mature enough to have my own iPhone, or to go to the movies with my friends. Or to decide that I did not want to spend my whole summer in this church program. Dad, I am a grown up now. Please let me make my own decisions-- and don't call me immature! Maturity is a weird concept. What actually defines maturity? Is it when you can financially support yourself? Is it when you reach a certain age? Is it when you put other people before yourself? Well, when I first boarded on a flight without my parents, I thought, wow, I am an adult! I grew up arguing with my dad a lot. He has this ability to turn small talks at the dining table into deep, meaningful life lessons. From small things like asking permission to hang out with friends to bigger ones such as college decisions, everything becomes an argument. In middle school, I would prefer to stay at home rather than going to the movies with my friends, because my dad would insist on accompanying me. Sleepovers or trips were nonexistent in my teenage years. Boyfriend? Forget about that. To say that he is overprotective would be an understatement. If I recall all these arguments, I always lose. Most of it ended with the exact scene I described before. Tears. However, I discovered maturity through these series of arguments with my dad. He is difficult, but he has always had me on his shoulder, metaphorically and literally. Despite the challenging experiences, the tough love he has shown me all these years helped me broadened my self-awareness and perspectives. As soon as I grew older, I learned that the obstacles he intentionally gave me were meant to help me achieve better and higher. I learned to listen when he speaks and to think before I speak. I learned to apologize. Furthermore, I learned to understand the reasons behind his reasoning. All these things which seemed so simple yet so hard to actually do. I stopped debating-I communicate. Our last argument was last week. And for the first time, I won.

"How many times have I called your name?" came my mom's exasperated call from the adjoining room. "It's so unladylike of you to not do what you're expected. At this rate, how will you ever amount to anything?" Legs sprawled lazily across the family loveseat, I tried for the umpteenth time to immerse myself in a teenage angst novel, "The Perks of Being a Wallflower." However, the shrill voice of my mother once again interrupted my attempt at reading. I merely shrugged my shoulders while rolling my eyes, trying to drown out the lecture my mom religiously liked to give about how responsibility leads to success, or something of that nature. It was a constant routine that led my mom on a slippery slope of what would hypothetically happen if I were to continue on my "lack of effort and motivation" mentality. I tried to act nonchalant about what she said to me, but internally it made me wonder what sort of struggle my mom had to go through in order to ensure that I had a better future. Growing up in the rural drylands of Somalia, my mom quickly assimilated into the role of caretaker, since her family had many mouths to feed. Everyday she would wake up at the crack of dawn to prepare canjeero; a traditional breakfast while tending to the vast amounts of livestock her father owned. She would also help with the bathing of her younger siblings, and making sure there was enough food for the family that night. Although a lot of responsibility was allocated to her since the age of eight, she never complained. Similarly, I tried to excel in whatever was given to me in school by tirelessly studying concepts I previously never knew about and aiming to be in the top tier of my school. Even though I did not deal with pressure of similar burdens my mother carried so effortlessly, I still took into consideration the amount of selflessness it took for her to raise me while she provided the basic necessities for me. Along with the combination of her early childhood and selflessness, my mom had to learn how to balance American and Somali culture. During my formative years, I remember being embarrassed by my mom's slight accent during "Muffins with Mom" events hosted at my school, along with the looks of disgust my peers gave me when I ate canjeero and sauce with my hands, and the constant jeering to take my hijab off. It made me feel ashamed to embrace my ethnic origins and my religion. Then I realized that my mom was never ashamed to embrace her culture. She didn't compromise and made people accept her for who she was. It took me a while, but then I realized that it was all up to my self image of myself and how I portrayed myself to others. It made me realize how proud I was of my ethnicity. I love the fact that my mom made me realize my self worth and ability to become whoever I wanted to be with a little effort and dedication. For that, I will forever be indebted to my mother and endlessly be grateful for her unconditional love, care and support.

"How many times have I called your name?" came my mom's exasperated call from the adjoining room. "It's so unladylike of you to not do what you're expected. At this rate, how will you ever amount to anything?" Legs sprawled lazily across the family love seat, I tried for the umpteenth time to immerse myself in a teenage angst novel, "The Perks of Being a Wallflower." However, the shrill voice of my mother once again interrupted my attempt at reading. I merely shrugged my shoulders while rolling my eyes, trying to drown out the lecture my mom religiously liked to give about how responsibility leads to success, or something of that nature. It was a constant routine that led my mom on a slippery slope of what would hypothetically happen if I were to continue on my "lack of effort and motivation" mentality. I tried to act nonchalant about what she said to me, but internally it made me wonder what sort of struggle my mom had to go through in order to ensure that I had a better future. Growing up in the rural dry lands of Somalia, my mom quickly assimilated into the role of caretaker, since her family had many mouths to feed. Every day, she would wake up at the crack of dawn to prepare career; a traditional breakfast while tending to the vast amounts of livestock her father owned. She would also help with the bathing of her younger siblings, and making sure there was enough food for the family that night. Although a lot of responsibility was allocated to her since the age of eight, she never complained. Similarly, I tried to excel in whatever was given to me in school by tirelessly studying concepts I previously never knew about and aiming to be in the top tier of my school. Even though I did not deal with pressure of similar burdens my mother carried so effortlessly, I still took into consideration the amount of selflessness it took for her to raise me while she provided the necessities for me. Along with the combination of her early childhood and selflessness, my mom had to learn how to balance American and Somali culture. During my formative years, I remember being embarrassed by my mom's slight accent during "Muffins with Mom" events hosted at my school, along with the looks of disgust my peers gave me when I ate career and sauce with my hands, and the constant jeering to take my hijab off. It made me feel ashamed to embrace my ethnic origins and my religion. Then I realized that my mom was never ashamed to embrace her culture. She didn't compromise and made people accept her for who she was. It took me a while, but then I realized that it was all up to my self-image of myself and how I portrayed myself to others. It made me realize how proud I was of my ethnicity. I love the fact that my mom made me realize my self-worth and ability to become whoever I wanted to be with a little effort and dedication. For that, I will forever be indebted to my mother and endlessly be grateful for her unconditional love, care and support.

The prompt:How have you made an impact at your high school or within your community?choose one example and explain. 200-300 words (this is 286) Every Valentine's day, I would pack up my cheesy pink cards with candy taped to the back, anticipating the heart-shaped brownies and rose petals on our desks at school. I would remind my family I loved them, and show affection to all my friends. It was a day for loving and caring for your neighbor. That is, until February 14, 2018 arrived. I checked my phone and watched as the horrific event took place: shots were fired at a Florida high school. My heart sank. I called my friend who had moved to Florida very recently. I got no answer. After a few hours, more information was released about the shooting and I was finally able to take a breath. She was on lockdown, but she was at a different school. As days went by, the victims of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting began an organization to stop these shootings for good: The March for Our Lives. I found myself engulfed in the movement. I helped spread the word and organize the march in Fort Worth. I called my senator, made flyers and passed them out to anyone who would accept them. I did everything in my power to help set the movement in motion. When it finally came time to walk the streets, I got on a plane and flew to Washington, D.C. to be part of the largest march in US history. I will always advocate for safer schools and do my part in preventing any more children from losing their lives in the classroom. I was a part of something that continues to impact our country almost a year later. I am a part of something that will impact generations to come. Thank you for your help!! Any feedback is welcome.

The prompt:How have you made an impact at your high school or within your community?choose one example and explain. 200-300 words (this is 286) Every Valentine's Day, I would pack up my cheesy pink cards with candy taped to the back, anticipating the heart-shaped brownies and rose petals on our desks at school. I would remind my family I loved them, and show affection to all my friends. It was a day for loving and caring for your neighbor. That is, until February 14, 2018, arrived. I checked my phone and watched as the horrific event took place: shots were fired at a Florida high school. My heart sank. I called my friend who had moved to Florida very recently. I got no answer. After a few hours, more information was released about the shooting, and I was finally able to take a breath. She was on lockdown, but she was at a different school. As days went by, the victims of the Stone man Douglas High School shooting began an organization to stop these shootings for good: The March for Our Lives. I found myself engulfed in the movement. I helped spread the word and organize the march in Fort Worth. Furthermore, I called my senator, made flyers and passed them out to anyone who would accept them. Furthermore, I did everything in my power to help set the movement in motion. When it finally came time to walk the streets, I got on a plane and flew to Washington, D.C. to be part of the largest march in US history. I will always advocate for safer schools and do my part in preventing any more children from losing their lives in the classroom. I was a part of something that continues to impact our country almost a year later. Furthermore, I am a part of something that will impact generations to come. Thank you for your help!! Any feedback is welcome.

2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? As I watched the football bounce off of my head and sink into the goal, my heart followed suit. It was almost the end of the first half. Neither side had scored yet. This was the semi-final game of the last inter-school tournament of the year. Insignificant to most spectators - most significant to those they spectated. For every player on the field, it was our last chance to prove ourselves . It all came down to this moment. This was it. I held my head high, sporting my usual calm. As the center-back and captain, I was the backbone of the team. A sudden interception, a swift turn, an ankle-twist later, I saw the ball lobbed high into the air. I locked onto it whilst jostling with the opposing team's striker. It bobbed and weaved in the air, inching nearer and nearer. It's trajectory suggested that it was going to go over my head. Regardless, with gritted teeth and stubborn pride, I leaped - instantaneous regret searing through me like Icarus' wings burning in the sun's flames - I rose too high and was about to come crashing down. The jump was mistimed and I felt the ball strike the top of my head. I turned around desperately, almost as if to turn the clock backwards. I made it just in time to see it float over our keeper. The referee's whistle screeched- it was an own goal. Except, the story doesn't just end with me single-handedly crushing our chances at the tournament- although I did end up doing that. The team huddled, field silent, air dense- like a packed mosque on a warm friday afternoon. Coach spat out instructions but my teammates looked on blankly. Their energy and spirits drained. Could I blame them? 1-0 down at half time due to an own goal by their so-called reliable captain. My friends avoided bringing it up - their sympathy must have been holding them back. I stared at my shoes the entire time. I felt like I had failed my team. But something had to be done. We didn't stand a chance with the team's morale being this low. "Dost, are you sure you don't want to swap positions? I'm clearly doing a better job at scoring headers", I said to our striker with a cheeky grin. That snide comment earned me a few colorful names and slaps on my back. But I could not help but notice the smile tugging at the corner of my teammates' lips. That's all I needed. The atmosphere lightened. It was like that first breath of fresh air after leaving the mosque. We could give our all now. I wish I could say that this rather dramatic rendition of my highschool tournament ended with our triumphant victory, but reality isn't that kind. I did, however, discover something about myself that would end up better equipping me for this not-so-kind reality. I realised that I could take whatever dismal situation life threw at me and swing back at it with my own twist. What I learnt that day on the field is that we can't always control how things play out and sometimes they happen exactly opposite to how one hopes. However, we can control how we respond to these challenges. As for me, an unwavering smile and a touch of optimism does the job.

2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? As I watched the football bounce off of my head and sink into the goal, my heart followed suit. It was almost the end of the first half. Neither side had scored yet. This was the semi-final game of the last interschool tournament of the year. Insignificant to most spectators - most significant to those they spectated. For every player on the field, it was our last chance to prove ourselves. It all came down to this moment. This was it. I held my head high, sporting my usual calm. As the center-back and captain, I was the backbone of the team. A sudden interception, a swift turn, an ankle-twist later, I saw the ball lobbed high into the air. I locked onto it whilst jostling with the opposing team's striker. It bobbed and weaved in the air, inching nearer and nearer. Its trajectory suggested that it was going to go over my head. Regardless, with gritted teeth and stubborn pride, I leaped - instantaneous regret searing through me like Icarus' wings burning in the sun's flames - I rose too high and was about to come crashing down. The jump was mistimed, and I felt the ball strike the top of my head. I turned around desperately, almost as if to turn the clock backwards. I made it just in time to see it float over our keeper. The referee's whistle screeched-it was an own goal. Except, the story doesn't just end with me single-handedly crushing our chances at the tournament-although I did end up doing that. The team huddled, field silent, air dense-like a packed mosque on a warm Friday afternoon. Coach spat out instructions, but my teammates looked on blankly. Their energy and spirits drained. Could I blame them? 1-0 down at half-time due to an own goal by their so-called reliable captain. My friends avoided bringing it up - their sympathy must have been holding them back. I stared at my shoes the entire time. I felt like I had failed my team. But something had to be done. We didn't stand a chance with the team's morale being this low. "Dost, are you sure you don't want to swap positions? I'm clearly doing a better job at scoring headers", I said to our striker with a cheeky grin. That snide comment earned me a few colorful names and slaps on my back. But I could not help but notice the smile tugging at the corner of my teammates' lips. That's all I needed. The atmosphere lightened. It was like that first breath of fresh air after leaving the mosque. We could give our all now. I wish I could say that this rather dramatic rendition of my high school tournament ended with our triumphant victory, but reality isn't that kind. I did, however, discover something about myself that would end up better equipping me for this not-so-kind reality. Furthermore, I realized that I could take whatever dismal situation life threw at me and swing back at it with my own twist. What I learned that day on the field is that we can't always control how things play out, and sometimes they happen exactly opposite to how one hopes. However, we can control how we respond to these challenges. As for me, an unwavering smile and a touch of optimism does the job.

When I decided to volunteer at the hospital last summer, I can't deny that scenes from "Grey's Anatomy" had run through my head. But even without the glamorization and level one traumas, volunteering at the Winter Park Memorial Hospital has been a fulfilling experience that has allowed me to help others. For four hours every Friday afternoon, I can be found in the emergency department at my local hospital. My work takes me all over the floor, as I assist in a variety of tasks, depending on what the nurses need. There is always something that needs to be done, from changing linens to making blood culture kits. My favorite part of volunteering is interacting with the patients, even simply helping them with directions or listening to them tell an interesting story. I may be far from the operating rooms, but I know that helping out behind the scenes is an important part of helping the emergency department run smoothly. I became a volunteer at the Winter Park Memorial Hospital with the goals of getting my feet wet in healthcare, getting involved in community, and to make positive differences in the lives of people. I have happily completed all these goals throughout my experience volunteering. (205)

When I decided to volunteer at the hospital last summer, I can't deny that scenes from "Grey's Anatomy" had run through my head. But even without the glamorization and level one trauma, volunteering at the Winter Park Memorial Hospital has been a fulfilling experience that has allowed me to help others. For four hours every Friday afternoon, I can be found in the emergency department at my local hospital. My work takes me all over the floor, as I assist in a variety of tasks, depending on what the nurses need. There is always something that needs to be done, from changing linens to making blood culture kits. My favorite part of volunteering is interacting with the patients, even simply helping them with directions or listening to them tell an interesting story. I may be far from the operating rooms, but I know that helping out behind the scenes is an important part of helping the emergency department run smoothly. I became a volunteer at the Winter Park Memorial Hospital with the goals of getting my feet wet in healthcare, getting involved in community, and to make positive differences in the lives of people. Furthermore, I have happily completed all these goals throughout my experience volunteering. (205)

If I could any feedback or thoughts that would be very appreciated! I was recently introduced to Nahnatchka Khan's 'documentary' series Fresh off the Boat, where amidst the stereotypes and exaggerations, there are incredible parallels between the Huangs' comic story and my own experiences growing up in an immigrant Chinese family. Indeed, I find myself as a seventeen-year-old boy relating most of all with, not Eddie's accurate simulacrum of the conventional academically abused Asian boy but the character of the over seventy-year old woman Grandma Huang. "I wanted a dinner where I wasn't the only one who spoke Mandarin." Despite my mindless leisure being destroyed by existential reflections about my heritage, I found myself more enraptured by Lucille Song's simple lines than those of Dostoevsky and Pynchon. Grandma Huang reminded me of my childhood: my mother bringing warm cups of 'honey doodoo' [tea] when I was ill, with a bowl of 'optus tang' [octopus soup] heated up from the night before; one where the word 'jam' didn't exist, instead replaced with a more accurate 'red stuff.' My bilingualism was a gift in two ways. Not only was I fortunate to be able to insult my peers in two tongues by the age of four, I also realised how important language was as a medium for communication. My parents turned to great writers like Charles Dickens and Aristotle to be my teachers in English, unable to teach me themselves. In fact, they saved to purchase Britannica's Great Books of the Western World where I was introduced to the literary and intellectual prowess of these thinkers, engendering my enchantment with language and philosophy. I remember spending each holiday from the age of six, following my mother to work and wasting hours away in the bookshop beneath her office, pouring over thoughts and stories that had manifested on print and paper. The authors all inspired me with their ability to express themselves - to tell a story or idea through their language. So, at the age of nine, I declared to my parents that I wanted to become a lawyer, not because of the Asian stereotype, but because I remembered my childhood where a man once walked up to my father to say, "go back to where you came from," only for my father to look down at me, asking for a translation. I wanted to be someone who would speak out for people when they couldn't themselves. I wanted to be a voice for the voiceless. I was lucky, my love for reading and a natural affinity for mathematics got me a scholarship for a prestigious private school. I remember my father's words on my first day, spoken in English. "Take this time, do and learn all." I listened, finding surprising aptness in a plethora of diverse opportunities and activities that my parents never had. However, I always returned to my nest, never letting go of the naïve dreams I had as a nine-year-old. Following my passion for language and advocacy, my time as a writer, public speaker and leader only strengthened my resolve, finding new ways to help others and myself find our voices. I watch as Grandma Huang smiles at the simple joy of speaking with her family in her native language and I'm taken back to when I was eleven. It's my first debate. My stomach is turning. "Just imagine everyone is naked," my coach offers. I ignore him, instead anchoring myself to the sight of my parents in the sea of faces, a reminder of why I'm able to speak out loud in the first place. I sit like Grandma Huang, talking in mandarin with my mother, father and sister jovially around the dinner table. Yes, Fresh off the Boat does perhaps tell the common story of a family struggling to adapt to a different society, but it's this common story that inspired my simple love for language and expression - a joy we often taken for granted.

If I could any feedback or thoughts that would be very appreciated! I was recently introduced to Nahnatchka Khan's 'documentary' series Fresh off the Boat, where amidst the stereotypes and exaggerations, there are incredible parallels between the Huang's' comic story and my own experiences growing up in an immigrant Chinese family. Indeed, I find myself as a seventeen-year-old boy relating most of all with, not Eddie's accurate simulacrum of the conventional academically abused Asian boy but the character of the over seventy-year old woman Grandma Huang. "I wanted a dinner where I wasn't the only one who spoke Mandarin." Despite my mindless leisure being destroyed by existential reflections about my heritage, I found myself more enraptured by Lucille Song's simple lines than those of Dostoevsky and Pynchon. Grandma Huang reminded me of my childhood: my mother bringing warm cups of 'honey voodoo' [tea] when I was ill, with a bowl of 'Optus tang' [octopus soup] heated up from the night before; one where the word 'jam' didn't exist, instead replaced with a more accurate 'red stuff.' My bilingualism was a gift in two ways. Not only was I fortunate to be able to insult my peers in two tongues by the age of four, I also realized how important language was as a medium for communication. My parents turned to great writers like Charles Dickens and Aristotle to be my teachers in English, unable to teach me themselves. In fact, they saved to purchase Britannica's Great Books of the Western World where I was introduced to the literary and intellectual prowess of these thinkers, engendering my enchantment with language and philosophy. I remember spending each holiday from the age of six, following my mother to work and wasting hours away in the bookshop beneath her office, pouring over thoughts and stories that had manifested on print and paper. The authors all inspired me with their ability to express themselves - to tell a story or idea through their language. So, at the age of nine, I declared to my parents that I wanted to become a lawyer, not because of the Asian stereotype, but because I remembered my childhood where a man once walked up to my father to say, "go back to where you came from," only for my father to look down at me, asking for a translation. I wanted to be someone who would speak out for people when they couldn't themselves. I wanted to be a voice for the voiceless. Furthermore, I was lucky, my love for reading and a natural affinity for mathematics got me a scholarship for a prestigious private school. Furthermore, I remember my father's words on my first day, spoken in English. "Take this time, do and learn all." I listened, finding surprising aptness in a plethora of diverse opportunities and activities that my parents never had. However, I always returned to my nest, never letting go of the naïve dreams I had as a nine-year-old. Following my passion for language and advocacy, my time as a writer, public speaker and leader only strengthened my resolve, finding new ways to help others and me find our voices. I watch as Grandma Huang smiles at the simple joy of speaking with her family in her native language, and I'm taken back to when I was eleven. It's my first debate. My stomach is turning. "Just imagine everyone is naked," my coach offers. I ignore him, instead anchoring myself to the sight of my parents in the sea of faces, a reminder of why I'm able to speak out loud in the first place. I sit like Grandma Huang, talking in mandarin with my mother, father and sister jovially around the dinner table. Yes, Fresh off the Boat does perhaps tell the common story of a family struggling to adapt to a different society, but it's this common story that inspired my simple love for language and expression - a joy we have often taken for granted.

That's it I can't take it anymore I want to quit!" I stammered half in tears over my seventh-grade math assignment. Pushing through my parents, I ran through the house back to my room where I cried myself to sleep; convincing myself that I will never amount to anything. I regretted my choice to attend public school. My mother told me "once you start there's no going back, are you sure?" and of course I exuberantly exclaimed I wanted to attend public school. My family moved a great deal when I was young. Once we finally settled into a forever home, I decided to make the biggest decision of my life. I told my mother I wished to attend public school. The night before my first day I had everything set out, my first outfit, my purple messenger bag filled with brand new school supplies, I was ecstatic. When the morning finally came my mother walked me to the middle school we said our goodbyes just before the crosswalk, as I strolled across the street into my new adventure. I knew it was going to be a strenuous day when the crossing guard yelled at me for crossing the street incorrectly. My first day was terrifying, I had no clue as to what the curriculum contained, there were no familiar faces, I didn't even know how to unlock a simple combination lock. Finally, the dreaded time had finally come, lunch. Meekly walking into the lunch room with my new thirty-one lunch bag, I gazed around the cafeteria. All eyes were on me. I sat with my shadow, Shelby, she introduced me to her friends and they continued about their normal routine of gossip and horseplay. I, being too shy to start a conversation with any other student, opened my lunchable my mother packed me and ate quietly. While the cafeteria was bursting with vitality, I was not. As the marking period came to an end the students received their report cards. Standing in the kitchen, I nervously opened my report card. My avid expression turned to animosity. To my dismay, I received my first ever C. Prior to public school I was doing math at the sixth-grade level. It was extremely grueling attempting to catch up with my fellow peers. My mother, with a look of disapproval on her face, hung my report card on the fridge saying that I should do better next marking period. I was crushed, I joined public school so I could become my own person and make my mother proud of me. Ever since I can remember I was always following in my sister's footsteps. We would do everything together; when my sister wanted to ride horses I had to as well, even if I didn't want to. Enrolling in public school was the biggest step in my life. I was so happy yet so nervous I had always been with my sister, I had awful social anxiety making it difficult for me to make friends. Though, after receiving my first C, I realized I wanted to be more than an average student. I tried harder and became an A student. After entering high school it became clear to me that I wanted to do more with my life. I challenged myself, became more active within my school community, and overall improve myself. I finally realized who I wanted to become. I stopped trying to impress my mother and started doing the activities I was interested in. I have never felt like college was an option for me until I entered high school and realized I could do great things. I never would have pushed myself to become the leader I am today without making the most treacherous decision of my life.

That's it I can't take it any more I want to quit!" I stammered half in tears over my seventh-grade math assignment. Pushing through my parents, I ran through the house back to my room where I cried myself to sleep; convincing myself that I will never amount to anything. I regretted my choice to attend public school. My mother told me "once you start there's no going back, are you sure?" and of course I exuberantly exclaimed I wanted to attend public school. My family moved a great deal when I was young. Once we finally settled into a forever home, I decided to make the biggest decision of my life. I told my mother I wished to attend public school. The night before my first day I had everything set out, my first outfit, my purple messenger bag filled with brand-new school supplies, I was ecstatic. When the morning finally came my mother walked me to the middle school we said our goodbyes just before the crosswalk, as I strolled across the street into my new adventure. I knew it was going to be a strenuous day when the crossing guard yelled at me for crossing the street incorrectly. My first day was terrifying, I had no clue as to what the curriculum contained, there were no familiar faces, I didn't even know how to unlock a simple combination lock. Finally, the dreaded time had finally come, lunch. Meekly walking into the lunchroom with my new thirty-one lunch bags, I gazed around the cafeteria. All eyes were on me. I sat with my shadow, Shelby, she introduced me to her friends, and they continued about their normal routine of gossip and horseplay. I, being too shy to start a conversation with any other student, opened my lunchable my mother packed me and ate quietly. While the cafeteria was bursting with vitality, I was not. As the marking period came to an end the students received their report cards. Standing in the kitchen, I nervously opened my report card. My avid expression turned to animosity. To my dismay, I received my first ever C. Prior to public school I was doing math at the sixth-grade level. It was extremely grueling attempting to catch up with my fellow peers. My mother, with a look of disapproval on her face, hung my report card on the fridge saying that I should do better next marking period. I was crushed, I joined public school, so I could become my own person and make my mother proud of me. Ever since I can remember I was always following in my sister's footsteps. We would do everything together; when my sister wanted to ride horses I had to as well, even if I didn't want to. Enrolling in public school was the biggest step in my life. I was so happy yet so nervous I had always been with my sister, I had awful social anxiety making it difficult for me to make friends. Though, after receiving my first C, I realized I wanted to be more than an average student. I tried harder and became an A student. After entering high school it became clear to me that I wanted to do more with my life. I challenged myself, became more active within my school community, and overall improve myself. I finally realized who I wanted to become. Furthermore, I stopped trying to impress my mother and started doing the activities I was interested in. Furthermore, I have never felt like college was an option for me until I entered high school and realized I could do great things. Furthermore, I never would have pushed myself to become the leader I am today without making the most treacherous decision of my life.

The topic for my essay is actually a mixture of two, for common app essay you can write about anything you want, so I chose to write about 2 of their topic --- 1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. 2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? Though badminton is like Sunday barbecue in America, to me it is like super bowl every time I am on the badminton courts. I started playing badminton when I twelve but and standing on the green courts with one foot ahead of the other, holding my hand up waiting for the birdie gave me the power and confidence nothing else gave. Badminton was my outside activity other than studies in which I had become one of the best in our school on my own. Every time I played, it inspired me to work harder not only in badminton but in other areas of my life too. The reputation and responsibility I had with badminton made me feel much more than an average student. Badminton gave me recognition, identity, network and the health I have today. It was the one thing I fought for, when I was in India we only had badminton two days a week but I wanted more and our school had stay back programs for sports and to get one for badminton I talked, followed up and requested to the director of our school for months, I didn't get a positive response from him in a couple months but my mom told me to keep following him and the start of the next year we had a new stay back program for badminton with a much better coach than the regular sports. Going to tournaments and having to wait for 8 hours in the same building sometimes and I being able to do that showed me my value and my capabilities. Standing in front of my opponent with the pressure that he might play better than playing that game and winning it made me realize what I only had. My brother also started playing badminton as he saw me. ( shows how badminton affected family relations too, not sure to include it or not....) I didn't really realize these things until I moved to America. When moving to America, I didn't think that moving would make playing badminton harder. It was "the Asian sport" and only as gym class. From the thousands of activities and sports at Lexington High I hadn't tried anyone before, only badminton and it wasn't really there. There was one badminton club, MATTBC, in the nearby town Waltham, it was a little far. When I went to see the club it gave me the feeling and vibe I was looking for but for one year we didn't have a car, nor public transport went there on weekends, only the time I had because of drastically different studies and house chores. I thought of trying other things available easily like golf, soccer, volleyball but these were not at all the same as badminton, none of them made me feel the way badminton did. I even joined the scouts and went on went on a trek for the whole weekend, but it wasn't satisfying. I couldn't just leave something that I was so close to. I went to MATTBC weekly when we bought a car and it made me feel really happy, I already knew those people without actually knowing them. There I met Stanley, who was also in Lexington High and in the same grade and he also came to MATTBC. He told me about an all Massachusetts badminton tournament asked me I would want to represent our school. It was an unofficial team, we didn't have any coach or anything. We made a group of players and went to the tournament on our own. We came second in that tournament and gave the trophy our school. In our senior year, we have started a badminton club, for $50 a year we take students who want to learn badminton to MATTBC once a week. There are around 15 people who come every week and learn badminton.

The topic for my essay is actually a mixture of two, for common app essay you can write about anything you want, so I chose to write about 2 of their topic --- 1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. 2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? Though badminton is like Sunday barbecue in America, to me, it is like Super Bowl every time I am on the badminton courts. I started playing badminton when I twelve but standing on the green courts with one foot ahead of the other, holding my hand up waiting for the birdie gave me the power and confidence nothing else gave. Badminton was my outside activity other than studies in which I had become one of the best in our school on my own. Every time I played, it inspired me to work harder not only in badminton but in other areas of my life too. The reputation and responsibility I had with badminton made me feel much more than an average student. Badminton gave me recognition, identity, network and the health I have today. It was the one thing I fought for, when I was in India we only had badminton two days a week, but I wanted more and our school had stayed back programs for sports and to get one for badminton I talked, followed up and requested to the director of our school for months, I didn't get a positive response from him in a couple of months, but my mom told me to keep following him and the start of the next year we had a new stay back program for badminton with a much better coach than the regular sports. Going to tournaments and having to wait for 8 hours in the same building sometimes and I being able to do that showed me my value and my capabilities. Standing in front of my opponent with the pressure that he might play better than playing that game and winning it made me realize what I only had. My brother also started playing badminton as he saw me. (shows how badminton affected family relations too, not sure to include it or not....) I didn't really realize these things until I moved to America. When moving to America, I didn't think that moving would make playing badminton harder. It was "the Asian sport" and only as gym class. From the thousands of activities and sports at Lexington High I hadn't tried anyone before, only badminton, and it wasn't really there. There was one badminton club, MAT TBC, in the nearby town Waltham, it was a little far. When I went to see the club it gave me the feeling and vibe I was looking for but for one year we didn't have a car, nor public transport went there on weekends, only the time I had because of drastically different studies and house chores. I thought of trying other things available easily like golf, soccer, volleyball but these were not at all the same as badminton, none of them made me feel the way badminton did. I even joined the scouts and went on a trek for the whole weekend, but it wasn't satisfying. Furthermore, I couldn't just leave something that I was so close to. Furthermore, I went to MAT TBC weekly when we bought a car, and it made me feel really happy, I already knew those people without actually knowing them. There I met Stanley, who was also in Lexington High and in the same grade, and he also came to MAT TBC. He told me about an all Massachusetts badminton tournament asked me I would want to represent our school. It was an unofficial team, we didn't have any coach or anything. We made a group of players and went to the tournament on our own. We came second in that tournament and gave the trophy our school. In our senior year, we have started a badminton club, for $50 a year we take students who want to learn badminton to MAT TBC once a week. There are around 15 people who come every week and learn badminton.

edit 1+2 : grammar errors that I just could not ignoreTopic A Essay Prompt: What was the environment in which you were raised? Describe your family, home, neighborhood, or community, and explain how it has shaped you as a person. Throughout my life, I have always been supported by my entire family. As a child of two immigrants, I've been constantly reminded of the troubles my parents faced when they arrived to the US. Their journey, however, was filled with the support of family, friends, and even strangers. With that, they use their experiences to influence me and my sister towards helping others and treating them as equals. Both of my parents stressed the importance of academic success and physical health. With a familial history of poor health and few college graduates, my parents guided me into making healthy choices that would benefit both my physique and mentality and to dedicate my time to studying so that I can complete high school with a decent GPA. Besides that, life at home is more relaxed. Since my parents are divorced, I spend more time with my mom than with my dad. Overall, the atmospheres in their houses are roughly the same. The main difference is what they expect of me. Since my dad has a strong focus with his job, I am expected to follow his house rules that have taught me discipline over time. At my mom's house, I am always helping her around the house so that she does not struggle as much with her other duties as a single mother. Both are strict in terms of doing what they believe is best for me. Nevertheless, I understand where their concern comes from and I hope to satisfy them by living to their standards. Additionally, my parents have recognized the social tensions that have occurred within our nation in the past few years and made it clear that they would support me in any lifestyle that I choose. Because of their encouragement, my pride for my heritage and personal beliefs continue to stay strong. Following my parents divorce, I've grown accustomed to moving from neighborhood to neighborhood. When we all lived together before the divorce, our home was in a nice welcoming middle class neighborhood with aging grandparents and young families like ours to call neighbors. Whenever we hosted any event, we always invited our neighbors to participate which gave me the opportunity to become friends with their kids. Many summer afternoons were spent with them as we rode our bikes around the block or hung out at one of their houses and played indoors. It wasn't until now that I realized how welcomed our family was in that neighborhood and that I greatly appreciate. After the divorce, my parents went their separate ways; my mom moved to a more affordable house while my dad moved between several apartments as they lived paycheck to paycheck. As a kid, I was never able to see the financial struggle they went through because they always kept me and my sister distracted with other things to protect our youth from their personal problems. What I did notice, however, was the differences between the neighborhoods we lived in. Since my dad did not officially settle into a house until just a few years ago, the apartments he lived in were temporary, so we did not have a chance to properly meet and greet any neighbors. The area around my mom's new house was slightly familiar since my uncle lived two houses away from us. Even then, I've never felt as comfortable there as I did with my childhood home. With all the changes I have experienced, I learned to become more social by joining team sports and making new friends at school. The drop in my family's social status never damaged how I perceived the world; it only strengthened my need to fulfill my ambitions to live a better life. My admiration for my parents continues to give me the strength I need to pursue my life's aspirations. Despite those changes, I never felt afflicted by the decisions my parents had to make to give me and my sister a positive future. Combined, my parents' principles of strength, discipline, and support will guide me into pursuing an ethical career.

Edit 1+2 : grammar errors that I just could not ignoreTopic A Essay Prompt: What was the environment in which you were raised? Describe your family, home, neighborhood, or community, and explain how it has shaped you as a person. Throughout my life, I have always been supported by my entire family. As a child of two immigrants, I've been constantly reminded of the troubles my parents faced when they arrived to the US. Their journey, however, was filled with the support of family, friends, and even strangers. With that, they use their experiences to influence me and my sister towards helping others and treating them as equals. Both of my parents stressed the importance of academic success and physical health. With a familial history of poor health and few college graduates, my parents guided me into making healthy choices that would benefit both my physique and mentality and to dedicate my time to studying so that I can complete high school with a decent GPA. Besides that, life at home is more relaxed. Since my parents are divorced, I spend more time with my mom than with my dad. Overall, the atmospheres in their houses are roughly the same. The main difference is what they expect of me. Since my dad has a strong focus with his job, I am expected to follow his house rules that have taught me discipline over time. At my mom's house, I am always helping her around the house so that she does not struggle as much with her other duties as a single mother. Both are strict in terms of doing what they believe is best for me. Nevertheless, I understand where their concern comes from, and I hope to satisfy them by living to their standards. Additionally, my parents have recognized the social tensions that have occurred within our nation in the past few years and made it clear that they would support me in any lifestyle that I choose. Because of their encouragement, my pride for my heritage and personal beliefs continue to stay strong. Following my parents divorce, I've grown accustomed to moving from neighborhood to neighborhood. When we all lived together before the divorce, our home was in a nice welcoming middle class neighborhood with aging grandparents and young families like ours to call neighbors. Whenever we hosted any event, we always invited our neighbors to participate which gave me the opportunity to become friends with their kids. Many summer afternoons were spent with them as we rode our bikes around the block or hung out at one of their houses and played indoors. It wasn't until now that I realized how welcomed our family was in that neighborhood and that I greatly appreciate. After the divorce, my parents went their separate ways; my mom moved to a more affordable house while my dad moved between several apartments as they lived paycheck to paycheck. As a kid, I was never able to see the financial struggle they went through because they always kept me and my sister distracted with other things to protect our youth from their personal problems. What I did notice, however, was the differences between the neighborhoods we lived in. Since my dad did not officially settle into a house until just a few years ago, the apartments he lived in were temporary, so we did not have a chance to properly meet and greet any neighbors. The area around my mom's new house was slightly familiar since my uncle lived two houses away from us. Even then, I've never felt as comfortable there as I did with my childhood home. With all the changes I have experienced, I learned to become more social by joining team sports and making new friends at school. The drop in my family's social status never damaged how I perceived the world; it only strengthened my need to fulfill my ambitions to live a better life. My admiration for my parents continues to give me the strength I need to pursue my life's aspirations. Despite those changes, I never felt afflicted by the decisions my parents had to make to give me and my sister a positive future. Combined, my parents' principles of strength, discipline, and support will guide me into pursuing an ethical career.

This is the question that I have at hand. I have been told that I strayed away from the topic a little too much. Can someone help get back on track or should I comepletely strike it off and start anew. The click of a button brings the world to your fingers. Is it in a fraction of a second, maybe even less than that. The question arises, "Is this Magic?". A person from the Medieval Age would think so. An engineer would laugh. Zeros, Ones and Silicon; that's all it takes to change the world. Visualising something from ground zero may not be the most favourite pastime of a random person. But, the ecstasy of turning problems into solutions, and solutions into reality is the soul of an Engineer. My journey to the realm of Engineering probably began when my cousins gifted me a Mechanix Toy Set for my Ninth Birthday. The sheer joy of assembling screws, nuts, wires and miniature appliances with my tiny hands drove me crazy. Shortly after this, My Dad brought home a computer for the family. Watching my brother play on it and save his work in thin floppy disks made me ponder over the insides of the metal box capable of performing calculations in the fraction of seconds. I slowly bid my dream of being an Ice-cream taster goodbye as I set my eyes on becoming a modern day magician. Having experienced all of this I decided to major in Computer Science. In life, each soul yearns for happiness. Different people have different ways of finding it. For me, taking things apart and uncovering their mysteries happen to give me preeminent joy and so I have ambitiously chosen this to be my future.

This is the question that I have at hand. I have been told that I strayed away from the topic a little too much. Can someone help get back on track or should I completely strike it off and start anew. The click of a button brings the world to your fingers. Is it in a fraction of a second, maybe even less than that. The question arises, "Is this Magic?". A person from the Medieval Age would think so. An engineer would laugh. Zeros, Ones and Silicon; that's all it takes to change the world. Visualizing something from ground zero may not be the most favorite pastime of a random person. But, the ecstasy of turning problems into solutions, and solutions into reality is the soul of an Engineer. My journey to the realm of Engineering probably began when my cousins gifted me a Mechanic Toy Set for my Ninth Birthday. The sheer joy of assembling screws, nuts, wires and miniature appliances with my tiny hands drove me crazy. Shortly after this, My Dad brought home a computer for the family. Watching my brother play on it and save his work in thin floppy disks made me ponder over the insides of the metal box capable of performing calculations in the fraction of seconds. I slowly bid my dream of being an Ice-cream taster goodbye as I set my eyes on becoming a modern day magician. Having experienced all of this I decided to major in Computer Science. In life, each soul yearns for happiness. Different people have different ways of finding it. For me, taking things apart and uncovering their mysteries happen to give me preeminent joy, and so I have ambitiously chosen this to be my future.

When I realized I wanted to work with the FBI as an Intelligence Analyst, I immediately knew to stay away from the DC schools. Attending a University in DC would be beneficial, however, every college student in the area is striving for the same aspirations. To end up on Capitol Hill, or intern with the Supreme Court. I knew I needed to be in a place where my potential was recognized. Syracuse offers a Dual Major program, allowing me to study Political Science at the Maxwell School and Public Relations at the Newhouse School. In addition, the Maxwell School offers a Washington Semester Program; working as an intern in DC provides me a first-hand experience in both international and domestic policy. Despite Syracuse not being in the center of political reform they still attain all the endless opportunities. Academics is not the only thing to consider when choosing my college. I wanted to be apart of a community that fostered growth. Syracuse has 25 different "Learning Communities" geared towards your interest. Being surrounded by other students with the same passion will create a environment that motivates me to excel. The commitment Syracuse has made to focus on diversity and inclusivity enhances the possibility for me to transition from the 100-degree heat in Florida, to the 15-degree snow in Syracuse; I know I will feel at home.

When I realized I wanted to work with the FBI as an Intelligence Analyst, I immediately knew to stay away from the DC schools. Attending a University in DC would be beneficial, however, every college student in the area is striving for the same aspirations. To end up on Capitol Hill, or intern with the Supreme Court. I knew I needed to be in a place where my potential was recognized. Syracuse offers a Dual Major program, allowing me to study Political Science at the Maxwell School and Public Relations at the New house School. In addition, the Maxwell School offers a Washington Semester Program; working as an intern in DC provides me a first-hand experience in both international and domestic policy. Despite Syracuse not being in the center of political reform they still attain all the endless opportunities. Academics is not the only thing to consider when choosing my college. I wanted to be a part of a community that fostered growth. Syracuse has 25 different "Learning Communities" geared towards your interest. Being surrounded by other students with the same passion will create an environment that motivates me to excel. The commitment Syracuse has made to focus on diversity and inclusivity enhances the possibility for me to transition from the 100-degree heat in Florida, to the 15-degree snow in Syracuse; I know I will feel at home.

Hi all, I was hoping someone could take a look at my William and Mary supplement. Specifically, if I could get some feedback on the pacing andor organizational structure that would be very much appreciated. Thanks. "To unbox or to keep boxed?" That is the question. It is a debate that has raged on among collectors of hobbyist goods and memorabilia hoarders alike. You may be asking "What exactly are you keeping boxed?" Well, back in 2014, I embarked on one of the most challenging endeavors I have ever undertaken: collecting Amiibo, palm-sized plastic models of Nintendo's beloved cast of characters. Following Amiibo's initial release in late 2014, users on Reddit noticed that three out of the twelve released figures - Marth, Villager and the Wii Fit Trainer - seemed nearly impossible for people to find. From camping outside stores to creating apps that tracked which Amiibo were currently stocked on online shops, competition among serious collectors to see who could find the "Holy Trinity" of characters was fierce. Despite my obvious disadvantage, I desperately wanted to prove to the older and better prepared collectors (and myself) that a 13-year-old kid could find the scarce figures. Armed with nothing more than my ever-dwindling birthday and Christmas cash, the occasional ride to the mall from my mother, and a determined drive, I dove head first into the Amiibo-collecting foray. Luckily, I had stumbled upon Villager before the Amiibo craze took off, but after numerous trips to stores searching for the figures, I soon realized that dumb luck would not help me find Marth or Wii Fit Trainer. Like a contestant stumped on a question on "Who Wants to Be A Millionaire?" it was time to use a lifeline to phone a friend. My mother's friend worked at a licensing firm in New York City and frequently traveled to visit clients. She was preparing for a business trip to Asia, so I asked her if she could keep an eye out for me while in Tokyo. She returned with gifts for my whole family, including a small bag for me. I instantly recognized the opaque-blue casing of Marth protruding out of the bag, but more importantly, I had learned the value of asking for help. With Marth and Villager down, only Wii Fit Trainer remained to complete the coveted trifecta. Months of scrounging around every Best Buy, GameStop, Target, and Walmart in all of Morris County led to little success, but I wasn't ready to give up the search. A family trip to Italy over spring break gave me the perfect opportunity to expand my Amiibo operation internationally once again. When we reached the urban city of Milan, I realized I would get a chance to renew my search. On our final day in Milan, my family and I were trekking along the cobblestone streets of the Piazza del Duomo when I saw it protruding off a side street: the bold black and red lettering of the GameStop sign. Wallet in hand, I dashed across the square and burst into the store, instinctively looking towards the back of the shop where Amiibo are typically stocked. Scanning the inventory, I spotted the Wii Fit Trainer, in all her 3.5-inch plastic glory. As I clenched onto the grass green box, I was flooded with a feeling of personal accomplishment I'd never felt before. My unconventional method to find the figures was unlike the intricate strategies recommended by most pro-collectors, but that made the reward of finding the figures that much more satisfying. The impossible had been achieved, and a search that spanned three continents and had instilled me with a burning desire to challenge myself had finally come to an end...at least until Nintendo releases the inevitable next wave.

Hi all, I was hoping someone could take a look at my William and Mary supplement. Specifically, if I could get some feedback on the pacing ardor organizational structure that would be very much appreciated. Thanks. "To unbox or to keep boxed?" That is the question. It is a debate that has raged on among collectors of hobbyist goods and memorabilia hoarders alike. You may be asking "What exactly are you keeping boxed?" Well, back in 2014, I embarked on one of the most challenging endeavors I have ever undertaken: collecting Amino, palm-sized plastic models of Nintendo's beloved cast of characters. Following Amino's initial release in late 2014, users on Reddit noticed that three out of the twelve released figures - March, Villager and the Wii Fit Trainer - seemed nearly impossible for people to find. From camping outside stores to creating apps that tracked which Amino were currently stocked on online shops, competition among serious collectors to see who could find the "Holy Trinity" of characters was fierce. Despite my obvious disadvantage, I desperately wanted to prove to the older and better prepared collectors (and myself) that a 13-year-old kid could find the scarce figures. Armed with nothing more than my ever-dwindling birthday and Christmas cash, the occasional ride to the mall from my mother, and a determined drive, I dove head first into the Amiibo-collecting foray. Luckily, I had stumbled upon Villager before the Amino craze took off, but after numerous trips to stores searching for the figures, I soon realized that dumb luck would not help me find March or Wii Fit Trainer. Like a contestant stumped on a question on "Who Wants to Be A Millionaire?" it was time to use a lifeline to phone a friend. My mother's friend worked at a licensing firm in New York City and frequently traveled to visit clients. She was preparing for a business trip to Asia, so I asked her if she could keep an eye out for me while in Tokyo. She returned with gifts for my whole family, including a small bag for me. I instantly recognized the opaque-blue casing of March protruding out of the bag, but more importantly, I had learned the value of asking for help. With March and Villager down, only Wii Fit Trainer remained to complete the coveted trifecta. Months of scrounging around every Best Buy, GameStop, Target, and Walmart in all of Morris County led to little success, but I wasn't ready to give up the search. A family trip to Italy over spring break gave me the perfect opportunity to expand my Amino operation internationally once again. When we reached the urban city of Milan, I realized I would get a chance to renew my search. On our final day in Milan, my family and I were trekking along the cobblestone streets of the Piazza del Duo mo when I saw it protruding off a side street: the bold black and red lettering of the GameStop sign. Wallet in hand, I dashed across the square and burst into the store, instinctively looking towards the back of the shop where Amino are typically stocked. Scanning the inventory, I spotted the Wii Fit Trainer, in all her 3.5-inch plastic glory. As I clenched onto the grass green box, I was flooded with a feeling of personal accomplishment I'd never felt before. My unconventional method to find the figures was unlike the intricate strategies recommended by most pro-collectors, but that made the reward of finding the figures that much more satisfying. The impossible had been achieved, and a search that spanned three continents and had instilled me with a burning desire to challenge myself had finally come to an end...at least until Nintendo releases the inevitable next wave.

It all started in July of 2009, when my family received a phone call from my uncle kiki. He was crying as he broke the news to us that he had just been diagnosed with stage 2 Lymphoma cancer. Of course, at the time I was too young to even understand what this meant, but from the look on my parents face I knew this was not good news. My uncle lived along adventurous life but once he was diagnosed, everything changed... I saw him transition from spending times with his family in exploring life really, from watching his children and our family crowd him in his hospital room.Everyday we were praying before he had to undergo yet another session of chemotherapy and during these sessions it felt like the seconds were minutes and the minutes were hours. Slowly, I witnessed cancer sucked the life out of him, which was one of the most painful things i had to watch. From staying overnight in the hospital to the time spent by their bed-sides at home, I experienced first-hand how cancer affects people not once, but twice. I was traumatized by the fact that i was not able to do anything to help both my grandma, and my uncle because all i could really do is stay by their side praying. However, these moments in the hospital weren't all dull. Everything about the hospital fascinated me. During their sessions, or any moment I wasn't with my family, i was out exploring the hospital and even talking to some workers. As i was older I began to have more intellectual conversations with them and I was able to get a true understanding about the role a doctor plays in one's life. This moment on I knew i wanted to become a doctor, I wanted to give back to the community. I wanted to make a change, i wanted to be able to do something that would save lives. These instances molded me into the person I am today and the person I aspire to be. Once i realized i wanted to become a doctor i began taking classes such as Medical Interventions, Human Body Systems, Anatomy, AP Biology, any course that would allow me to get a deeper knowledge of this field. Because I am so passionate about this field I want to endure the RiceBaylor Medical Scholars Program to ensure that I can make my dream come true. At this program I can continue to reach my goal --- how can i tie in the program?

It all started in July 2009, when my family received a phone call from my uncle Kiki. He was crying as he broke the news to us that he had just been diagnosed with stage 2 Lymphoma cancer. Of course, at the time I was too young to even understand what this meant, but from the look on my parents face I knew this was not good news. My uncle lived along adventurous life but once he was diagnosed, everything changed... I saw him transition from spending times with his family in exploring life really, from watching his children and our family crowd him in his hospital room.Every day, we were praying before he had to undergo yet another session of chemotherapy and during these sessions it felt like the seconds were minutes and the minutes were hours. Slowly, I witnessed cancer sucked the life out of him, which was one of the most painful things I had to watch. From staying overnight in the hospital to the time spent by their bed-sides at home, I experienced first-hand how cancer affects people not once, but twice. I was traumatized by the fact that I was not able to do anything to help both my grandma, and my uncle because all I could really do is stay by their side praying. However, these moments in the hospital weren't all dull. Everything about the hospital fascinated me. During their sessions, or any moment I wasn't with my family, I was out exploring the hospital and even talking to some workers. As I was older I began to have more intellectual conversations with them and I was able to get a true understanding about the role a doctor plays in one's life. This moment on I knew I wanted to become a doctor, I wanted to give back to the community. I wanted to make a change, I wanted to be able to do something that would save lives. These instances molded me into the person I am today and the person I aspire to be. Once I realized I wanted to become a doctor I began taking classes such as Medical Interventions, Human Body Systems, Anatomy, AP Biology, any course that would allow me to get a deeper knowledge of this field. Because I am so passionate about this field I want to endure the Rice Baylor Medical Scholars Program to ensure that I can make my dream come true. At this program I can continue to reach my goal --- how can I tie in the program?

One day, my dad was offered the opportunity of traveling to Houston to take security certification courses. He had always dreamed of visiting the United States, so he immediately accepted. When he returned, he talked about his amazing experiences, the culture shock, and how much we would enjoy it. He was hooked. Soon after, we visited my aunt in New Jersey: a place that does not remotely resemble Houston, but my small Peruvian family enjoyed anyway. Her suburban home and the quality of life were enough to plant the American Dream in our hearts; we went back home to plan for our future, saving money and hoping for the best. Due to job opportunities, we decided to move to the Sunshine State. I cannot recall our first couple of weeks in Florida, but I was never able to forget the first day in our newly rented apartment. We managed to find our building and when we opened the door we were met by blank white walls with an equally empty white tile floor. It was a new start. Just as lunch time rolled around, we realized we had nothing. My parents went out to get food; after they came back, we sat on the floor of our new home while we ate with our hands from paper plates and talked about whether we liked the new place. For the first time in my life, at the young age of thirteen, I questioned my dad's decisions. What was this man thinking? Moving to a completely different country that speaks a language we did not know and leaving all of our family behind, and for what? An empty apartment? Nothing made sense. That night I laid on a mattress I shared with my sister on the floor and before I lost all hope in my dad, his words of encouragement echoed in my head. Phrases like "keep dreaming," "dreams don't cost anything" and "don't be a conformist" pounded in my head. Phrases that I once thought of as empty moral wisdom, now started to make sense. He was not just a man with a crazy dream, he was my dad looking to improve our future. All I saw was an empty apartment, but he saw an opportunity to start over and move forward. My dad's decision to move to the United States taught me something I struggled to understand. He irradiated confidence and determination in his dreams, which sparked a fire in me to pursue mine. Everyday, my dad's words of wisdom encouraged me to work hard to reach my goals and surpass myself. I learned to express my opinions and guide others; to ensure my voice was heard, I worked on my English. I dedicated time to math and science classes, and excelled at them. I constantly seeked to improve myself, not to impress the world but to impress me. For the first time ever, my actions felt like accomplishments that I was proud of. As time went on, my actions evolved into my character. With my confidence and initiative for progress, I influenced those around me like my dad had influenced me. I was not born a leader, but I grew to be one.

One day, my dad was offered the opportunity of traveling to Houston to take security certification courses. He had always dreamed of visiting the United States, so he immediately accepted. When he returned, he talked about his amazing experiences, the culture shock, and how much we would enjoy it. He was hooked. Soon after, we visited my aunt in New Jersey: a place that does not remotely resemble Houston, but my small Peruvian family enjoyed anyway. Her suburban home and the quality of life were enough to plant the American Dream in our hearts; we went back home to plan for our future, saving money and hoping for the best. Due to job opportunities, we decided to move to the Sunshine State. I cannot recall our first couple of weeks in Florida, but I was never able to forget the first day in our newly rented apartment. We managed to find our building and when we opened the door we were met by blank white walls with an equally empty white tile floor. It was a new start. Just as lunchtime rolled around, we realized we had nothing. My parents went out to get food; after they came back, we sat on the floor of our new home while we ate with our hands from paper plates and talked about whether we liked the new place. For the first time in my life, at the young age of thirteen, I questioned my dad's decisions. What was this man thinking? Moving to a completely different country that speaks a language we did not know and leaving all of our family behind, and for what? An empty apartment? Nothing made sense. That night I laid on a mattress I shared with my sister on the floor, and before I lost all hope in my dad, his words of encouragement echoed in my head. Phrases like "keep dreaming," "dreams don't cost anything" and "don't be a conformist" pounded in my head. Phrases that I once thought of as empty moral wisdom, now started to make sense. He was not just a man with a crazy dream, he was my dad looking to improve our future. All I saw was an empty apartment, but he saw an opportunity to start over and move forward. My dad's decision to move to the United States taught me something I struggled to understand. He irradiated confidence and determination in his dreams, which sparked a fire in me to pursue mine. Every day, my dad's words of wisdom encouraged me to work hard to reach my goals and surpass myself. I learned to express my opinions and guide others; to ensure my voice was heard, I worked on my English. I dedicated time to math and science classes, and excelled at them. Furthermore, I constantly sought to improve myself, not to impress the world but to impress me. For the first time ever, my actions felt like accomplishments that I was proud of. As time went on, my actions evolved into my character. With my confidence and initiative for progress, I influenced those around me like my dad had influenced me. I was not born a leader, but I grew to be one.

Just wanted some essays and feedback for my college essay. Hard criticism is supported (I want to improve the essay as much as I can)! Any stronger sentences I can use to make my essay stronger? Thanks! "The palak paneer sabji is ready," my mom called as I raced downstairs to my mother's voice. Grabbing a plate and sitting down with a satisfying smile on my face, my mouth watered as I thought about the spongy cubes made of cottage cheese floating in a pool of steaming green gravy. As I was about to stuff my favorite Indian dish into my mouth, my mom reminded me to thank God in a form of a prayer for food on our table. Murmuring a quick prayer, I began to feast as the rich fusion of spices tickled my tongue. I felt the diverse culture of India blend together in my mouth as I took another bite. After devouring my meal in just moments, I thanked my mother for the delicious dish. As I washed my dishes, I noticed the abundance of the sabji, and dread overcame me. I stopped in my tracks as soon as my mother cleared my doubt, "You're going to take this sabji to school tomorrow for your lunch." For years I made up excuses for not wanting to take food that had powerful aromas of ginger and turmeric. I knew the small reputation I had as a freshman would be shattered if I opened my lunchbox in front of everyone. I couldn't imagine the reaction of my friends seeing me eat something so foreign to them. I didn't want people to view my food with disgust. My hunger for my Indian cuisine was overpowered by my desire to fit in. I was shivering in fear of being shamed for my food. The next day was unbearable as time ticked slower, making every second seem like anepoch as I neared lunch. As the lunch bell rang, my morale fell. I began walking towards the cafeteria as I felt my body tremble. My body unwillingly sat at the lunch table. I looked around trying to find the right time to pull out my lunch, making sure the least amount of people could see. As I began to pull my lunch out swiftly, the whole cafeteria appeared as a concert, and I was the performer. I felt as if everyone was staring at me, waiting for me to reveal my lunch. I nervously opened my container and quickly hid my meal behind my lunch box. The strong ginger scent spread through the lunch room like an epidemic disease. I glanced over as my friends traced the scent back to my lunch. They stared at my lunch with big eyes and chuckled "What is that Sagar." I was left in utter embarrassment. I stuttered, not knowing how to explain this foreign meal to them. I sat there in silence until surprisingly, one bold voice spoke up. My Indian friend, Ishaan, excitedly exclaimed "that's my favorite food, palak paneer sabji!." I glanced up and saw his soft smile which engulfed me with a warm sensation. As I looked at the reactions of others, to my surprise, compliments about my "delicious meal" filled the air. I ate my meal along with all the stress that was built up in me, with pride. When I got home I ran to my mom and wrapped my hands around her. I looked into her eyes and gave her the purest "thank you." For all those years, I had refused taking my culture's food, I finally realized my mistake. Those meals, that my mom worked laboriously to make, represented my culture. She made my favourite meals for me, but all I gave her in return was discontent. I discouraged my favorite food because it served as an outcast to others. I hid behind a shadow because I was afraid of expressing myself. Ishaan's words inspired me to embrace my culture. His words brought out something in me that I failed to recognize myself: I'm proud to be an Indian.

Just wanted some essays and feedback for my college essay. Hard criticism is supported (I want to improve the essay as much as I can)! Any stronger sentences I can use to make my essay stronger? Thanks! "The Paley paneer Saudi is ready," my mom called as I raced downstairs to my mother's voice. Grabbing a plate and sitting down with a satisfying smile on my face, my mouth watered as I thought about the spongy cubes made of cottage cheese floating in a pool of steaming green gravy. As I was about to stuff my favorite Indian dish into my mouth, my mom reminded me to thank God in a form of a prayer for food on our table. Murmuring a quick prayer, I began to feast as the rich fusion of spices tickled my tongue. I felt the diverse culture of India blend together in my mouth as I took another bite. After devouring my meal in just moments, I thanked my mother for the delicious dish. As I washed my dishes, I noticed the abundance of the Saudi, and dread overcame me. I stopped in my tracks as soon as my mother cleared my doubt, "You're going to take this Saudi to school tomorrow for your lunch." For years, I made up excuses for not wanting to take food that had powerful aromas of ginger and turmeric. I knew the small reputation I had as a freshman would be shattered if I opened my lunchbox in front of everyone. I couldn't imagine the reaction of my friends seeing me eat something so foreign to them. Furthermore, I didn't want people to view my food with disgust. My hunger for my Indian cuisine was overpowered by my desire to fit in. I was shivering in fear of being shamed for my food. The next day was unbearable as time ticked slower, making every second seem like an epoch as I neared lunch. As the lunch bell rang, my morale fell. I began walking towards the cafeteria as I felt my body tremble. My body unwillingly sat at the lunch table. I looked around trying to find the right time to pull out my lunch, making sure the least amount of people could see. As I began to pull my lunch out swiftly, the whole cafeteria appeared as a concert, and I was the performer. I felt as if everyone was staring at me, waiting for me to reveal my lunch. I nervously opened my container and quickly hid my meal behind my lunch box. The strong ginger scent spread through the lunchroom like an epidemic disease. I glanced over as my friends traced the scent back to my lunch. They stared at my lunch with big eyes and chuckled "What is that Sugar." I was left in utter embarrassment. I stuttered, not knowing how to explain this foreign meal to them. Furthermore, I sat there in silence until surprisingly, one bold voice spoke up. My Indian friend, Ishaan, excitedly exclaimed "that's my favorite food, Paley paneer Saudi!." I glanced up and saw his soft smile which engulfed me with a warm sensation. As I looked at the reactions of others, to my surprise, compliments about my "delicious meal" filled the air. I ate my meal along with all the stress that was built up in me, with pride. When I got home I ran to my mom and wrapped my hands around her. I looked into her eyes and gave her the purest "thank you." For all those years, I had refused taking my culture's food, I finally realized my mistake. Those meals, that my mom worked laboriously to make, represented my culture. She made my favorite meals for me, but all I gave her in return was discontent. I discouraged my favorite food because it served as an outcast to others. I hid behind a shadow because I was afraid of expressing myself. Ishaan's words inspired me to embrace my culture. His words brought out something in me that I failed to recognize myself: I'm proud to be an Indian.

Family. The one thing that can greatly determine the outlook that one has on life. My parents instilled positive and honest values upon me. Without these parents and values they gave me I wouldn't be where I'm at today; applying for college. My family has shaped me into becoming a honest and hard working man. Growing up with parents that were prior youth pastors changes the way you grow up compared to a typical child in the United States. My parents always taught me to never do anyone wrong, incorporating honesty as best as they could into everyday situations. As a child we were at CVS and my brother and I stole a pack of gum and hid it, but much to our dismay our mother found it. She insisted that we go back to the store admit our wrongs and pay for the gum with our own money from our piggy banks. My mom taught me something very critical in life that day, honesty. Honesty will get you places, people respect an honest person and therefore will think of them in a superior way. My parents have always taught me to have a positive outlook on life. A pessimist will often struggle to make great achievements that can further advance them in life. My parents always said, "a positive attitude can lead to great success and happiness." I totally believe this, i found that having a positive attitude when I'm working in the sweltering Texas heat will get me places instead of just taking the easy way out and not doing the work. The teaching of always having a positive helped me to easily overcome the everyday affairs in life that I had. Many decide to take the easy way out and not handle some of their problems but I always think of the positive and it has greatly helped me become happier. Positive thinking is essential in everyday life. Being a young adult I don't know everything but my parents have definitely given me a boost in the way they raised me up and I believe it has considerably helped me in life. The everyday lessons that I received from doing wrong in everyday activities has greatly helped me in life. The environment people are raised in greatly influences their everyday actions and thoughts.

Family. The one thing that can greatly determine the outlook that one has on life. My parents instilled positive and honest values upon me. Without these parents and values they gave me I wouldn't be where I'm at today; applying for college. My family has shaped me into becoming an honest and hardworking man. Growing up with parents that were prior youth pastors changes the way you grow up compared to a typical child in the United States. My parents always taught me to never do anyone wrong, incorporating honesty as good as they could into everyday situations. As a child we were at CVS and my brother and I stole a pack of gum and hid it, but much to our dismay our mother found it. She insisted that we go back to the store admit our wrongs and pay for the gum with our own money from our piggy banks. My mom taught me something very critical in life that day, honesty. Honesty will get you places, people respect an honest person and therefore will think of them in a superior way. My parents have always taught me to have a positive outlook on life. A pessimist will often struggle to make great achievements that can further advance them in life. My parents always said, "a positive attitude can lead to great success and happiness." I totally believe this, I found that having a positive attitude when I'm working in the sweltering Texas heat will get me places instead of just taking the easy way out and not doing the work. The teaching of always having a positive helped me to easily overcome the everyday affairs in life that I had. Many decide to take the easy way out and not handle some of their problems, but I always think of the positive, and it has greatly helped me become happier. Positive thinking is essential in everyday life. Being a young adult I don't know everything but my parents have definitely given me a boost in the way they raised me up, and I believe it has considerably helped me in life. The everyday lessons that I received from doing wrong in everyday activities has greatly helped me in life. The environment people are raised in greatly influences their everyday actions and thoughts.

Here's my answer to the question "what is important to you, and why?" from the ubc personal profile, which is supposed to be a maximum of 250 words. I wrote an answer that is slightly over the limit (256 words), but it would be helpful if someone could read this and suggest any possible changes, or if I should just scrap this whole idea in general if it's too stereotypical? I wrote this when I was really angry at something someone did to me recently, so it might not even make sense??? Anyways, here it is: When we were kids, we would constantly be reminded to be nice to each other, and a lot of us listened. But why is it that now that we're older, it's normalized to be mean? I've had enough experience in this area of life to know what should and should not be tolerated. Adolescence is a period filled with subjective and judgmental actions that can easily alter another person's life, depending on how hurt they feel. We can't stop people from being rude to others, and we should be ignoring them if they really are that insignificant to us, but all of this is difficult when it's not just one person being mean, but a whole group of people. Somehow, society has taught us that in order to prove our worth in the world, we have to make others feel inferior to us so that we can climb a nonexistent social ladder. The social media age that we are 'so lucky' to have only makes it easier to spread lies about innocent beings, and this is just wrong. Why is it so difficult to be nice to people? Why do some people take so much pride and joy in making others feel terrible about themselves? These questions are ones that I think about a lot, so I think that the most important thing to me is being kind to each other. Everyone deserves a little happiness in their life, and a simple compliment is not only free, but it might be the highlight of their day.

Here's my answer to the question "what is important to you, and why?" from the UBC personal profile, which is supposed to be a maximum of 250 words. I wrote an answer that is slightly over the limit (256 words), but it would be helpful if someone could read this and suggest any possible changes, or if I should just scrap this whole idea in general if it's too stereotypical? I wrote this when I was furious at something someone did to me recently, so it might not even make sense??? Anyway, here it is: When we were kids, we would constantly be reminded to be nice to each other, and a lot of us listened. But why is it that now that we're older, it's normalized to be mean? I've had enough experience in this area of life to know what should and should not be tolerated. Adolescence is a period filled with subjective and judgmental actions that can easily alter another person's life, depending on how hurt they feel. We can't stop people from being rude to others, and we should be ignoring them if they really are that insignificant to us, but all of this is difficult when it's not just one person being mean, but a whole group of people. Somehow, society has taught us that in order to prove our worth in the world, we have to make others feel inferior to us so that we can climb a nonexistent social ladder. The social media age that we are 'so lucky' to have only makes it easier to spread lies about innocent beings, and this is just wrong. Why is it so difficult to be nice to people? Why do some people take so much pride and joy in making others feel terrible about themselves? These questions are ones that I think about a lot, so I think that the most important thing to me is being kind to each other. Everyone deserves a little happiness in their life, and a simple compliment is not only free, but it might be the highlight of their day.

~~396 words~~Movies have always had an exceptional impact on my life. They give us a false sense of reality through fabricated truths about love, social norms, and intensified violence. Movies make us believe the lie, the impossible. Movies give me something to dream about at night and wake me up at 4 AM to watch the last scene just one more time. The Film that changed my perspective about living life, in general, was The Wolf of Wall Street, based on a true story this film has everything a person can ask for. A Three-hour long sequence of brilliantly processed and refined clips of a stockbroker in New York struggling through life to make his way to achieve the American dream. All this guy wants is money. The film shows the consequences of excess.The character clearly points out that "I live this lavish life and I make sure my workers see it because I want them to aspire to the life I have, it drives them." In the same sense, this movie drives its audience. When I saw the first-half of the movie, it made me want to start a company myself for real. In this movie the antagonist is the bad guy, he steals the money from others and puts it in his pocket but despite his contemptible behavior, the viewer and I still want him to succeed. Perhaps it's the innate human propensity to live vicariously through others. He is doing the wrong thing, but this masterpiece shows that success is more important than the way of achieving it. The movie shows the real grind and the proves that "if you want something and you are not born with it, then you can work for it to get it" It shows how even the impossible can be achieved only if you put your heart and soul into building something. In the final shot, the movie holds up a mirror to its audience by showing a bunch of average people, hopelessly searching for answers. In this moment, all the complicated feelings the viewer has about antagonist are redirected back at the viewers themselves, because by consuming the movie, we put money in the pockets of the man who went to jail for stealing their money. As always, humans did no scams of any sort but experienced everything by nothing else but a motion picture.

~~396 words~~Movies have always had an exceptional impact on my life. They give us a false sense of reality through fabricated truths about love, social norms, and intensified violence. Movies make us believe the lie, the impossible. Movies give me something to dream about at night and wake me up at 4 AM to watch the last scene just one more time. The Film that changed my perspective about living life, in general, was The Wolf of Wall Street, based on a true story this film has everything a person can ask for. A Three-hour-long sequence of brilliantly processed and refined clips of a stockbroker in New York struggling through life to make his way to achieve the American dream. All this guy wants is money. The film shows the consequences of excess. The character clearly points out that "I live this lavish life and I make sure my workers see it because I want them to aspire to the life I have, it drives them." In the same sense, this movie drives its audience. When I saw the first-half of the movie, it made me want to start a company myself for real. In this movie the antagonist is the bad guy, he steals the money from others and puts it in his pocket but despite his contemptible behavior, the viewer and I still want him to succeed. Perhaps it's the innate human propensity to live vicariously through others. He is doing the wrong thing, but this masterpiece shows that success is more important than the way of achieving it. The movie shows the real grind and the proves that "if you want something, and you are not born with it, then you can work for it to get it" It shows how even the impossible can be achieved only if you put your heart and soul into building something. In the final shot, the movie holds up a mirror to its audience by showing a bunch of average people, hopelessly searching for answers. At this moment, all the complicated feelings the viewer has about antagonist are redirected back at the viewers themselves, because by consuming the movie, we put money in the pockets of the man who went to jail for stealing their money. As always, humans did no scams of any sort but experienced everything by nothing else but a motion picture.

WROOF! "...noooo..." WROOF-WROOF!!! Its 4-AM, dark, cold, and sitting on my chest is an 80-pound furball demanding a walk. "FINE!". Longboard wheels grinding against the pavement, I chase him down neighborhood alleys; Kal-El's happiness makes every early morning feel special. Back home, I pour myself a bowl of cereal and groggily meander into the garage. I flick a switch: my half-built breadboard piano is ready for testing when...shoot! Loose cable, spilled cereal: catastrophe--the flood of electronic killing Captain-Crunch spreads across the desk. I lift the piano to save it when BOOM! A capacitor blows in my face! Not a good start. After cleaning, I work on my journals; I'm trying to explain the dot product visually, the goal is to get past the computation and into the real mathematics; the understanding. Time flies...scribbling away I catch a glimpse of my watch. "10-30?!?!" I stuff my electronic drumset into the car; I don't want to miss practice! Getting home, excited I turn on my desktop...yes! My neural-net classified the images! Just need to tweak it a little...The sun has finally gone down. Tennis shoes, headphones, and me and Kal-El sprint to the park, wishing we were in a forest. After dinner, I pull out my math-journal once more. I've thought about it all day, and after about an hour, I leap up with joy. I've done it; my explanation makes intuitive sense! Satisfied, I say goodnight to my family, and read some Hofstadter before collapsing, exhausted, into bed. Thanks!

ROOF! "...Naidoo..." WROOF-WROOF!!! Its 4-AM, dark, cold, and sitting on my chest is an 80-pound fur ball demanding a walk. "FINE!". Longboard wheels grinding against the pavement, I chase him down neighborhood alleys; Kale's happiness makes every early morning feel special. Back home, I pour myself a bowl of cereal and groggily meander into the garage. I flick a switch: my half-built breadboard piano is ready for testing when...shoot! Loose cable, spilled cereal: catastrophe--the flood of electronic killing Captain-Crunch spreads across the desk. I lift the piano to save it when BOOM! A capacitor blows in my face! Not a good start. After cleaning, I work on my journals; I'm trying to explain the dot product visually, the goal is to get past the computation and into the real mathematics; the understanding. Time flies...scribbling away I catch a glimpse of my watch. "10-30?!?!" I stuff my electronic drum set into the car; I don't want to miss practice! Getting home, excited I turn on my desktop...yes! My neural-net classified the images! Just need to tweak it a little... The sun has finally gone down. Tennis shoes, headphones, and me and Kale sprint to the park, wishing we were in a forest. After dinner, I pull out my math-journal once more. I've thought about it all day, and after about an hour, I leap up with joy. I've done it; my explanation makes intuitive sense! Satisfied, I say goodnight to my family, and read some Hofstadter before collapsing, exhausted, into bed. Thanks!

~~(407words)~~*plays Love Me Like You Do in the background*I cannot believe that sixteen years have passed away. It feels like I just started obsessing over you yesterday, Afterall who can forget all the late-night binges of Gossip Girl and mapping the entire Upper East Side on fingertips and plotting the next Fortune 500 takedown with Suits. "In and of the New York City" that statement is unmistakably correct and NYU is the heart and soul of this magical, professional and liberal cosmopolitan, it's the epicenter of the business, culture, and law, it's the trendsetter. This city which in fact blends perfectly with NYU wears many crowns and spreads an irresistible feast for every single creative mind. NYU is my only choice because it takes the Film & Television's curriculum to a whole new level with its collaborative environment and practical knowledge about the field that will ultimately benefit me to be in the spotlight for all my desperate Hollywood needs. The Kanbar Institute of Film and Television offers Cinematography program that will teach me the minute detailing that goes into the camera work behind the scenes to create those stunningly seamless shots we see nowadays. NYU is also the one and only institution that offers such an intricate program in the whole America so I'm enjoying the fact that I'm in love with NYU. I am super stoked for all the heavenly internship opportunities that the students get at Tisch, I can literally see myself smiling and holding the clapboard in front of the whole cast and crew of huge production studio and saying "Take 2 Scene 7 Endless Hour...Action!!". I might even get to meet my idol, Christopher Nolan while directing the next Apple's Ad. Never Stop dreaming! Outside of the engrossing classroom, I'd like to watch every single movie that premieres because Movie Passes will be my best friend also the NYU's Film program provides the ideal environment to learn more about how a Film can impact all the areas of the society and culture. Whether it's combating against the budget or fixing a late-night snack everything will be a brand-new adventure at NYU. You want more reasons to love NYU just forget I wrote any of this and say it out loud in public, say "I go to NYU TISCH" OH! Lord... it's like honey dripping from someone's mouth. I hope you'll let me love you like I do. *background music fades out*~~End~~

~~(407 words)~~*plays Love Me Like You Do in the background*I cannot believe that sixteen years have passed away. It feels like I just started obsessing over you yesterday, After all who can forget all the late-night binges of Gossip Girl and mapping the entire Upper East Side on fingertips and plotting the next Fortune 500 takedown with Suits. "In and of the New York City" that statement is unmistakably correct and NYU is the heart and soul of this magical, professional and liberal cosmopolitan, it's the epicenter of the business, culture, and law, it's the trendsetter. This city which in fact blends perfectly with NYU wears many crowns and spreads an irresistible feast for every single creative mind. NYU is my only choice because it takes the Film camp; Television's curriculum to a whole new level with its collaborative environment and practical knowledge about the field that will ultimately benefit me to be in the spotlight for all my desperate Hollywood needs. The Kan bar Institute of Film and Television offers Cinematography program that will teach me the minute detailing that goes into the camera work behind the scenes to create those stunningly seamless shots we see nowadays. NYU is also the one and only institution that offers such an intricate program in the whole America, so I'm enjoying the fact that I'm in love with NYU. I am super stoked for all the heavenly internship opportunities that the students get at Titch, I can literally see myself smiling and holding the clapboard in front of the whole cast and crew of huge production studio and saying "Take 2 Scene 7 Endless Hour... Action!!". I might even get to meet my idol, Christopher Nolan while directing the next Apple's Ad. Never Stop dreaming! Outside the engrossing classroom, I'd like to watch every single movie that premieres because Movie Passes will be my best friend also the NYU's Film program provides the ideal environment to learn more about how a Film can impact all the areas of the society and culture. Whether it's combating against the budget or fixing a late-night snack everything will be a brand-new adventure at NYU. You want more reasons to love NYU just forget I wrote any of this and say it out loud in public, say "I go to NYU TITCH" OH! Lord... it's like honey dripping from someone's mouth. I hope you'll let me love you like I do. *background music fades out*~~End~~

Talked to Language arts teacher about this essay, he said it would fit into the top half of college essays so good but not great in any sense. I want to get it to at least the top 10% of college essays if possible. One area where he said I could improve is sprinkling my personal growth more throughout my story instead of spitting all of it out in the last paragraph. My current dilemma is that I am at a lost of where to put it in my story and how I could even do so. The intricate design of the motherboard, the complex series of circuits, and the fragile bits all work together in one grand puzzle of a computer. The methodical way a computer is built and the thinking required to make it is what drives my curiosity and passion for working with them. At the start of freshman year, I decided to build my first computer to play with my friends. The one I had at the time went the speed of a snail, barely able to process a simple word document. I had no idea where to start, what anything did, or what I was doing. I stared at the pieces completely lost; my face looked like my grandmother's when I first introduced her to an iPhone. Over the course of the summer, I extensively researched every necessary piece, figuring out the specs and purpose of each part. I started my search as any other ignorant teenager would-- google. Spending nearly all my time watching videos, reading articles, and staring at component benchmarks, I tried to make sense of the complex parts. I consulted my tech-savvy friends and strove to familiarize myself with all the pieces. Since I had a tight budget and high expectations, I kept a list of the various parts. Each marked with its corresponding advantages and disadvantages, exact purpose, and any special deals I could get with each. XXX. Once I was satisfied and my research complete, it was time to get my hands dirty. I ordered the parts. That year Christmas came early, every part felt like a separate present. Laying out each piece, I conceptualized my perfect computer. XXX . After hours of meticulous work and numerous mistakes, my project came to fruition. For the first time in my life, I had built something completely on my own. The computer was not the best, but it got the job done. Although the computer was not the talk of the town, that did not stop me. Something inside me changed after I finished the computer. I did not care as much about the actual use of the computer. Instead, I looked for any and every possible way to improve my design from software to overclocking. Like my computer, I felt empowered, able to do anything life threw at me. For the first time, I felt proud because I built something completely on my own. Adrenaline raced through me; the thrill of taking parts that are useless on their own and making them fit together perfectly gave me a newfound love of building things. Building became a high for me. Since then, I have built more computers using the knowledge I learned. The computer was a complete success.

Talked to Language arts teacher about this essay, he said it would fit into the top half of college essays so good but not great in any sense. I want to get it to at least the top 10% of college essays if possible. One area where he said I could improve is sprinkling my personal growth more throughout my story instead of spitting all of it out in the last paragraph. My current dilemma is that I am at a lost of where to put it in my story and how I could even do so. The intricate design of the motherboard, the complex series of circuits, and the fragile bits all work together in one grand puzzle of a computer. The methodical way a computer is built and the thinking required to make it is what drives my curiosity and passion for working with them. At the start of freshman year, I decided to build my first computer to play with my friends. The one I had at the time went the speed of a snail, barely able to process a simple Word document. I had no idea where to start, what anything did, or what I was doing. I stared at the pieces completely lost; my face looked like my grandmother's when I first introduced her to an iPhone. Over the course of the summer, I extensively researched every necessary piece, figuring out the specs and purpose of each part. I started my search as any other ignorant teenager would-- google. Spending nearly all my time watching videos, reading articles, and staring at component benchmarks, I tried to make sense of the complex parts. I consulted my tech-savvy friends and strove to familiarize myself with all the pieces. Since I had a tight budget and high expectations, I kept a list of the various parts. Each marked with its corresponding advantages and disadvantages, exact purpose, and any special deals I could get with each. XXX. Once I was satisfied and my research complete, it was time to get my hands dirty. I ordered the parts. That year Christmas came early, every part felt like a separate present. Laying out each piece, I conceptualized my perfect computer. XXX. After hours of meticulous work and numerous mistakes, my project came to fruition. For the first time in my life, I had built something completely on my own. The computer was not the best, but it got the job done. Although the computer was not the talk of the town, that did not stop me. Something inside me changed after I finished the computer. I did not care as much about the actual use of the computer. Instead, I looked for any and every possible way to improve my design from software to overclocking. Like my computer, I felt empowered, able to do anything life threw at me. For the first time, I felt proud because I built something completely on my own. Adrenaline raced through me; the thrill of taking parts that are useless on their own and making them fit together perfectly gave me a newfound love of building things. Building became a high for me. Since then, I have built more computers using the knowledge I learned. The computer was a complete success.

"Any brownies in this household must be made from box mix and cut with a plastic knife." That is the rule my mother learned from my grandmother, then passed down to me. Baked goods have always been an important part of our family and I cannot recall one instance in which I have visited my grandparents' house and a pan of brownies has not been waiting for us on the kitchen counter. My love for baking blossomed the year I received an easy-bake oven for Christmas. If you are not familiar with the name, easy-bake ovens are plastic toy ovens powered by a single lightbulb. Now if you read that description and think that doesn't sound like a device capable of creating edible food, then you would be correct. I have many memories of sitting by the so-called oven for hours on end just waiting for it to bake a cake no larger than the size of a single silver-dollar pancake. Luckily my parents eventually allowed me to upgrade from cooking by lightbulb to use of the kitchen oven. With use of a real appliance, I was no longer confined to a 4 x 0.5-inch pan and 100-watt lightbulb. The options for my confectionary creations were endless. What started as a family tradition and hobby quickly became a love of mine that connected to my other interests, such as science. Baking is a form of chemistry; mix your batter too long and your cake turns out tough and chewy instead of moist and fluffy. Even having your butter too cold or too much melted can ruin the confection. It took many cycles of trial and error, sometimes having to repeat and tweak the same recipe several times before the confection was baked to my liking. As I became more comfortable with the basics of chocolate chip cookies and cupcakes frosted with sprinkles, I explored more complex confections and skills such as fondant work. A freshly baked cake is a blank canvas with the potential to display my creativity. While my cakes never look quite as good as those of Cake Boss' Buddy Valastro and Charm City Cakes' Duff Goldman seen on television, I always feel a sense of accomplishment upon completion of a cake, as I see it as a form of expression more than a sugary treat my family is eager to gobble up after dinner.

"Any brownies in this household must be made from box mix and cut with a plastic knife." That is the rule my mother learned from my grandmother, then passed down to me. Baked goods have always been an important part of our family and I cannot recall one instance in which I have visited my grandparents' house and a pan of brownies has not been waiting for us on the kitchen counter. My love for baking blossomed the year I received an easy-bake oven for Christmas. If you are not familiar with the name, easy-bake ovens are plastic toy ovens powered by a single lightbulb. Now if you read that description and think that doesn't sound like a device capable of creating edible food, then you would be correct. I have many memories of sitting by the so-called oven for hours on end just waiting for it to bake a cake no larger than the size of a single silver-dollar pancake. Luckily my parents eventually allowed me to upgrade from cooking by lightbulb to use of the kitchen oven. With use of a real appliance, I was no longer confined to a 4 x 0.5-inch pan and 100-watt lightbulb. The options for my confectionary creations were endless. What started as a family tradition and hobby quickly became a love of mine that connected to my other interests, such as science. Baking is a form of chemistry; mix your batter too long and your cake turns out tough and chewy instead of moist and fluffy. Even having your butter too cold or too much melted can ruin the confection. It took many cycles of trial and error, sometimes having to repeat and tweak the same recipe several times before the confection was baked to my liking. As I became more comfortable with the basics of chocolate chip cookies and cupcakes frosted with sprinkles, I explored more complex confections and skills such as fondant work. A freshly baked cake is a blank canvas with the potential to display my creativity. While my cakes never look quite as good as those of Cake Boss' Buddy Castro and Charm City Cakes' Duff Goldman seen on television, I always feel a sense of accomplishment upon completion of a cake, as I see it as a form of expression more than a sugary treat my family is eager to gobble up after dinner.

As a proverb declares, "where there is a will, there is a way." We can set some goals however hard to achieve them. Yet, the items we selecting sometimes are too difficult for us to fulfill them. As far as I am concerned, making a fortune is my top priority. However, I can't just suddenly make it happen. I need to nurture my technique which is potential and profitable over a long-term that takes times. I decide to take a computer engineer as my occupation in the future, for I may design a program like Facebook or Google which is not only famous but juicy. Maybe I will become the next Bill Gates someday! By virtue of achieving this dream, I must learn English well first, since all the program language are based on it. If I don't study it well, I will never understand the meaning of lines of codes, not to mention becoming an ace engineer. Second, collect some idea in any field because computers are almost connected with every aspect of global industry that can help me to design the most suitable software for those people in need. Last but certainly not least, spreading my relationship can not only encounter some career partners but some resource I will probably need int the future. Even Steve Jobs who is talented but arrogant couldn't found Apple company without his partners as well. To sum up, albeit this road is doomed to be harsh, I believe the success will knock my door real soon!

As a proverb declares, "where there is a will, there is a way." We can set some goals however hard to achieve them. Yet, the items we're selecting sometimes are too difficult for us to fulfill them. As far as I am concerned, making a fortune is my top priority. However, I can't just suddenly make it happen. I need to nurture my technique which is potential and profitable over a long-term that takes times. I decide to take a computer engineer as my occupation in the future, for I may design a program like Facebook or Google which is not only famous but juicy. Maybe I will become the next Bill Gates someday! By virtue of achieving this dream, I must learn English well first, since all the program language are based on it. If I don't study it well, I will never understand the meaning of lines of codes, not to mention becoming an ace engineer. Second, collect some idea in any field because computers are almost connected with every aspect of global industry that can help me to design the most suitable software for those people in need. Last but certainly not least, spreading my relationship can not only encounter some career partners but some resource I will probably need int the future. Even Steve Jobs who is talented but arrogant couldn't found Apple company without his partners as well. To sum up, albeit this road is doomed to be harsh, I believe the success will knock my door real soon!

At MIT, we bring people together to better the lives of others. MIT students work to improve their communities in different ways, from tackling the world's biggest challenges to being a good friend. Describe one way in which you have contributed to your community, whether in your family, the classroom, your neighborhood, etc. (200-250 words) The pile of mulch seemed daunting, exacerbated by the Florida sun shining down on me, but I picked an old red garden shovel with one hand and gripped a wheelbarrow with another. It was another hot afternoon in the community garden, and my job was to spread mulch around the vegetable beds and water the plants. I've done much volunteering through my school and at my local hospital, but working at the garden has been the most rewarding. With the help of my mom and grandparents, I tend to my family's garden plots in a community garden. I feel a sense of satisfaction when looking at the trellises tangled with beanstalks or the bunches of leafy greens that started as seeds that I planted. I am able to help my family eat healthier with the organic fruits and vegetables that I helped grow. My family and I also donate extra produce from our plots in the community garden to a rehab center close by, and I am proud that I can help others in my community eat a little healthier. (180 words)

At MIT, we bring people together to better the lives of others. MIT students work to improve their communities in different ways, from tackling the world's biggest challenges to being a good friend. Describe one way in which you have contributed to your community, whether in your family, the classroom, your neighborhood, etc. (200-250 words) The pile of mulch seemed daunting, exacerbated by the Florida sun shining down on me, but I picked an old red garden shovel with one hand and gripped a wheelbarrow with another. It was another hot afternoon in the community garden, and my job was to spread mulch around the vegetable beds and water the plants. I've done much volunteering through my school and at my local hospital, but working at the garden has been the most rewarding. With the help of my mom and grandparents, I tend to my family's garden plots in a community garden. I feel a sense of satisfaction when looking at the trellises tangled with beanstalks or the bunches of leafy greens that started as seeds that I planted. I am able to help my family eat healthier with the organic fruits and vegetables that I helped grow. My family and I also donate extra produce from our plots in the community garden to a rehab center close by, and I am proud that I can help others in my community eat a little healthier. (180 words)

I step on a plane with a flood of other ambitious passengers: An aspiring actress, A future doctor, Future lawyer, Future missionary, Future teacher, An ambitious mother, An ambitious father, A future world renowned artist, A future NFL player, and even a future politician. I step on a plane of people who have had dreams of being astronauts, surgeons, firefighters, and soldiers. On this plane everyone has the same ticket in their hand. They all have the ticket of success, a ticket of dreams and ambition. The pilot himself remembers that same ticket. It took him 1500 hours of training before he got to his destination. He finally makes the first stop and it's mine. For once I am first! After all my hard work, I am number one. I go to Milan, then Paris, London, and New York. My dream of being front row at every fashion week, an influencer to many through my form of what I feel as timeless art, fashion. I sit at all these fashion shows, watching all of my ideas go from paper to reality. All of my ideas I have had since I was younger finally being viewed by myself, and other fashion influencers. I sit front row, right next to Anna Wintour. "Stunning." She says under her breath. She says this about my clothes seen on the models! the clothes I had spent years developing into a masterpiece. A smile washes over my face. One of joy, achievement, and pure satisfaction. After all of my hard work, it has all finally paid off. It is just a daydream though, and I am still a passenger on a plane of ambitious people. Of people of hopes and aspirations, people not afraid of failure and hard work. People that sleep and breathe their goals. So where does this ticket take me? A place where my dreams are fulfilled, I am content in this place, blessed to have gotten here, and my long journey to get there. A place where I have worked so hard to get to. Where my heart lies forever. A ticket that takes me to my dreams. any feedback would be great! thank you!!!!

I step on a plane with a flood of other ambitious passengers: An aspiring actress, A future doctor, Future lawyer, Future missionary, Future teacher, An ambitious mother, An ambitious father, A future world renowned artist, A future NFL player, and even a future politician. I step on a plane of people who have had dreams of being astronauts, surgeons, firefighters, and soldiers. On this plane everyone has the same ticket in their hand. They all have the ticket of success, a ticket of dreams and ambition. The pilot himself remembers that same ticket. It took him 1500 hours of training before he got to his destination. He finally makes the first stop, and it's mine. For once, I am first! After all my hard work, I am number one. I go to Milan, then Paris, London, and New York. My dream of being front row at every fashion week, an influencer to many through my form of what I feel as timeless art, fashion. I sit at all these fashion shows, watching all of my ideas go from paper to reality. All of my ideas I have had since I was younger finally being viewed by myself, and other fashion influencers. I sit front row, right next to Anna Win tour. "Stunning." She says under her breath. She says this about my clothes seen on the models! The clothes I had spent years developing into a masterpiece. A smile washes over my face. One of joy, achievement, and pure satisfaction. After all of my hard work, it has all finally paid off. It is just a daydream though, and I am still a passenger on a plane of ambitious people. Of people of hopes and aspirations, people not afraid of failure and hard work. People that sleep and breathe their goals. So where does this ticket take me? A place where my dreams are fulfilled, I am content in this place, blessed to have gotten here, and my long journey to get there. A place where I have worked so hard to get to. Where my heart lies forever. A ticket that takes me to my dreams. Any feedback would be great! Thank you!!!!

The game was a nail-biter. The score stood at 20-19, with the opponent one point away from victory: while I had to secure two consecutive points. My opponent served to the rear end of the court. Quickly adjusting my feet to the most favorable position, I struck the shuttlecock. From afar, the shot may have looked exact; my timing seemed ideal and the shuttle had landed smack in the middle of the string-bed. However, the shuttle travelled only half the court's length before it was intercepted by my opponent who ultimately won the point through a smash. I had just lost the fourth and final match of the SAISA (South-Asia Inter-School Association) varsity pool A try-outs eliminating me from the team. Considering the amount of time, I had sacrificed from my academics and put into playing competitive badminton, one in an analogous position as me could have easily given up. Freshly transitioning from a different educational program put me under a lot of academic stress, which affected my ability to participate in the co-curricular activities I wanted to. However, a word which members of my family or even my friends would describe me as would be, persistence. After failing to reach the team for two consecutive years (8th and 9th grade), I finally had the opportunity to play in pool A as singles seed 4. Ultimately assisting the team to an overall 2nd place in the SAISA tournament, winning a consolation goal medal and receiving the Most Improved Player of the Season award.

The game was a nail-biter. The score stood at 20-19, with the opponent one point away from victory: while I had to secure two consecutive points. My opponent served to the rear end of the court. Quickly adjusting my feet to the most favorable position, I struck the shuttlecock. From afar, the shot may have looked exact; my timing seemed ideal, and the shuttle had landed smack in the middle of the string-bed. However, the shuttle travelled only half the court's length before it was intercepted by my opponent who ultimately won the point through a smash. I had just lost the fourth and final match of the SALSA (South-Asia Inter-School Association) varsity pool A try-outs eliminating me from the team. Considering the amount of time, I had sacrificed from my academics and put into playing competitive badminton, one in an analogous position as me could have easily given up. Freshly transitioning from a different educational program put me under a lot of academic stress, which affected my ability to participate in the co-curricular activities I wanted to. However, a word which members of my family or even my friends would describe me as would be, persistence. After failing to reach the team for two consecutive years (8th and 9th grade), I finally had the opportunity to play in pool A as singles seed 4. Ultimately assisting the team to an overall 2nd place in the SALSA tournament, winning a consolation goal medal and receiving the Most Improved Player of the Season award.

My Response -It had been my dream to work with computers & master the software behind it. I learned to code in HTML, C# & visual basic making around 40 programs in python. The more I learned the more passionate I became. The process of choosing software was gradual & based on my desire to specialize in cyber-security & AI. My search for a university that could provide me education both practical & theoretical led me to Waterloo. I want to take part in Hackathons & Co-op programs to master the skills I will need in future. Waterloo also had the best fit to quench my thirst for books, the Dana Porter Library. Reading blogs of professors like Ian Goldberg ignite me to learn more.Startup-Incubators like Velocity, is what attracted me the most because after all what leads the world are not only machines but also ideas.It will help me to change my dream of owning a startup into reality. Note - Ian Goldberg is a professor at UWaterloo.

My Response -It had been my dream to work with computers camp; master the software behind it. I learned to code in HTML, C# camp; Visual Basic making around 40 programs in python. The more I learned, the more passionate I became. The process of choosing software was gradual camp; based on my desire to specialize in cyber-security camp; AI. My search for a university that could provide me education both practical camp; theoretical led me to Waterloo. I want to take part in Hackathons camp; Co-op programs to master the skills I will need in the future. Waterloo also had the best fit to quench my thirst for books, the Dana Porter Library. Reading blogs of professors like Ian Goldberg ignite me to learn more. Startup-Incubators like Velocity, is what attracted me the most because after all what leads the world are not only machines but also ideas. It will help me to change my dream of owning a startup into reality. Note - Ian Goldberg is a professor at Waterloo.

I believe that my friends and family would describe me as someone who is very supportive and hardworking. I have been known to work hard in order to achieve things that I want and in any situation I'm in I make sure to give one hundred percent. My family would say that I never give up when things get difficult and always try to turn a bad situation into a positive. I'm someone who is very loyal and supportive to the people in my life and would do anything for a friend or family member in need. Something that I'm most proud of about myself is my drive. When I was younger I was very shy and would sometimes not do things out of fear of failure, but as I grow up I've done things that have significantly pushed myself out of my comfort zone and a lot of these things have changed my life. A huge example of this would be theatre. Ever since I was young I've loved theatre but was always too scared to try it out for myself, but within the past few years especially I've managed to overcome these fears and have ended up being in numerous productions which have ended up being some of my favourite memories ever. The memories and friendships I've made will always stick with me and I'm so fortunate to have been able to experience the magic of theatre in such a supportive environment.

I believe that my friends and family would describe me as someone who is very supportive and hardworking. I have been known to work hard in order to achieve things that I want and in any situation I'm in I make sure to give one hundred percent. My family would say that I never give up when things get difficult and always try to turn a bad situation into a positive. I'm someone who is very loyal and supportive to the people in my life and would do anything for a friend or family member in need. Something that I'm most proud of about myself is my drive. When I was younger I was very shy and would sometimes not do things out of fear of failure, but as I grow up I've done things that have significantly pushed myself out of my comfort zone and a lot of these things have changed my life. A huge example of this would be theater. Ever since I was young I've loved theater but was always too scared to try it out for myself, but within the past few years especially I've managed to overcome these fears and have ended up being in numerous productions which have ended up being some of my favorite memories ever. The memories and friendships I've made will always stick with me, and I'm so fortunate to have been able to experience the magic of theater in such a supportive environment.

Close your eyes and try to spell my name. You can't, can you? Don't worry about it for the first eight years of my life I couldn't spell my name either. But this isn't a spelling contest so we aren't going to talk about the spelling of my name we are going to talk about how that mishmash of letters defines me. My name is Jesutofunmi Jason Alli III (Just kidding I am one of a kind). Before even diving into the actual meaning of the name just look at it. It's pretty grand, right? Imagine if that name was an older sibling who was perfect at everything and was just an amazing child. Then imagine you are the young sibling of that amazing person. That how I felt for a majority of my life. I felt like my name wasnt my own I felt like it was just too impressive for me. My name alone brought on so many expectations from my parents, to my relatives, to Uncles and Aunts at church. And some of those expectations just weren't me and I knew I was never going to measure up to them and if I did I by some stroke of luck I did would be miserable. So I did what most people do when overzealous expectations are placed on them. I did nothing. I lived my life in fear. I went to school played soccer and that was it. I shied away from any other interest in fear that it would disappoint those close to me. And I did that for a long time, A really long time. But it all changed around junior year. Junior year was when I really began to seek God's face. Despite sounding like a cliche that's what I did. I was tired of holding onto the expectations of others in my heart and I wanted to know what the real plan for my life was. So, I got to reading. I began to read the bible stories that I knew from growing up in the church. Then, I transitioned to the all-knowing proverbs and its endless wisdom, but its morally centered axioms were not applicable to my life. I was reading all the time (my Bible streak was even over 100), but I wasn't seeing any changes in the physical world. I was not feeling any better, I was not feeling any relief, and I was not changing. I was still the same boy who was crumbling under the weight of everyone's expectations of him. So I stopped. I went back to my old routine of hiding in my shell hiding from the thoughts and opinions of other people, hiding from their judgments and disappointments. But then one day, I was just scrolling through bible verses, for fun, just to look busy. And then I found one that had my answers wrapped around the nine words. John 15:16 "You did not choose me, but I chose you...." that was all I needed to reevaluate my life. That's all I needed to realize how absolutely stupid I was. My name literally means "Jesus is sufficient for you". I was spending my whole life thinking that my own efforts would never be enough for my Aunt's, or my relatives or my own parents, but little did I know that it didn't have to be. They didn't give me my name, God did, therefore, I belonged to him and the only person I need to impress was him and what better way to do that then by being who he created me to be. So form that they I started living my name I started reading the books that interested me, I started participating in the things that interested me, and I started being the me that I wanted to be. So here I am writing this to you because the me that I God created wants to go to college, and I'm from rich but I will not let those limitations stop me from reaching that goal that fulfills me.

Close your eyes and try to spell my name. You can't, can you? Don't worry about it for the first eight years of my life I couldn't spell my name either. But this isn't a spelling contest, so we aren't going to talk about the spelling of my name we are going to talk about how that mishmash of letters defines me. My name is Jesutofunmi Jason All III (Just kidding I am one of a kind). Before even diving into the actual meaning of the name just look at it. It's pretty grand, right? Imagine if that name was an older sibling who was perfect at everything and was just an amazing child. Then imagine you are the young sibling of that amazing person. That how I felt for a majority of my life. I felt like my name wasn't my own I felt like it was just too impressive for me. My name alone brought on so many expectations from my parents, to my relatives, to Uncles and Aunts at church. And some of those expectations just weren't me and I knew I was never going to measure up to them and if I did I buy some stroke of luck I did would be miserable. So I did what most people do when overzealous expectations are placed on them. I did nothing. I lived my life in fear. Furthermore, I went to school played soccer and that was it. Furthermore, I shied away from any other interest in fear that it would disappoint those close to me. And I did that for a long time, A really long time. But it all changed around junior year. Junior year was when I really began to seek God's face. Despite sounding like a cliché that's what I did. I was tired of holding onto the expectations of others in my heart and I wanted to know what the real plan for my life was. So, I got to reading. I began to read the bible stories that I knew from growing up in the church. Then, I transitioned to the all-knowing proverbs and its endless wisdom, but its morally centered axioms were not applicable to my life. I was reading all the time (my Bible streak was even over 100), but I wasn't seeing any changes in the physical world. I was not feeling any better, I was not feeling any relief, and I was not changing. Furthermore, I was still the same boy who was crumbling under the weight of everyone's expectations of him. So I stopped. I went back to my old routine of hiding in my shell hiding from the thoughts and opinions of other people, hiding from their judgments and disappointments. But then one day, I was just scrolling through bible verses, for fun, just to look busy. And then I found one that had my answers wrapped around the nine words. John 15:16 "You did not choose me, but I chose you...." that was all I needed to reevaluate my life. That's all I needed to realize how absolutely stupid I was. My name literally means "Jesus is sufficient for you". I was spending my whole life thinking that my own efforts would never be enough for my Aunt's, or my relatives or my own parents, but little did I know that it didn't have to be. They didn't give me my name, God did, therefore, I belonged to him and the only person I need to impress was him and what better way to do that then by being who he created me to be. So form that they started living my name I started reading the books that interested me, I started participating in the things that interested me, and I started being the that I wanted to be. So here I am writing this to you because the that I God created wants to go to college, and I'm from rich, but I will not let those limitations stop me from reaching that goal that fulfills me.

Since I began watching the Nickelodeon sitcom 'True Jackson VP' when I was in elementary school, I dreamt of living the life of True Jackson. To see her climb from vice president to being the president of the company was inspiring. Peering into the life of a fashion company vice president for the 23 minutes that the show ran on TV was the final stamp on my decision regarding my career path. Fashion has always been an escape from reality for me. In middle school I would always find myself intrigued by Thierry Mugler and Chanel's 1990's fashion shows and envisioning what I would do to add my own flare onto the line and how I would sell it to other people. I was always inspired by people and their personalities, and always saw myself being an inspiration to others. I want to have my work live on forever. Aside from starting a fashion club and taking charge of the school fashion show, my greatest accomplishment would have to be the creation of my clothing line. Developing my clothing brand in the year 2014 was one of the first major steps I took in starting my business. My hopes and dreams of having a successful career in the fashion industry was the driving force behind the clothing line. Also being able to showcase my creativity. I wanted to make my clothing as fluid and expressive as the industry and to be able to connect to my target audience -- kids in my high school. I remember sitting in my trigonometry class, protractor and pencil in hand, when I designed the first logo. However, having a clothing line showed me that I didn't just want to design clothes -- I wanted to market them as well. Classes that I am now taking such as Ethics in business and microeconomics in my community college are giving me a brand new insight in the world of business and how everything works. My clothing line has already provided many opportunities for me and taught me so much. I made connections with important influencers in new york city (Jbadvss), learned how to effectively manage my money and I made me the first recipient of the young entrepreneur's scholarship in my high school. Through this clothing line I have developed communication and networking skills that will serve me for a lifetime. I learned how to be more approachable and how to approach others. I know that I belong at FIT because this school is the only place where I know I will be able to thrive and meet my full potential. FIT offers what I crave -- networking, internships and fashion. In the world of business, more so advertisement, it's not about what you say, but how you say it. It's all about working harder and not smarter. With my competitive spirit, ambition, communication and leadership skills, I know that the Advertising and Marketing Communications program will allow all of those qualities to be displayed. I plan to obtain internships during my time at FIT, because I want to take full advantage of all the opportunities that this institution has to offer. The Fashion Institute of Technology will provide me with the necessary tools needed to securing a successful future in the fashion industry. FIT is the last piece to the puzzle in my journey to success.

Since I began watching the Nickelodeon sitcom 'True Jackson VP' when I was in elementary school, I dreamt of living the life of True Jackson. To see her climb from vice president to being the president of the company was inspiring. Peering into the life of a fashion company vice president for the 23 minutes that the show ran on TV was the final stamp on my decision regarding my career path. Fashion has always been an escape from reality for me. In middle school I would always find myself intrigued by Thierry Muller and Chanel's 1990s fashion shows and envisioning what I would do to add my own flare onto the line and how I would sell it to other people. I was always inspired by people and their personalities, and always saw myself being an inspiration to others. I want to have my work live on forever. Aside from starting a fashion club and taking charge of the school fashion show, my greatest accomplishment would have to be the creation of my clothing line. Developing my clothing brand in the year 2014 was one of the first major steps I took in starting my business. My hopes and dreams of having a successful career in the fashion industry was the driving force behind the clothing line. Also being able to showcase my creativity. I wanted to make my clothing as fluid and expressive as the industry and to be able to connect to my target audience -- kids in my high school. I remember sitting in my trigonometry class, protractor and pencil in hand, when I designed the first logo. However, having a clothing line showed me that I didn't just want to design clothes -- I wanted to market them as well. Classes that I am now taking such as Ethics in business and microeconomics in my community college are giving me a brand-new insight in the world of business and how everything works. My clothing line has already provided many opportunities for me and taught me so much. I made connections with important influencers in New York city (Badass), learned how to effectively manage my money and I made me the first recipient of the young entrepreneur's scholarship in my high school. Through this clothing line I have developed communication and networking skills that will serve me for a lifetime. I learned how to be more approachable and how to approach others. I know that I belong at FIT because this school is the only place where I know I will be able to thrive and meet my full potential. FIT offers what I crave -- networking, internships and fashion. In the world of business, more so advertisement, it's not about what you say, but how you say it. It's all about working harder and not smarter. With my competitive spirit, ambition, communication and leadership skills, I know that the Advertising and Marketing Communications program will allow all of those qualities to be displayed. I plan to obtain internships during my time at FIT, because I want to take full advantage of all the opportunities that this institution has to offer. The Fashion Institute of Technology will provide me with the necessary tools needed to secure a successful future in the fashion industry. FIT is the last piece to the puzzle in my journey to success.

Born and raised in Tomball, Texas, I was fortunate to experience both sides of urban city living and the rural countryside. Northwest of Houston, Tomball had a "small town" feel not due to its modest population, but more so its close knit community. Living near Houston, the occasional trip downtown exposed me to the hustle and bustle of city life, however my heart lay with my home centered on several acres of land in a remote subdivision. Ever since I was young, I was infatuated with animals, which would most likely be a result of my mother's influence. My mother grew up with horses and when I was ten years old, enrolled me in horseback riding lessons, and I was immediately hooked. After a few years of being carted around by my parents to our local barn, my family moved from our suburban neighborhood into a house with a few acres of land to pursue this passion. We added a couple horses to our family and adopted a cat and dog along the way as well. Working with animals required a great deal of responsibility on my part. Making sure all animals were fed, happy, and healthy was a daily task that I was expected to perform, even on the days I did not feel up to it. Caring for animals gave me a sense of purpose and made sure I always had something to do after school and on the weekends. From moving to acreage to follow my dream of owning horses, to supporting any challenge I faced, my family had always been my biggest support group. Being the youngest of three, my brothers always had a profound influence on me. In particular, my oldest brother, Matthew. In our youth, Matthew and myself fought frequently like siblings do. Throughout high school, Matthew struggled with school and did not value its importance as much as he probably should have. He struggled to find a college that he wanted to attend. After graduating high school, he took a year off from college to work and to figure out what he wanted to do in life. After this year, he attended a local community college for two years and then transferred to Texas A&M - Commerce, to pursue engineering. It took him several years to get on a path that he would be proud of, but he was able to learn from his mistakes to get where he wanted to be, and for that I look up to him. Our current relationship is one that is cordial and secure, where we enjoy spending time together. Observing his life experiences taught me to have a plan, focus on my education, and work diligently to pursue that plan. Matthew is now one of the most influential role models in my life. Being raised in a family that was always supportive in whatever I endeavored to do, gave me the confidence to pursue my dreams. I have been surrounded by people who have acted as fantastic role models and given me something to strive to be. School programs such as band, and other clubs and organizations, as well as the support of my family, have given me countless opportunities that have helped me grow into the person I am today. My family and community allowed me to grow into a caring and responsible person, for which I am eternally grateful.

Born and raised in Tom ball, Texas, I was fortunate to experience both sides of urban city living and the rural countryside. Northwest of Houston, Tom ball had a "small town" feel not due to its modest population, but more so its close-knit community. Living near Houston, the occasional trip downtown exposed me to the hustle and bustle of city life, however my heart lay with my home centered on several acres of land in a remote subdivision. Ever since I was young, I was infatuated with animals, which would most likely be a result of my mother's influence. My mother grew up with horses and when I was ten years old, enrolled me in horseback riding lessons, and I was immediately hooked. After a few years of being carted around by my parents to our local barn, my family moved from our suburban neighborhood into a house with a few acres of land to pursue this passion. We added a couple horses to our family and adopted a cat and dog along the way as well. Working with animals required a great deal of responsibility on my part. Making sure all animals were fed, happy, and healthy was a daily task that I was expected to perform, even on the days I did not feel up to it. Caring for animals gave me a sense of purpose and made sure I always had something to do after school and on the weekends. From moving to acreage to follow my dream of owning horses, to supporting any challenge I faced, my family had always been my biggest support group. Being the youngest of three, my brothers always had a profound influence on me. In particular, my oldest brother, Matthew. In our youth, Matthew and I fought frequently like siblings do. Throughout high school, Matthew struggled with school and did not value its importance as much as he probably should have. He struggled to find a college that he wanted to attend. After graduating from high school, he took a year off from college to work and to figure out what he wanted to do in life. After this year, he attended a local community college for two years and then transferred to Texas Camp;M - Commerce, to pursue engineering. It took him several years to get on a path that he would be proud of, but he was able to learn from his mistakes to get where he wanted to be, and for that I look up to him. Our current relationship is one that is cordial and secure, where we enjoy spending time together. Observing his life experiences taught me to have a plan, focus on my education, and work diligently to pursue that plan. Matthew is now one of the most influential role models in my life. Being raised in a family that was always supportive in whatever I endeavored to do, gave me the confidence to pursue my dreams. I have been surrounded by people who have acted as fantastic role models and given me something to strive to be. School programs such as band, and other clubs and organizations, as well as the support of my family, have given me countless opportunities that have helped me grow into the person I am today. My family and community allowed me to grow into a caring and responsible person, for which I am eternally grateful.

My parents always insisted that I could have a mind of my own and think for myself, but they always ended up pushing their beliefs onto me. In all honesty, I didn't mind because I discovered that I agreed with most of their ideology. But, growing up in California and having different opinions than most everyone else was extremely overwhelming. For this, I am utterly grateful. Although it is always challenging to be a red in a blue state, being raised with different beliefs than the vast majority is something that I will continue to thank my parents for. I was able to learn about two different perspectives and visualize life through another person's shoes. Ultimately, I feel the most powerful when I am able to accept other people's take on things and I'm proud to say that it has taught me to be level-headed and understanding. I now make less assumptions and instead I've become more inquisitive, always wanting to understand or question why they believe in what they believe. Having a different outlook has shaped me to be the best that I can be. My parents taught me the best thing they could ever teach: No matter where I am or who I'm with, I should never let anyone tell me how and what to think. I am my own person. And that is who I've strived to be.

My parents always insisted that I could have a mind of my own and think for myself, but they always ended up pushing their beliefs onto me. In all honesty, I didn't mind because I discovered that I agreed with most of their ideology. But, growing up in California and having different opinions than almost everyone else was extremely overwhelming. For this, I am utterly grateful. Although it is always challenging to be a red in a blue state, being raised with different beliefs than the vast majority is something that I will continue to thank my parents for. I was able to learn about two different perspectives and visualize life through another person's shoes. Ultimately, I feel the most powerful when I am able to accept other people's take on things, and I'm proud to say that it has taught me to be level-headed and understanding. I now make less assumptions, and instead I've become more inquisitive, always wanting to understand or question why they believe in what they believe. Having a different outlook has shaped me to be the best that I can be. My parents taught me the best thing they could ever teach: No matter where I am or who I'm with, I should never let anyone tell me how and what to think. I am my own person. And that is who I've strived to be.

I'm mostly concerned with the need to add specific aspects of uchicago and how the essay is too generic. Thank you for any comments!! I remember watching a chess game in a dining hall. I remember pointing out to the older man that he should move his bishop to pin the rook and the king. He did with no question. In that moment, this was a simple action of recognizing the move and taking my suggestion. In hindsight, this chess match is my most prevalent memory of Chicago. It is chess etiquette not to interject and suggest moves. However, it is touching to realize that instead of ignoring me, the man took the suggestion of a 7 year old who had a year of chess experience. The man was kind enough to take value in my words, regardless of whether or not the results of the game would have been jeopardized. Years later, I discovered that chess game was in the UChicago dining hall. This experience is reflective of values essential to my college experience. I believe that the object of education is education not an advantage or a means to a job. Learning happens in every moment and I cannot just receive an education. I have to be able to relinquish what I envision to be the final destination and instead discover my education. I trust that UChicago will perpetuate this belief and provide direction for me through its structure. The quarter system and the interdisciplinary undergraduate college with its broad core curriculum will offer me flexibility and exposure to a number of areas, enabling me to make an informed decision on what I choose to study later on. I am undecided on whether I want to focus on biology, computer science, or math but regardless of my choice, I will be given the privilege to learn with breadth and depth through the Core. I know my experience will be more than a stepping stone to the future, but rather a path of formative years.

I'm mostly concerned with the need to add specific aspects of UChicago and how the essay is too generic. Thank you for any comments!! I remember watching a chess game in a dining hall. I remember pointing out to the older man that he should move his bishop to pin the rook and the king. He did with no question. At that moment, this was a simple action of recognizing the move and taking my suggestion. In hindsight, this chess match is my most prevalent memory of Chicago. It is chess etiquette not to interject and suggest moves. However, it is touching to realize that instead of ignoring me, the man took the suggestion of a 7-year-old who had a year of chess experience. The man was kind enough to take value in my words, regardless of whether the results of the game would have been jeopardized. Years later, I discovered that chess game was in the UChicago dining hall. This experience is reflective of values essential to my college experience. I believe that the object of education is education not an advantage or a means to a job. Learning happens in every moment and I cannot just receive an education. I have to be able to relinquish what I envision to be the final destination and instead discover my education. I trust that UChicago will perpetuate this belief and provide direction for me through its structure. The quarter system and the interdisciplinary undergraduate college with its broad core curriculum will offer me flexibility and exposure to a number of areas, enabling me to make an informed decision on what I choose to study later on. I am undecided on whether I want to focus on biology, computer science, or math but regardless of my choice, I will be given the privilege to learn with breadth and depth through the Core. I know my experience will be more than a stepping stone to the future, but rather a path of formative years.

A pivotal importance of growing up included the necessity to secure our Hispanic heritage and culture. Due to living next to the Mexican border my entire life, a part of me knows the vital and constitutive ideals of the environment I am accustomed to live with. "On The Border, By The Sea", is our cities famous slogan, where you can find us dancing to our cumbias on the southern tip of Texas and celebrating festivities where we can show off our green, white, and red nationality. This is the city in the Rio Grande Valley where one can get a taste of Mexico in their own backyard, stand on the same ground of history from the Palo Alto Battlefield and the ending of the civil war, articulate in the communication of not one but two fluently spoken languages with one another, and dedicate a frijol cook off as the famous "frijolympics". This is Brownsville Texas, and this is who shaped me as the individual I am today. Being raised by parents with Mexican nationality, my life never had the involvement of a dull dinner, but instead was fulfilled with dishes abounding with color and flavor that one could simply devour for. After coming home from school, I would bust open the doors to come to a house smelling like chicken bouillon and I would quickly spot my mother going through the hassle of cooking in order to serve us a nice, and hot meal. I have gained the benefits of coming from a bilingual family by having the prospect to communicate with people who may only speak Spanish. Down here in the valley, one will meet people who will not have the advantage of speaking English, and I am able to say that I have helped many with that disadvantage by translating or helping them captivate and absorb the English language. Due to being surrounded with Mexican culture in my city, I have attended festivities known as our Charro Days Fiesta. Ever since 1937 during The Great Depression, our citizens needed an antidote to remove the despair and pessimism towards our countries economic depression. The thought of creating a celebration to lift our cities spirit shows the dedication in respecting the bi-national friendship of Matamoros and Brownsville. This illustrates how we take our pride in sharing the rich culture from across the border by displaying hand-made floats for the people to enjoy and celebrate the Charro Days parade. Depicting upon our city's lack of being viewed as a clean and tidiness city, Brownsville needed a change towards the way it was portrayed due to trash being thrown on the Resacas and parks all throughout town. I then joined forces with the parks and recreation to help beautify by volunteering in services where we would clean up not only parks, but also beaches and neighborhoods; attend city events and give recognition towards our community. We are known as "Keep Brownsville Beautiful" and we have gotten so far towards achieving our goal, we got the recognition from our states very own representative, Eddie Lucio III. In seeing how I have helped shaped a city in every possible way I could by bringing hard work and enthusiasm to the table, I have shown my side of commitment and I could not be prouder by the way it has been portrayed. A factor in which has had impacted me on my future and my journey towards my career would depict on an organization I am in known as "Teen Court". Teen court is a volunteer program at the municipal court system in my downtown area to help anyone from seventeen years old or younger of age with a class-c misdemeanor in the department of my school's district to have the chance of having their hearings staffed by high school students. I have been assigned as both defense attorney and prosecutor for the cases and been grateful ever since for the opportunity and experience given to me on how the justice system works. I am now a person who is willing to continue to embrace all that I know and all that I am to share amongst others. I am formed from the genes and nationality of my parents, from the history behind our city's rich past, through all that came to help shape the person I am now, I show no more than gratitude and to continue to bring the same level of commitment and enthusiasm towards the prospect of our Hispanic heritage and culture.

A pivotal importance of growing up included the necessity to secure our Hispanic heritage and culture. Due to living next to the Mexican border my entire life, a part of me knows the vital and constitutive ideals of the environment I am accustomed to living with. "On The Border, By The Sea", is our cities famous slogan, where you can find us dancing to our cum bias on the southern tip of Texas and celebrating festivities where we can show off our green, white, and red nationality. This is the city in the Rio Grande Valley where one can get a taste of Mexico in their own backyard, stand on the same ground of history from the Palo Alto Battlefield and the ending of the civil war, articulate in the communication of not one but two fluently spoken languages with one another, and dedicate a frill cook off as the famous "frijolympics". This is Brownsville Texas, and this is who shaped me as the individual I am today. Being raised by parents with Mexican nationality, my life never had the involvement of a dull dinner, but instead was fulfilled with dishes abounding with color and flavor that one could simply devour for. After coming home from school, I would bust open the doors to come to a house smelling like chicken bouillon and I would quickly spot my mother going through the hassle of cooking in order to serve us a nice, and hot meal. I have gained the benefits of coming from a bilingual family by having the prospect to communicate with people who may only speak Spanish. Down here in the valley, one will meet people who will not have the advantage of speaking English, and I am able to say that I have helped many with that disadvantage by translating or helping them captivate and absorb the English language. Due to being surrounded with Mexican culture in my city, I have attended festivities known as our Churro Days Fiesta. Ever since 1937 during The Great Depression, our citizens needed an antidote to remove the despair and pessimism towards our countries economic depression. The thought of creating a celebration to lift our cities spirit shows the dedication in respecting the bi-national friendship of Matamoros and Brownsville. This illustrates how we take our pride in sharing the rich culture from across the border by displaying hand-made floats for the people to enjoy and celebrate the Churro Days parade. Depicting upon our city's lack of being viewed as a clean and tidiness city, Brownsville needed a change towards the way it was portrayed due to trash being thrown on the Reacts and parks all throughout town. I then joined forces with the parks and recreation to help beautify by volunteering in services where we would clean up not only parks, but also beaches and neighborhoods; attend city events and give recognition towards our community. We are known as "Keep Brownsville Beautiful" and we have gotten so far towards achieving our goal, we got the recognition from our states very own representative, Eddie Lucio III. In seeing how I have helped shaped a city in every possible way I could by bringing hard work and enthusiasm to the table, I have shown my side of commitment and I could not be prouder by the way it has been portrayed. A factor in which has had impacted me on my future and my journey towards my career would depict on an organization I am in known as "Teen Court". Teen court is a volunteer program at the municipal court system in my downtown area to help anyone from seventeen years old or younger of age with a class-c misdemeanor in the department of my school's district to have the chance of having their hearings staffed by high school students. I have been assigned as both defense attorney and prosecutor for the cases and been grateful ever since for the opportunity and experience given to me on how the justice system works. I am now a person who is willing to continue to embrace all that I know and all that I am to share amongst others. Furthermore, I am formed from the genes and nationality of my parents, from the history behind our city's rich past, through all that came to help shape the person I am now, I show no more than gratitude and to continue to bring the same level of commitment and enthusiasm towards the prospect of our Hispanic heritage and culture.

Hello Mister! I want to tell you about my self to you.My name is Sarah Nuril Iffa andYou can call me by my first name.I was born in Bekasi, July 15 2000.I moved to Kediri when i was 14 until graduated from Muhammadiyah High School Kediri.About my family, I have 2 younger brothers. Their names are Farhan and Fauzan.The age difference between them is 3 years but seems like twins specially when playing or fighting. I miss them so much because I live independently in a boarding house at Jalan Semanggi Barat near State Polytechnic of Malang place where i study now. By Living close, I can just walk to my college. Thank you for taking time out of your schedule to read my Introduction Sir.

Hello Mister! I want to tell you about my self to you. My name is Sarah Núria FFA Andy can call me by my first name. I was born in Beast, July 15, 2000. I moved to Medici when I was 14 until graduated from Muhammadan High School Medici. About my family, I have 2 younger brothers. Their names are Nathan and Fauna. The age difference between them is 3 years but seems like twins specially when playing or fighting. I miss them so much because I live independently in a boarding house at Japan Semantic Bart near State Polytechnic of Along place where I study now. By Living close, I can just walk to my college. Thank you for taking time out of your schedule to read my Introduction Sir.

The middle of junior year. The time to start thinking about college and my future. What do I want to do? Will I get bored with it? What am I good at? Will that profession make money? My mind was a complete mess. I was at home, laying on my couch, wondering what in the world I want to pursue. I had so many interests, but it was difficult seeing myself doing that for the rest of my life. Had my heart set on being a doctor for the past two years, but I realized that I didn't have the same motivation that some aspiring doctors had. I asked myself why I wanted to be a doctor and my mind was blank. Where did the idea of being a doctor even come from? It was so stressful that I needed to clear my mind of all college related subjects. The obvious way to do that was to bake. I got up and padded my way to the kitchen. Automatically I started to pull out ingredients from the shelves and drawers. My hands moved like clockwork, sifting the dry ingredients into a bowl, combining the wet. I was in a complete trance as I put the brownie into the 350 degree oven. It was only when the timer rang, signaling the end of a long forty minutes that it struck me. Baking. I love baking. I stress-bake. I bake when I'm happy, sad, angry, or tired. The one thing that I do with the most passion and love is bake. I couldn't think of why that hadn't crossed my mind when I realized that it had. For most of my childhood, I wanted to be a chef. I thought about the first memory I had of when I baked something: I made an orange and chocolate cake with my mom in our tiny kitchen in Toronto. We put it in the oven when she realized that we forgot to add chocolate chunks. I immediately had no problem with taking the batter out, adding the chocolate, and putting it back into the oven. When it came to baking, I never had any problems that I couldn't fix. It came naturally to me. My friends even called me "the baker" because I made them treats all the time. I realized that this was what I was meant to do. I decided then and there; I was going to bake for the rest of my life.

The middle of junior year. The time to start thinking about college and my future. What do I want to do? Will I get bored with it? What am I good at? Will that profession make money? My mind was a complete mess. I was at home, laying on my couch, wondering what in the world I want to pursue. I had so many interests, but it was difficult seeing myself doing that for the rest of my life. Had my heart set on being a doctor for the past two years, but I realized that I didn't have the same motivation that some aspiring doctors had. I asked myself why I wanted to be a doctor and my mind was blank. Where did the idea of being a doctor even come from? It was so stressful that I needed to clear my mind of all college related subjects. The obvious way to do that was to bake. I got up and padded my way to the kitchen. Automatically I started to pull out ingredients from the shelves and drawers. My hands moved like clockwork, sifting the dry ingredients into a bowl, combining the wet. I was in a complete trance as I put the brownie into the 350-degree oven. It was only when the timer rang, signaling the end of a long forty minutes that it struck me. Baking. I love baking. I stress-bake. Furthermore, I bake when I'm happy, sad, angry, or tired. The one thing that I do with the most passion and love is bake. I couldn't think of why that hadn't crossed my mind when I realized that it had. For most of my childhood, I wanted to be a chef. I thought about the first memory I had of when I baked something: I made an orange and chocolate cake with my mom in our tiny kitchen in Toronto. We put it in the oven when she realized that we forgot to add chocolate chunks. I immediately had no problem with taking the batter out, adding the chocolate, and putting it back into the oven. When it came to baking, I never had any problems that I couldn't fix. It came naturally to me. My friends even called me "the baker" because I made them treats all the time. I realized that this was what I was meant to do. I decided then and there; I was going to bake for the rest of my life.

As a mater of fact, there was the time that I have chance to go on the stage at a music show of my university. I remember really pumped up for such a oppotunity and the show is pretty famous as well. So I trained alot and couting down the day to go on the stage. And the day finally came, acording to the the schedule, I suppose to reach the stage at least 30 minutes for press rehearsal before the show started at 7 p.m. So I left home at 6 after getting ready. As you probably guess, somethings would happen in the road. My motobike have a problem and suddenly stop at a deserted road. My anxiety was increasing enormously cause there was no motobike repair shop around. So I had no choice but to walk my motobike to find one. you no thinking about when I appear as an iresponsible latecomer in the eyes of other anf the fear that I coudn't go on the stage. It was really frustrated me. But finally, I reached there at 7h30 and there they were all waiting for me. Although It was not my turn yet but I wasn't able to perform without attend the press- rehearsal. But after a while I try to persuade the chief of the show, I was given the precious chance. and I know there was no excuse better than a perfect performant. And I did, I actually give it my best shot. Although everythings worked out well, I obviously much more careful when it come to a similar tituation afterward.

As a mater of fact, there was the time that I have chance to go on the stage at a music show of my university. I remember really pumped up for such an opportunity and the show is pretty famous as well. So I trained a lot and counting down the day to go on the stage. And the day finally came, according to the schedule, I suppose to reach the stage at least 30 minutes for press rehearsal before the show started at 7 p.m. So I left home at 6 after getting ready. As you probably guess, something's would happen in the road. My motorbike have a problem and suddenly stop at a deserted road. My anxiety was increasing enormously cause there was no motorbike repair shop around. So I had no choice but to walk my motorbike to find one. You no thinking about when I appear as an responsible latecomer in the eyes of other ANF the fear that I couldn't go on the stage. It was really frustrated me. But finally, I reached there at 7h30 and there they were all waiting for me. Although It was not my turn yet, but I wasn't able to perform without attend the press-rehearsal. But after a while I try to persuade the chief of the show, I was given the precious chance. And I know there was no excuse better than a perfect performant. And I did, I actually give it my best shot. Although everything's worked out well, I obviously much more careful when it comes to a similar situation afterward.

My Response :I have learned coding in HTML, QBasic, Visual Basic, C#. I am learning python from UWaterloo website "Python from scratch". I have made numerous webpages in HTML connected by hyperlinks, a calculator & much more in C#. I made programs to calculate: Cost of painting a roomCost of an item using conditional discounts & taxesCost of an industrial steel plate for my dadTarget heart rate and to,Convert numbers to roman numeralsJumble up words in different manners I have built a program in Python that detects double space in my AIF. It was necessary as I had a faulty space bar. NOTE :- With a character limit of 600 characters I request for suggestions to make it look more presentable rather than just factual.

My Response :I have learned to code in HTML, Basic, Visual Basic, C#. I am learning python from Waterloo website "Python from scratch". I have made numerous webpages in HTML connected by hyperlinks, a calculator camp; much more in C#. Furthermore, I made programs to calculate: Cost of painting a roomiest of an item using conditional discounts camp; Tabascos of an industrial steel plate for my dad Target heart rate and to, Convert numbers to roman numeralsJumble up words in different manners I have built a program in Python that detects double space in my AIF. It was necessary as I had a faulty space bar. NOTE :- With a character limit of 600 characters I request for suggestions to make it look more presentable rather than just factual.

-Question: "If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it, I know I can achieve it."~ Jesse Jackson. As I read this quote from the well-known civil rights activist, Baptist minister, politician, and University of Illinois alumni; I thought about the mark he left on our planet. I feel that if accepted to the Aerospace Engineering program at University of Illinois, I can leave my own mark as well. Since I could walk, I had always been fascinated with creating, fixing, and exploring. From being in the taking in the Science club in elementary school, to being in the underwater aquabotics team at middle school, to joining the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE); my thirst for more knowledge in the engineering field has always been my drive. I didn't always know what I wanted to be when I "grew up." I just knew that I always had a passion for helping people, and a passion for space science. My desire to help those in need, mixed with my many years of experience in the STEM fields, made me realize that one of my main goals is to be an aeronautical engineer, or an astronaut, and to help change the world through intergalactic sciences. I believe the University of Illinois Aerospace Engineering program will help fuel my drive to achieve this goal. I feel that current school I am attending is not realistic choice for me to achieve my goals. I know that the University of Illinois will give me the platform I need to succeed. My mind has conceived my goals, and my heart has believed them. All that is left for me to do is achieve them. -281 words-The essay is due October 15, I plan to turn in before October 5-Please let me know how I make this essay better, if there are any mistakes, or if the whole thing needs to be changed.-Please be harsh.-If you are engineering student, that would be preferred, and if you are an engineering student at UIUC, that would be even more preferred.-My grades in high school were sub-par, and my ACTSAT were average.-Any and all feedback will be helpful.-Thank you!

-Question: "If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it, I know I can achieve it."~ Jesse Jackson. As I read this quote from the well-known civil rights activist, Baptist minister, politician, and University of Illinois alumni; I thought about the mark he left on our planet. I feel that if accepted to the Aerospace Engineering program at University of Illinois, I can leave my own mark as well. Since I could walk, I had always been fascinated with creating, fixing, and exploring. From being in the taking in the Science club in elementary school, to being in the underwater aquatics team at middle school, to joining the National Society of Black Engineers (NSB); my thirst for more knowledge in the engineering field has always been my drive. I didn't always know what I wanted to be when I "grew up." I just knew that I always had a passion for helping people, and a passion for space science. My desire to help those in need, mixed with my many years of experience in the STEM fields, made me realize that one of my main goals is to be an aeronautical engineer, or an astronaut, and to help change the world through intergalactic sciences. I believe the University of Illinois Aerospace Engineering program will help fuel my drive to achieve this goal. I feel that current school I am attending is not realistic choice for me to achieve my goals. Furthermore, I know that the University of Illinois will give me the platform I need to succeed. My mind has conceived my goals, and my heart has believed them. All that is left for me to do is achieve them. -281 words-The essay is due October 15, I plan to turn in before October 5-Please let me know how I make this essay better, if there are any mistakes, or if the whole thing needs to be changed.-Please be harsh.-If you are engineering student, that would be preferred, and if you are an engineering student at UIC, that would be even more preferred.-My grades in high school were sub-par, and my ACT SAT were average.-Any and all feedback will be helpful.-Thank you!

Explain how you responded to a problem andor an unfamiliar situation. What did you do, what was the outcome, and what did you learn from the experience? (maximum 200 words) Silence. That is the noise that I heard when my flight instructor decided to cut the engine mid-flight during what I thought to be a normal training session. He then proceeded to show me the different actions and procedures I had to follow to restart the engine and land as fast as possible. Being transfixed by nerves and stress knowing that I had to land a plane with an engine failure safely, I remembered only a tenth of what he was explaining to me. When my turn came, I froze and executed in a completely wrong way the procedure. He showed me once more, and I was able to execute the procedure properly. Back on the ground, we had a debrief of the flight. He then asked me why I didn't ask him for help the first time? I realized at that point, that asking for help, to your instructor or to anyone in a critical situation was always better than not saying anything. Furthermore, I realized that when I persevered to understand something when I didn't, such as an engine failure procedure, lead to me having more knowledge and becoming a safer and better pilot.

Explain how you responded to a problem ardor an unfamiliar situation. What did you do, what was the outcome, and what did you learn from the experience? (maximum 200 words) Silence. That is the noise that I heard when my flight instructor decided to cut the engine mid-flight during what I thought to be a normal training session. He then proceeded to show me the different actions and procedures I had to follow to restart the engine and land as fast as possible. Being transfixed by nerves and stress knowing that I had to land a plane with an engine failure safely, I remembered only a tenth of what he was explaining to me. When my turn came, I froze and executed in a completely wrong way the procedure. He showed me once more, and I was able to execute the procedure properly. Back on the ground, we had a debrief of the flight. He then asked me why I didn't ask him for help the first time? I realized at that point, that asking for help, to your instructor or to anyone in a critical situation was always better than not saying anything. Furthermore, I realized that when I persevered to understand something when I didn't, such as an engine failure procedure, lead to me having more knowledge and becoming a safer and better pilot.

Programming and music are not all that different. Music and computers have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. When I got a piano I remember buying all the piano books my mom would allow me to. I immediately rushed home and sat down to learn each song in the books. When I got my first computer in 5th grade I remember googling how much RAM and CPU it had. I wanted to learn as much as I could about this powerful machine. In my sophomore year of high school, I took my first computer science course and that helped me realized I was interested software. The idea of creating something from just lines of codes and logic was fascinating. I enjoyed learning about the beautiful logic behind a game like Tetris. As I got more interested in programming I neglected music and didn't put as much time into it as I used to. I thought practicing the piano was just a waste of time and was only going to get in the way of me becoming a better programmer. As a year passed and I didn't realize how much piano skills I lost. Over the summer when I got back on the piano I quickly noticed my musical ear was not as strong as it was before. I could no longer hear the difference between a perfect 4th and a perfect 5th, or notice the subtle differences between a D and D flat. This was extremely frustrating because something that came so naturally to me suddenly seemed impossible. I was determined to get my skills to where it used to be. After weeks of practicing, I didn't see much progress. I was extremely discouraged and felt that I would have to accept that I no longer will be able to play as well I used to. While watching hundreds of tutorials online on how to code in Swift I came up with an idea. What if used the knowledge I gained from these tutorials to develop an app that would help train my musical ear. This is exactly what I did. I immediately started sketching a wireframe of my app. After hours of coding I developed an app that would play a random sequence of notes, then the user would have to type in the corresponding notes to what they heard. When I was on the subway or had some extra time I could easily open up the app on my phone and use it to help me strengthen my musical ear. In about 2 months I regained the skills I lost. This experience helped me see the similarities between music and programming I never noticed before. Programming gives me a platform to express my ideas; in a similar way, playing the piano gives me a way to express my feelings. When playing through a song for the first I hear many errors. Similarly, when I run my program for the first time there are usually many bugs. In both of these cases, it takes patience to go through each measure or line to hear or find the error. I realized when I'm playing the piano I am also practicing my programming skills and vice versa.

Programming and music are not all that different. Music and computers have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. When I got a piano I remember buying all the piano books my mom would allow me to. I immediately rushed home and sat down to learn each song in the books. When I got my first computer in 5th grade I remember googling how much RAM and CPU it had. I wanted to learn as much as I could about this powerful machine. In my sophomore year of high school, I took my first computer science course and that helped me realized I was interested software. The idea of creating something from just lines of codes and logic was fascinating. I enjoyed learning about the beautiful logic behind a game like Tetris. As I got more interested in programming I neglected music and didn't put as much time into it as I used to. I thought practicing the piano was just a waste of time and was only going to get in the way of me becoming a better programmer. As a year passed, and I didn't realize how many piano skills I lost. Over the summer when I got back on the piano I quickly noticed my musical ear was not as strong as it was before. I could no longer hear the difference between a perfect 4th and a perfect 5th, or notice the subtle differences between a D and D flat. This was extremely frustrating because something that came so naturally to me suddenly seemed impossible. I was determined to get my skills to where it used to be. After weeks of practicing, I didn't see much progress. I was extremely discouraged and felt that I would have to accept that I no longer will be able to play as well I used to. While watching hundreds of tutorials online on how to code in Swift I came up with an idea. What if used the knowledge I gained from these tutorials to develop an app that would help train my musical ear. This is exactly what I did. I immediately started sketching a wireframe of my app. After hours of coding I developed an app that would play a random sequence of notes, then the user would have to type in the corresponding notes to what they heard. When I was on the subway or had some extra time I could easily open up the app on my phone and use it to help me strengthen my musical ear. In about 2 months I regained the skills I lost. This experience helped me see the similarities between music and programming I never noticed before. Programming gives me a platform to express my ideas; similarly, playing the piano gives me a way to express my feelings. When playing through a song for the first I hear many errors. Similarly, when I run my program for the first time there are usually many bugs. In both of these cases, it takes patience to go through each measure or line to hear or find the error. I realized when I'm playing the piano I am also practicing my programming skills and vice versa.

Please provide an essay that explains why you chose your intended program of study. What interests you the most about this major? If Undecided, what areas of study do you look forward to studying in college? (50-500 words) I was only 10 years old when my dad got me my first microscope... a device that soon changed my life. The microscope opened up a whole new perspective of the world around me. Every day brought about new discoveries and adventures as I would look for new objects to examine. I could recall my excitement as my dad and I would walk down to a nearby pond and collect samples of pond water, grass, leaves, and virtually anything in sight. My astonishment the first time I saw living cells was something I could never forget. Who knew there were such small living creatures right under our noses? The microscope opened up a whole new world for me, a world beyond our eyes. I was hooked, biological science was the path I knew I wanted to explore. Ever since childhood, I've been introduced to the science of living organisms. My dad is a doctor, a neurologist, and growing up with a doctor as a father only spurred my interest even further. I used to ask all sorts of questions relating all the way from cells to human anatomy to my dad, and he would always take time out of his day to answer my questions. I could always expect my dad to satisfy my curiosity. By middle school, we had started to dissect frogs in my seventh-grade biology class. It was my first experience looking up close with the organs and functions of a living creature. The complexity and interconnectedness of all the systems in the body always fascinated me. The way all the systems interact with one another to keep the body in homeostasis, the evolutionary adaptations of the frogs, and the anatomyphysiology of all the organs and tissues; all of it captivated me. During my sophomore year in high school, I began to work at my dad's clinic. Initially, I was just at the front desk helping people check in along with another receptionist. After a few weeks of working at the front, I began to observe my dad interact with patients and perform different tests and checkups. I eventually got around to even helping perform some physicals to other people (granted I got help from my dad). The experience of working in my dad's clinic helped me decide my career goal, to become a doctor. The science of biology is always advancing and making new discoveries with the help of more advanced technology. The science of biology is the very essence of all living creatures. It's a field of study making us more aware of not only us but the world around us as well. Fast-forward to my senior year of high school, here I am, sitting in my anatomy class studying histology through a microscope, looking at different tissues. A journey which started with the microscope continues seven years later, and I still feel just as excited and curious as the ten years old me. I realize, my journey of biology has only just begun. I know my writing skills are very basic and aren't complex. I hope to get help on word choice and ways to structure my suntences in more complex, and meaningful ways. Feel free to also point out any grammarpunctuation mistakes. I'm open to all suggestions :)

Please provide an essay that explains why you chose your intended program of study. What interests you the most about this major? If Undecided, what areas of study do you look forward to studying in college? (50-500 words) I was only 10 years old when my dad got me my first microscope... a device that soon changed my life. The microscope opened up a whole new perspective of the world around me. Every day brought about new discoveries and adventures as I would look for new objects to examine. I could recall my excitement as my dad and I would walk down to a nearby pond and collect samples of pond water, grass, leaves, and virtually anything in sight. My astonishment the first time I saw living cells was something I could never forget. Who knew there were such small living creatures right under our noses? The microscope opened up a whole new world for me, a world beyond our eyes. I was hooked, biological science was the path I knew I wanted to explore. Ever since childhood, I've been introduced to the science of living organisms. My dad is a doctor, a neurologist, and growing up with a doctor as a father only spurred my interest even further. I used to ask all sorts of questions relating all the way from cells to human anatomy to my dad, and he would always take time out of his day to answer my questions. I could always expect my dad to satisfy my curiosity. By middle school, we had started to dissect frogs in my seventh-grade biology class. It was my first experience looking up close with the organs and functions of a living creature. The complexity and interconnectedness of all the systems in the body always fascinated me. The way all the systems interact with one another to keep the body in homeostasis, the evolutionary adaptations of the frogs, and the anatomy physiology of all the organs and tissues; all of it captivated me. During my sophomore year in high school, I began to work at my dad's clinic. Initially, I was just at the front desk helping people check in along with another receptionist. After a few weeks of working at the front, I began to observe my dad interact with patients and perform different tests and checkups. I eventually got around to even helping perform some physicals to other people (granted I got help from my dad). The experience of working in my dad's clinic helped me decide my career goal, to become a doctor. The science of biology is always advancing and making new discoveries with the help of more advanced technology. The science of biology is the very essence of all living creatures. It's a field of study making us more aware of not only us but the world around us as well. Fast-forward to my senior year of high school, here I am, sitting in my anatomy class studying histology through a microscope, looking at different tissues. A journey which started with the microscope continues seven years later, and I still feel just as excited and curious as the ten years old me. I realize, my journey of biology has only just begun. I know my writing skills are very basic and aren't complex. Furthermore, I hope to get help on word choice and ways to structure my sentences in more complex, and meaningful ways. Feel free to also point out any grammar punctuation mistakes. I'm open to all suggestions :)

Question :- Reasons for choosing your program and UWaterloo. (900 character limit) My response :- What could give me the freedom to think, innovate and create something solely using my imagination and logical reasoning ...software was the answer. A set of well-organized characters shaping into a expedient program fascinated me. As I learned, my interest grew, firelocks, data integrity and cryptography revolved in my head. My ardent desire to build a world free from cybercrime made me read Ian Goldberg's work on cyber security and privacy. Being renowned as the most innovative university in Canada for 26 successive years and having edified people like Peter Masak and David Cheriton, the University of Waterloo has been my dream destination. I wish to develop my skills and learn from erudite professors like Richard Cleve. Its co-op program and startup incubators like Velocity surely act as a push factor that indisputably make me choose the University of Waterloo over all the others.(920 characters) Do give me suggestions to fit in the character limit without loosing the essence of my answer. Should I include my programming knowledge as I do know languages like python and C# (and many more) or leave it for the answer which mentions "State your coding experience"?

Question :- Reasons for choosing your program and Waterloo. (900-character limit) My response :- What could give me the freedom to think, innovate and create something solely using my imagination and logical reasoning ...software was the answer. A set of well-organized characters shaping into an expedient program fascinated me. As I learned, my interest grew, forelocks, data integrity and cryptography revolved in my head. My ardent desire to build a world free from cybercrime made me read Ian Goldberg's work on cybersecurity and privacy. Being renowned as the most innovative university in Canada for 26 successive years and having edified people like Peter Mask and David Cheri ton, the University of Waterloo has been my dream destination. I wish to develop my skills and learn from erudite professors like Richard Clever. Its co-op program and startup incubators like Velocity surely act as a push factor that indisputably make me choose the University of Waterloo over all the others.(920 characters) Do give me suggestions to fit in the character limit without losing the essence of my answer. Should I include my programming knowledge as I do know languages like python and C# (and many more) or leave it for the answer which mentions "State your coding experience"?

Storytelling has always been a passion of mine since I was little. As someone who is naturally quiet, my imagination has always been all over the place, and what better way to note things down than making them into little stories? When I found out about a story writing competition at my school, I was ecstatic. I was so excited to win the prizes that were available that I got to work right away. I was going to prove to my younger self that I was capable of winning something like this, and that the stories I wrote were worth someone's time, not just for display in my own house. This competition was going to be my first opportunity to showcase my passion and talent for writing, and I was going to succeed, because I didn't know if I would be given any more chances like this ever again, so I had to make this one count. At the time, I knew that this was also the first big step that would lead me to become a published author, so I needed this to be perfect. In the weeks that led up to the submission date, I spent so much time working on this short story. I would finish my homework quickly so that I could have more time to write, and when I was finished with it, I read it again and again, just to make sure that it was going to be worthy of an award. After I submitted my work, I waited weeks for the results. The days that led up to it were some of the longest ones I had ever experienced, because I was dying to know what place I had gotten. Finally, when they announced the results in a school assembly, I saw that my name wasn't on the powerpoint slide, I hadn't even made it into the shortlist. Needless to say, I was devastated. I thought that my story was interesting and hooked readers into wanting to know what happened after the cliffhanger. Even the people around me felt sorry that I wasn't being awarded for my work. The dismay that I felt slowly burned into an overwhelming wave of sadness, and I didn't think that I was ever going to write another story ever again. When I got home that day and opened up my laptop to see the opened, unfinished novel I was writing, I immediately closed it. I wasn't going to continue writing if I knew that my experience didn't bring me any success, and I tried to forget about the whole hobby altogether. It took a few days to accept that I wasn't always going to be the best at what I enjoyed, so when I was ready to read my essay submission again, I read it with open eyes and a new perspective. I hadn't read it in weeks, so I wasn't going to remember every single detail that I included. When I read it, I saw how unfamiliar it looked to me. It didn't actually follow the competition's guidelines. This was supposed to be a short story, but instead it seemed like a snippet of a longer one. This wasn't a 500 page novel I should be writing; this was supposed to be a 100 word story that is able to engage the reader in the time needed to read all of it. This, to me, was a massive failure. I had spent years preparing for something like this only to fail. I took this moment to research how to actually write a compelling story in a limited number of words, and I took so many notes that evening that I thought I would be ready to include these important things in the next story that I would need to submit. I kept telling myself the things that I needed to remember, and when I entered my school hall for one of my first real exams, it was an English Language exam with a creative writing component. I knew that I was going to do better than the last time, and I took the time to read what the question wanted me to write about. So, when we got our exam results months afterwards, I felt like I had accomplished a lot more than I did. This was a final grade that I was seeing, not just an intraschool competition. I knew what was going to help me be more accomplished as a writer, and I did just that. When someone grows up in an established environment where they are given so much help and support, it feels as if you will always succeed. But in order to actually achieve success, you have to learn from your mistakes and failures, because it is these things that will help you persevere in the area of life that you really care about.

Storytelling has always been a passion of mine since I was little. As someone who is naturally quiet, my imagination has always been all over the place, and what better way to note things down than making them into little stories? When I found out about a story writing competition at my school, I was ecstatic. I was so excited to win the prizes that were available that I got to work right away. I was going to prove to my younger self that I was capable of winning something like this, and that the stories I wrote were worth someone's time, not just for display in my own house. This competition was going to be my first opportunity to showcase my passion and talent for writing, and I was going to succeed, because I didn't know if I would be given any more chances like this ever again, so I had to make this one count. At the time, I knew that this was also the first big step that would lead me to become a published author, so I needed this to be perfect. In the weeks that led up to the submission date, I spent so much time working on this short story. I would finish my homework quickly so that I could have more time to write, and when I was finished with it, I read it again and again, just to make sure that it was going to be worthy of an award. After I submitted my work, I waited weeks for the results. The days that led up to it were some of the longest ones I had ever experienced, because I was dying to know what place I had gotten. Finally, when they announced the results in a school assembly, I saw that my name wasn't on the PowerPoint slide, I hadn't even made it into the shortlist. Needless to say, I was devastated. I thought that my story was interesting and hooked readers into wanting to know what happened after the cliffhanger. Even the people around me felt sorry that I wasn't being awarded for my work. The dismay that I felt slowly burned into an overwhelming wave of sadness, and I didn't think that I was ever going to write another story ever again. When I got home that day and opened up my laptop to see the opened, unfinished novel I was writing, I immediately closed it. I wasn't going to continue writing if I knew that my experience didn't bring me any success, and I tried to forget about the whole hobby altogether. It took a few days to accept that I wasn't always going to be the best at what I enjoyed, so when I was ready to read my essay submission again, I read it with open eyes and a new perspective. I hadn't read it in weeks, so I wasn't going to remember every single detail that I included. When I read it, I saw how unfamiliar it looked to me. It didn't actually follow the competition's guidelines. This was supposed to be a short story, but instead it seemed like a snippet of a longer one. This wasn't a 500-page novel I should be writing; this was supposed to be a 100-word story that is able to engage the reader in the time needed to read all of it. This, to me, was a massive failure. I had spent years preparing for something like this only to fail. I took this moment to research how to actually write a compelling story in a limited number of words, and I took so many notes that evening that I thought I would be ready to include these important things in the next story that I would need to submit. Furthermore, I kept telling myself the things that I needed to remember, and when I entered my school hall for one of my first real exams, it was an English Language exam with a creative writing component. Furthermore, I knew that I was going to do better than the last time, and I took the time to read what the question wanted me to write about. So, when we got our exam results months afterwards, I felt like I had accomplished a lot more than I did. This was a final grade that I was seeing, not just an inter-school competition. I knew what was going to help me be more accomplished as a writer, and I did just that. When someone grows up in an established environment where they are given so much help and support, it feels as if you will always succeed. But in order to actually achieve success, you have to learn from your mistakes and failures, because it is these things that will help you persevere in the area of life that you really care about.

this is my college application essay. (421 words) the prompt isWhat was the environment in which you were raised? Describe your family, home, neighborhood, or community, and explain how it has shaped you as a person. Please let me know what I should change and if I should add anything else to lengthen it a bit. In the seventeen years of life that I have lived, I have been sculpted into a strong, independent, and humble person. I credit who I am today to the rough environment I was raised in along with the most amazing parents who mentored me. I lived my pre-teen years in a poverty-stricken community. More specifically, a poverty-stricken house where some days my mom and dad would have to sacrifice their meals just so that me and my brother could have food in our stomachs. I didn't understand my situation at the time but now that I reflect on it, my parents strength provided me with my own. I learned how sacrifices need to be made to keep the ones closest to you happy; even at the expense of your own satisfaction. But that wasn't the only thing my parents taught me. My parents taught me the importance of independence. During our hardship they never once thought of quitting, they never begged anyone to give us money, they never relied on anyone other than themselves. It sounds counterproductive since we were in need, however the lesson was more about learning to do things on your own. I learned that not everything in life should be handed over to you for free when you have the power to get it yourself. Eventually, my dad received a promotion at his job which bumped his salary up by quite a bit. We began to reap the fruit of which we had sown. No longer did we have a shortage of food, no longer did we need to worry about how we were going to pay me and my brother's school tuition. The lessons I learned began to show me the importance of staying consistent. I now understand that some things take a while before they change for the better. I am now able to rest easy knowing that I can continue my education and continue the tradition of attending college. One thing I will never do is forget my humble beginnings. If I didn't grow up in the community I was raised in, if I didn't have parents driven to give their kids the best possible future they can, I believe I would not be the person I am today. If I wasn't taught to be independent or strong or humble, I would have ended up like others in my community who are involved in criminal activity. I would not have the motivation to continue my educational career. I would not be Miguel Angel Olvera.

This is my college application essay. (421 words) the prompt what was the environment in which you were raised? Describe your family, home, neighborhood, or community, and explain how it has shaped you as a person. Please let me know what I should change and if I should add anything else to lengthen it a bit. In the seventeen years of life that I have lived, I have been sculpted into a strong, independent, and humble person. I credit who I am today to the rough environment I was raised in along with the most amazing parents who mentored me. I lived my pre-teen years in a poverty-stricken community. More specifically, a poverty-stricken house where some days my mom and dad would have to sacrifice their meals just so that my brother and I could have food in our stomachs. I didn't understand my situation at the time but now that I reflect on it, my parents' strength provided me with my own. I learned how sacrifices need to be made to keep the ones closest to you happy; even at the expense of your own satisfaction. But that wasn't the only thing my parents taught me. My parents taught me the importance of independence. During our hardship they never once thought of quitting, they never begged anyone to give us money, they never relied on anyone other than themselves. It sounds counterproductive since we were in need, however the lesson was more about learning to do things on your own. I learned that not everything in life should be handed over to you for free when you have the power to get it yourself. Eventually, my dad received a promotion at his job which bumped his salary up by quite a bit. We began to reap the fruit of which we had sown. No longer did we have a shortage of food, no longer did we need to worry about how we were going to pay me and my brother's school tuition. The lessons I learned began to show me the importance of staying consistent. I now understand that some things take a while before they change for the better. I am now able to rest easy knowing that I can continue my education and continue the tradition of attending college. One thing I will never do is forget my humble beginnings. If I didn't grow up in the community I was raised in, if I didn't have parents driven to give their kids the best possible future they can, I believe I would not be the person I am today. If I wasn't taught to be independent or strong or humble, I would have ended up like others in my community who are involved in criminal activity. I would not have the motivation to continue my educational career. I would not be Miguel Angel Over.

My Response :- I have toured 12 countries, changed nine schools and lived in eleven houses. I have learned to mingle up with different cultures and make a friend circle that has broken the boundaries of nations. I am like a thirsty lad who runs after knowledge. My love for mathematics is immense, that is why I took a course of "Zhusuan" and Mental arithmetic clearing all the eight levels. My teachers complained that I was a talkative boy, few years passed, and now they praise me for being a good orator. I have learned to change criticism into challenge, problems into opportunities and failures into unforgettable lessons. (105 words)

My Response :- I have toured 12 countries, changed nine schools and lived in eleven houses. I have learned to mingle up with different cultures and make a friend circle that has broken the boundaries of nations. I am like a thirsty lad who runs after knowledge. My love for mathematics is immense, that is why I took a course of "Human" and Mental arithmetic clearing all the eight levels. My teachers complained that I was a talkative boy, few years passed, and now they praise me for being a good orator. I have learned to change criticism into challenge, problems into opportunities and failures into unforgettable lessons. (105 words)

My Response :- During one of my summer breaks, I had enrolled myself for the Youth Leadership Program organized by none other than Toastmasters Club. It was divided into various sessions where we were taught different aspects of improving our speeches. Soon the days passed and there came the table topics session, where we had to deliver an impromptu speech. I was one of youngest amongst all the participants, and being inexperienced believed that they would give us at least a minute or two to prepare. No, I was wrong, they gave us no time to prepare. Adding to my troubles I was the first one to be called to the podium. The fear of making a blunder paralyzed me, there was no time even to calm myself down. "Your topic is importance of positive attitude", I nodded. I controlled my fear and somehow came up with an idea. I decided to speak on my struggle to get merit in grade nine. All this happened as I was walking from my seat to the podium. I was able to deliver a speech good enough to get me the first prize. That was a memorable day, I did realize that confidence can shake off your greatest fears and to a mind that is calm, the whole universe surrenders.( 214 words)

My Response :- During one of my summer breaks, I had enrolled myself for the Youth Leadership Program organized by none other than Toastmasters Club. It was divided into various sessions where we were taught different aspects of improving our speeches. Soon the days passed and there came the table topics session, where we had to deliver an impromptu speech. I was one of youngest amongst all the participants, and being inexperienced believed that they would give us at least a minute or two to prepare. No, I was wrong, they gave us no time to prepare. Adding to my troubles I was the first one to be called to the podium. The fear of making a blunder paralyzed me, there was no time even to calm myself down. "Your topic is importance of positive attitude", I nodded. I controlled my fear and somehow came up with an idea. I decided to speak on my struggle to get merit in grade nine. All this happened as I was walking from my seat to the podium. I was able to deliver a speech good enough to get me the first prize. That was a memorable day, I did realize that confidence can shake off your greatest fears and to a mind that is calm, the whole universe surrenders.(214 words)