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I have to write an essay on my life goals. I'm having trouble with writing a thesis and basically the entire essay. I need 5 paragraphs and so far I only got 3. Heres what I got so far... Everyone seems to ask themselves what do they really want from their life? What are we all really striving for? While people should ask themselves what can they do to help others? When a person helps other they meet their physical and emotion need. Helping others also brings compassion and compassion equals a better society. From a person coming from a rich family they have more opportunities open to them to achieve what they want. While a person from a poor family doesn't have the "easy life" compared to the person from the rich family. A person coming from a poor family has to go through more obstacles, and struggles to achieve what they want. Since my mom is in the health field during my childhood she would tend to take me with her to her work, and random clinches, hospitals, and offices. Even though I didn't really do anything great or big, but it made me want to go into the health field. Being a hospital volunteer really made me feel sympathy for the people who were sick and ill, and that made me want to help others. Every time I do something I get a feeling accomplishment from helping others. After high school I hope to continue my education hopefully at Yale University.Yale has always been my dream school since I was a kid. I believe that the environment there will benefit me and help me towards my career goal which would then help me achieve my physical and emotional needs. Can anyone help me?Thank,Elizabeth

I have to write an essay on my life goals. I'm having trouble with writing a thesis and basically the entire essay. Furthermore, I need 5 paragraphs and so far I only got 3. Here's what I got so far... Everyone seems to ask themselves what do they really want from their life? What are we all really striving for? While people should ask themselves what can they do to help others? When a person helps other they meet their physical and emotion need. Helping others also brings compassion and compassion equals a better society. From a person coming from a rich family they have more opportunities open to them to achieve what they want. While a person from a poor family doesn't have the "easy life" compared to the person from the rich family. A person coming from a poor family has to go through more obstacles, and struggles to achieve what they want. Since my mom is in the health field during my childhood she would tend to take me with her to her work, and random clinches, hospitals, and offices. Even though I didn't really do anything great or big, but it made me want to go into the health field. Being a hospital volunteer really made me feel sympathy for the people who were sick and ill, and that made me want to help others. Every time I do something I get a feeling accomplishment from helping others. After high school I hope to continue my education hopefully at Yale University. Yale has always been my dream school since I was a kid. I believe that the environment there will benefit me and help me towards my career goal which would then help me achieve my physical and emotional needs. Can anyone help me?Thanks, Elizabeth

ThanksMari During my undergraduate education, my laboratory courses prepared me for taking different internships in Microbiology. One of the internships was at the Health Metropolitan Direction, Food Laboratory, Quito Ecuador. My work at this laboratory was limited to culture techniques such as: determination of microbial quality indicators (Aerobic Plate Count, Coliforms, and Escherichia coli (generic), Yeast and Mold, Coagulase positive Staphylococci) and the isolation of Salmonella spp and Bacillus cereus. After graduating with a BS degree in Clinical and Applied Microbiology in Ecuador, I moved to US with clear goals such as: becoming involved in food microbiology research and acquire skills and knowledge that allow me to collaborate with the improvement of the food safety system in my country. Over the past two years, I have been working for the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets in the position of Chemist Aide. My experience at this lab has been very rewarding. I have collaborated in different research programs at this lab such as: Food Emergency Response Network (FERN), PulseNet, network sponsored by CDC and Microbiological Data Program (MDP). The Food Laboratory as a member of the FERN, participate in the validation of molecular assays and culture techniques for the rapid detection of foodborne pathogens. Collaborating with this project allow me to get experience with different laboratory techniques such : Real Time PCR, Conventional PCR for detecting E.coli O157 and Shigella spp., Immunoassays for detecting Clostridium botulinum toxin and Staphilococcical enterotoxin A and B. I have also been involved in the Quality Assurance Unit controlling the performance of the process in the Microbiological Data Program. Our lab participate in the a study on the ecology and epidemiology of Listeria monocytogenes in retail store environments, collaborating with this study allow me to be proficient in subtyping techniques such as: ribotyping and PFGE. I am currently PFGE certified with allow me to upload PFGE patterns of Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella and E.coli O157:H7 to the PulseNet databases, which are an important source for molecular surveillance of foodborne pathogens and outbreaks investigation. The experience, the courses that I hope to earn at Minnesota U S public health will enable me to make a lasting contribution to my laboratory in the different areas that I work. Food surveillance is the essence of the lab those courses are going to allow to contribute with better strategies that improve the assessment of food safety hazards in my state. The experience that I have got in my lab in invaluable, however financially I can not afford my courses at School of Public Health Institute University of Minnesota, it would be very rewarding to be able to access to this courses and get knowledge skills that would be a meaningful for my lab.

Thanks Mari During my undergraduate education, my laboratory courses prepared me for taking different internships in Microbiology. One of the internships was at the Health Metropolitan Direction, Food Laboratory, Quito Ecuador. My work at this laboratory was limited to culture techniques such as: determination of microbial quality indicators (Aerobic Plate Count, Coliforms, and Escherichia coli (generic), Yeast and Mold, Coagulate positive Staphylococci) and the isolation of Salmonella SPP and Bacillus cars. After graduating with a BS degree in Clinical and Applied Microbiology in Ecuador, I moved to US with clear goals such as: becoming involved in food microbiology research and acquire skills and knowledge that allow me to collaborate with the improvement of the food safety system in my country. Over the past two years, I have been working for the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets in the position of Chemist Aide. My experience at this lab has been very rewarding. I have collaborated in different research programs at this lab such as: Food Emergency Response Network (FERN), Usenet, network sponsored by CDC and Microbiological Data Program (MDP). The Food Laboratory as a member of the FERN, participate in the validation of molecular assays and culture techniques for the rapid detection of foodborne pathogens. Collaborating with this project allow me to get experience with different laboratory techniques such : Real Time PCR, Conventional PCR for detecting E.cold O157 and Shell SPP., Immunoassays for detecting Clostridium botulinum toxin and Staphylococcal enterotoxin A and B. I have also been involved in the Quality Assurance Unit controlling the performance of the process in the Microbiological Data Program. Our lab participate in the study on the ecology and epidemiology of Listeria monocytogenes in retail store environments, collaborating with this study allow me to be proficient in subtyping techniques such as: rioting and PAGE. I am currently PAGE certified with allow me to upload PAGE patterns of Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella and E.cold O157:H₇ to the Usenet databases, which are an important source for molecular surveillance of foodborne pathogens and outbreaks investigation. The experience, the courses that I hope to earn at Minnesota U S public health will enable me to make a lasting contribution to my laboratory in the different areas that I work. Food surveillance is the essence of the lab those courses are going to allow to contribute with better strategies that improve the assessment of food safety hazards in my state. The experience that I have got in my lab in invaluable, however financially I can not afford my courses at School of Public Health Institute University of Minnesota, it would be very rewarding to be able to access to these courses and get knowledge skills that would be a meaningful for my lab.

A revised versionAgain， thanks a lot: ) What are the unique qualities of Northwestern University, and of the specific undergraduate school to which you are applying, that make you want to attend Northwestern? In what ways do you hope to take advantage of the qualities you have identified? --the harmony state I aspire to attain Compared with other famous universities in the US, Northwestern University puts more emphasizes on the integrity of the modern elites. In China, many universities pay less attention to social subjects like history and psychology for Science major students. What they care most is about publishing papers on <<Nature>> and training job-hunters. But I believe that a college student should learn to become a person with responsibility and good sense before craving for success. Thus the "balanced" education provided by Northwestern University becomes vital in shaping one's mind and thinking pattern. From high school, I began to feel extremely hungry for knowledge in social science. From Jacques Derrida's decomposition to the capital market dynamics, I indulged in the world parallel to the grandiose structure of natural science. Even towards the days of National College Entrance Exam, I still spent hours on my favorite topics which have no relation to test scores. After class, when others were still striving in maths problems, I used to sit under the flourishing baian tree alongside the road to experience the pleasure of critical thinking myself.　But I found myself gradually losing this kind of impulse submerging in the atmosphere of studying for GPA in the university. Thus, Northwestern University's extensive courses and the environment of humane flavor exactly support my indulgence in unrestrained thinking which will take the advantage to soar over the chasm among different subjects. ---the place I want to chase the dream of my life. Under my father's influence, an international manager with a finance degree, I have developed a strong interest in this area. When I was young, my father inspired me to think about the economic phenomena happening around. Those daily events which I used to take for granted shocked me by its "invisible" but orderly operation mechanics. After reading classical works in economics, I was began to construct my own theory to explain the world history and politics. But what attracts me most is the chaotic behaviors in the adventurous financial world. Regardless of the chances of making money in Wall Street, I'm determined to find out the truth of currency exchange trading. Also, I felt great responsibility to devote to constructing the financial order of my country. Growing up in the time of peace, most of the young generations haven't realized the potential disaster behind the prosperous lives. It is widely believed that "God's hand is clearly visible in the order of mathematics." In order to explore the financial laws in Kellogg School of Management, I'd like to major in mathematics in Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences first. --the activity I'd like to join in most Besides the atmosphere of study, I was greatly fascinated by the exhilarating campus life in Northwestern University, especially dancing. I'm a diehard enthusiast of rock band and hip-hop dancing and most of my leisure time in junior high was spent in a noisy band room imitating "popping" moves from my peers. Thus Dance Marathon struck me as a crazy idea which I can't wait to try out right now. Also, I have a strong passion for public services and charity causes. From an early stage, I have become an active volunteer in the community. My friends and I used to sell festival decorations on Christmas Eve to raise money for the orphan nearby. And I was one of the sponsors to collect donations for the Tsunami in the south Pacific in high school. Therefore I hope to make my own contribution to coordinate the　donation festival which could be designed more attracting.

A revised versionAgain， thanks a lot:) What are the unique qualities of Northwestern University, and of the specific undergraduate school to which you are applying, that make you want to attend Northwestern? In what ways do you hope to take advantage of the qualities you have identified? --the harmony state I aspire to attain Compared with other famous universities in the US, Northwestern University puts more emphasizes on the integrity of the modern elites. In China, many universities pay less attention to social subjects like history and psychology for Science major students. What they care most is about publishing papers on Lt;Lt;Nature;Sgt; and training job-hunters. But I believe that a college student should learn to become a person with responsibility and good sense before craving for success. Thus, the "balanced" education provided by Northwestern University becomes vital in shaping one's mind and thinking pattern. From high school, I began to feel starving for knowledge in social science. From Jacques Derrida's decomposition to the capital market dynamics, I indulged in the world parallel to the grandiose structure of natural science. Even towards the days of National College Entrance Exam, I still spent hours on my favorite topics which have no relation to test scores. After class, when others were still striving in math problems, I used to sit under the flourishing Brian tree alongside the road to experience the pleasure of critical thinking myself.　But I found myself gradually losing this kind of impulse submerging in the atmosphere of studying for GPA in the university. Thus, Northwestern University's extensive courses and the environment of humane flavor exactly support my indulgence in unrestrained thinking which will take the advantage to soar over the chasm among different subjects. ---the place I want to chase the dream of my life. Under my father's influence, an international manager with a finance degree, I have developed a strong interest in this area. When I was young, my father inspired me to think about the economic phenomena happening around. Those daily events which I used to take for granted shocked me by its "invisible" but orderly operation mechanics. After reading classical works in economics, I was begun to construct my own theory to explain the world history and politics. But what attracts me most is the chaotic behaviors in the adventurous financial world. Regardless of the chances of making money in Wall Street, I'm determined to find out the truth of currency exchange trading. Also, I felt great responsibility to devote to constructing the financial order of my country. Growing up in the time of peace, most of the young generations haven't realized the potential disaster behind the prosperous lives. It is widely believed that "God's hand is clearly visible in the order of mathematics." In order to explore the financial laws in Kellogg School of Management, I'd like to major in mathematics in Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences first. --the activity I'd like to join in most Besides the atmosphere of study, I was greatly fascinated by the exhilarating campus life in Northwestern University, especially dancing. I'm a diehard enthusiast of rock band and hip-hop dancing and most of my leisure time in junior high was spent in a noisy band room imitating "popping" moves from my peers. Thus Dance Marathon struck me as a crazy idea which I can't wait to try out right now. Also, I have a strong passion for public services and charity causes. From an early stage, I have become an active volunteer in the community. My friends and I used to sell festival decorations on Christmas Eve to raise money for the orphan nearby. And I was one of the sponsors to collect donations for the Tsunami in the south Pacific in high school. Therefore, I hope to make my own contribution to coordinate the　donation festival which could be designed more attracting.

Author George Elliot once said "the strongest principle of growth lies in human choice", and these words have helped me to overcome many challenges when stand between two ways of an important decision which is very crucial to my whole life. Choosing my High School was my biggest challenge for a young man with many ambitions. Making wrong decision can lead my life to a wrong road. My parents gave me some pieces of advice about schools for the gifted; however, most of my friends intent to apply for local schools with less effort. And this period left me with stress when I had to give my own decision. Finally, it came as no surprise that I decided to applied for a local school to smooth my life with stableness and less competition. Dealing with such problem was actually difficult, especially to a young man without much experienced but capricious hobbies. I would be a dishonest man if I said that I have never wished I could turn the clock back to change this decision. However, I am not sure that something better would happen if I had made up my mind in a different way but had put no effort to maintain my high school level scores at a competitive environment in a school for the gifted. And I also realized that all decisions, whether they are suitableright or not, will give us some valuable lessons. Difficulties come from two opinions may be obstacles on my way to the bright destination and sometimes make us become mature and confident to conquer hardships because learning from our mistakes and taking lessons that teach us in stride will make us better people in the long run. Two opinions, as two different ways on my life's itinerary, may be difficult to choose, but they are also potential opportunities for us to grow into strong men and ready for the next step in our lives.

Author George Elliot once said "the strongest principle of growth lies in human choice", and these words have helped me to overcome many challenges when stand between two ways of an important decision which is very crucial to my whole life. Choosing my High School was my biggest challenge for a young man with many ambitions. Making wrong decision can lead my life to a wrong road. My parents gave me some pieces of advice about schools for the gifted; however, most of my friends intent to apply for local schools with less effort. And this period left me with stress when I had to give my own decision. Finally, it came as no surprise that I decided to applied for a local school to smooth my life with staleness and less competition. Dealing with such problem was actually difficult, especially to a young man without much experienced but capricious hobbies. I would be a dishonest man if I said that I have never wished I could turn the clock back to change this decision. However, I am not sure that something better would happen if I had made up my mind differently but had put no effort to maintain my high school level scores at a competitive environment in a school for the gifted. And I also realized that all decisions, whether they are suitable right or not, will give us some valuable lessons. Difficulties come from two opinions may be obstacles on my way to the bright destination and sometimes make us become mature and confident to conquer hardships because learning from our mistakes and taking lessons that teach us in stride will make us better people in the long run. Two opinions, as two different ways on my life's itinerary, may be difficult to choose, but they are also potential opportunities for us to grow into strong men and ready for the next step in our lives.

I have many goals in my professional career. My main goal is to be a manufacturing engineer with a six sigma black belt. I believe that I have the skills and experience to achieve this, but I believe that experience and skills are nothing without motivation and passion. I been in manufacturing since I was a child I grew up in Peru, and from an early age I had a natural curiosity about how thinks are made. My family's financial situation brought me to get my first job in manufacturing. ...

I have many goals in my professional career. My main goal is to be a manufacturing engineer with a six sigma black belt. I believe that I have the skills and experience to achieve this, but I believe that experience and skills are nothing without motivation and passion. I have been in manufacturing since I was a child I grew up in Peru, and from an early age I had a natural curiosity about how thinks are made. My family's financial situation brought me to get my first job in manufacturing. ...

- - - - -The most recent personal accomplishment that has gave me considerable satisfaction is being able to skateboard. I always admire those people being able to skate. They all seem so dedicated to what they do even though, if they fail at landing a trick they keep on trying. Some days after school I would watch some of my friends skate. I told my friend Marcos, I have always wanted to learn how to skate since the 7th grade. He told me to go buy a skateboard and then he would teach me how to skateboard. The following week I got a skateboard, and slowly began to learn how to skate. At first I couldn't keep balance, and tend to fall down a lot. As soon as I got my balance down Marcos, taught me how to ride the skateboard step by step then, I finally got it down. Even though, I can't do any tricks with my skateboard, but if I keep on trying I know I'll do some eventually. Through all the scrapes and bruises I got learning how to skate it was worth it because it was something I been wanting to do for a while, and it brought me and my friends close to one another.

- - - - -The most recent personal accomplishment that has given me considerable satisfaction is being able to skateboard. I always admire those people being able to skate. They all seem so dedicated to what they do even though, if they fail at landing a trick they keep on trying. Some days after school I would watch some of my friends skate. I told my friend Marcos, I have always wanted to learn how to skate since the 7th grade. He told me to go buy a skateboard, and then he would teach me how to skateboard. The following week I got a skateboard, and slowly began to learn how to skate. At first, I couldn't keep balance, and tend to fall down a lot. As soon as I got my balance down Marcos, taught me how to ride the skateboard step by step then, I finally got it down. Even though, I can't do any tricks with my skateboard, but if I keep on trying I know I'll do some eventually. Through all the scrapes and bruises I got learning how to skate it was worth it because it was something I have been wanting to do for a while, and it brought me and my friends close to one another.

In 2006, I went to Vancouver, one of the cities in Canada, for an extended English study. I stayed there for almost 9 months, experiencing a lot of new things. Vancouver is well-known as a multicultural society. In other words, you will see many people from different cultural backgrounds there. While staying in Vancouver, I had faced cultural differences on occasion, which sometimes were too huge from my home culture to overcome them. I will write about intercultural experiences that I had in Vancouver. First of all, one thing that surprised me was 'open culture' (relatively, compare to my home culture). Since my thoughts and views were so much influenced by the norms of Confucianism-a fundamental basis of Korean culture, it took me some time to accept homosexual couples frequently seen on streets or buses without prejudice. It was a total shock to hear from my friend , saying "I saw one of my male teachers kissing with a guy on the corner of street." 'Homosexuality' is not warmly welcomed in my country. Rather, people in my home culture abhor gays or lesbians and do not simply accept them as social members. The concept of homosexuality has traditionally been strictly forbidden, being thought as a taboo in conservative society of mine. That is why many gays in my country are afraid of coming out of the shell. Unlike my culture, Canadians are more generous in embracing them as a member of their community. Encountering homosexual couples too often outside was shocking to me at first, but I get accustomed to seeing those people without strong dislike and started seeing them as different beings, not strange or abnormal. Second astonishing experience was the way of greeting. As mentioned before, Vancouver has a variety of ethnic groups, so I got many chances to meet different people from various countries. When I saw Asian friends from Japan or China, we just waved each other for greeting. However, things were very different when I met some friends from European or South America countries. They gave me a hug, and even kissed on my cheeks as a sign of greeting. It was very uncomfortable and awkward for me first, especially when male friend greeted me with that way. In my culture, we do not usually hug each other, not mention to kiss except when we see our beloved one like boyfriend or girlfriend. Yet, this custom naturally grew on me as time passed, and I started to enjoy this because it gave me a good opportunity to hug a guy from Brazil who I liked. There is an old saying 'Do in Rome as the Romans do' which indicates the importance of not sticking to only one's home culture when visiting another country. Otherwise, what would be left is only home-sickness or even depression. I tried my best to adjust to a new culture and be flexible while staying in Vancouver. I knew that the old concepts that I brought from my home would interfere to adapting to a new circumstance. Despite my all efforts, there were some remaining conflicts between my cultural view verses the norms in the new culture as we have seen above. Fortunately, two problems derived from cross cultural differences were gradually solved as I got accustomed to a new culture as time went by. The important things in overcoming cultural differences are one's willingness and time. If I had not tried hard to adapt to the new culture, the experience I had there would have been frustrating with having much more difficult time. Thus, we do not have to be overwhelmed by cross-cultural difference. Time will heal everything as long as one is ready to accept the distinctive differences with open-mind.

In 2006, I went to Vancouver, one of the cities in Canada, for an extended English study. I stayed there for almost 9 months, experiencing a lot of new things. Vancouver is well-known as a multicultural society. In other words, you will see many people from different cultural backgrounds there. While staying in Vancouver, I had faced cultural differences on occasion, which sometimes were too huge from my home culture to overcome them. I will write about intercultural experiences that I had in Vancouver. First, one thing that surprised me was 'open culture' (relatively, compare to my home culture). Since my thoughts and views were so much influenced by the norms of Confucianism-a fundamental basis of Korean culture, it took me some time to accept homosexual couples frequently seen on streets or buses without prejudice. It was a total shock to hear from my friend, saying "I saw one of my male teachers kissing with a guy on the corner of street." 'Homosexuality' is not warmly welcomed in my country. Rather, people in my home culture abhor gays or lesbians and do not simply accept them as social members. The concept of homosexuality has traditionally been strictly forbidden, being thought as a taboo in conservative society of mine. That is why many gays in my country are afraid of coming out of the shell. Unlike my culture, Canadians are more generous in embracing them as a member of their community. Encountering homosexual couples too often outside was shocking to me at first, but I get accustomed to seeing those people without strong dislike and started seeing them as different beings, not strange or abnormal. Second astonishing experience was the way of greeting. As mentioned before, Vancouver has a variety of ethnic groups, so I got many chances to meet different people from various countries. When I saw Asian friends from Japan or China, we just waved each other for greeting. However, things were very different when I met some friends from European or South America countries. They gave me a hug, and even kissed on my cheeks as a sign of greeting. It was very uncomfortable and awkward for me first, especially when male friend greeted me with that way. In my culture, we do not usually hug each other, not mention to kiss except when we see our beloved one like boyfriend or girlfriend. Yet, this custom naturally grew on me as time passed, and I started to enjoy this because it gave me a good opportunity to hug a guy from Brazil who I liked. There is an old saying 'Do in Rome as the Romans do' which indicates the importance of not sticking to only one's home culture when visiting another country. Otherwise, what would be left is only home-sickness or even depression. I tried my best to adjust to a new culture and be flexible while staying in Vancouver. I knew that the old concepts that I brought from my home would interfere to adapting to a new circumstance. Despite my all efforts, there were some remaining conflicts between my cultural view verses the norms in the new culture as we have seen above. Fortunately, two problems derived from cross-cultural differences were gradually solved as I got accustomed to a new culture as time went by. The important things in overcoming cultural differences are one's willingness and time. If I had not tried hard to adapt to the new culture, the experience I had there would have been frustrating with having much more difficult time. Thus, we do not have to be overwhelmed by cross-cultural difference. Time will heal everything as long as one is ready to accept the distinctive differences with open-mind.

My senior year of high school I attended vocational school at Oakland Technical Center with a focus in Visual Communication. This is where I made the first piece of artwork I have ever fallen in love with, that made my heart throb. A poster for the North American International Auto Show. I can still remember the feeling that came over me when I looked at it, the warm and fuzzy glow inside when you've just completed something great. It is this feeling that drives me every time I design a piece of artwork. To this day, that poster hangs in the living room of my apartment, serving as motivation. In brief, the majority of my schooling has been devoted to design, in one form or another. Since 2005 I have attended Schoolcraft College, majoring in graphic design, with a focus in publishing. From there I have learned how to improve my craft, manage my time, and work towards the needs of clients. I believe attending SCAD will only heighten these skills. I am thirsty for more knowledge about the field of advertising and working with clientele, and I'm positive a degree in Advertising Design is the best that can be offered. I'm eager to experience the rich culture, and vast learning setting at SCAD. After my visit to the campus and facilities at SCAD, my desire to attend this school and its absorb its environment has become even stronger. It is the perfect environment to take my passion for graphics arts to the next level, and complete my career goals. I have many ambitions I plan to fulfill, both academically and professionally. During the first semester of my final year attending Schoolcraft, I was assigned a thematic series project for my final in Photoshop 2 class. About this time I also stumbled across the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty, which inspired me to make it the focus for that very final project. During the initial brainstorming for this project, all I could ask myself was "what is beautiful?" I thought about happiness. I thought about the colors of the leaves on the trees in the park behind my apartment when autumn arrives. And then, I thought about what the media says is beautiful, and how we pride ourselves on trying to be what is marketed and advertised to us as "beautiful." And then it hit me... how many others like me feel that everyday, ordinary beauty is often overlooked? Professionals speak about moments in time that they consider defining moments of their career. For me, this project was the start of what I believe to be a series of defining moments in my life. Since that day, I have made it a personal and professional goal of mine to completely make over the face of beauty in advertising (no pun intended). I want to look at billboards and magazines and see curves, fresh faces, and women of every color, shape, and size. I believe that attending SCAD this fall will provide me the knowledge I need to successfully execute this rather large dream of mine. I want to take the experiences I gain in Savannah with me, and apply these lessons to my everyday life, and one day to a promising career. I believe the experiences at Savannah College of Art and Design will be an outstanding finish to my college career, as well as the best resource to prepare me for a promising future in the field of advertising. I am eager to expand my knowledge for the industry, and accelerate my success in visual communication. I want to attend Savannah because I know the beautiful cityscapes and rich social culture will constantly rekindle my passion for design, and inspire me to take my pieces to the next level.

My senior year of high school I attended vocational school at Oakland Technical Center with a focus in Visual Communication. This is where I made the first piece of artwork I have ever fallen in love with, that made my heart throb. A poster for the North American International Auto Show. I can still remember the feeling that came over me when I looked at it, the warm and fuzzy glow inside when you've just completed something great. It is this feeling that drives me every time I design a piece of artwork. To this day, that poster hangs in the living room of my apartment, serving as motivation. In brief, the majority of my schooling has been devoted to design, in one form or another. Since 2005 I have attended School craft College, majoring in graphic design, with a focus in publishing. From there I have learned how to improve my craft, manage my time, and work towards the needs of clients. I believe attending SCAD will only heighten these skills. I am thirsty for more knowledge about the field of advertising and working with clientele, and I'm positive a degree in Advertising Design is the best that can be offered. Furthermore, I'm eager to experience the rich culture, and vast learning setting at SCAD. After my visit to the campus and facilities at SCAD, my desire to attend this school and its absorb its environment has become even stronger. It is the perfect environment to take my passion for graphics arts to the next level, and complete my career goals. I have many ambitions I plan to fulfill, both academically and professionally. During the first semester of my final year attending School craft, I was assigned a thematic series project for my final in Photoshop 2 class. About this time I also stumbled across the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty, which inspired me to make it the focus for that very final project. During the initial brainstorming for this project, all I could ask myself was "what is beautiful?" I thought about happiness. I thought about the colors of the leaves on the trees in the park behind my apartment when autumn arrives. And then, I thought about what the media says is beautiful, and how we pride ourselves on trying to be what is marketed and advertised to us as "beautiful." And then it hit me... how many others like me feel that every day, ordinary beauty is often overlooked? Professionals speak about moments in time that they consider defining moments of their career. For me, this project was the start of what I believe to be a series of defining moments in my life. Since that day, I have made it a personal and professional goal of mine to completely make over the face of beauty in advertising (no pun intended). I want to look at billboards and magazines and see curves, fresh faces, and women of every color, shape, and size. I believe that attending SCAD this fall will provide me the knowledge I need to successfully execute this rather large dream of mine. Furthermore, I want to take the experiences I gain in Savannah with me, and apply these lessons to my everyday life, and one day to a promising career. Furthermore, I believe the experiences at Savannah College of Art and Design will be an outstanding finish to my college career, as well as the best resource to prepare me for a promising future in the field of advertising. Furthermore, I am eager to expand my knowledge for the industry, and accelerate my success in visual communication. Furthermore, I want to attend Savannah because I know the beautiful cityscapes and rich social culture will constantly rekindle my passion for design, and inspire me to take my pieces to the next level.

My goal is to attain a rewarding career in the field of physical therapy. I love to help people and I love to learn more things about the body. In order to be a physical therapist I have to have goals that would lead me to this career.

My goal is to attain a rewarding career in the field of physical therapy. I love to help people and I love to learn more things about the body. In order to be a physical therapist I have to have goals that would lead me to this career.

Have you ever thought a good friendship is too hard to make? In my past, I used to think I would never have any problems with my friends until I came to US. Evaluating myself, I believe that I'm not a mean friend; otherwise, I'm always willing to help friends who are in trouble. As an international student, I really need friends to help each other in case we meet with difficulties. However, after 1 year in America, I changed my mind. I met two kinds of friends, and both of them gave me an experience: To make friends with somebody is easy, but it's too hard to get close to them. The experience made me grow up and be more independent than I thought I could be. I remembered the day I had come to US for studying is September 14, 2006. I didn't depart alone. I met many Vietnamese students who also studied at Highline on the same fight. It made me feel happier and relieved my mind. I would have friends in the new environment. We lived in the dormitory, helped new comers like me to adapt in new life because they used to be exchange students, and had dinner together. I thought I was lucky at the beginning of my studying. They became my magnetic needle and I depended much on them. For example, when I opened a bank account, I had to ask them go with me; or I registered for the same class with them although we are not the same major...Three months later, all of us moved out. I thought that living with friends was not easy because everybody has each personality. So I carefully chose the friends whom I was close to. We were 7 people living in a 4- bedroom house. At the first time, we were similar to close- knit family. Day by day we had some small arguments. As the oldest person, I used to make concessions to them. I thought the problems would be solved soon. In contrast, the more I try to heal all sorrows, the more they opposed me. They usually spoke against me behind my back, irritated and play unfair with me. I felt to be isolated in the house and be very upset at that time. Now everything I did by myself. I bought food, went shopping, and came to school alone. They didn't talk to me anymore... At school, I had a few new friends who just came to Highline in winter 2007. After knowing my problems, they encouraged and helped me a lot. When I moved out to live with host family, the old friends seemed to be happy. They didn't help me although they are boys and I'm a girl. They stood and looked at me while I was carrying the heavy luggage. Fortunately, the new friends came late but they helped me to move my luggage and stuff. They also assisted me to arrange stuff in my new room. Now they are still my best friends. I want to send to them a thank you message. When I look back on my last year, I realized that I grew up after this experience." A true friend will support you even if the whole world opposes you" ( Friendship- Mohatta). In my opinion, I couldn't agree with this statement any more. Friendship will be need time to determine who is a good friend or a bad friend. I also become independent. I don't need to live with someone who takes care of me. Now I feel happier. I passed my big problem: culture shock because of bad friends. I can concentrate on my study a lot. Doing something by myself makes me confident and self control. That is also the reason why my parent allowed me to study abroad. They want me become an independent girl. Although I felt hurt with this experience, I'm glad that now I'm a mature woman. I can do what I need and don't care much other people's thought. Just do the things I think are right bravely. "We are all travelers in the wilderness of the world, and the best that we can find in our travels is an honest friend", Robert Louis Stevenson. Friends will be a part of our life and be careful to choose! This is the strong point of view I learned from my experience

Have you ever thought a good friendship is too hard to make? In my past, I used to think I would never have any problems with my friends until I came to US. Evaluating myself, I believe that I'm not a mean friend; otherwise, I'm always willing to help friends who are in trouble. As an international student, I really need friends to help each other in case we meet with difficulties. However, after 1 year in America, I changed my mind. I met two kinds of friends, and both of them gave me an experience: To make friends with somebody is easy, but it's too hard to get close to them. The experience made me grow up and be more independent than I thought I could be. I remembered the day I had come to US for studying is September 14, 2006. I didn't depart alone. Furthermore, I met many Vietnamese students who also studied at High line on the same fight. It made me feel happier and relieved my mind. I would have friends in the new environment. We lived in the dormitory, helped newcomers like me to adapt in new life because they used to be exchange students, and had dinner together. I thought I was lucky at the beginning of my studying. They became my magnetic needle and I depended much on them. For example, when I opened a bank account, I had to ask them go with me; or I registered for the same class with them, although we are not the same major... Three months later, all of us moved out. I thought that living with friends was not easy because everybody has each personality. So I carefully chose the friends whom I was close to. We were 7 people living in a 4- bedroom house. At the first time, we were similar to close-knit family. Day by day we had some small arguments. As the oldest person, I used to make concessions to them. I thought the problems would be solved soon. In contrast, the more I try to heal all sorrows, the more they opposed me. They usually spoke against me behind my back, irritated and play unfair with me. I felt to be isolated in the house and be very upset at that time. Now everything I did by myself. I bought food, went shopping, and came to school alone. They didn't talk to me anymore... At school, I had a few new friends who just came to High line in winter 2007. After knowing my problems, they encouraged and helped me a lot. When I moved out to live with host family, the old friends seemed to be happy. They didn't help me, although they are boys, and I'm a girl. They stood and looked at me while I was carrying the heavy luggage. Fortunately, the new friends came late, but they helped me to move my luggage and stuff. They also assisted me to arrange stuff in my new room. Now they are still my best friends. I want to send to them a thank-you message. When I look back on my last year, I realized that I grew up after this experience." A true friend will support you even if the whole world opposes you" (Friendship- Mahatma). In my opinion, I couldn't agree with this statement anymore. Friendship will be need time to determine who is a good friend or a bad friend. I also become independent. I don't need to live with someone who takes care of me. Now I feel happier. I passed my big problem: culture shock because of bad friends. I can concentrate on my study a lot. Doing something by myself makes me confident and self-control. That is also the reason why my parent allowed me to study abroad. They want me become an independent girl. Although I felt hurt with this experience, I'm glad that now I'm a mature woman. I can do what I need and don't care much other people's thought. Just do the things I think are right bravely. "We are all travelers in the wilderness of the world, and the best that we can find in our travels is an honest friend", Robert Louis Stevenson. Friends will be a part of our life and be careful to choose! This is the strong point of view I learned from my experience

I have been considered "successful" all through my academic life for my excellent performance in scholastic tests and extracurricular activities. And now, I'm expected to continue to excel in Tsinghua University and to study abroad after graduation. But one day, I suddenly realized that I had strived to become "perfect" only in others' eyes. Intoxicated in countless praise, I had been following the social expectation for all my life. Deeply, I began to ask myself whether to continue to follow the "well-designed" road or not. After thorough analysis, the idea to transfer to MIT popped out. Not wanting simply to simulate others, I began to rebel the "expected pattern" of my life... "Are you crazy?" most of my friends responded instantaneously when I told them that I'm applying for transfer to MIT. They warned me that I was risking my education in Tsinghua University for there was a danger that I might fail on both sides with the heavy burden of tests. "Don't be so impatient, young man. You may enjoy a better chance to be admitted by MIT after the best fundamental education in the world here." I got almost the same answer from respected professors. In my country, most people believe that students should study abroad only after college. But my aim is to become a global talent and I need to widen my view to build up my value system critical and open. Moreover, I found MIT's courses more flexible, which may release my pent up interest under the constant guidance here in China. The reasons above were not clichés which were commonly heard around. I arrived at my conclusion only after discussing with people who really know something about the difference between Chinese and American college education. To seek support for my idea, I first went to ask my uncle Jesse, who graduated from MIT after college in China. He had deep personal understanding about my transfer decision and warned me that most Chinese may form their relatively narrow criteria during college and consequently will have greater difficulties to adapt to the global trend. Also through the talk with many of my senior alumni doing research in US, I learnt that they often found themselves fall behind foreign students who had grown up in an education system which encourages critical thinking and multiplicity. As my Native American professor described, counselors here still carefully fed the knowledge to the "babies in the cradles", which greatly hampers the full development of independent personality Instead, I discovered that my opponents' remark should be reexamined carefully. Intimidated by the seemingly insurmountable transfer process, most freshmen concluded that chances may be better after graduation as told. And the professors were just talking about the usual "safe" road, which most pioneers traveled by. Out of instinct, they were simply used to the present modes and were reluctant to examine it carefully. Because of this conflict, I have become more critical in judging different opinions. I have learned to analyze information objectively and to accept opinions and viewpoints contrary to my own. Before, I was too afraid to stand out to defend for myself against the "authority" and only carefully followed the "well-designed" academic road. Intoxicated in countless praise, I had strived to become "perfect" for all my life only in others' eyes. Not wanting simply to continue to simulate others, I began to think out the "expected pattern" by myself. Furthermore, unlike Mathematics, reality refuses certain formulae to succeed. There exits no absolute right answer and life is not all about success, but the taste of various kinds of chocolate. Defeat won't destroy me but the withdrawal out of fear will make me regret.

I have been considered "successful" all through my academic life for my excellent performance in scholastic tests and extracurricular activities. And now, I'm expected to continue to excel in Tsinghua University and to study abroad after graduation. But one day, I suddenly realized that I had strived to become "perfect" only in others' eyes. Intoxicated in countless praise, I had been following the social expectation for all my life. Deeply, I began to ask myself whether to continue to follow the "well-designed" road or not. After thorough analysis, the idea to transfer to MIT popped out. Not wanting simply to simulate others, I began to rebel the "expected pattern" of my life... "Are you crazy?" most of my friends responded instantaneously when I told them that I'm applying for transfer to MIT. They warned me that I was risking my education in Tsinghua University for there was a danger that I might fail on both sides with the heavy burden of tests. "Don't be so impatient, young man. You may enjoy a better chance to be admitted by MIT after the best fundamental education in the world here." I got almost the same answer from respected professors. In my country, most people believe that students should study abroad only after college. But my aim is to become a global talent and I need to widen my view to build up my value system critical and open. Moreover, I found MIT's courses more flexible, which may release my pent-up interest under the constant guidance here in China. The reasons above were not clichés which were commonly heard around. I arrived at my conclusion only after discussing with people who really know something about the difference between Chinese and American college education. To seek support for my idea, I first went to ask my uncle Jesse, who graduated from MIT after college in China. He had deep personal understanding about my transfer decision and warned me that most Chinese may form their relatively narrow criteria during college and consequently will have greater difficulties to adapt to the global trend. Also, through the talk with many of my senior alumni doing research in US, I learned that they often found themselves fall behind foreign students who had grown up in an education system which encourages critical thinking and multiplicity. As my Native American professor described, counselors here still carefully fed the knowledge to the "babies in the cradles", which greatly hampers the full development of independent personality Instead, I discovered that my opponents' remark should be reexamined carefully. Intimidated by the seemingly insurmountable transfer process, most freshmen concluded that chances may be better after graduation as told. And the professors were just talking about the usual "safe" road, which most pioneers traveled by. Out of instinct, they were simply used to the present modes and were reluctant to examine it carefully. Because of this conflict, I have become more critical in judging different opinions. I have learned to analyze information objectively and to accept opinions and viewpoints contrary to my own. Before, I was too afraid to stand out to defend for myself against the "authority" and only carefully followed the "well-designed" academic road. Intoxicated in countless praise, I had strived to become "perfect" for all my life only in others' eyes. Not wanting simply to continue to simulate others, I began to think out the "expected pattern" by myself. Furthermore, unlike Mathematics, reality refuses certain formulae to succeed. There exists no absolute right answer and life is not all about success, but the taste of various kinds of chocolate. Defeat won't destroy me but the withdrawal out of fear will make me regret.

I would like to double major in applied mathematics and psychology. Although this choice might seem unusual, I think it will enable me to practice financial models with insight on human thinking. In addition to pursuing academic excellence, I also intend to participate in research and internship related to these fields. After college, I plan to work for a few years in a finance-related field in the United States and then to go to Sloan business school for further development. Generally, this educational goal combines my genuine passion for mathematics and my curiosity in finance.1 Sincerely I have the constant awareness of the beauty of mathematics. From an early stage, I have always found it an exciting exploration when tracing the history of mathematics and considered the process of cracking problems as a recreation for detective. The objective existence of the absolute beauty appears almost a religion to me. To trace what I thought, I wrote two papers on "the algorithm of solving mathematics problem" and "the beauty of mathematics" which are still displayed on the high school website. 2 Under my father's influence, an international manager with a finance degree, I have developed a strong interest in this area. I once read Doctor David Friedman's <<The Economics of Everyday Life>>, in which, he adopts popular and easy-understood cases and flexibly combines obscure economic principles with people's daily lives. Through reading the book, I had a good mastery of principles of economics, which were boring to others. In the same year, I read Price Theory, a representative work of him. Through studying this book, I fell in love with knowledge regarding currency and finance. Unlike the eternal mathematics, financial analysis concerns more about the reasonable choices of common people. The chaotic behaviors act like a black hole attracting my attention at the speed of light. My long-term dream is to help the government create a more stable financial order. Under the trend of globalization, Chinese fledging financial market has become much more open, which brings great danger to be attacked. Growing up in the time of peace, most of the young generations haven't realized the great potential danger. I, with great responsibility, decided to devote to keeping the country, developing in stride, on the right track to avoid the financial catastrophe. Under the stable economy, China can invest more funds in the flexibility of traditional education which I reason is vital to help the majority court their happiness. My special interest lies in the boundless imagination in mathematics and I prefer to make things as logic as graphic. After studying for a period of time, I'd like to make a map to find out the inner links and thought between the concepts. Whenever free on road or quietly eating meals, I take pleasure in tracing the routes from different angles to help me cover the materials learned. Also, I discover that dream does help to release the pent up creative imagination. In the dimly understood world(which may involves more dimensions), I not only sometimes worked out "insurmountable" homework problems but also formed transient outlandish progress in mathematics (which more often were quickly forgotten though I keep a notebook beside the pillow). Thus, the extensive courses and the environment of creativity exactly support my indulgement in unrestrained thinking. I will take the advantage to make ground-breaking discoveries. Moreover, I was greatly fascinated by the oath to "make a difference in the world, solving real-world problems for the betterment of mankind". The promising cause for financial stability stirs my imagination and I can't wait to be part of something big.

I would like to double major in applied mathematics and psychology. Although this choice might seem unusual, I think it will enable me to practice financial models with insight on human thinking. In addition to pursuing academic excellence, I also intend to participate in research and internship related to these fields. After college, I plan to work for a few years in a finance-related field in the United States and then to go to Sloan business school for further development. Generally, this educational goal combines my genuine passion for mathematics and my curiosity in finance.1 Sincerely I have the constant awareness of the beauty of mathematics. From an early stage, I have always found it an exciting exploration when tracing the history of mathematics and considered the process of cracking problems as a recreation for detective. The objective existence of the absolute beauty appears almost a religion to me. To trace what I thought, I wrote two papers on "the algorithm of solving mathematics problem" and "the beauty of mathematics" which are still displayed on the high school website. 2 Under my father's influence, an international manager with a finance degree, I have developed a strong interest in this area. I once read Doctor David Friedman's Lt;Lt;The Economics of Every day Life;Sgt;, in which, he adopts popular and easy-understood cases and flexibly combines obscure economic principles with people's daily lives. Through reading the book, I had a good mastery of principles of economics, which were boring to others. In the same year, I read Price Theory, a representative work of him. Through studying this book, I fell in love with knowledge regarding currency and finance. Unlike the eternal mathematics, financial analysis concerns more about the reasonable choices of common people. The chaotic behaviors act like a black hole attracting my attention at the speed of light. My long-term dream is to help the government create a more stable financial order. Under the trend of globalization, Chinese fledging financial market has become much more open, which brings great danger to be attacked. Growing up in the time of peace, most of the young generations haven't realized the great potential danger. I, with great responsibility, decided to devote to keeping the country, developing in stride, on the right track to avoid the financial catastrophe. Under the stable economy, China can invest more funds in the flexibility of traditional education which I reason is vital to help the majority court their happiness. My special interest lies in the boundless imagination in mathematics and I prefer to make things as logic as graphic. After studying for a period of time, I'd like to make a map to find out the inner links and thought between the concepts. Whenever free on road or quietly eating meals, I take pleasure in tracing the routes from different angles to help me cover the materials learned. Also, I discover that dream does help to release the pent-up creative imagination. In the dimly understood world(which may involves more dimensions), I not only sometimes worked out "insurmountable" homework problems but also formed transient outlandish progress in mathematics (which more often were quickly forgotten though I keep a notebook beside the pillow). Thus, the extensive courses and the environment of creativity exactly support my inducement in unrestrained thinking. I will take the advantage to make ground-breaking discoveries. Moreover, I was greatly fascinated by the oath to "make a difference in the world, solving real-world problems for the betterment of mankind". The promising cause for financial stability stirs my imagination and I can't wait to be part of something big.

Essay: "Where are you from?" I am constantly asked this; and although it sounds like a simple question, I have always found it difficult to answer. I was born in Los Angeles and spent the first 18 years of my life in the suburbs. Nevertheless, when I told people this, they would cock their heads to the side and give me a confusing stare. They look as if they are dissecting my physical features and assigning me to various countries. I now smile and say, "I'm from Los Angeles, but to answer what you really want to know: my parents are from the Philippines." Problem solved, right? Since discovering my Filipino heritage, they find it important to tell me about their Filipino friend. They soon begin naming Filipino dishes or shouting curse words they learned. I do not have any negative opinions towards this typecast; however, my identity does not fit this description. Although I was raised in a Filipino family, ate Filipino food, and heard all the Filipino curse words in an angry parent's vocabulary, I identify with the Filipino culture as I do with any other culture. I am intrigued with cultural rituals, but don't religiously practice them; I enjoy trying the unfamiliar food, but I cannot cook a dish without a kitchen fire; and on the rare occasion that I can speak a few learned words, I am still unable to hold a fluid conversation. Since I fall on the boundaries of various typecasts, I have found it hard to proudly identify myself with a specific ethnicity and cultural background. The truth is: I have always been searching for my identity and searching for a real connection with people, a connection in which one communicates personal identity. This identity is not limited to a cultural background; rather, it describes a person's distinctive characteristics, personal life theories, and genuine emotions. The struggle to express myself has led to awkward relationships, even within my own family. My grandparents speak broken English and I never learned their native language; and although they raised me, I have experienced the hardships of language barriers within my extended family. Laughter always fills the house during family parties; however, I am usually sitting in the corner speechless because I'm too busy trying to translate the slur of words. Since childhood, I have tried to learn new ways to communicate with those around me and effectively articulate my thoughts. After separating from the military and believing I had discovered myself, I began traveling anywhere affordable. I would stuff my bare essentials in a backpack, fly across the ocean, and I'd step off the plane without the faintest idea of where to go next. I would eventually find my way while meeting the most interesting people and I began to change my idea of "identity." I accepted that I could not identify myself amongst the typical labels of the world; and I learned to identify myself as an individual with unique, yet constantly changing, ideas. Now, I understand that we, as humans, are continuously transforming our identities because we are constantly shifting our beliefs and thoughts. Throughout these trips, I developed a love for photography. Although I have always been fond of art, these trips helped me realize the potential of a camera's viewfinder. There was a moment of clarity in the midst of my 'train hopping, departure lounge napping, breadcrumb eating, bathroom searching' moments; and I realized, "This is what I want to do for the rest of my life." Before this moment, I was a completely 'indecisive, neurotic, daydreaming, rambling' mess, but in that moment, I no longer questioned my life. There is an obvious pattern in my past decisions, always slowly guiding me to this specific life goal. I have discovered an ability to connect with people, often behind a camera lens; and I have a found a means to finally portray my identity and articulate my complex thoughts through art. Since transferring to this school, I have taken art classes that have taught me to express myself through various mediums. Surprised to discover that one does not need to be an art virtuoso, I have learned to effectively construe my rambling ideas. I have learned to not limit my communicative abilities to grammar and punctuation; rather, we can express raw emotions by pushing our conceptions of art. I would like to develop my art practice within this school, while continuously searching for a deeper, human connection within this world. In a world so technologically advanced, we still suffer from communication barriers. We each hold the potential to express our thoughts, ideas, emotions, beliefs, and overall identity; and my preferred means is through art.

Essay: "Where are you from?" I am constantly asked this; and although it sounds like a simple question, I have always found it difficult to answer. I was born in Los Angeles and spent the first 18 years of my life in the suburbs. Nevertheless, when I told people this, they would cock their heads to the side and give me a confusing stare. They look as if they are dissecting my physical features and assigning me to various countries. I now smile and say, "I'm from Los Angeles, but to answer what you really want to know: my parents are from the Philippines." Problem solved, right? Since discovering my Filipino heritage, they find it important to tell me about their Filipino friend. They soon begin naming Filipino dishes or shouting curse words they learned. I do not have any negative opinions towards this typecast; however, my identity does not fit this description. Although I was raised in a Filipino family, ate Filipino food, and heard all the Filipino curse words in an angry parent's vocabulary, I identify with the Filipino culture as I do with any other culture. I am intrigued with cultural rituals, but don't religiously practice them; I enjoy trying the unfamiliar food, but I cannot cook a dish without a kitchen fire; and on the rare occasion that I can speak a few learned words, I am still unable to hold a fluid conversation. Since I fall on the boundaries of various typecasts, I have found it hard to proudly identify myself with a specific ethnicity and cultural background. The truth is: I have always been searching for my identity and searching for a real connection with people, a connection in which one communicates personal identity. This identity is not limited to a cultural background; rather, it describes a person's distinctive characteristics, personal life theories, and genuine emotions. The struggle to express myself has led to awkward relationships, even within my own family. My grandparents speak broken English and I never learned their native language; and although they raised me, I have experienced the hardships of language barriers within my extended family. Laughter always fills the house during family parties; however, I am usually sitting in the corner speechless because I'm too busy trying to translate the slur of words. Since childhood, I have tried to learn new ways to communicate with those around me and effectively articulate my thoughts. After separating from the military and believing I had discovered myself, I began traveling anywhere affordable. I would stuff my bare essentials in a backpack, fly across the ocean, and I'd step off the plane without the faintest idea of where to go next. I would eventually find my way while meeting the most interesting people and I began to change my idea of "identity." I accepted that I could not identify myself amongst the typical labels of the world; and I learned to identify myself as an individual with unique, yet constantly changing, ideas. Now, I understand that we, as humans, are continuously transforming our identities because we are constantly shifting our beliefs and thoughts. Throughout these trips, I developed a love for photography. Although I have always been fond of art, these trips helped me realize the potential of a camera's viewfinder. There was a moment of clarity in the midst of my 'train hopping, departure lounge napping, breadcrumb eating, bathroom searching' moments; and I realized, "This is what I want to do for the rest of my life." Before this moment, I was a completely 'indecisive, neurotic, daydreaming, rambling' mess, but At that moment, I no longer questioned my life. There is an obvious pattern in my past decisions, always slowly guiding me to this specific life goal. I have discovered an ability to connect with people, often behind a camera lens; and I have a found a means to finally portray my identity and articulate my complex thoughts through art. Since transferring to this school, I have taken art classes that have taught me to express myself through various mediums. Surprised to discover that one does not need to be an art virtuoso, I have learned to effectively construe my rambling ideas. I have learned to not limit my communicative abilities to grammar and punctuation; rather, we can express raw emotions by pushing our conceptions of art. I would like to develop my art practice within this school, while continuously searching for a deeper, human connection within this world. In a world so technologically advanced, we still suffer from communication barriers. We each hold the potential to express our thoughts, ideas, emotions, beliefs, and overall identity; and my preferred means is through art.

How will furthering my education allow me to put the credit union philosophy of "People Helping People" into action? By furthering my education, I will obtain a well deserved and well paying job in the construction management field which I will have studied and worked very hard to achieve. By obtaining this well paying job in construction management, I will be able to deposit money into my PSECU account which will, in turn, put the credit union philosophy of "People Helping People" into action. What will make this happen is me, and every other member of the credit union, utilizing all of the services available to each of us. This will enable the credit union to extend and offer better interest rates for savings accounts, certificates of deposit, mortgages, unsecured and secured credit lines, credit cards, and personal loans and, also, no fee checking accounts. Also, by more and more people wanting to become members because the rates are so low, this will also allow the credit union to charge very minimal, if any, services fees. And again, this should and will attract more and more people to become members. PSECU also leads the credit unions in that they don't have overhead expenses by having many different branches and employees working at those branches. This again, leads to the low interest rates and minimal services fees charged as they have more money to be flexible with. So, as you can see, the People Helping People" philosophy is exactly that, "People Helping People" as you help yourself and everyone else by utilizing the credit union services which are available to members. Now, showing this to a teacher, they said that this essay should be about me and what i will do with my education....i.e., will I volunteer my construction knowledge to habitat for humanity, etc? Not sure if I'm on the right track...

How will furthering my education allow me to put the credit union philosophy of "People Helping People" into action? By furthering my education, I will obtain a well deserved and well paying job in the construction management field which I will have studied and worked very hard to achieve. By obtaining this well paying job in construction management, I will be able to deposit money into my PIECE account which will, in turn, put the credit union philosophy of "People Helping People" into action. What will make this happen is me, and every other member of the credit union, utilizing all the services available to each of us. This will enable the credit union to extend and offer better interest rates for savings accounts, certificates of deposit, mortgages, unsecured and secured credit lines, credit cards, and personal loans and, also, no fee checking accounts. Also, by more and more people wanting to become members because the rates are so low, this will also allow the credit union to charge very minimal, if any, services fees. And again, this should and will attract more and more people to become members. PIECE also leads the credit unions in that they don't have overhead expenses by having many branches and employees working at those branches. This again, leads to the low interest rates and minimal services fees charged as they have more money to be flexible with. So, as you can see, the People Helping People" philosophy is exactly that, "People Helping People" as you help yourself and everyone else by utilizing the credit union services which are available to members. Now, showing this to a teacher, they said that this essay should be about me and what I will do with my education....i.e., will I volunteer my construction knowledge to habitat for humanity, etc.? Not sure if I'm on the right track...

What concerns me most is the voluntary project to help the young children. I once volunteered in a poor mountain village primary school for a month and in the community children soccer team for two years. The childhood，in one's life, is memorable but fragile. There are still countless children who live under the shadow of poverty, diffidence and dishonest. It is not that we volunteers will bring radical changes to their lives but our own help will give them hope to continue to believe in the unselfish love in this world. Young children's naive ness and curiosity constantly remind me of the origin of life. With them, I have nothing to hide and purely enjoy every minute in the world of genuineness. Consequently, my heart will hurt whenever I see them helpless in despair. As a result, I captured every chance to contribute my own effort to the program helping them, which makes my life much more meaningful to be filled with love. Furthermore, I realize that the stability of the economics is the basis for the promotion of the programs. And I decide to devote myself in financial areas to help the government build up the financial security system. As the most developed country, US has the perfect financial system and the mature researching teams, which is the reason why I'm seeking to transfer.

What concerns me most is the voluntary project to help the young children. I once volunteered in a poor mountain village primary school for a month and in the community children soccer team for two years. The childhood one's life, is memorable but fragile. There are still countless children who live under the shadow of poverty, diffidence and dishonest. It is not that we volunteer will bring radical changes to their lives, but our own help will give them hope to continue to believe in the unselfish love in this world. Young children's naive less and curiosity constantly remind me of the origin of life. With them, I have nothing to hide and purely enjoy every minute in the world of genuineness. Consequently, my heart will hurt whenever I see them helpless in despair. As a result, I captured every chance to contribute my own effort to the program helping them, which makes my life much more meaningful to be filled with love. Furthermore, I realize that the stability of the economics is the basis for the promotion of the programs. And I decide to devote myself in financial areas to help the government build up the financial security system. As the most developed country, US has the perfect financial system and the mature researching teams, which is the reason why I'm seeking to transfer.

I have been considered "successful" all through my academic life because of my excellent performance in scholastic tests and extracurricular activities. And now, I'm expected to continue to excel in Tsinghua University and to study abroad after graduation. But one day, I suddenly realized that I had strived to become "perfect" only to meet the social expectation. Intoxicated in other's praise, I had been simulating others for all my life. Suspicion ensued and deeply, I asked myself whether to continue to follow the "well-designed" road or not. My aim is to influence the world to make a better society. Under the trend of globalization, I need to widen my view to build my value system critical and open. My uncle Jesse, who graduated from MIT after Chinese college, has deep personal understanding about it. He warns me that most of us may form our own criteria after college and consequently will have greater difficulties to adapt to a new culture. Though I joined the international student group ASEIC in campus, it was not enough for me. Thus US college education is vital to me to become in harmony over the great chasm. Also, I felt myself confined by the traditional Chinese education which leaves little space for independent study. I was often told to do this after finishing that and the pressure of compulsory work often kept me in a certain academic enclosure. As my Native American professor described, counselors here still carefully fed the knowledge to the "babies in the cradles". Many of my senior alumni doing research in US told me that though they had better understanding of the knowledge, they found themselves far behind foreign students who had grown up in an education system which encourages critical thinking and multiplicity. Moreover, I believe the new challenges in a totally different place would excite my nerve and contribute to my growth of personality. My similar experience may help me adapt to the new environment quickly. Uva's definition for liberal art stirs my imagination and I'm really tempted by the independence provided after thirteen years' living under the constant guidance. My pent up creative energy can't wait any more to find an outlet in the world of diversity and change. Above are the main reasons that lead me to leave Tsinghua University and to pursue my dream in Uva.

I have been considered "successful" all through my academic life because of my excellent performance in scholastic tests and extracurricular activities. And now, I'm expected to continue to excel in Tsinghua University and to study abroad after graduation. But one day, I suddenly realized that I had strived to become "perfect" only to meet the social expectation. Intoxicated in other's praise, I had been simulating others for all my life. Suspicion ensued and deeply, I asked myself whether to continue to follow the "well-designed" road or not. My aim is to influence the world to make a better society. Under the trend of globalization, I need to widen my view to build my value system critical and open. My uncle Jesse, who graduated from MIT after Chinese college, has deep personal understanding about it. He warns me that most of us may form our own criteria after college and consequently will have greater difficulties to adapt to a new culture. Though I joined the international student group ASPIC in campus, it was not enough for me. Thus, US college education is vital to me to become in harmony over the great chasm. Also, I felt myself confined by the traditional Chinese education which leaves little space for independent study. I was often told to do this after finishing that and the pressure of compulsory work often kept me in a certain academic enclosure. As my Native American professor described, counselors here still carefully fed the knowledge to the "babies in the cradles". Many of my senior alumni doing research in US told me that though they had better understanding of the knowledge, they found themselves far behind foreign students who had grown up in an education system which encourages critical thinking and multiplicity. Moreover, I believe the new challenges in a totally different place would excite my nerve and contribute to my growth of personality. My similar experience may help me adapt to the new environment quickly. UVA's definition for liberal art stirs my imagination, and I'm really tempted by the independence provided after thirteen years' living under the constant guidance. My pent-up creative energy can't wait anymore to find an outlet in the world of diversity and change. Above are the main reasons that lead me to leave Tsinghua University and to pursue my dream in UVA.

I intend to become a financial expert and my long-term dream is to help the government create a stable financial order. The plan I envision would keep my countryïźŒdeveloping in stride, on the right track to avoid repeating the financial tragedy in 1998. With a stable economy, my country can invest more funds in the equity and flexibility of the education cause which I believe is vital to help the majority court their happiness. To achieve this goal, I would like to major in applied mathematics while taking finance and psychology courses. Although this choice might seem unusual, I think it will enable me to practice financial models with insight on human thinking. Therefore, I find Uva particularly exciting and perfect for me. It not only provides me the solid foundation of mathematics but allows me to extend my interest in the other two fields. In addition to pursuing academic excellence, I also intend to participate in research and internship related to these areas. I will have advantage in multiplicity in the finance world by virtue of Uva.

I intend to become a financial expert and my long-term dream is to help the government create a stable financial order. The plan I envision would keep my countryïźŒdeveloping in stride, on the right track to avoid repeating the financial tragedy in 1998. With a stable economy, my country can invest more funds in the equity and flexibility of the education cause which I believe is vital to help the majority court their happiness. To achieve this goal, I would like to major in applied mathematics while taking finance and psychology courses. Although this choice might seem unusual, I think it will enable me to practice financial models with insight on human thinking. Therefore, I find UVA particularly exciting and perfect for me. It not only provides me the solid foundation of mathematics but allows me to extend my interest in the other two fields. In addition to pursuing academic excellence, I also intend to participate in research and internship related to these areas. I will have advantage in multiplicity in the finance world by virtue of UVA.

My greatest concern is about global warming. Facing the shocking figures, most of us showed great anxiety about the future of human race without doing anything about it. "Oh, global warming! Who do you think you are?" Most people may reflect on my concern, feeling it as far as the planet Sedna. It may be plausible to think that any individual effort may appear as trivial as a drop in the Pacific Ocean. "Something should be done but it's none of my business." But what if everybody on earth consider it like that? The Noah's Ark was sinking while we human beings are still waiting to death under the illusion that God will mend it somehow. Worse still, people tend to overlook things which has "little" effect on their lives. In modern society, we are forced to win out the competition to make a better living. As is shown in <<The Little Prince>>, the children's bible, we gradually become too busy to care about the origin of living. We forget that all of our possessions would lose their meanings when the "Earth" dies. We forget that problems won't be solved by themselves. We forget that most people may forget as we do. We are on the verge of extinction while most of us are still worrying about their own business. That is the biggest reason I'm concerned about it. Inspired by the Oscar winner <<An Inconvenient Truth>>, my peers and I decided to actually do something about the global warming. And I was elected the chief executive of the project to propagate the urgency of the problem. There are four components of the project: a film discussion inside class, a bicycle tour around Tsinghua University, a movie show in campus and a outdoor propagate. Among them, the propagation outside the cafeteria received tremendous attention and about 30 volunteers joined us during the activities. One third of my peers were busy gathering signature on our "For A Cooler Future"banner while others were making quick Q&A with passersby. Standing beside the large propaganda pictures, I was explaining to the students the origin and the detriment of the global warming and the tips for us to do in daily lives. Surprisingly, French president visited our university and gave a speech on global warming three days later. Though we tried our best to communicate with the organizers of the speech, they refused to offer us the chance to ask questions nor to display our achievements outside the hall, which was really a pity. Finally, our project won the first place in the department project competition. However, the prize is not the thing we sought but the awareness among the students really ma

My greatest concern is about global warming. Facing the shocking figures, most of us showed great anxiety about the future of human race without doing anything about it. "Oh, global warming! Who do you think you are?" Most people may reflect on my concern, feeling it as far as the planet Sedna. It may be plausible to think that any individual effort may appear as trivial as a drop in the Pacific Ocean. "Something should be done, but it's none of my business." But what if everybody on earth consider it like that? The Noah's Ark was sinking while we human beings are still waiting to death under the illusion that God will mend it somehow. Worse still, people tend to overlook things which has "little" effect on their lives. In modern society, we are forced to win out the competition to make a better living. As is shown in Lt;Lt;The Little Prince;Sgt;, the children's bible, we gradually become too busy to care about the origin of living. We forget that all of our possessions would lose their meanings when the "Earth" dies. We forget that problems won't be solved by themselves. Furthermore, we forget that most people may forget as we do. Furthermore, we are on the verge of extinction while most of us are still worrying about their own business. That is the biggest reason I'm concerned about it. Inspired by the Oscar winner Lt;Lt;An Inconvenient Truth;Sgt;, my peers and I decided to actually do something about the global warming. And I was elected the chief executive of the project to propagate the urgency of the problem. There are four components of the project: a film discussion inside class, a bicycle tour around Tsinghua University, a movie show in campus and an outdoor propagate. Among them, the propagation outside the cafeteria received tremendous attention and about 30 volunteers joined us during the activities. One third of my peers were busy gathering signature on our "For A Cooler Future"banner while others were making quick Camp;A with passersby. Standing beside the large propaganda pictures, I was explaining to the students the origin and the detriment of the global warming and the tips for us to do in daily lives. Surprisingly, French president visited our university and gave a speech on global warming three days later. Though we tried our best to communicate with the organizers of the speech, they refused to offer us the chance to ask questions nor to display our achievements outside the hall, which was really a pity. Finally, our project won the first place in the department project competition. However, the prize is not the thing we sought but the awareness among the students really ma

I am no stranger to transfer. Before I was twelve, my family moved our home five times inside the province for jobs' reasons. As a result, I was forced to transfer from one school to another constantly. At a very young age, I always considered myself as a newcomer who always tried to adapt to the new world of wonders. The same story took place when I was in junior two that my family rushed nearly 30 degree latitude from the "north most" province to the "south most" in mainland China. The experience was not exhilarating at all for I authentically embraced the "cultural shock". My first challenge was to understand Cantonese, the local language which made me a foreigner even in school. In class, some of my teachers were just too old to change their ways to teach in Cantonese which completely put me out. And after class when others were happily talking about Cantonese popular stars, I remained still and silent for I couldn't understand a word. Sitting back in the dark corner, I didn't know how to communicate with my new peers. Worse still, they thought I was as dull as an exam-machine and no one initiatively invited me to join their picnic or hiking trips. In the first miserable month, I felt like a northern fir transplanted to the tropical areas. All the things I had previously taken proud in suddenly disappeared, and, I had to start all over again. To tackle the language barrier, I actively asked for help from my kind-hearted desk mate who patiently endured my "crude" Cantonese. Shortly afterwards, I could even debate with my peers whether Manchester United was the best soccer team in the world. More importantly, I learnt to break my initial shyness and tried to behave as outgoing. It was an extremely hard time and I could still remember my first shot. On Teachers' Day celebration, every class was required to give a performance but few of my peers were interested in the drama designed by our monitor. I, however, decided to take every chance to challenge myself. In a hurry, we prepared for only two days and our "romantic tragedy" finally turned out to be a "farce". Lack of preparation, we had no music, no props and no heroine. I had to recite my lines alone on the stage like a clown. Despite the sensational effect, my classmates gradually began to accept me for my genuineness and passion. With them, I progressed to live more like a normal teenager boy in Canton and, later, was elected the vice president of the study body. It provided me with great experience to organize activities such as soccer league and English Evening. My pent up creativity and leadership broke out and I began to enjoy my "over-continent" transfer. By adjusting to the alien environment, I learned, gained, and became more mature. With all the former experience equipped, I am ready to accept every potential challenge in your university.

I am no stranger to transfer. Before I was twelve, my family moved our home five times inside the province for jobs' reasons. As a result, I was forced to transfer from one school to another constantly. At a very young age, I always considered myself as a newcomer who always tried to adapt to the new world of wonders. The same story took place when I was in junior two that my family rushed nearly 30 degree latitude from the "north most" province to the "south most" in mainland China. The experience was not exhilarating at all for I authentically embraced the "cultural shock". My first challenge was to understand Cantonese, the local language which made me a foreigner even in school. In class, some of my teachers were just too old to change their ways to teach in Cantonese which completely put me out. And after class when others were happily talking about Cantonese popular stars, I remained still and silent for I couldn't understand a word. Sitting back in the dark corner, I didn't know how to communicate with my new peers. Worse still, they thought I was as dull as an exam-machine and no one initiative invited me to join their picnic or hiking trips. In the first miserable month, I felt like a northern fir transplanted to the tropical areas. All the things I had previously taken proud in suddenly disappeared, and, I had to start all over again. To tackle the language barrier, I actively asked for help from my kind-hearted desk mate who patiently endured my "crude" Cantonese. Shortly afterwards, I could even debate with my peers whether Manchester United was the best soccer team in the world. More importantly, I learned to break my initial shyness and tried to behave as outgoing. It was an extremely hard time and I could still remember my first shot. On Teachers' Day celebration, every class was required to give a performance, but few of my peers were interested in the drama designed by our monitor. I, however, decided to take every chance to challenge myself. In a hurry, we prepared for only two days and our "romantic tragedy" finally turned out to be a "farce". Lack of preparation, we had no music, no props and no heroine. I had to recite my lines alone on the stage like a clown. Despite the sensational effect, my classmates gradually began to accept me for my genuineness and passion. With them, I progressed to live more like a normal teenager boy in Canton and, later, was elected the vice president of the study body. It provided me with great experience to organize activities such as soccer league and English Evening. My pent-up creativity and leadership broke out, and I began to enjoy my "over-continent" transfer. By adjusting to the alien environment, I learned, gained, and became more mature. With all the former experience equipped, I am ready to accept every potential challenge in your university.

I love watching films and I am sure you love it too. Films play a significant role in our lives; they inspire, educate, and when people are sick of the reality of life, they see it as a form of escapism, as an avenue into another world. Film also plays a very good cupid in giving me a reason to ask Dawn out on a movie date who has since become my girlfriend. I developed a keen interest in filmmaking and photography after my foundation year at Ngee Ann Polytechnic - Film sound & Video. As a person who feels strongly for his ideas and also having the passion to make his idea a reality; I have worked hard and prepared well for every pitching session in class. Most of my ideas have become a reality and I have the honour to direct them with a team that shares the same vision. For my script writing class, I have learnt that it is through your personal experience that you can write an honest and exceptional story, one that communicates with people and leaves the viewer a changed person. I got an A grade for my script 'Solace' and went on to make the story a reality in my Final Year Project. Commitment, teamwork and believing in what you do are the key ingredients to success as I have shown by winning the Best Video Award for a short film - 'Solace'. My group has the best story and the lowest budget and this proves that having a good story that is captivating is more important than anything else. 'Solace' went on to be screened at the 47th BRNO Sixteen Czech Republic and it was also in competition at the FIKE 2006 Festival Évora International Short Film Festival. I had also won First Prize in Photography at the 2003 "The Creative Writing Competition" from Singapore Polytechnic with my black and white stills from my photography class. I went on to work in the industry as an assistant producer. The experiences in dealing with clients and working with the professionals have further prepared me for greater challenges. It is a long way to become a successful filmmaker who entertains, inspires and changes people's lives but I believe with my attributes; I will succeed.

I love watching films, and I am sure you love it too. Films play a significant role in our lives; they inspire, educate, and when people are sick of the reality of life, they see it as a form of escapism, as an avenue into another world. Film also plays a very good cupid in giving me a reason to ask Dawn out on a movie date who has since become my girlfriend. I developed a keen interest in filmmaking and photography after my foundation year at Nee Ann Polytechnic - Film sound camp; Video. As a person who feels strongly for his ideas and also having the passion to make his idea a reality; I have worked hard and prepared well for every pitching session in class. Most of my ideas have become a reality and I have the honor to direct them with a team that shares the same vision. For my script writing class, I have learned that it is through your personal experience that you can write an honest and exceptional story, one that communicates with people and leaves the viewer a changed person. I got an A grade for my script 'Solace' and went on to make the story a reality in my Final Year Project. Commitment, teamwork and believing in what you do are the key ingredients to success as I have shown by winning the Best Video Award for a short film - 'Solace'. My group has the best story and the lowest budget and this proves that having a good story that is captivating is more important than anything else. 'Solace' went on to be screened at the 47th BRNO Sixteen Czech Republic, and it was also in competition at the FINE 2006 Festival Elora International Short Film Festival. I had also won First Prize in Photography at the 2003 "The Creative Writing Competition" from Singapore Polytechnic with my black and white stills from my photography class. I went on to work in the industry as an assistant producer. The experiences in dealing with clients and working with the professionals have further prepared me for greater challenges. It is a long way to become a successful filmmaker who entertains, inspires and changes people's lives, but I believe with my attributes; I will succeed.

i have a problem with personal portrayal. question is about myself, background,relationship with friends and how do u think an iim is best to achieve ur dreams.i wrote an essay on it but iam not making proper sense. highly thankful for ur help ____________________________________________________________ _______________ i, naveen kumar , from a normal middle class family with two other sibblings and iam the younger one. iam an introvert and loner. i believe in speaking as less as possible. iam not someone who is comfortable in crowds. i take time to befriend with anyone . But once i get close to someone, iam quite faithful and slight selfish in my relationship. i love being nostalgic and i write dairy daily and preserve many of things. The case studies of real industries dealt in IIM will be much handy for a highly ambitious person like me to become an enterpreneur. the 2:1 ratio of student faculty amused ma a lot and laid a perfect platform to garner high ended skilla in management. The perfect work schedule and individual concern of student in such a highly reputed well designed institute for upcoming managers impressed me much. Thank u

I have a problem with personal portrayal. Question is about myself, background, relationship with friends and how do u think an IIM is best to achieve your dreams.I wrote an essay on it but I am not making proper sense. Highly thankful for your help ____________________________________________________________ _______________ i, Naveen Kumar, from a normal middle class family with two other siblings and I am the younger one. Iam an introvert and loner. I believe in speaking as less than possible. Iam not someone who is comfortable in crowds. I take time to befriend with anyone. But once I get close to someone, I am quite faithful and slight selfish in my relationship. I love being nostalgic and I write dairy daily and preserve many of things. The case studies of real industries dealt in IIM will be much handier for a highly ambitious person like me to become an entrepreneur. The 2:1 ratio of student faculty amused ma a lot and laid a perfect platform to garner high ended skills in management. The perfect work schedule and individual concern of student in such a highly reputed well-designed institute for upcoming managers impressed me much. Thank u

Thanks, Julian When thinking about how to describe my goals and targets for life beyond college, I felt it was important to delve into my experiences from the past, as I feel these shape not only your wants for the future, but ultimately your dreams and aspirations. A buzzword in my life and virtually throughout my family is diversity, with relatives from all across the globe. Being born in London, and raised on the outskirts, the theme of diversity has always been close to my heart. My father was born in Liverpool, to parents hailing from Accra, Ghana and Berlin, Germany. My mother was born in Accra, Ghana and lived a childhood I envy, taking in the experiences and cultures of places like Rome and Jerusalem as her family moved homes, before settling back in Ghana. After completing her education my mother headed to London in search of more prosperous opportunities and this was where she eventually met my father. Therefore, when thinking about what I would like from a university in the United States, it is no surprise that a diverse student population is an area of interest. With 28% students of colour and 4% international students hailing from over 62 different countries, Adelphi quite comfortably meets this criterion. I'm glad that I do not know specifically what I would like to do later on in life. I am certain that it will be a job in the business world; however what that role will entail I am not entirely sure of. At Adelphi I will be presented with the chance to take the Business Management program, which will give me the opportunity to choose from a range of different specializations and the chance to learn from experienced faculty members who share in the passion of business. Being taught in small classes and being presented with hands-on learning should stand me in good stead for when I enter the 'big wide world' and come to making a career choice. By learning from faculty members such as Professor Allan S Ashley, who impressed me with vast range his experience working in industry, consulting services and professional activities as well as being recognized with various awards and honours. Quite simply I believe that I believe that the strength of teach and wide range of specializations would enable me to decide on an eventual area of business to focus in on. Following in my father's footsteps I have always had a strong passion for soccer. Whether it is playing or watching, I simply love the sport! Therefore, when considering which institutions were right for me, I was naturally researching if men's soccer was a part of the athletics department. Throughout high school and sixth form I have played on the soccer team, winning an array of trophies and awards along the way, and what better to take back to my family in London than a winner's medal or a trophy? At Adelphi, I believe this is a possibility, and combined with the new stadium completion in May 2008; there look to be exciting times ahead, which I would be honoured to be a part of.

Thanks, Julian When thinking about how to describe my goals and targets for life beyond college, I felt it was important to delve into my experiences from the past, as I feel these shape not only your wants for the future, but ultimately your dreams and aspirations. A buzzword in my life and virtually throughout my family is diversity, with relatives from all across the globe. Being born in London, and raised on the outskirts, the theme of diversity has always been close to my heart. My father was born in Liverpool, to parents hailing from Accra, Ghana and Berlin, Germany. My mother was born in Accra, Ghana and lived a childhood I envy, taking in the experiences and cultures of places like Rome and Jerusalem as her family moved homes, before settling back in Ghana. After completing her education my mother headed to London in search of more prosperous opportunities and this was where she eventually met my father. Therefore, when thinking about what I would like from a university in the United States, it is no surprise that a diverse student population is an area of interest. With 28% students of color and 4% international students hailing from over 62 different countries, Delphi quite comfortably meets this criterion. I'm glad that I do not know specifically what I would like to do later on in life. I am certain that it will be a job in the business world; however what that role will entail I am not entirely sure of. At Delphi I will be presented with the chance to take the Business Management program, which will give me the opportunity to choose from a range of different specializations and the chance to learn from experienced faculty members who share in the passion of business. Being taught in small classes and being presented with hands-on learning should stand me in good stead for when I enter the 'big wide world' and come to making a career choice. By learning from faculty members such as Professor Allan S Ashley, who impressed me with vast range his experience working in industry, consulting services and professional activities as well as being recognized with various awards and honors. Quite simply I believe that I believe that the strength of teach and wide range of specializations would enable me to decide on an eventual area of business to focus in on. Following in my father's footsteps I have always had a strong passion for soccer. Whether it is playing or watching, I simply love the sport! Therefore, when considering which institutions were right for me, I was naturally researching if men's soccer was a part of the athletics department. Throughout high school and sixth form I have played on the soccer team, winning an array of trophies and awards along the way, and what better to take back to my family in London than a winner's medal or a trophy? At Delphi, I believe this is a possibility, and combined with the new stadium completion in May 2008; there look to be exciting times ahead, which I would be honored to be a part of.

For example, whenever I pass through a predominantly black neighborhood, I feel nervous and suspicious of everyone around me. Even though, my best friend is African American. So why do I feel apprehensive in a black neighborhood? Because the media reports on more crimes committed by black individuals than white. Another example, when I visited France last summer, I couldn't help but admire the trust that the French had with each other. People would leave their motorcycles and cars unlocked with the keys still in the ignition. The news in France is much more positive. Every story seemed to have a happy premise. "Local high school student organizes fundraiser for the homeless." Whereas in America, the media seems to constantly report on disheartening stories where the villain wins. This reminds me of a clip from Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine where Michael Moore asks a reporter if he rather report on the pollution in Los Angeles or a shooting. The reporter, with out hesitation, chooses the shooting. He said, "Always go with the gun story."

For example, whenever I pass through a predominantly black neighborhood, I feel nervous and suspicious of everyone around me. Even though, my best friend is African American. So why do I feel apprehensive in a black neighborhood? Because the media reports on more crimes committed by black individuals than white. Another example, when I visited France last summer, I couldn't help but admire the trust that the French had with each other. People would leave their motorcycles and cars unlocked with the keys still in the ignition. The news in France is much more positive. Every story seemed to have a happy premise. "Local high school student organizes fundraiser for the homeless." Whereas in America, the media seems to constantly report on disheartening stories where the villain wins. This reminds me of a clip from Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine where Michael Moore asks a reporter if he rather reports on the pollution in Los Angeles or a shooting. The reporter, without hesitation, chooses the shooting. He said, "Always go with the gun story."

I am generally a fun-loving, easy-going, free-spiritïbut I'm also very focused on achieving the goals that I set for myself. One of those goals is becoming the first in my family to graduate from collegeïand ultimately pursue a career in the design field. I have a strong work ethicïdeveloped both by persevering through various, challenging, life experiences while growing up in the inner-city and also as a volunteer, working to make a positive difference in my community. I would like to attend Pratt for many different reasons. The most important reason is because I've lived my entire life in Minnesota and I feel it's time to see and do new things in a different environment if I am to find my voice as a designer. My art instructors have told me that there is no better place to explore, be motivated, and inspired than New York City. Through these new experiences I will find new ways to express my ideas about style, gain important technical knowledge and (most importantly) grow in confidence as a person. By pursuing my education at an established, highly-regarded institution like Pratt, will expand my imagination with new possibilities, build a strong network of friends and faculty, plus increase my professional opportunities. I will enter the design field with the necessary skills to take my creativity and passion for interiors to the highest level. For the past four years, I've taken advanced studio art courses at Juxtaposition Arts center in Minneapolis. Last summer an instructor there recommended me for an internship in the Interiors department at BWBR Architects. During the summer at BWBR I experienced and learned many new things that will be put to good use in my future career. However, although the employees there were great and very accepting of me, I realized that the firm lacked diversity. I was the only African-American female working there during that time. That experience at BWBR has made me even more determined to pursue a career in interior design. I know for certain that that's where my heart is.

I am generally a fun-loving, easy-going, free-spiritïbut I'm also very focused on achieving the goals that I set for myself. One of those goals is becoming the first in my family to graduate from collegian ultimately pursue a career in the design field. I have a strong work ethicïdeveloped both by persevering through various, challenging, life experiences while growing up in the inner-city and also as a volunteer, working to make a positive difference in my community. I would like to attend Pratt for many reasons. The most important reason is because I've lived my entire life in Minnesota and I feel it's time to see and do new things in a different environment if I am to find my voice as a designer. My art instructors have told me that there is no better place to explore, be motivated, and inspired than New York City. Through these new experiences I will find new ways to express my ideas about style, gain important technical knowledge and (most importantly) grow in confidence as a person. By pursuing my education at an established, highly-regarded institution like Pratt, will expand my imagination with new possibilities, build a strong network of friends and faculty, plus increase my professional opportunities. I will enter the design field with the necessary skills to take my creativity and passion for interiors to the highest level. For the past four years, I've taken advanced studio art courses at Juxtaposition Arts center in Minneapolis. Last summer an instructor there recommended me for an internship in the Interiors department at BWBR Architects. During the summer at BWBR I experienced and learned many new things that will be put to good use in my future career. However, although the employees there were great and very accepting of me, I realized that the firm lacked diversity. I was the only African-American female working there during that time. That experience at BWBR has made me even more determined to pursue a career in interior design. I know for certain that that's where my heart is.

Hows this for a first draft? Hard work, commitment and determination are not just important qualities that a student should possess, but also qualities that one should try to put into use in everyday life. Throughout my life, various experiences, academic or otherwise, have highlighted the above point for me. Whether it was playing soccer for my high school against tough, physical opposition, or studying hard towards end of term examinations, I learnt that putting in hard work and maintaining commitment until the end was always the best way to go about life. One particularly satisfying memory that stands out for me is a soccer game I played for my county when I was aged 16. I remember looking out of the team coach as we made the journey along the highway, and wondering if we really could overcome the odds and secure progression to the next round by beating Hertfordshire. As the kick-off time drew nearer, realisation that I was not alone in my trepidations about the game came about when I looked around the dressing room and for the first time I could remember, I was not greeted with bubbly, almost excited faces full of anticipation. Instead, I saw determination and focus, and almost nervousness in the eyes of my fellow team-mates; the entire seasons endeavour had come down to the next 90 minutes. The fact that we won that game 2-0, I think was almost entirely down to hard work and perseverance, and the collective realisation that although we may not have been able to match the opposition in terms of skill, we would definitely be able to beat them in terms of work rate and pure determination to get the result we so desperately wanted. Experiences such as these have undoubtedly shaped my outlook on life, and nowadays I find that I always strive to put hard work into everything that I do. A recent example can be taken from my search to find chartered accountants at which I could complete a year-long internship with. When faced with many disappointing letters saying that there were either 'no available positions' or that I did not meet certain 'criterion' I often felt the urge to just give up and try my luck at finding something else to do in my gap year. However, I stayed committed and was determined to find the right business for my internship, and eventually, I found such a place. Being involved in soccer competitions has taught me a few of lives many lessons to be learnt, and although at 19 I am a very long way from learning them, I believe that with hard work, commitment and determination I can continue to learn and grow from my everyday experiences.

How's this for a first draft? Hard work, commitment and determination are not just important qualities that a student should possess, but also qualities that one should try to put into use in everyday life. Throughout my life, various experiences, academic or otherwise, have highlighted the above point for me. Whether it was playing soccer for my high school against tough, physical opposition, or studying hard towards end of term examinations, I learned that putting in hard work and maintaining commitment until the end was always the best way to go about life. One particularly satisfying memory that stands out for me is a soccer game I played for my county when I was aged 16. I remember looking out of the team coach as we made the journey along the highway, and wondering if we really could overcome the odds and secure progression to the next round by beating Hertfordshire. As the kick-off time drew nearer, realization that I was not alone in my trepidation about the game came about when I looked around the dressing room and for the first time I could remember, I was not greeted with bubbly, almost excited faces full of anticipation. Instead, I saw determination and focus, and almost nervousness in the eyes of my fellow team-mates; the entire seasons endeavor had come down to the next 90 minutes. The fact that we won that game 2-0, I think was almost entirely down to hard work and perseverance, and the collective realization that although we may not have been able to match the opposition in terms of skill, we would definitely be able to beat them in terms of work rate and pure determination to get the result we so desperately wanted. Experiences such as these have undoubtedly shaped my outlook on life, and nowadays, I find that I always strive to put hard work into everything that I do. A recent example can be taken from my search to find chartered accountants at which I could complete a year-long internship with. When faced with many disappointing letters saying that there were either 'no available positions' or that I did not meet certain 'criterion' I often felt the urge to just give up and try my luck at finding something else to do in my gap year. However, I stayed committed and was determined to find the right business for my internship, and eventually, I found such a place. Being involved in soccer competitions has taught me a few of lives many lessons to be learned, and although at 19 I am a very long way from learning them, I believe that with hard work, commitment and determination I can continue to learn and grow from my everyday experiences.

Write an essay in which you tell us about someone who has made an impact on your life and explain how and why this person is important to you. "Why are the sixteenth notes still so uneven? Play them again," my grandma scolded me with a dissatisfied frown. Whenever she frowned, they always meant the same thing: "I know you can play better than this, just concentrate and try harder! If you want to become good, you have to work for it." It was easier said than done, because as a 5-year-old girl, everything sounded more thrilling than sitting on a cold hard piano seat monotonously moving my fingers from white to black, and to white keys again. My grandmother was a woman of a small stature and few words. Despite her size, she spoke decisively, articulating every syllable, and had strong opinions she held until the end. Our adventures would begin when my parents went to work and would drop me off at grandma's fourth floor apartment where I would do homework and learn piano. Before long, she became the best friend who told me my favorite fairytales before I went to sleep and who let me climb the monkey bars one last time even when my hands were caked with dirt. Although I genuinely loved visiting grandma's house, I unfortunately began to dislike her piano lessons; the material got harder each week, thus forcing me to spend more and more time every day perfecting a song. Sensing disinterest during my lessons when I would leave with a yawn instead of a smile, my grandma thought quickly to revive my love for music. The following week, instead of the usual lesson, she drove me to New York City, saying she had a surprise for me. Before I knew it, we were standing outside Carnegie Hall, an astounding performance center for accomplished musicians around the world. It turned out that her friend's 17-year-old granddaughter was having a performance this afternoon in one of the smaller rooms inside this building. My grandmother brought me here, hoping the young girl's musicianship would inspire me to continue my passion for piano and reach for new heights. To this day, I am thankful for that trip. Ever since that day, I have felt my love for music renewed repeatedly only to find it stronger each time. When lessons become tedious and songs are more challenging than I had expected, my grandmother would always be there, continuously pushing me forward and reminding me of our trip to Carnegie Hall. The beginning years of a pianist's journey are always the hardest; however, those who defeat this obstacle earn mastery of such a magnificent instrument. I have one individual to thank for this. She encouraged me to continue practicing piano even when it was getting difficult, promising me that if I did, I will one day be able to play beautiful melodies like the girl in Carnegie Hall. Most importantly, it was from her invaluable life lesson I learned that persistence and hard work are the first steps for making my dreams realities. Grandma, I thank you. Please specifically look at my grammar (like commas and tenses and stuff).Especially:-It was easier said than done, because as a 5-year-old girl, everything sounded more thrilling than sitting on a cold hard piano seat monotonously moving my fingers from white to black, and to white keys again. -Despite her size, she spoke decisively, articulating every syllable, and had strong opinions she held until the end.-Grandma, I thank you. (is this weird? should i end with something else that says it was my grandma?) I'm not sure which tense I should use and if I used the correct ones throughout my essay!. Thanks so much :D

Write an essay in which you tell us about someone who has made an impact on your life and explain how and why this person is important to you. "Why are the sixteenth notes still so uneven? Play them again," my grandma scolded me with a dissatisfied frown. Whenever she frowned, they always meant the same thing: "I know you can play better than this, just concentrate and try harder! If you want to become good, you have to work for it." It was easier said than done, because as a 5-year-old girl, everything sounded more thrilling than sitting on a cold hard piano seat monotonously moving my fingers from white to black, and to white keys again. My grandmother was a woman of a small stature and few words. Despite her size, she spoke decisively, articulating every syllable, and had strong opinions she held until the end. Our adventures would begin when my parents went to work and would drop me off at grandma's fourth floor apartment where I would do homework and learn piano. Before long, she became the best friend who told me my favorite fairy tales before I went to sleep and who let me climb the monkey bars one last time even when my hands were caked with dirt. Although I genuinely loved visiting grandma's house, I unfortunately began to dislike her piano lessons; the material got harder each week, thus forcing me to spend more and more time every day perfecting a song. Sensing disinterest during my lessons when I would leave with a yawn instead of a smile, my grandma thought quickly to revive my love for music. The following week, instead of the usual lesson, she drove me to New York City, saying she had a surprise for me. Before I knew it, we were standing outside Carnegie Hall, an astounding performance center for accomplished musicians around the world. It turned out that her friend's 17-year-old granddaughter was having a performance this afternoon in one of the smaller rooms inside this building. My grandmother brought me here, hoping the young girl's musicianship would inspire me to continue my passion for piano and reach for new heights. To this day, I am thankful for that trip. Ever since that day, I have felt my love for music renewed repeatedly only to find it stronger each time. When lessons become tedious and songs are more challenging than I had expected, my grandmother would always be there, continuously pushing me forward and reminding me of our trip to Carnegie Hall. The beginning years of a pianist's journey are always the hardest; however, those who defeat this obstacle earn mastery of such a magnificent instrument. I have one individual to thank for this. She encouraged me to continue practicing piano even when it was getting difficult, promising me that if I did, I will one day be able to play beautiful melodies like the girl in Carnegie Hall. Most importantly, it was from her invaluable life lesson I learned that persistence and hard work are the first steps for making my dreams realities. Grandma, I thank you. Please specifically look at my grammar (like commas and tenses and stuff). Especially:-It was easier said than done, because as a 5-year-old girl, everything sounded more thrilling than sitting on a cold hard piano seat monotonously moving my fingers from white to black, and to white keys again. -Despite her size, she spoke decisively, articulating every syllable, and had strong opinions she held until the end.-Grandma, I thank you. (is this weird? Should I end with something else that says it was my grandma?) I'm not sure which tense I should use and if I used the correct ones throughout my essay!. Thanks so much :D

Here's what I have in mindWhen I was in the 9th grade, i participated in a Mister contest, and i would like to write something about that day.about how it showed me how it is to be on stage and how wonderful a moment in the spotlight can be after that moment, i took up theatre and during 3 years of work i got from a simple novice school actor to a fearless one that even played the lead character on a national stage during high school i presented and organised that Mister contest 2 years in a row and i got experience on stage.Moreover I was invited to be te presenter of a State Mister contest, and to be the host for 2 debates (1 statal in the presence of the Major and 1 national in the presence of the minister of education).I also have a place in Student's Government (Statal) What I actually want to emphasize is about how I hard I've been working to improve my acting and about how I've been trying to improve my ability to handle pressure. can you tell me whether is a good essay idea and give me some ideas like some phrases to link these things and what i should emphasize? P.s. Everything started from my first appearance on stage 03 November 2004.I can still feel my legs trembeling because of the emotions i used to have at the prom.I was to parade in front of the hundreds of people and show them that I deserved to become Mister Carabella 2004.After 30 seconds of boiled adrenaline, i started to adapt de situation.The blinding flashes did not seem to bother me anymore. When I entered the stage for the 2nd round, I realized how overwhelming was the feel of being in the spotlight.I suddenly realised that that was the life i wanted to follow. Furthermore, in order to get on stage again, the year after I enrolled at the same Mister contest, but this time as one of the organizers. After that I was elected to be the presenter. When I was on stage again I had that feeling as if I was on the right way to the top. After I had shown great interest, passion and skill in what I did, I was invited to present it the year after too. There was nothing to stop me from ascension. Moreover, in the 10th grade, I met Mr. David, a theatre director, who liked me from the first glimpse and asked me if I wanted to join his theatre team, a shot that I took advantage of. Then, was the moment when my heavy artillery started to develop. During the years, I developed my free speaking, the power to bear in my mind long monologues, the ability to order lines and actions logical ways, rhetoric, and the most important, I have learnt how to control my emotions, how to get rid of uncomfortable feelings while on stage, I have learnt how to psychologically overcome and solve problems simpler in the day to day life. As a proof of my perseverance stand the numerous plays I have played in, plays in which my roles varied chronologically from episodic up to lead roles. However, my most important role was the lead role in "Wings of snow", the role of a man whose beloved dies, a play that was directed for charity and took place on the stage of the National Theatre Toni Bulandra in Targoviste. However, my school life was not only about ascension, gathering skills, and achieving popularity among my peers with no obstacle. Good times never come alone; there is always burden around the corner to test your strength and faith. When I was in the 10th grade, my family was cursed...My father had a vascular accident which, soon after, developed into paralysis. Due to my brother not living at home and my mother having to work to support the family, I had to stay at home and focus my free time in helping my father's slow recovery, sometimes not being able to involve in other activities, and I was even forced to miss some classes periodically. After nearly one year, the time started to show us that he is the only one that can heal this type of wounds. From this, I learnt that life can be awful sometimes, and the only thing that we can do is to hold our head up and let the time take care of things. After my father started to feel a bit better, my diligent work, my persistence and my assiduous pursuit of my goals paid back, and soon my academics repaid me again as in the 11th grade, I was one of the founder of the School's Magazine, in which I wrote some articles about "Alfa Males", an ironical comparison between men and women, article that raised my popularity among my colleagues. Later, in the 12th grade, I was invited to be the presenter of the "Miss & Mister Dambovita" contest (a beauty contest at the county level) which I am to present this year in March. Currently, I am the one from my school that is involved in every activity that includes speeches, from speeches on special occasions up to monologues in theather, or debates about violence in school (Department of the County's Students' Council that I am in charge with). In the future, I hope and I will certainly do my best to become a public person, as I consider that this is the life that would fit me best and as my friends recommend me to start my career either in publicity and advertising or in FilmTheatre. ...and everything started on 03 November 2004 Can you give me some tips?Thank you!

Here's what I have in minded I was in the 9th grade, I participated in a Mister contest, and I would like to write something about that day. About how it showed me how it is to be on stage and how wonderful a moment in the spotlight can be after that moment, I took up theater and during 3 years of work I got from a simple novice school actor to a fearless one that even played the lead character on a national stage during high school I presented and organized that Mister contest 2 years in a row and I got experience on stage.Moreover, I was invited to be the presenter of a State Mister contest, and to be the host for 2 debates (1 state in the presence of the Major and 1 national in the presence of the minister of education). I also have a place in Student's Government (State) What I actually want to emphasize is about how I hard I've been working to improve my acting and about how I've been trying to improve my ability to handle pressure. Can you tell me whether is a good essay idea and give me some ideas like some phrases to link these things and what I should emphasize? P.s. Everything started from my first appearance on stage 03 November 2004. I can still feel my legs trembling because of the emotions I used to have at the prom. I was to parade in front of the hundreds of people and show them that I deserved to become Mister Arabella 2004. After 30 seconds of boiled adrenaline, I started to adapt the situation. The blinding flashes did not seem to bother me anymore. When I entered the stage for the 2nd round, I realized how overwhelming was the feel of being in the spotlight. I suddenly realized that that was the life I wanted to follow. Furthermore, in order to get on stage again, the year after I enrolled in the same Mister contest, but this time as one of the organizers. After that I was elected to be the presenter. When I was on stage again I had that feeling as if I was on the right way to the top. After I had shown great interest, passion and skill in what I did, I was invited to present it the year after too. There was nothing to stop me from ascension. Moreover, in the 10th grade, I met Mr. David, a theater director, who liked me from the first glimpse and asked me if I wanted to join his theater team, a shot that I took advantage of. Then, was the moment when my heavy artillery started to develop. During the years, I developed my free speaking, the power to bear in my mind long monologues, the ability to order lines and actions logical ways, rhetoric, and the most important, I have learned how to control my emotions, how to get rid of uncomfortable feelings while on stage, I have learned how to psychologically overcome and solve problems simpler in the day-to-day life. As a proof of my perseverance stand the numerous plays I have played in, plays in which my roles varied chronologically from episodic up to lead roles. However, my most important role was the lead role in "Wings of snow", the role of a man whose beloved dies, a play that was directed for charity and took place on the stage of the National Theatre Toni Chandra in Targoviste. However, my school life was not only about ascension, gathering skills, and achieving popularity among my peers with no obstacle. Good times never come alone; there is always burden around the corner to test your strength and faith. When I was in the 10th grade, my family was cursed... My father had a vascular accident which, soon after, developed into paralysis. Due to my brother not living at home and my mother having to work to support the family, I had to stay at home and focus my free time in helping my father's slow recovery, sometimes not being able to involve in other activities, and I was even forced to miss some classes periodically. After nearly one year, the time started to show us that he is the only one that can heal this type of wounds. From this, I learned that life can be awful sometimes, and the only thing that we can do is to hold our head up and let the time take care of things. After my father started to feel a bit better, my diligent work, my persistence and my assiduous pursuit of my goals paid back, and soon my academics repaid me again as in the 11th grade, I was one of the founder of the School's Magazine, in which I wrote some articles about "Alpha Males", an ironical comparison between men and women, article that raised my popularity among my colleagues. Later, in the 12th grade, I was invited to be the presenter of the "Miss camp; Mister Cambodia" contest (a beauty contest at the county level) which I am to present this year in March. Currently, I am the one from my school that is involved in every activity that includes speeches, from speeches on special occasions up to monologues in theater, or debates about violence in school (Department of the County's Students' Council that I am in charge with). In the future, I hope, and I will certainly do my best to become a public person, as I consider that this is the life that would fit me best and as my friends recommend me to start my career either in publicity and advertising or in FilmTheatre. ...and everything started on 03 November 2004 Can you give me some tips? Thank you!

Here's the topic: Describe a person who has influenced on your development and describe the infuence. Here's my essay: It was just 3 a.m. and the sky was still in the darkness of an extremely cold evening winter in the severe highland. The wind blew fast made the dark sky become more dangerous and violent, but my mother was ready to set out again. Hardly did anyone know that where a female was going in such that weather. She was going to remote areas of the province to do her business, retailing commodities. At the age of 40s, my mother still had to work hard to earn her living and support our family. By her old bike with a lot of goods that maybe was out of her ultimate limit, my mother faced her new challenge alone but vigorously. There was no light outside, no stars, and no one, there was only winds still blew faster and faster towards my mother's sunburnt face. This moment of my mother' life that has been instilled in my mind has tremendously helped me in my spiritual, mental, and developmental upbringing. My mother actually is an ordinary woman but in her tiny appearance lies an extraordinary fortitude, perseverance, a altruistic soul and a very kindly heart. The kind of mother who brought me up with her whole kindly heart, the kind of persistent woman with strong willpower who had to face the toughest challenges in life, and the kind of person who always demonstrated great zeal for every unlucky lives without requiring anything in return and great willingness to help everyone's misery though she did not have much, my mother taught me more than any one else, not only inspired me the strength to overcome hardships in my life, but also left me with invaluable life lessons. Her fortitude and perseverance, as well as her kindly heart have encouraged me to grow up to live the life of an authentic person, a life engulfed with perseverance and determination, a life with heartfelt eagerness to love and to receive love from every one and optimistic beliefs in the future. My mother's life is the succession of obstacles and grieves. Growing up in a poor family, my mother must work very hard to earn her living since her early ages. Due to shortage of material condition, she herself has trained an extremely strong will and ability to sedately deal with each difficulty and stand up to move on from her failures. I vividly remember the calamity poured down my family when my mother' business went bankrupt. We had to sell our house and leave for another town to begin from "zero". This critical time made every member in my family totally upset. But it was my mother, the persistent and brave women, strongly stood up and started over again after this great adversity. Each of her failures, her grief, and the way she overcome difficulties to move on has made an indelible impression in my mind, leaving me with precious lessons about the values of strong wills and indefatigable endeavors to firmly confront with setbacks and bravely conquer them. There was time when I felt that there was no more hope in life, that I felt very weary and was about to give up everything. It was the time when I failed the entrance examination into a high school for the gifted, a famous and competitive school attracting best students in Vietnam. I was really despaired when all my efforts went to nowhere, six months with hard working and overnight learning left me nothing but fail and shame. I was unable to deal with any small problems and felt embarrassed to meet my relatives and friends. However, that was also the right time that I learned from my mother how to learn from mistakes and developed my own tools to take more lessons from them to realize the proper meanings of determination. My patient efforts were compensated when I received scholarships in each semester at high school. All of these difficulties eventually gave me an optimistic view on life which helped me become more vigorous to start all over again and to waive my unhealthy fear of failure. My mother is a diligent and determined woman who has left me with the right direction of my road, more importantly, she has helped me appreciate this life as precious gifts of ordinary life and true happiness by her kindly heart. The accident of my aunt gave me another lesson from my mother. My aunt Dung was unfortunately hurt mentally after this accident, and the reserved women became demented, which made anyone scared of her. Unlike other relatives, my mother was the only person who did not ignore her; in contrast, she looked after her very wholeheartedly. Thank to my mother, I was no longer scared of demented people as I used to, but instead, I understood from their eyes the hope to live stable lives. The kindness I learned from my mother urged me to enthusiastically accompany my teachers to the town of leper families at Eana, Daklak province. This was an unforgettable experience that helped me shaped my outlook on life. Many people here lived in silence and complex about their situations. Scared at first, my mind changed from fearing them to sympathizing with them and wishing them integrate more into the society. I realized from their eyes the sturdy resistance to illness, and their strong will to live ordinary lives under such terrible circumstances. Giving my small gifts, I also received form them more valuable gift - true happiness, that comes from the simple things in life and from trying to make others happy, the more of it we give to other the more we will have for ourselves. I can never thank my mother enough for what she has given me. The precious lessons from my mother are the luggage for me to go on my road and discover new horizon of knowledge and make my dream become a reality instead of just a dream. I own my strength to my mother. Her life experience has made me more vigorous to face every hardship, to overcome each failure, and move on. Far more meaningfully, I also realize the invaluable gift of life and true happiness to view the world more optimistically and to believe in the brighter future.

Here's the topic: Describe a person who has influenced on your development and describe the influence. Here's my essay: It was just 3 a.m. and the sky was still in the darkness of an freezing evening winter in the severe highland. The wind blew fast made the dark sky become more dangerous and violent, but my mother was ready to set out again. Hardly did anyone know that where a female was going in such that weather. She was going to remote areas of the province to do her business, retailing commodities. At the age of 40s, my mother still had to work hard to earn her living and support our family. By her old bike with a lot of goods that maybe was out of her ultimate limit, my mother faced her new challenge alone but vigorously. There was no light outside, no stars, and no one, there were only winds still blew faster and faster towards my mother's sunburned face. This moment of my mother' life that has been instilled in my mind has tremendously helped me in my spiritual, mental, and developmental upbringing. My mother actually is an ordinary woman but in her tiny appearance lies an extraordinary fortitude, perseverance, an altruistic soul and a very kindly heart. The kind of mother who brought me up with her whole kindly heart, the kind of persistent woman with strong willpower who had to face the toughest challenges in life, and the kind of person who always demonstrated great zeal for every unlucky lives without requiring anything in return and great willingness to help everyone's misery though she did not have much, my mother taught me more than anyone else, not only inspired me the strength to overcome hardships in my life, but also left me with invaluable life lessons. Her fortitude and perseverance, as well as her kindly heart have encouraged me to grow up to live the life of an authentic person, a life engulfed with perseverance and determination, a life with heartfelt eagerness to love and to receive love from every one and optimistic beliefs in the future. My mother's life is the succession of obstacles and grieves. Growing up in a poor family, my mother must work very hard to earn her living since her early ages. Due to shortage of material condition, she herself has trained an extremely strong will and ability to sedately deal with each difficulty and stand up to move on from her failures. I vividly remember the calamity poured down my family when my mother' business went bankrupt. We had to sell our house and leave for another town to begin from "zero". This critical time made every member in my family totally upset. But it was my mother, the persistent and brave women, strongly stood up and started over again after this great adversity. Each of her failures, her grief, and the way she overcome difficulties to move on has made an indelible impression in my mind, leaving me with precious lessons about the values of strong wills and indefatigable endeavors to firmly confront with setbacks and bravely conquer them. There was time when I felt that there was no more hope in life, that I felt very weary and was about to give up everything. It was the time when I failed the entrance examination into a high school for the gifted, a famous and competitive school attracting the best students in Vietnam. I was really despaired when all my efforts went nowhere, six months with hardworking and overnight learning left me nothing but fail and shame. I was unable to deal with any small problems and felt embarrassed to meet my relatives and friends. However, that was also the right time that I learned from my mother how to learn from mistakes and developed my own tools to take more lessons from them to realize the proper meanings of determination. My patient efforts were compensated when I received scholarships in each semester at high school. All of these difficulties eventually gave me an optimistic view on life which helped me become more vigorous to start all over again and to waive my unhealthy fear of failure. My mother is a diligent and determined woman who has left me with the right direction of my road, more importantly, she has helped me appreciate this life as precious gifts of ordinary life and true happiness by her kindly heart. The accident of my aunt gave me another lesson from my mother. My aunt Dung was unfortunately hurt mentally after this accident, and the reserved women became demented, which made anyone scared of her. Unlike other relatives, my mother was the only person who did not ignore her; in contrast, she looked after her very wholeheartedly. Thanks to my mother, I was no longer scared of demented people as I used to, but instead, I understood from their eyes the hope to live stable lives. The kindness I learned from my mother urged me to enthusiastically accompany my teachers to the town of leper families at Ana, Dallas province. This was an unforgettable experience that helped me shaped my outlook on life. Many people here lived in silence and complex about their situations. Scared at first, my mind changed from fearing them to sympathizing with them and wishing them integrate more into the society. I realized from their eyes the sturdy resistance to illness, and their strong will to live ordinary lives under such terrible circumstances. Giving my small gifts, I also received form them more valuable gift - true happiness, that comes from the simple things in life and from trying to make others happy, the more of it we give to other the more we will have for ourselves. I can never thank my mother enough for what she has given me. The precious lessons from my mother are the luggage for me to go on my road and discover new horizon of knowledge and make my dream become a reality instead of just a dream. I own my strength to my mother. Her life experience has made me more vigorous to face every hardship, to overcome each failure, and move on. Far more meaningfully, I also realize the invaluable gift of life and true happiness to view the world more optimistically and to believe in the brighter future.

An explosion of noise burst forth from the car stereo, shattering the peaceful summer air with such force that any insects in the vicinity must have been blown backwards by the sheer vibrations of the sound. "This", said my father, "is called rock 'n' roll". To a five year old whose only previous musical experiences had involved Sesame Street, the intoxicating blend of guitars and drums that invaded my ears that day was a revelation. It was also an invitation, beckoning me to tread ever deeper into the waters of musical history. I wasn't quite sure what this cacophony of melody and hand claps was, but I had to hear more of it. Unbeknownst to me, thoughts from that initial experience began to plant themselves in my mind as wishes and dreams that sometimes waited years to make their presence known. In the fourth grade my class was given the option of playing a musical instrument. I chose to play the clarinet, envisioning myself as the next Benny Goodman, another of my dad's influences. Reality, however, soon caught up to me. Playing music turned out to be hard work. Not only that, the difference between being a jazz legend and a ten year old was a bit larger than I had imagined. Nevertheless, I pressed on, the shrill squeaks and the savagery of frustration slowly evolving into smoothly played notes and the quiet confidence of skill. The lesson I learned ingrained itself into my mind; those wishes and dreams could be attained, if only I had the diligence to reach them. Gleaning such knowledge from my explorations of music was often an individual act. As an only child, I had always been independent minded, and with the arrival of my teenage years that independence grew. Thus, at the age of thirteen I asked for and received a guitar for my birthday. Suddenly a whole new range of sonic possibilities beckoned to me. I began to break away from the songs of others and experiment with writing my own, finding my own voice. I started bands with my friends, practicing in the dankest of garages to play such glorious venues as our school talent show, and writing anthems about the virtues of apples or the hubris of Macbeth. They were silly songs, but at least they were my songs, products of my own unique abilities. I see my life up to this point as the first movement in a great symphony. One section, the section that began with that first summer day spent listening to "I Want to Hold Your Hand" by the Beatles, is nearly over. However, the music continues to crescendo and the tempo continues to increase, all building towards a climax I can barely perceive, and yet am anxious to reach. I've been able to play that song for years now, but my journey is only beginning. I hope to take the next step, and find the next song, at (College Name). Thanks for your time.

An explosion of noise burst forth from the car stereo, shattering the peaceful summer air with such force that any insects in the vicinity must have been blown backwards by the sheer vibrations of the sound. "This", said my father, "is called rock 'n' roll". To a five-year-old whose only previous musical experiences had involved Sesame Street, the intoxicating blend of guitars and drums that invaded my ears that day was a revelation. It was also an invitation, beckoning me to tread ever deeper into the waters of musical history. I wasn't quite sure what this cacophony of melody and hand claps was, but I had to hear more of it. Unbeknownst to me, thoughts from that initial experience began to plant themselves in my mind as wishes and dreams that sometimes waited years to make their presence known. In the fourth grade my class was given the option of playing a musical instrument. I chose to play the clarinet, envisioning myself as the next Benny Goodman, another of my dad's influences. Reality, however, soon caught up to me. Playing music turned out to be hard work. Not only that, the difference between being a jazz legend and a ten-year-old was a bit larger than I had imagined. Nevertheless, I pressed on, the shrill squeaks and the savagery of frustration slowly evolving into smoothly played notes and the quiet confidence of skill. The lesson I learned ingrained itself into my mind; those wishes and dreams could be attained, if only I had the diligence to reach them. Gleaning such knowledge from my explorations of music was often an individual act. As an only child, I had always been independent minded, and with the arrival of my teenage years that independence grew. Thus, at the age of thirteen I asked for and received a guitar for my birthday. Suddenly a whole new range of sonic possibilities beckoned to me. I began to break away from the songs of others and experiment with writing my own, finding my own voice. I started bands with my friends, practicing in the dankest of garages to play such glorious venues as our school talent show, and writing anthems about the virtues of apples or the hubris of Macbeth. They were silly songs, but at least they were my songs, products of my own unique abilities. I see my life up to this point as the first movement in a great symphony. One section, the section that began with that first summer day spent listening to "I Want to Hold Your Hand" by the Beatles, is nearly over. However, the music continues to crescendo, and the tempo continues to increase, all building towards a climax I can barely perceive, and yet am anxious to reach. I've been able to play that song for years now, but my journey is only beginning. I hope to take the next step, and find the next song, at (College Name). Thanks for your time.

Do you see any grammatical errors? Is it answering the question being asked? A couple of years ago, I had the honor of volunteering with the Special Olympics Program which benefits people with mental disabilities. I had no idea what to expect the first time I volunteered at an event like this. I had never met a person with mental disabilities so I was afraid of not knowing what to do or what to say to them. The event was a track meet and you could see athletes everywhere. Some were running, others were sprinting, others were jogging. My first job consisted of timing the races. As time passed, I saw myself cheering them on and yelling at the top of my lungs. I almost even forgot to stop the timer once because I couldn't contain my excitement. After timing the athletes, I got to walk them to the water cooler. As we walked down the grass, some of them would tell me about how much they had trained and others would tell me about how they had beat their best friend in the race. It was so much fun listening to the racers' captivating stories. In no time, I was talking to the kids as if I had known them for quite awhile. My best experience that day was getting a hug from a little girl named Casey when I was leaving. I was happy that I had helped her, but more than anything, I was grateful that she demonstrated how anyone, not matter what obstacle or disability, can work hard for their dreams. Though she did not win first place in her race, she was ecstatic, and I know all her hard work and training paid of. I'm glad I got to go and help by cheering the athletes on as they ran around the track, serving them water as they crossed the finish line, giving them food during their break, and even talking to the participants. That day I realized that community service is more than just work. Community service became a way to learn from others and experience what the world has to offer while offering the world what you have. This experience inspired me to use my talents and skills to help others, and to take full advantage of my college degree in order to make the world a better place.

Do you see any grammatical errors? Is it answering the question being asked? A couple of years ago, I had the honor of volunteering with the Special Olympics Program which benefits people with mental disabilities. I had no idea what to expect the first time I volunteered at an event like this. I had never met a person with mental disabilities, so I was afraid of not knowing what to do or what to say to them. The event was a track meet, and you could see athletes everywhere. Some were running, others were sprinting, others were jogging. My first job consisted of timing the races. As time passed, I saw myself cheering them on and yelling at the top of my lungs. I almost even forgot to stop the timer once because I couldn't contain my excitement. After timing the athletes, I got to walk them to the water cooler. As we walked down the grass, some of them would tell me about how much they had trained and others would tell me about how they had beat their best friend in the race. It was so much fun listening to the racers' captivating stories. In no time, I was talking to the kids as if I had known them for quite a while. My best experience that day was getting a hug from a little girl named Casey when I was leaving. I was happy that I had helped her, but more than anything, I was grateful that she demonstrated how anyone, not matter what obstacle or disability, can work hard for their dreams. Though she did not win first place in her race, she was ecstatic, and I know all her hard work and training paid of. I'm glad I got to go and help by cheering the athletes on as they ran around the track, serving them water as they crossed the finish line, giving them food during their break, and even talking to the participants. That day I realized that community service is more than just work. Community service became a way to learn from others and experience what the world has to offer while offering the world what you have. This experience inspired me to use my talents and skills to help others, and to take full advantage of my college degree in order to make the world a better place.

Do you have any suggestions to better my essay? When I was younger, history seemed like the most pointless subject in the world. "Why do I need to learn this if it already happened? How are dead people and dead events going to be of use?" Because I truly didn't find history the least bit enjoyable, I tended to not try. Memorizing dates and names of people was so exhausting and I never seemed to remember them except for the day of the test. As I learned more and more about the history of Texas, the United States, and the World, I came to realize the important of our past. I came to realize that in order to truly understand who we are and how we came to be, we need to understand our past. My history teacher my sophomore year, Mrs. Hirshey, truly inspired me by reminding the class that the names we memorized were people just like us. They struggled, had problems, experienced war, experienced poverty, high taxes, and if we don't want to make the same mistakes they made, we need to make sure that we know how they dealt with their problems. I came to realize that history does repeat itself and if only people realized that people before had the same problems, we could learn from them and get ideas from how they solved or didn't solve their issues. As I became more interested in history, I actually learn the names of people as if they where new friends whose name I couldn't help but remember. Dates became as important as a family member's birthdays. Columbus day and president's day became something to truly celebrate. These days were days to celebrate my countries past. Now, whenever I find myself apathetic towards a subject, I remember how finding relevance to my own life helped me do better in a subject. Now, my only problem is caring about so many eras in history. I can't find time to get to know all the influential people in the Italy's reconnaissance period and the important philosophers who shaped our government's principles such as Locke!

Do you have any suggestions to better my essay? When I was younger, history seemed like the most pointless subject in the world. "Why do I need to learn this if it already happened? How are dead people and dead events going to be of use?" Because I truly didn't find history the least bit enjoyable, I tended to not try. Memorizing dates and names of people was so exhausting, and I never seemed to remember them except for the day of the test. As I learned more and more about the history of Texas, the United States, and the World, I came to realize the importance of our past. I came to realize that in order to truly understand who we are and how we came to be, we need to understand our past. My history teacher my sophomore year, Mrs. Hershey, truly inspired me by reminding the class that the names we memorized were people just like us. They struggled, had problems, experienced war, experienced poverty, high taxes, and if we don't want to make the same mistakes they made, we need to make sure that we know how they dealt with their problems. I came to realize that history does repeat itself and if only people realized that people before had the same problems, we could learn from them and get ideas from how they solved or didn't solve their issues. As I became more interested in history, I actually learn the names of people as if they were new friends whose name I couldn't help but remember. Dates became as important as a family member's birthdays. Columbus Day and President's Day became something to truly celebrate. These days were days to celebrate my countries past. Now, whenever I find myself apathetic towards a subject, I remember how finding relevance to my own life helped me do better in a subject. Now, my only problem is caring about so many eras in history. I can't find time to get to know all the influential people in the Italy's reconnaissance period and the important philosophers who shaped our government's principles such as Locke!

The lively girl I met over the summer on MySpace was not at all what I imagined in person. We had been chatting online for almost two months when we met for the first time at school. It was the first day of my senior year and I spotted her sitting dismissively in the corner of the physics classroom trying desperately not to make eye contact with anyone. When I finally succeeded in making contact with my supposed friend, Alyssa, she turned her head immediately and stared off into the distance. It was as if we had never met. All the pictures on her vibrantly decorated MySpace page of a girl with sunshine eyes and a permanent smile seemed now as a skillfully crafted myth, a lie. How could this be the same girl? At the moment, I felt embarrassed and bewildered. But now, what alarms me the most is that I am a member of a generation that has been socially hindered by online programs like MySpace. My generation has always been easily susceptible to any new trend that crosses our path. As growing youth, our personalities are still taking shape and online social networking programs have affected this molding process. The latest craze, MySpace, has come with the most destructive effects. With MySpace, we can hide behind the comfort of a computer screen and portray ourselves in any way we please. The problem with this is that in real life, we don't know how to speak freely, negotiate ideas and simply be comfortable interacting in person. We have slowed down the process of learning how to communicate with each other merely because we are not practicing it as much as we used to. On a smaller scale, like my high school, many teenagers have already grown dependent on social networking systems because they overwhelmingly prefer meeting someone for the first time on the internet before breaking the ice in person. Yes, that's right. Alyssa wasn't the only one that had a false identity on MySpace. There were many heartbreaking instances of young adults like Alyssa, who still have not developed the confidence and social skills to handle a real conversation. When and how is Alyssa going to break out of the shell of MySpace and go to back to the basics? Though MySpace allows people from all walks of life and from all over the world to interact under one website, it is hampering the social growth of younger generations and puts them at a disadvantage in the future. Meeting a new person in real life has a thrilling aspect to it because one doesn't know, at first, what to expect. You can only be yourself and hope for the best. My generation has lost the passion for that thrill because it can easily be substituted by a simple friend request online. So I ask, what about the qualities of a face to face conversation like emotions and expressions? An avid MySpacer will plainly reply that a colon followed by a dash and an open or closed parenthesis will do the trick; closed if your happy and open if your sad. But there is more to a conversation than showing you are happy or sad with a typed smiley. You can't feel tension through a monitor and you can't type up the emotion given off by a passionate gaze or even condescending stare. I decided that the best thing to do now is just delete my MySpace. I know one deleted MySpace is not going to reverse the decline of my generation's social skills, but it's worth a try. As for meeting new people, I still find a way in real life and a solid hand shake has proved to be much more appealing than a picture comment.

The lively girl I met over the summer on MySpace was not at all what I imagined in person. We had been chatting online for almost two months when we met for the first time at school. It was the first day of my senior year and I spotted her sitting dismissively in the corner of the physics classroom trying desperately not to make eye contact with anyone. When I finally succeeded in making contact with my supposed friend, Alyssa, she turned her head immediately and stared off into the distance. It was as if we had never met. All the pictures on her vibrantly decorated MySpace page of a girl with sunshine eyes and a permanent smile seemed now as a skillfully crafted myth, a lie. How could this be the same girl? At the moment, I felt embarrassed and bewildered. But now, what alarms me the most is that I am a member of a generation that has been socially hindered by online programs like MySpace. My generation has always been easily susceptible to any new trend that crosses our path. As growing youth, our personalities are still taking shape and online social networking programs have affected this molding process. The latest craze, MySpace, has come with the most destructive effects. With MySpace, we can hide behind the comfort of a computer screen and portray ourselves in any way we please. The problem with this is that in real life, we don't know how to speak freely, negotiate ideas and simply be comfortable interacting in person. We have slowed down the process of learning how to communicate with each other merely because we are not practicing it as much as we used to. On a smaller scale, like my high school, many teenagers have already grown dependent on social networking systems because they overwhelmingly prefer meeting someone for the first time on the internet before breaking the ice in person. Yes, that's right. Alyssa wasn't the only one that had a false identity on MySpace. There were many heartbreaking instances of young adults like Alyssa, who still have not developed the confidence and social skills to handle a real conversation. When and how is Alyssa going to break out of the shell of MySpace and go back to the basics? Though MySpace allows people from all walks of life and from all over the world to interact under one website, it is hampering the social growth of younger generations and puts them at a disadvantage in the future. Meeting a new person in real life has a thrilling aspect to it because one doesn't know, at first, what to expect. You can only be yourself and hope for the best. My generation has lost the passion for that thrill because it can easily be substituted by a simple friend request online. So I ask what about the qualities of a face to face conversation like emotions and expressions? An avid MySpace will plainly reply that a colon followed by a dash and an open or closed parenthesis will do the trick; closed if your happy and open if you're sad. But there is more to a conversation than showing you are happy or sad with a typed smiley. You can't feel tension through a monitor, and you can't type up the emotion given off by a passionate gaze or even condescending stare. I decided that the best thing to do now is just delete my MySpace. I know one deleted MySpace is not going to reverse the decline of my generation's social skills, but it's worth a try. As for meeting new people, I still find a way in real life and a solid handshake has proved to be much more appealing than a picture comment.

My father didn't take these words from a parenting book or a movie. All of his lessons came purely from experience that began at an early age. As he told it, his childhood was like a race to maturity and adulthood. Though he had speed, I don't really think he knew exactly where he was heading. When he wasn't at school, he was working for the family. When he wasn't working for his own father in the fields, he was working as a delivery boy for his mom's cosmetics business. His high school graduation came and went and there wasn't much thought given to it, just another stepping stone to "the real world." Thanks to his past, I had been given the blessing of hour-long daily talks on the value of life itself. Though I would typically tune out and set my blank gaze on him, the repetition of his lessons forced some of it to stick with me. Things for me were a little different. I cannot say that I immediately opened up to new things when I entered high school. The truth is that it took a while to become accustomed to the role of an active high school student, but over time I came to love it all. Ok, you got me. I didn't love the unnecessary homework or the overly strict dress code, but everyday I would focus on not shying away from any new challenge or opportunity I was faced with. For example, I had always loved basketball and even though physically the odds where against me, I gathered up the courage to try out for the team and by my senior year I was on the varsity squad. I even took a shot at being in one of the school's plays but my successes in that endeavor didn't turn out so well. The point is that my father's lesson kept me in check with the realization that precious life will come and go with out waiting on anyone. I wasn't going to let myself miss out. I have come along way from the shy, dismissive freshman I was four years ago. My father taught me so much throughout my high school career about taking chances and learning to appreciate every opportunity within the subtle brevity of life. I will have the mindset of living out my college experience to the fullest. I may not join every club or go to every NCAA game, but I plan to become fully integrated into the college life just the way my father had urged me to do in high school. I yearn for the feeling of familiarity in a world of cultural diversity and academic achievement. There is no doubt in my mind that when I graduate from the University of Texas, I will have no regrets. And I know for a fact that when my dad drops me off, my head will not flood with thoughts of running back to the minivan to go home because I will have a new hom

My father didn't take these words from a parenting book or a movie. All of his lessons came purely from experience that began at an early age. As he told it, his childhood was like a race to maturity and adulthood. Though he had speed, I don't really think he knew exactly where he was heading. When he wasn't at school, he was working for the family. When he wasn't working for his own father in the fields, he was working as a delivery boy for his mom's cosmetics business. His high school graduation came and went and there wasn't much thought given to it, just another stepping stone to "the real world." Thanks to his past, I had been given the blessing of hour-long daily talks on the value of life itself. Though I would typically tune out and set my blank gaze on him, the repetition of his lessons forced some of it to stick with me. Things for me were a little different. I cannot say that I immediately opened up to new things when I entered high school. The truth is that it took a while to become accustomed to the role of an active high school student, but over time I came to love it all. Ok, you got me. I didn't love the unnecessary homework or the overly strict dress code, but everyday I would focus on not shying away from any new challenge or opportunity I was faced with. For example, I had always loved basketball and even though physically the odds where against me, I gathered the courage to try out for the team and by my senior year I was on the varsity squad. I even took a shot at being in one of the school's plays, but my successes in that endeavor didn't turn out so well. The point is that my father's lesson kept me in check with the realization that precious life will come and go without waiting on anyone. I wasn't going to let myself miss out. I have come along way from the shy, dismissive freshman I was four years ago. My father taught me so much throughout my high school career about taking chances and learning to appreciate every opportunity within the subtle brevity of life. I will have the mindset of living out my college experience to the fullest. I may not join every club or go to every NCAA game, but I plan to become fully integrated into the college life just the way my father had urged me to do in high school. Furthermore, I yearn for the feeling of familiarity in a world of cultural diversity and academic achievement. There is no doubt in my mind that when I graduate from the University of Texas, I will have no regrets. And I know for a fact that when my dad drops me off, my head will not flood with thoughts of running back to the minivan to go home because I will have a new HOM

Favorite word The fruit plummets to the ground and cracks, marring its coarse brown husk and spilling its white liquid onto the tropical sands. The three indentations within the husk of the coconut resemble a bowling ball or even more entertaining a smiley face. From the way the word coconut rolls off the tongue to the ways it tastes, this amazing word interests me in so many ways. I believe my interest in coconuts began after watching the comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail causing my brother and I to run around the house clapping together hollowed out coconut husks to mimic the sound of horse hoofs. "Click Clack Click Clack" From then on the coconut was a part of my everyday life; food, movies, random conversations and even music involved coconuts. I can not remember how many times the song "Put de lime in de coconut" has repeated itself over and over in my mind, and I never tried to rid the addicting song from my head either. It was just too much fun to dance around the house like a fool singing the coconut song. Saying the word coconut can also provide me with hours of entertainment. It is not as difficult to say as lackadaisical but not as easy as cat and dog. I could chant "Coconut Coconut" all day and never really become bored of the word. Ever since my elementary days of playing with coconuts, I have been enthralled by a world of coconuts and will continue to cherish the word coconut in song and dance, however silly it may seem. Work of art, music, science, mathematics or literature that has surprised, unsettled or challenged you. Looking down at a dark scene, a black and white photograph captures a breathtaking nighttime cityscape. An aerial view of well over a thousand blinking lights creates the only image within the blackness the night brings. Within the city lies an expressway lodged between two large gas stations and trapped inside a concrete maze of overpasses and highways. However the photographer captures an unexpected image within the city, a guitar. Through various methods of photomontages and a unique imagination, Scott Mutter has turned a simple four lane expressway into the neck of a bass guitar. At first glimpse I thought this photograph was just another illuminated cityscape; however, I later recognized the shape of a bass guitar within the picture. The puzzling photograph seemed too unreal; I was dumbfounded. I wanted to know where this picture was taken, if a city was planned out to create such an image and why I had never heard of a cityscape like this one before. I later found out that Mutter created this image using two separate photographs, altering the images so that an entirely new masterpiece came to life. This work of art provides a small glimpse into the mind of an amazing artist, and challenges others to look at the world in a different light. Like looking at shapes in the clouds, Mutter is able to find art in everyday life. Now I wish to see the world as one extravagant work of art.

Favorite word The fruit plummets to the ground and cracks, marring its coarse brown husk and spilling its white liquid onto the tropical sands. The three indentations within the husk of the coconut resemble a bowling ball or even more entertaining a smiley face. From the way the word coconut rolls off the tongue to the ways it tastes, this amazing word interests me in so many ways. I believe my interest in coconuts began after watching the comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail causing my brother and I to run around the house clapping together hollowed out coconut husks to mimic the sound of horse hoofs. "Click Clack" From then on the coconut was a part of my everyday life; food, movies, random conversations and even music involved coconuts. I can not remember how many times the song "Put the lime in de coconut" has repeated itself over and over in my mind, and I never tried to rid the addicting song from my head either. It was just too much fun to dance around the house like a fool singing the coconut song. Saying the word coconut can also provide me with hours of entertainment. It is not as difficult to say as lackadaisical but not as easy as cat and dog. I could chant "Coconut" all day and never really become bored with the word. Ever since my elementary days of playing with coconuts, I have been enthralled by a world of coconuts and will continue to cherish the word coconut in song and dance, however silly it may seem. Work of art, music, science, mathematics or literature that has surprised, unsettled or challenged you. Looking down at a dark scene, a black and white photograph captures a breathtaking nighttime cityscape. An aerial view of well over a thousand blinking lights creates the only image within the blackness the night brings. Within the city lies an expressway lodged between two large gas stations and trapped inside a concrete maze of overpasses and highways. However, the photographer captures an unexpected image within the city, a guitar. Through various methods of photomontages and a unique imagination, Scott Mutter has turned a simple four lane expressways into the neck of a bass guitar. At first glimpse I thought this photograph was just another illuminated cityscape; however, I later recognized the shape of a bass guitar within the picture. The puzzling photograph seemed too unreal; I was dumbfounded. I wanted to know where this picture was taken, if a city was planned out to create such an image and why I had never heard of a cityscape like this one before. I later found out that Mutter created this image using two separate photographs, altering the images so that an entirely new masterpiece came to life. This work of art provides a small glimpse into the mind of an amazing artist, and challenges others to look at the world in a different light. Like looking at shapes in the clouds, Mutter is able to find art in everyday life. Now I wish to see the world as one extravagant work of art.

By the way. Is 739 words too long? Would it be pushing the limit? Thanks in advance! ======================= What is so special about it, I had always felt, is that it has character. Yellowed and worn, it looks like scrap. Inherently, it is scrap. It is leftover lined papers torn out from school notebooks, and then bound together by cellophane tape. I was 13 when the first few pages of my notebook were written in. With my sentences liberally peppered with the all-Malaysian 'lah' and occasionally punctuated with one too many exclamation marks, I exuded vivacity and frivolousness 13-year-olds were known for. My handwriting showed impatience, and sentences that I strung were more expressive than elegant. "Muse's concert rocked!!!!" "I am so worried lah! SPM results out tomorrow!" I filled the pages of my notebook with random musings and written desires on "changing the world", being the best guitar player and becoming president. In between were descriptive recordings of events that took place, some of which were insignificant and routine, such as Wednesday guitar lessons and Saturday volleyball practices, others more meaningful and spanned numerous pages of the notebook. One entry dated May 24th stood out. It was written in awkward and untidy handwriting, and there is a blot near one corner where a teardrop smudged the ink. At 5.13 that morning, my mother had knocked loudly on my bedroom door and bluntly told me that my aunt was dying. Deeply saddened, I rattled on in that cellophane tape-bound notebook about the Evils of Cancer. Months ago, my aunt stopped going for chemotherapy when she found out it was no longer effective. Her hair grew back, and she dyed it red. The fiery redness was a stark contrast to the white washed hospital walls. It was quite a sight ï my aunt's Asian features framed by the short bright red hair. "I look like a punk," she would often joke. It seemed to reflect the passion for life she still retained during her last days. Her jokes and smiles never ceased even when she battled cancer. Wanting to look her best, she had requested to be dressed in a red cheongsam for her funeral. Inspired by her enthusiasm for life, I firmly decided that I was going live my life a player, not a benchwarmer. Armed with that resolution, I tried out for my school's debate team, despite never having had any public speaking experience. I prepared myself as best as I could ï practicing in front of mirrors, challenging myself to argue for and against various odd topics, and looking up "how to debate" on Google. Soon, I managed to earn myself a place in the debate team, and had the opportunity to contend in the National English Debate Competition. Unfortunately, we lost the second round. "At least I won the first!" I scribbled in my notebook, then proceeded to wonder when the next debating competition would take place. Over the years, the notebook became increasingly worn and yellowed. It had grown thicker, too, from the addition of fresh lined paper. Occasionally, phrases like "change the world", as hackneyed as they may be, still make their appearance. But as I grew older and was armed with more self-confidence, I kept my own promise of being a player instead of a benchwarmer. I no longer filled my notebook with daydreams of lives I wish I saved, but with concrete instances of the community work I was involved in. I was able to write about fundraisers and volunteering experiences. I wrote about the Young Idealist group I started, and of how through it I was going to "create an insurmountable wave". I expressed my disappointment at the attendance during the first meeting, and described my excitement at the support I received at the second. The events of the third meeting have yet to be written, but I remain optimistic. Earlier this year, I had to stop adding new pages to the notebook, for it had become too thick to write comfortably in. I got myself a new notebook, a store-bought one with a marbled hardcover. The two are such opposites of each other. One of them haggard-looking, detailing a frivolous adolescent's transformation into a young woman who is more aware of herself and her surroundings, the other with the pages blank, anticipating new experiences and soon-to-be-made discoveries. Looking at the college view books and application forms on my desk, I know more is yet to come, and I am excited. Who knows with what tales will these pages of my notebook be filled?

By the way. Is 739 words too long? Would it be pushing the limit? Thanks in advance! ======================= What is so special about it, I had always felt, is that it has character. Yellowed and worn, it looks like scrap. Inherently, it is scrap. It is leftover lined papers torn out from school notebooks, and then bound together by cellophane tape. I was 13 when the first few pages of my notebook were written in. With my sentences liberally peppered with the all-Malaysian 'LAH' and occasionally punctuated with one too many exclamation marks, I exuded vivacity and frivolousness 13-year-olds were known for. My handwriting showed impatience, and sentences that I strung were more expressive than elegant. "Muse's concert rocked!!!!" "I am so worried LAH! SPM results out tomorrow!" I filled the pages of my notebook with random musings and written desires on "changing the world", being the best guitar player and becoming president. In between were descriptive recordings of events that took place, some of which were insignificant and routine, such as Wednesday guitar lessons and Saturday volleyball practices, others more meaningful and spanned numerous pages of the notebook. One entry dated May 24th stood out. It was written in awkward and untidy handwriting, and there is a blot near one corner where a teardrop smudged the ink. At 5.13 that morning, my mother had knocked loudly on my bedroom door and bluntly told me that my aunt was dying. Deeply saddened, I rattled on in that cellophane tape-bound notebook about the Evils of Cancer. Months ago, my aunt stopped going for chemotherapy when she found out it was no longer effective. Her hair grew back, and she dyed it red. The fiery redness was a stark contrast to the whitewashed hospital walls. It was quite a sight ï my aunt's Asian features framed by the short bright red hair. "I look like a punk," she would often joke. It seemed to reflect the passion for life she still retained during her last days. Her jokes and smiles never ceased even when she battled cancer. Wanting to look her best, she had requested to be dressed in a red cheongsam for her funeral. Inspired by her enthusiasm for life, I firmly decided that I was going live my life a player, not a bench warmer. Armed with that resolution, I tried out for my school's debate team, despite never having had any public speaking experience. I prepared myself as good as I could ï practicing in front of mirrors, challenging myself to argue for and against various odd topics, and looking up "how to debate" on Google. Soon, I managed to earn myself a place in the debate team, and had the opportunity to contend in the National English Debate Competition. Unfortunately, we lost the second round. "At least I won the first!" I scribbled in my notebook, then proceeded to wonder when the next debating competition would take place. Over the years, the notebook became increasingly worn and yellowed. It had grown thicker, too, from the addition of fresh lined paper. Occasionally, phrases like "change the world", as hackneyed as they may be, still make their appearance. But as I grew older and was armed with more self-confidence, I kept my own promise of being a player instead of a bench warmer. I no longer filled my notebook with daydreams of lives I wish I saved, but with concrete instances of the community work I was involved in. I was able to write about fundraisers and volunteering experiences. Furthermore, I wrote about the Young Idealist group I started, and of how through it, I was going to "create an insurmountable wave". Furthermore, I expressed my disappointment at the attendance during the first meeting, and described my excitement at the support I received at the second. The events of the third meeting have yet to be written, but I remain optimistic. Earlier this year, I had to stop adding new pages to the notebook, for it had become too thick to write comfortably in. I got myself a new notebook, a store-bought one with a marbled hardcover. The two are such opposites of each other. One of them haggard-looking, detailing a frivolous adolescent's transformation into a young woman who is more aware of herself and her surroundings, the other with the pages blank, anticipating new experiences and soon-to-be-made discoveries. Looking at the college view books and application forms on my desk, I know more is yet to come, and I am excited. Who knows with what tales will these pages of my notebook be filled?

It was quite the sight really, twenty teenagers and six adults racing through London's very own Heathrow Airport like a flock of wandering birds that just so happened to be disoriented after making a treacherous and long flight. However, much worse was yet to come, at least for me. Traveling with a large group can have its pros and cons, but while traveling overseas, the cons seem to out weigh the pros. After all it is very difficult to rally up twenty teenagers in another country. Nevertheless, it can teach a person how to not overreact and to just take on one cataclysmic situation at a time. Somehow in all of the confusion of getting through the maze of lines and rules, which the airport likes to call security, I had managed to separate myself from the group of matching red and blue t-shirts. At first I wasn't worried, in fact I was quite content having no one to watch over my every move; what seventeen year old would not jump at the chance of a little bit of freedom? Plus traveling abroad was something that I was very accustomed to, and all I needed to do was get through security, get on the plane, meet up with my youth group, and enjoy the flight to Athens, Greece. However, that was easier said than done. While waiting in the lengthy security line, I heard an announcement from above unveil some very important knowledge concerning my flight. "Last boarding call for British Airline flight 0640 to Athens, Greece. LAST boarding call." As soon as those words were digested and absorbed by my brain, my heart began to work over time, pounding rapidly against the inside of my chest. I was petrified. All different types of scenarios popped into my head and none of them ended well. Making a mad dash from one gate to another, I ran through the airport, desperately attempting to reach my connecting flight. After leaving the security gate I had abandoned the thought of replacing my converse to their rightful place on my feet, due to time constraints, and instead opted to carry the black and white tennis shoes. So there I was with dangling shoes, boarding pass, passport, and an unzipped book bag in hand, bolting through the busy terminal and maneuvering through the crowds. I dreaded what would happen if I didn't board the plane before it decided to leave me all alone in chilly London. After blindly running through the terminal in search of my gate, I glanced down at my boarding pass only to realize that it did not have the gate number on it. So there I was, barefoot, lost, and overwhelmed, standing alone in the middle of a sea people. However, about two minutes later I saw one red and three blue blurs whiz by me, and I recognized those blurs. They were my best friends, who apparently were also lost, but they did know the gate number. Together we quickly made it to the gate only to discover that the flight was held back for another thirty minutes since most of its passengers were caught up in the security line. So after waiting another thirty minutes the rest of the youth group caught up with us, and we boarded the plane along with all its tardy passengers. After that incident I made sure to always keep up with the group and be on time. I also learned that no matter what situation I may be in, having a mental breakdown will not make it any better. Instead I learned to just breathe, calm down and think things over logically. Lastly I also realized that I must always keep an eye out for my red and blue flock of birds; because I may be compared to a bird, but it does not mean that I will ever be able to fly away from my problems like a bird does an approaching storm.

It was quite the sight really, twenty teenagers and six adults racing through London's very own Heathrow Airport like a flock of wandering birds that just so happened to be disoriented after making a treacherous and long flight. However, much worse was yet to come, at least for me. Traveling with a large group can have its pros and cons, but while traveling overseas, the cons seem to out weigh the pros. After all it is very difficult to rally up twenty teenagers in another country. Nevertheless, it can teach a person how to not overreact and to just take on one cataclysmic situation at a time. Somehow in all the confusion of getting through the maze of lines and rules, which the airport likes to call security, I had managed to separate myself from the group of matching red and blue t-shirts. At first, I wasn't worried, in fact I was quite content having no one to watch over my every move; what seventeen-year-old would not jump at the chance of a bit of freedom? Plus traveling abroad was something that I was very accustomed to, and all I needed to do was get through security, get on the plane, meet up with my youth group, and enjoy the flight to Athens, Greece. However, that was easier said than done. While waiting in the lengthy security line, I heard an announcement from above unveil some very important knowledge concerning my flight. "Last boarding call for British Airline flight 0640 to Athens, Greece. LAST boarding call." As soon as those words were digested and absorbed by my brain, my heart began to work overtime, pounding rapidly against the inside of my chest. I was petrified. All different types of scenarios popped into my head and none of them ended well. Making a mad dash from one gate to another, I ran through the airport, desperately attempting to reach my connecting flight. After leaving the security gate I had abandoned the thought of replacing my converse to their rightful place on my feet, due to time constraints, and instead opted to carry the black and white tennis shoes. So there I was with dangling shoes, boarding pass, passport, and an unzipped book bag in hand, bolting through the busy terminal and maneuvering through the crowds. I dreaded what would happen if I didn't board the plane before it decided to leave me all alone in chilly London. After blindly running through the terminal in search of my gate, I glanced down at my boarding pass only to realize that it did not have the gate number on it. So there I was, barefoot, lost, and overwhelmed, standing alone in the middle of a sea people. However, about two minutes later I saw one red and three blue blurs whiz by me, and I recognized those blurs. They were my best friends, who apparently were also lost, but they did know the gate number. Together we quickly made it to the gate only to discover that the flight was held back for another thirty minutes since most of its passengers were caught up in the security line. So after waiting another thirty minutes the rest of the youth group caught up with us, and we boarded the plane along with all its tardy passengers. After that incident I made sure to always keep up with the group and be on time. I also learned that no matter what situation I may be in, having a mental breakdown will not make it any better. Instead, I learned to just breathe, calm down and think things over logically. Lastly I also realized that I must always keep an eye out for my red and blue flock of birds; because I may be compared to a bird, but it does not mean that I will ever be able to fly away from my problems like a bird does an approaching storm.

A warm air greeted me as I entered the music room. Instead of the half-empty and quiet room I first remembered it to be, it was crowded with people talking. They were all waiting for Ms. Hall, waiting to sing. During the last day of Music Appreciation class a few weeks before, I decided to audition for chorus again. My interest in music had taken a different turn since September when the audition was forced on all the freshmen; this time, I wanted to get in. The piano began to play, and gradually climbed up the scale. "Easy there, don't push yourself," Ms. Hall said. My voice shook slightly on the last high note and I felt exhilarated for a moment from the tension it created. As the notes moved down, the tension lessened and my voice moved more confidently than before. When the audition was over, Ms. Hall scribbled something on a piece of paper before looking up, "This will be a four-year commitment, quitting halfway is frowned upon. Do you still wish to join?" After a moment's pause, I hastily replied, "Ye-yes, I do." It was 4 PM in the afternoon and I stood on stage, squeezed in between the other choristers. The smell of sweat was heavy and the people around me talked nonstop about their day. I struggled to keep myself standing. "I have three tests tomorrow!" Someone behind me complained."Someone smells!""QUIET DOWN!" My section leader suddenly roared right beside me.The auditorium became silent as Ms. Hall sat down at the podium. I looked at her with relief and concentrated on her baton. She smiled brightly at us, "Haha! Let's begin!" I was taken away from the matters of that day as the piano played. Mistakes we made, yet emotions we perfected. The shell mattered little as I searched for the heart of the song. It was what I looked forward to in every rehearsal. We were like eagles that soared high to catch the drift, hoping to fly effortlessly with emotion. However, my gripe with singing was that my voice was weak. If I sang for too long, my voice would be hoarse for the week. It prevented me from taking on solos and becoming a section leader. This took some fun out of chorus for me and sometimes discouraged me. But it wasn't enough to keep me from singing. After I joined chorus, singing had become more than entertaining the audience; it had become an emotional experience that satisfied a deeper part of me. "Did you know that in college, my teacher said my voice was too small and not fit for opera?" Ms. Hall said to the chorus during one of her digressions, "Well now I sing in Grand Opera!" I was surprised by her words. I always thought that Ms. Hall was born a singer. However, what she said gave me hope. Hope that I could find my real voice just as she found hers. "So does the end truly justify the means?" My global studies teacher stood up and pointed to the question on the board. She had just finished giving us the facts on the total destruction policy used by the Mongols. Our discussion began and ended but no definite conclusions were reached. However, that was the enjoyable part, the part where each of us decided which choice was better. I was fascinated because people react to these decisions like falling domino pieces; the decision of a leader will affect the decision of the people to the last man. The summer after junior year, I began to look for internships related to my interests. A person from church suggested his workplace, the New York District Office of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. I was interviewed by the supervisor of the investigation unit and accepted as an intern at the EEOC. The work environment there was unexpectedly peaceful. I would sometimes sit in a cubicle for an hour just immersing myself in a lengthy case file and writing up a statement of intent for the plaintiff. It was unlike the fast-paced Manhattan work environment that I imagined it to be. "This case looks interesting, maybe it'll have the potential to go to court," I showed the file to my boss."Your job as an investigator is to be objective and to find facts, don't take any sides," my boss said after she looked it over. "Oh..." I was surprised at how I was easily swayed by the file. Afterwards, I constantly reminded myself of what she said as I worked. "Hey, why don't you try working on a project?" My boss suggested. A few moments later, I was handed a large folder. "Here, just read it for today." I felt overwhelmed by the amount of arguments and counterarguments in the folder. Compared to the other cases, this case was far more complex. After a few hours of skimming, I had to call it a day. Even though this case's decision only affected one company and one person, I already felt my head spinning from the attempt to grasp the situation. My interest was piqued by the case because its complexity was on a smaller scale than that of the total destruction policy, and I was actually able to investigate and affect the outcome of the case because of that. Delving deeper into the issues of the workplace, I felt motivated to become more than just a spectator to the falling of the domino pieces. I wanted to influence the way they fall I am applying to ILR because of this motivation and with a hope that I can help improve the workplace. I see the curriculum as an active force that can broaden my perspective in decision making and develop my intellectual thinking. Whether I study the effects that mentoring and job assignments have on leadership development or learn how to set up procedures to minimize discrimination, the courses ILR offers will give me practical insight into the social sciences, a field that I feel most comfortable with and passionate about.

A warm air greeted me as I entered the music room. Instead of the half-empty and quiet room I first remembered it to be, it was crowded with people talking. They were all waiting for Ms. Hall, waiting to sing. During the last day of Music Appreciation class a few weeks before, I decided to audition for chorus again. My interest in music had taken a different turn since September when the audition was forced on all the freshmen; this time, I wanted to get in. The piano began to play, and gradually climbed up the scale. "Easy there, don't push yourself," Ms. Hall said. My voice shook slightly on the last high note and I felt exhilarated for a moment from the tension it created. As the notes moved down, the tension lessened and my voice moved more confidently than before. When the audition was over, Ms. Hall scribbled something on a piece of paper before looking up, "This will be a four-year commitment, quitting halfway is frowned upon. Do you still wish to join?" After a moment's pause, I hastily replied, "Ye-yes, I do." It was 4 PM and I stood on stage, squeezed in between the other choristers. The smell of sweat was heavy and the people around me talked nonstop about their day. I struggled to keep myself standing. "I have three tests tomorrow!" Someone behind me complained." Someone smells!""QUIET DOWN!" My section leader suddenly roared right beside me. The auditorium became silent as Ms. Hall sat down at the podium. I looked at her with relief and concentrated on her baton. She smiled brightly at us, "Haha! Let's begin!" I was taken away from the matters of that day as the piano played. Mistakes we made, yet emotions we perfected. The shell mattered little as I searched for the heart of the song. It was what I looked forward to in every rehearsal. We were like eagles that soared high to catch the drift, hoping to fly effortlessly with emotion. However, my gripe with singing was that my voice was weak. If I sang for too long, my voice would be hoarse for the week. It prevented me from taking on solos and becoming a section leader. This took some fun out of chorus for me and sometimes discouraged me. But it wasn't enough to keep me from singing. After I joined chorus, singing had become more than entertaining the audience; it had become an emotional experience that satisfied a deeper part of me. "Did you know that in college, my teacher said my voice was too small and not fit for opera?" Ms. Hall said to the chorus during one of her digressions, "Well now I sing in Grand Opera!" I was surprised by her words. I always thought that Ms. Hall was born a singer. However, what she said gave me hope. Hope that I could find my real voice just as she found hers. "So does the end truly justify the means?" My global studies' teacher stood up and pointed to the question on the board. She had just finished giving us the facts on the total destruction policy used by the Mongols. Our discussion began and ended, but no definite conclusions were reached. However, that was the enjoyable part, the part where each of us decided which choice was better. I was fascinated because people react to these decisions like falling domino pieces; the decision of a leader will affect the decision of the people to the last man. The summer after junior year, I began to look for internships related to my interests. A person from church suggested his workplace, the New York District Office of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. I was interviewed by the supervisor of the investigation unit and accepted as an intern at the EEOC. The work environment there was unexpectedly peaceful. I would sometimes sit in a cubicle for an hour just immersing myself in a lengthy case file and writing up a statement of intent for the plaintiff. It was unlike the fast-paced Manhattan work environment that I imagined it to be. "This case looks interesting, maybe it'll have the potential to go to court," I showed the file to my boss." Your job as an investigator is to be objective and to find facts, don't take any sides," my boss said after she looked it over. "Oh..." I was surprised at how I was easily swayed by the file. Afterwards, I constantly reminded myself of what she said as I worked. "Hey, why don't you try working on a project?" My boss suggested. A few moments later, I was handed a large folder. "Here, just read it for today." I felt overwhelmed by the amount of arguments and counterarguments in the folder. Compared to the other cases, this case was far more complex. After a few hours of skimming, I had to call it a day. Even though this case's decision only affected one company and one person, I already felt my head spinning from the attempt to grasp the situation. My interest was piqued by the case because its complexity was on a smaller scale than that of the total destruction policy, and I was actually able to investigate and affect the outcome of the case because of that. Delving deeper into the issues of the workplace, I felt motivated to become more than just a spectator to the falling of the domino pieces. I wanted to influence the way they fall I am applying to ILL because of this motivation and with a hope that I can help improve the workplace. I see the curriculum as an active force that can broaden my perspective in decision-making and develop my intellectual thinking. Whether I study the effects that mentoring and job assignments have on leadership development or learn how to set up procedures to minimize discrimination, the courses ILL offers will give me practical insight into the social sciences, a field that I feel most comfortable with and passionate about.

The people that get to know us best, from our virtues to flaws, are our parents. They have the greatest influence in our life because they are the people we see the most and have known for the longest. They sacrifice many luxuries in order to give their children the best life possible. My father has had a huge impact on my life and it is because of him that I am the person I am today. Most people say I am a lot like my dad, both physically and mentally. We both have the same mannerism, facial expressions, and thought processes. We love to learn and travel, eat exotic and luxuries food, spend time with family, and we both have an incredible amount of energy. From observing my dad's behavior and listening to his lectures, he has had a great influence on my life, choices, and personality. My dad was born in Mexico City to a well-off family. He never had any discomfort or traumatizing experiences in his childhood. My dad's life changed though when he found out that my mom had become pregnant with me. They were not married and were very young: my mom being 19 and my dad 23. He made the decision to marry my mom and get a job. It was a rude awakening for him when he started to have monetary struggles, and all the comfort he had as a child quickly went away. Soon his life became a worry about paying the bills and putting food on the table. Aside from all his struggles, my dad never lost hope and kept on working hard to improve his family's quality of life. Finally he made the decision that it would be best to move to the United States and start a business. We moved to Brownsville, Texas, because it is right on the border, and my dad had started an importexport company. It was a huge struggle to get the company started, and (for many years) the business did badly. Finally, after about 6 years of effort, the business started to do fairly well. Soon, my dad was able to open two more offices: one in Laredo, Texas and another in Mexico City. Presently the business is doing very well, and my family lives very comfortably. My father was able to lift our family off the ground because of his perseverance. My dad's ability to improve his family's life has inspired me to always try my hardest to get the best out of life. Thanks to him, I have more opportunities than he had at my age. I feel that if I do not take advantage of everything he has provided for me, I am being lazy and a disappointment to him. I believe that if my dad was able to achieve such a comfortable life with very little to start out with, I should be able to do the same because of all the advantages I have compared to him. My dad's story makes me realize that there are no excuses for me not to reach my goals. My dream of being a successful independent woman will become a reality if I constantly work and fight for it. I admire my dad so much and his major influence on me is that he has made me a very determined person. I never give up, even if I feel my adversities can sometimes be overwhelming. For example, in elementary school I always had a problem with my spelling. In 6th grade my parents discovered that I had dyslexia and needed therapy to improve my spelling. I found my dyslexia very frustrating and it interrupted my learning. After a few months of going to classes, my handicap had become less severe, and I felt I could deal with it on my own. I had to convince my parents that I no longer needed the classes. They finally agreed to let me drop the classes if I promised to keep my grades high. I did the exercises on my own and read many books to keep my dyslexia under control. I have complete control over it now, and I have never needed any special circumstances in class due to my dyslexia. It is not difficult for me to keep up with my classmates that do not have a learning disability. This drive that my father has inspired in me since an early age will always help me in any difficulties I encounter in my life.

The people that get to know us best, from our virtues to flaws, are our parents. They have the greatest influence in our life because they are the people we see the most and have known for the longest. They sacrifice many luxuries in order to give their children the best life possible. My father has had a huge impact on my life, and it is because of him that I am the person I am today. Most people say I am a lot like my dad, both physically and mentally. We both have the same mannerism, facial expressions, and thought processes. We love to learn and travel, eat exotic and luxuries food, spend time with family, and we both have an incredible amount of energy. From observing my dad's behavior and listening to his lectures, he has had a great influence on my life, choices, and personality. My dad was born in Mexico City to a well-off family. He never had any discomfort or traumatizing experiences in his childhood. My dad's life changed though when he found out that my mom had become pregnant with me. They were not married and were very young: my mom being 19 and my dad 23. He made the decision to marry my mom and get a job. It was a rude awakening for him when he started to have monetary struggles, and all the comfort he had as a child quickly went away. Soon his life became a worry about paying the bills and putting food on the table. Aside from all his struggles, my dad never lost hope and kept on working hard to improve his family's quality of life. Finally, he made the decision that it would be best to move to the United States and start a business. We moved to Brownsville, Texas, because it is right on the border, and my dad had started an import export company. It was a huge struggle to get the company started, and (for many years) the business did badly. Finally, after about 6 years of effort, the business started to do fairly well. Soon, my dad was able to open two more offices: one in Laredo, Texas and another in Mexico City. Presently the business is doing very well, and my family lives very comfortably. My father was able to lift our family off the ground because of his perseverance. My dad's ability to improve his family's life has inspired me to always try my hardest to get the best out of life. Thanks to him, I have more opportunities than he had at my age. I feel that if I do not take advantage of everything he has provided for me, I am being lazy and a disappointment to him. I believe that if my dad was able to achieve such a comfortable life with very little to start out with, I should be able to do the same because of all the advantages I have compared to him. My dad's story makes me realize that there are no excuses for me not to reach my goals. My dream of being a successful independent woman will become a reality if I constantly work and fight for it. I admire my dad so much and his major influence on me is that he has made me a very determined person. I never give up, even if I feel my adversities can sometimes be overwhelming. For example, in elementary school I always had a problem with my spelling. In 6th grade my parents discovered that I had dyslexia and needed therapy to improve my spelling. I found my dyslexia very frustrating, and it interrupted my learning. After a few months of going to classes, my handicap had become less severe, and I felt I could deal with it on my own. I had to convince my parents that I no longer needed the classes. They finally agreed to let me drop the classes if I promised to keep my grades high. I did the exercises on my own and read many books to keep my dyslexia under control. I have complete control over it now, and I have never needed any special circumstances in class due to my dyslexia. It is not difficult for me to keep up with my classmates that do not have a learning disability. This drive that my father has inspired in me since an early age will always help me in any difficulties I encounter in my life.

ThanksSean C 400-750 wordsPlease discuss an issue of international significance that has occurred in the last year and is of particular importance to you. At some point in our lives we are affected by the rising gas prices in today's world economy. Gas prices are rising to extremes nearing almost 4 dollars a gallon. As if the cost of gas isn't outrageous enough, the prices are expected to rise even more in the summer with oil prices racing toward $100 a barrel; one could only wonder how much further this can this can escalate. Everyone's talking about it and everyone's complaining about it. Personally it affects me every week and I wonder how the world is going to face this problem in the future. I recall spending time with my grandparents and how they would explain "back in my day we only paid 10 cents a gallon!" I could never imagine paying so little for gas. Fuel is a critical part of the world's economy and it's not as plentiful as we need it to be. Rising gas prices have many effects on hundreds of thousands of people causing them to drive less and use less household heating and air conditioning. The news even reports of people passing out in their homes under extreme heat because they aren't able to afford to run their air conditioning. This can be a direct effect of the expensive oil prices as most electricity is created from fuel. People have shorter vacations and spend less on other commodities. It's even negatively affecting sales this holiday season and it seems everyone's losing out except for large oil companies and their partners. Identifying the problem is a tricky and controversial matter. Most initially blame the oil corporations who make billions of dollars from oil, but they aren't the only ones spotting the obvious gold mine. Governments also want a piece of the action and respond with taxes thus only rising prices. Also, another valid point is the lack of available oil in the world today. Although the world can never economically run out of oil, prices however can get extremely high. Other complications such as location also play a role. For example, Alaska is known for having one of the largest oil reserves in the world, however untouchable because of national park reserves. People respond to the rising fuel prices in various ways one of which that is very popular is buying a hybrid vehicle. Hybrid vehicles are not only good for efficient gas consumption but also good for the environment. Although it helps the cause some might wonder if it's really enough. I own a "fuel efficient vehicle" yet still feel the pinch of the oil prices. It may even give the oil companies an excuse to raise prices even more. Living in California, we see the worst of it (in the USA). In no other state in the US is gas as expensive as it is here. If that wasn't the worst of it, California is also jam pack with cars. Not only do I hate driving here, but I hate paying for gas here too. Living in Switzerland really opened my mind up to a good alternative, public transport. No other place in the world is said to have a more efficient public transit system. The USA lacks in public transport, but this is mostly in part to the great land mass. Too much ground to cover, too many people and so much investment in roads makes public transport an unsuitable approach to the problem. We should start looking for alternatives and fast. More and more people are being suppressed by the high prices. The more we pay for gas, the less we get to spend on other things. More and more it's becoming the talk of the century. It's time for change. We need to put this international epidemic behind us and find an alternative fast.

Thanks Sean C 400-750 wordsPlease discuss an issue of international significance that has occurred in the last year and is of particular importance to you. At some point in our lives we are affected by the rising gas prices in today's world economy. Gas prices are rising to extremes nearing almost 4 dollars a gallon. As if the cost of gas isn't outrageous enough, the prices are expected to rise even more in the summer with oil prices racing toward $100 a barrel; one could only wonder how much further this can escalate. Everyone's talking about it and everyone's complaining about it. Personally it affects me every week and I wonder how the world is going to face this problem in the future. I recall spending time with my grandparents and how they would explain "back in my day we only paid 10 cents a gallon!" I could never imagine paying so little for gas. Fuel is a critical part of the world's economy, and it's not as plentiful as we need it to be. Rising gas prices have many effects on hundreds of thousands of people causing them to drive less and use less household heating and air conditioning. The news even reports of people passing out in their homes under extreme heat because they aren't able to afford to run their air conditioning. This can be a direct effect of the expensive oil prices as most electricity is created from fuel. People have shorter vacations and spend less on other commodities. It's even negatively affecting sales this holiday season, and it seems everyone's losing out except for large oil companies and their partners. Identifying the problem is a tricky and controversial matter. Most initially blame the oil corporations who make billions of dollars from oil, but they aren't the only ones spotting the obvious gold mine. Governments also want a piece of the action and respond with taxes thus only rising prices. Also, another valid point is the lack of available oil in the world today. Although the world can never economically run out of oil, prices however can get extremely high. Other complications such as location also play a role. For example, Alaska is known for having one of the largest oil reserves in the world, however untouchable because of national park reserves. People respond to the rising fuel prices in various ways one of which that is very popular is buying a hybrid vehicle. Hybrid vehicles are not only good for efficient gas consumption but also good for the environment. Although it helps the cause some might wonder if it's really enough. I own a "fuel efficient vehicle" yet still feel the pinch of the oil prices. It may even give the oil companies an excuse to raise prices even more. Living in California, we see the worst of it (in the USA). In no other state in the US is gas as expensive as it is here. If that wasn't the worst of it, California is also jam pack with cars. Not only do I hate driving here, but I hate paying for gas here too. Living in Switzerland really opened my mind up to a good alternative, public transport. No other place in the world is said to have a more efficient public transit system. The USA lacks in public transport, but this is mostly in part to the great land mass. Too much ground to cover, too many people and so much investment in roads makes public transport an unsuitable approach to the problem. We should start looking for alternatives and fast. More and more people are being suppressed by the high prices. The more we pay for gas, the less we get to spend on other things. More and more it's becoming the talk of the century. It's time for change. We need to put this international epidemic behind us and find an alternative fast.

If it should be shorter, can someone point me in the right direction and tell me what to remove? Here it is: My parents introduced me to golf when I was eight years old. They purchased me a set of four clubs and drove to the local golf course to teach me how to play. From that point until I was fourteen I played very casually, maybe a dozen rounds per year, and showed little sign of improvement. At the end of eighth grade, it was announced that tryouts for the high school golf team were scheduled for the end of August. I began practicing. In three months, I brought my average score per nine holes down from a lax 60 to a completely honest, playing-by-the-rules 53. To my surprise, I received a phone call from the head coach three days after the tryouts informing me that I had made the team. I continued to improve gradually, although I was still nearly the worst on the team. In April I rented a locker at the course, and began riding my bike there every day I could. Since then I have continued playing on the team in the autumn and practicing obsessively during the spring and summer months.

If it should be shorter, can someone point me in the right direction and tell me what to remove? Here it is: My parents introduced me to golf when I was eight years old. They purchased me a set of four clubs and drove to the local golf course to teach me how to play. From that point until I was fourteen I played very casually, maybe a dozen rounds per year, and showed little sign of improvement. At the end of eighth grade, it was announced that tryouts for the high school golf team were scheduled for the end of August. I began practicing. In three months, I brought my average score per nine holes down from a lax 60 to a completely honest, playing-by-the-rules 53. To my surprise, I received a phone call from the head coach three days after the tryouts informing me that I had made the team. I continued to improve gradually, although I was still nearly the worst on the team. In April, I rented a locker at the course, and began riding my bike there every day I could. Since then, I have continued playing on the team in the autumn and practicing obsessively during the spring and summer months.

When they say "It takes a village to raise a child," they really mean that it takes a "city" to raise a child. At least it seems like it. Children need all of the care they can get, including constant monitoring, learning, and unconditional love. But it's a lot more work than people are led to think, and my family has had its fair share of financial troubles. Regardless, we worked through it for her sake. Christel by no means is a perfect child, either. She struggles with homework, fails to do her chores at times, and annoys other family members, as kids often do. However, what Christel has taught me these past few years overshadowed her shortcomings. I didn't learn how to teach Christel to deal with bullies from a teacher. Nor did I learn how to answer Christel's questions about race from my parents. She helped foster the natural paternal instinct that is inside me. Christel taught me how to treat people with such gentility and kindness, and how to be responsible for my age. That's the exact care a child needs when growing up. However, she helped me realize that we, as more mature human beings, need to treat each other as such. Christel, watching modern war clips on the local news, asked me, "Why do they fight all the time?" Those quiet, pondering questions are the ones that make me admire her so much. Isn't it funny sometimes how inquisitive kids can be? They ask so many questions, and they want to know about everything they see in the world. Christel, undoubtedly is one of those kids. She isn't afraid to ask those questions that make adults squirm. Christel's simple, free-thinking mind gives me a dose of simplicity every time I need it. As a baby, she's taught me the tiny lessons that we all need to learn as humans, and currently as a quirky eight-year-old student, Christel has taught me to always keep an open mind, and to truly think of the basics of things. Christel is my first true love, and she'll always have an influence on me throughout my life.

When they say "It takes a village to raise a child," they really mean that it takes a "city" to raise a child. At least it seems like it. Children need all the care they can get, including constant monitoring, learning, and unconditional love. But it's a lot more work than people are led to think, and my family has had its fair share of financial troubles. Regardless, we worked through it for her sake. Christen by no means is a perfect child, either. She struggles with homework, fails to do her chores at times, and annoys other family members, as kids often do. However, what Christen has taught me these past few years overshadowed her shortcomings. I didn't learn how to teach Christen to deal with bullies from a teacher. Nor did I learn how to answer Christen's questions about race from my parents. She helped foster the natural paternal instinct that is inside me. Christen taught me how to treat people with such gentility and kindness, and how to be responsible for my age. That's the exact care a child needs when growing up. However, she helped me realize that we, as more mature human beings, need to treat each other as such. Christen, watching modern war clips on the local news, asked me, "Why do they fight all the time?" Those quiet, pondering questions are the ones that make me admire her so much. Isn't it funny sometimes how inquisitive kids can be? They ask so many questions, and they want to know about everything they see in the world. Christen, undoubtedly is one of those kids. She isn't afraid to ask those questions that make adults squirm. Christen's simple, free-thinking mind gives me a dose of simplicity every time I need it. As a baby, she's taught me the tiny lessons that we all need to learn as humans, and currently as a quirky eight-year-old student, Christen has taught me to always keep an open mind, and to truly think of the basics of things. Christen is my first true love, and she'll always have an influence on me throughout my life.

I was once an introvert but my exposure to the outside world led me to break out of my shell. One experience after another helped me improve into being the outgoing woman I am today. Growing up in an urban neighborhood and attending one of the most diverse schools in Jersey City, I do not think I will find it difficult to adjust to your university. My interest in cosmetology originally evolved during my pre-school years. When I first saw the "Cut-my-hair" Barbie commercials, I was fascinated and wondered how her looks differed all the time. The process intrigued me. I thought it was something interesting that I wanted to do. Little did I know this was the beginning of a new passion. Excelling in cosmetology developed my adaptability. It required me to keep up to date with the latest hair fashion. I developed creativity by coming up with new and different ways to style hair as to reflect a person's individuality. It taught me to relate well and understand people and their needs. When my customer has an idea of what they want to look like, it is my job as a hairstylist to make it a reality. These experiences helped me work with people face-to-face. It is no doubt that taking up this course in high school help start building my communication skills. While cosmetology molded my desire for a successful future, I am also interested in dancing. I always admired the [Dance team here ex:RAPS organization] and wanted to be a part of it. During my early years, I seemed to fall short of mastering dance skills. I thought I was going to give up. Though I had to undergo struggles making it to the top, my commitment and motivation pushed me to become better and stay focused. I also learned a valuable lesson. "The measure of a person lies in their ability to overcome failure, use it as a fuel for success." I am now a member of the dance troupe, "Urban." We combine different dance backgrounds that are admired from the city, such as hip-hop, break dancing, and popping. Today, we perform in social events and fund raising activities. Since I was born and raised in America, my parents' country was foreign to me. After many visits to my hometown in Bantay, Philippines, I became very fluent in speaking our native dialect, Ilo Cano. Additionally, I was introduced to the "Bantay Bata" child welfare program. Their goal is to help protect children from child abuse. The lessons I learned during these experiences taught me teamwork and social awareness. They also prepared me for the multicultural environment I will face if accepted at [College here]. During my sophomore year, I was voted class treasurer. It elevated my self-esteem knowing that my classmates trusted me. It was definitely a challenge to be involved in many activities. Along with assisting and organizing events, it helped me polish my interpersonal skills. The responsibilities and trust will serve me well in an independent college surrounding. With the knowledge and experience I have gained through recognized efforts and social events, I hope to bring these values with me to college. These helped me transform from this young shy girl to this young woman that continues to help people and make a positive impact in their lives. I believe that I can do anything to have [College here] proud of having me as a student. Attending your school can connect me to all aspects of my desired major in communications.

I was once an introvert, but my exposure to the outside world led me to break out of my shell. One experience after another helped me improve into being the outgoing woman I am today. Growing up in an urban neighborhood and attending one of the most diverse schools in Jersey City, I do not think I will find it difficult to adjust to your university. My interest in cosmetology originally evolved during my pre-school years. When I first saw the "Cut-my-hair" Barbie commercials, I was fascinated and wondered how her looks differed all the time. The process intrigued me. I thought it was something interesting that I wanted to do. Little did I know this was the beginning of a new passion. Excelling in cosmetology developed my adaptability. It required me to keep up to date with the latest hair fashion. I developed creativity by coming up with new and different ways to style hair as to reflect a person's individuality. It taught me to relate well and understand people and their needs. When my customer has an idea of what they want to look like, it is my job as a hairstylist to make it a reality. These experiences helped me work with people face-to-face. It is no doubt that taking up this course in high school help start building my communication skills. While cosmetology molded my desire for a successful future, I am also interested in dancing. I always admired the [Dance team here ex:RAPS organization] and wanted to be a part of it. During my early years, I seemed to fall short of mastering dance skills. I thought I was going to give up. Though I had to undergo struggles making it to the top, my commitment and motivation pushed me to become better and stay focused. I also learned a valuable lesson. "The measure of a person lies in their ability to overcome failure, use it as a fuel for success." I am now a member of the dance troupe, "Urban." We combine different dance backgrounds that are admired from the city, such as hip-hop, break dancing, and popping. Today, we perform in social events and fund-raising activities. Since I was born and raised in America, my parents' country was foreign to me. After many visits to my hometown in Bantam, Philippines, I became very fluent in speaking our native dialect, Ill Can. Additionally, I was introduced to the "Bantam Data" child welfare program. Their goal is to help protect children from child abuse. The lessons I learned during these experiences taught me teamwork and social awareness. They also prepared me for the multicultural environment I will face if accepted at [College here]. During my sophomore year, I was voted class treasurer. It elevated my self-esteem knowing that my classmates trusted me. It was definitely a challenge to be involved in many activities. Along with assisting and organizing events, it helped me polish my interpersonal skills. The responsibilities and trust will serve me well in an independent college surrounding. With the knowledge and experience I have gained through recognized efforts and social events, I hope to bring these values with me to college. These helped me transform from this young shy girl to this young woman that continues to help people and make a positive impact in their lives. I believe that I can do anything to have [College here] proud of having me as a student. Attending your school can connect me to all aspects of my desired major in communications.

I come from a very traditional family of Vietnam. Born and growing up in a family of culture and traditional aspects, the influence in cultural and behavior that has been instilled in me has tremendously helped in my spiritual, metal and developmental upbringing. My parents have taught me a great deal of invaluable lessons of perseverance, tolerance, prudence and forgiveness, which leads me to the man I am today. All of these moral lessons have set roots into my mind, and from there they change my points of view, my attitude towards the life and mold the development of my whole life. My mother, actually, is a very ordinary person but she is the most persistent and hard working women I have ever seen. In fact, she is not a successful businesswoman and often copes with failures; however, all of her experienced life has left me with an effort to overcome hardships. Maybe she has never urged me to do exactly what we must do, but her encouragements inspired me a lot, her fortitude motivated me to keep moving forward. Each of her failure, her grief and the ways she set aside difficulties to move on have given an indelible impression in my mind, leading me to travel on the right road and encouraging me to take advantage of every opportunity. She has taught me in the clearest possible way that I should never give up, that I could surmount any obstacle, and that I could build an active life for myself. From the time at high school, I have taken part in many voluntary activities which helps me to improve myself. These activities give me broader perspective on life, and offer me opportunities to discover the values of my own. I have taken responsibility in various fundraisers and volunteered in the Green Summer Mission campaign to help many poor children get more optimistic about their future. I have also been a member of other organizations for the youth such as AIESEC, a place where I learn many skills of communication and have opportunities to explore the real experience of leaders. I have completed and have been challenged throughout high school and have been involved in many different activities recently that offer me a life of action and confidence. I am ready to face new challenges waiting for me and I eager to conquer them. All the time, I know that higher education is a key factor I need to attain to fulfill my dream, and that to set my own business. As many young people, I realize that business would be the most promising for the time coming and would be the prime factor to develop in this market economy. I believe that my endeavor will be compensated fairly. I can never thank my mother enough for what she has given me. I am confident with all things I have made in my life, and I owe all my strength to my mother. The lesson from her life has left me with the right direction of my road, pushing me forward -"Taking advantage of every opportunity and dealing with hardship are what make individuals grow into strong and functional members of society".

I come from a very traditional family of Vietnam. Born and growing up in a family of culture and traditional aspects, the influence in cultural and behavior that has been instilled in me has tremendously helped in my spiritual, metal and developmental upbringing. My parents have taught me a great deal of invaluable lessons of perseverance, tolerance, prudence and forgiveness, which leads me to the man I am today. All of these moral lessons have set roots into my mind, and from there they change my points of view, my attitude towards the life and mold the development of my whole life. My mother, actually, is a very ordinary person, but she is the most persistent and hardworking women I have ever seen. In fact, she is not a successful businesswoman and often copes with failures; however, all of her experienced life has left me with an effort to overcome hardships. Maybe she has never urged me to do exactly what we must do, but her encouragements inspired me a lot, her fortitude motivated me to keep moving forward. Each of her failure, her grief and the ways she set aside difficulties to move on have given an indelible impression in my mind, leading me to travel on the right road and encouraging me to take advantage of every opportunity. She has taught me in the clearest possible way that I should never give up, that I could surmount any obstacle, and that I could build an active life for myself. From the time at high school, I have taken part in many voluntary activities which helps me to improve myself. These activities give me broader perspective on life, and offer me opportunities to discover the values of my own. I have taken responsibility in various fundraisers and volunteered in the Green Summer Mission campaign to help many poor children get more optimistic about their future. I have also been a member of other organizations for the youth such as AIESEC, a place where I learn many skills of communication and have opportunities to explore the real experience of leaders. Furthermore, I have completed and have been challenged throughout high school and have been involved in many activities recently that offer me a life of action and confidence. Furthermore, I am ready to face new challenges waiting for me and I am eager to conquer them. All the time, I know that higher education is a key factor I need to attain to fulfill my dream, and that to set my own business. As many young people, I realize that business would be the most promising for the time coming and would be the prime factor to develop in this market economy. I believe that my endeavor will be compensated fairly. I can never thank my mother enough for what she has given me. Furthermore, I am confident with all things I have made in my life, and I owe all my strength to my mother. The lesson from her life has left me with the right direction of my road, pushing me forward -"Taking advantage of every opportunity and dealing with hardship are what make individuals grow into strong and functional members of society".

The aim of this essay is to present a discussion about the positive and negative effects of child day care, it will consider if children are harmed by day-care, or how it can positively affect their development. We will also discuss how the effects of day care are measured, and discuss how we need to use day care of a consistent level for research. In order to establish the affects day care can have upon a child, we firstly need to define day-care it's self, there are many different types of day care, and according to Clarke Stewart et al (1994), there are five different types of care available, firstly the child being at home with the mother, or at home with the caregiver the care giver may be a childminder for example, or the child may go to the caregiver's home, the child may attend a part time day care centre, or full time day care, or the parents may use a range of these different day care settings for their child. It has been noted that there has been a steady increase in the past 30 years in the amount of children that are now being cared for in a day care centres, instead of being at home with a parent or childminder (Hofferth, 1996). As David Putwain (2003) points out, children are often placed into day care once the mother returns to work following maternity leave; the affect of daycare is directly related to maternal employment. Lerner and Galambos (1986) followed 133 children, whose mothers were working, and so the child was in daycare, using a range of methods they found that by the age of five there were no differences in IQ, educational achievement, adjustment at home and mother and child interactions, between the children in daycare, and the control group of children who were being cared for by their mothers at home. This would support the idea that if the mother was happy, it would influence the child, whether the child is at home with the mother or in daycare. This may indicate to us that by the mother working, and placing the child into daycare, she is able to go to work and receive psychological benefits, thus making her happier when she spends time with her child, Moorhouse (1991) looked at a sample of a 100 working mothers, and found that they compensated for the lost time with their children, by spending more quality time, doing activities such as playing, reading stories, and these type of activities are very important to developing the child's cognitive and social skills. This would also support the belief that it is not the amount of time the parent spends with the child that is important, but the quality of the time that matters. Sometimes, it may be more difficult for children from lower social backgrounds to attend daycare of a high standard, thus placing them at a lower level academically, and socially, as they have not had the chance to interact with peers of a similar age. Ramney, Orval and Baker-Ward, followed children from a low income family, who attended a day care centre that was designed to provide educational support, and help the children to develop socially, fifty four children were placed in the daycare group, or in the control group who received care at home. The children were assessed at the age of one, which revealed very few differences between the two groups in the IQ tests, but when next tested, the home care group started to significantly decline, by 42 months, the group who received daycare, were on a significantly higher level, on a range of cognitive measures, and social factors. These results indicate to us that if children from lower social backgrounds receive high quality daycare, it may stop them having a deteriation in their social and intellectual development that happens if they receive homecare. Sarah

The aim of this essay is to present a discussion about the positive and negative effects of child day care, it will consider if children are harmed by day-care, or how it can positively affect their development. We will also discuss how the effects of day care are measured, and discuss how we need to use day care of a consistent level for research. In order to establish the effects day care can have upon a child, we firstly need to define day-care it's self, there are many types of day care, and according to Clarke Stewart et al. (1994), there are five different types of care available, firstly the child being at home with the mother, or at home with the caregiver the caregiver may be a childminder for example, or the child may go to the caregiver's home, the child may attend a part-time day care center, or full time day care, or the parents may use a range of these different day care settings for their child. It has been noted that there has been a steady increase in the past 30 years in the amount of children that are now being cared for in a day care centers, instead of being at home with a parent or childminder (Offer, 1996). As David Pu twain (2003) points out, children are often placed into day care once the mother returns to work following maternity leave; the effect of daycare is directly related to maternal employment. Lerner and Galaxies (1986) followed 133 children, whose mothers were working, and so the child was in daycare, using a range of methods they found that by the age of five there were no differences in IQ, educational achievement, adjustment at home and mother and child interactions, between the children in daycare, and the control group of children who were being cared for by their mothers at home. This would support the idea that if the mother was happy, it would influence the child, whether the child is at home with the mother or in daycare. This may indicate to us that by the mother working, and placing the child into daycare, she is able to go to work and receive psychological benefits, thus making her happier when she spends time with her child, Poorhouse (1991) looked at a sample of 100 working mothers, and found that they compensated for the lost time with their children, by spending more quality time, doing activities such as playing, reading stories, and these type of activities are very important to developing the child's cognitive and social skills. This would also support the belief that it is not the amount of time the parent spends with the child that is important, but the quality of the time that matters. Sometimes, it may be more difficult for children from lower social backgrounds to attend daycare of a high standard, thus placing them at a lower level academically, and socially, as they have not had the chance to interact with peers of a similar age. Ramsay, Orval and Baker-Ward, followed children from a low income family, who attended a day care center that was designed to provide educational support, and help the children to develop socially, fifty-four children were placed in the daycare group, or in the control group who received care at home. The children were assessed at the age of one, which revealed very few differences between the two groups in the IQ tests, but when next tested, the home care group started to significantly decline, by 42 months, the group who received daycare, were on a significantly higher level, on a range of cognitive measures, and social factors. These results indicate to us that if children from lower social backgrounds receive high quality daycare, it may stop them having a determination in their social and intellectual development that happens if they receive home care. Sarah

"Evaluate a significant experience or achievement that has special meaning to you." It was June 8, 2007 when I got to go behind the scenes on the set of "The Early Show." It is CBS's two-hour morning broadcast that is directed by Michael Mancini, a resident in my town. At my school, I am and have been enrolled in a class called Television Production where we learn how the aesthetics of television and actually get to put together our own shows for our TV Club's morning announcements. I am extremely involved in this class and over the past three years have developed a passion for television directing. Being at CBS Studios put the icing on the cake. For me, it was a meaningful and worthwhile experience that I am never going to forget. My class sat in the control room of the studio, right in the middle of all the action and excitement. I was seated right behind the director, so I really got a feel for what his job was like. Throughout the show, he had to coordinate with his talent, technical director, audio technician, everybody. He had a million things going on at once, yet he ran an extremely successful show. As I was watching the broadcast, I got chills just seeing how well the show went. I am the type of person who works well under pressure and watching Mr. Mancini direct the show made me confident that I could one day run a broadcast as well as he did. During one of the commercial breaks, he turned to me and jokingly asked me if I was ready to direct the rest of the show. Ever since that moment, I have had my heart set on becoming a television director. But if I can only obtain a job as a floor manager or a camera person, I would be more than satisfied. As I witnessed, their jobs are just as important as the directors. Being at CBS Studios really helped me decide what kind of future I want to make for myself. From the moment I walked into the control room, I was awestruck at what I saw. For years now, I have been undecided with what I want to do with my life after high school. After that day though, I knew that there was no turning back, that this is the kind of industry I want to be a part of. I am slowly preparing myself everyday when I go to my Television Production class, and I have become confident that I can achieve my dream. Who knows, maybe one day I will find myself working at CBS Studios!

"Evaluate a significant experience or achievement that has special meaning to you." It was June 8, 2007, when I got to go behind the scenes on the set of "The Early Show." It is CBS's two-hour morning broadcast that is directed by Michael Mancini, a resident in my town. At my school, I am and have been enrolled in a class called Television Production where we learn how the aesthetics of television and actually get to put together our own shows for our TV Club's morning announcements. I am extremely involved in this class and over the past three years have developed a passion for television directing. Being at CBS Studios put the icing on the cake. For me, it was a meaningful and worthwhile experience that I am never going to forget. My class sat in the control room of the studio, right in the middle of all the action and excitement. I was seated right behind the director, so I really got a feel for what his job was like. Throughout the show, he had to coordinate with his talent, technical director, audio technician, everybody. He had a million things going on at once, yet he ran an extremely successful show. As I was watching the broadcast, I got chills just seeing how well the show went. I am the type of person who works well under pressure and watching Mr. Mancini direct the show made me confident that I could one day run a broadcast as well as he did. During one of the commercial breaks, he turned to me and jokingly asked me if I was ready to direct the rest of the show. Ever since that moment, I have had my heart set on becoming a television director. But if I can only obtain a job as a floor manager or a camera person, I would be more than satisfied. As I witnessed, their jobs are just as important as the directors. Being at CBS Studios really helped me decide what kind of future I want to make for myself. From the moment I walked into the control room, I was awestruck at what I saw. For years now, I have been undecided with what I want to do with my life after high school. After that day though, I knew that there was no turning back, that this is the kind of industry I want to be a part of. I am slowly preparing myself every day when I go to my Television Production class, and I have become confident that I can achieve my dream. Who knows, maybe one day I will find myself working at CBS Studios!

From the very first day I began directing for my school's Television Production class, I knew that my heart would be set on making a future out of it. I started out directing simple, five minute broadcasts, and moved on to a bit more complex fifteen minute broadcasts. This past June, I got to sit in the control room of CBS's "The Early Show," directed by Michael Mancini, who just so happens to reside in my hometown. I was amazed to see how much effort and collaboration goes into a live, two hour broadcast. I thought our fifteen minute broadcasts were stressful, but nothing compared to this. Being behind the scenes at "The Early Show," just gave me a bigger incentive and a stronger desire to follow in the footsteps of televisions finest directors. I strongly believe that Syracuse University is going to guide me along the right path towards being a future television director. S.I. Newhouse is widely known to be one of the nation's most prominent schools for communications studies. It offers two state-of-the-art television studios. Television directors need to be acquainted with the equipment being used during their productions. In my Television studies at my high school, I have had hands on experience with professional studio equipment so I would have knowledge of how to use Newhouse's equipment. Not only do directors need to be familiar with the studio equipment, they need to know how to put together a successful show. Newhouse offers courses such as Television Production, Shortform Production, and Production Practicum-Television, each of which deals with the aspects of putting together basic yet effective television broadcasts. However, the basics are not always enough; directors, along with the producers, need to make sure their broadcasts capture the audience's attention. Courses such as Dramatic Writing for Television, Persuasive Writing, Comedy Writing, Children and Television, and Popular Culture Studies are offered at Newhouse. These courses will be beneficial in helping to spice up a broadcast, which is one of the roles that the director holds. For three years now, I have held a passionate interest for television directing. My dream is to obtain a job directing a television broadcast, whether it is at a small, local station or a large, national station such as CBS. Syracuse's Newhouse School of Communication offers exceptional facilities along with intense yet worthwhile courses. With all that Newhouse and Syracuse University offer, I believe that I can achieve my aspiration of becoming a television director. I hope to one day see my name in the credits of a show, and when that day comes, I will know that Syracuse University helped me get there!

From the very first day I began directing for my school's Television Production class, I knew that my heart would be set on making a future out of it. I started out directing simple, five minute broadcasts, and moved on to a bit more complex fifteen-minute broadcasts. This past June, I got to sit in the control room of CBS's "The Early Show," directed by Michael Mancini, who just so happens to reside in my hometown. I was amazed to see how much effort and collaboration goes into a live, two hour broadcast. I thought our fifteen-minute broadcasts were stressful, but nothing compared to this. Being behind the scenes at "The Early Show," just gave me a bigger incentive and a stronger desire to follow in the footsteps of televisions the finest directors. I strongly believe that Syracuse University is going to guide me along the right path towards being a future television director. S.I. New house is widely known to be one of the nation's most prominent schools for communications studies. It offers two state-of-the-art television studios. Television directors need to be acquainted with the equipment being used during their productions. In my Television studies at my high school, I have had hands-on experience with professional studio equipment, so I would have knowledge of how to use New house's equipment. Not only do directors need to be familiar with the studio equipment, they need to know how to put together a successful show. New house offers courses such as Television Production, Short form Production, and Production Practicum-Television, each of which deals with the aspects of putting together basic yet effective television broadcasts. However, the basics are not always enough; directors, along with the producers, need to make sure their broadcasts capture the audience's attention. Courses such as Dramatic Writing for Television, Persuasive Writing, Comedy Writing, Children and Television, and Popular Culture Studies are offered at New house. These courses will be beneficial in helping to spice up a broadcast, which is one of the roles that the director holds. For three years now, I have held a passionate interest for television directing. My dream is to obtain a job directing a television broadcast, whether it is at a small, local station or a large, national station such as CBS. Syracuse's New house School of Communication offers exceptional facilities along with intense yet worthwhile courses. With all that New house and Syracuse University offer, I believe that I can achieve my aspiration of becoming a television director. I hope to one day see my name in the credits of a show, and when that day comes, I will know that Syracuse University helped me get there!

I feel that I can analyze people well when they come to me for advice. I have always been a people-person. The sensitivity I possess helps me be aware of not only their position on a subject, but also that of others. This along with my listening skills and willingness to compromise makes for great relationships. Even if I fight with a friend, my charisma and kindness always helps smooth things over. Because Libra is the most empathetic of all signs, my "patient" will always feel like his or her feelings are understood. This trait can help me help the students at Rutgers. I can be of service as a confidante. As a confidante, or a counselor, at Rutgers, I also hope to assist others in finding balance. One of the most important ways to keep balance is through time management. Students should learn the value of time management for now and the future to keep from living a hectic and stressful life. I am a good example. The beginning of senior year was very busy for me. My weekly routine consisted of me being a student, a sister, a daughter, a granddaughter, a girlfriend, a friend, an athlete, and an employee. On top of that I prepared to take my SAT's a second time and begin applying to colleges. In the middle of volleyball season, I ended up resigning from my job, being unprepared for the SAT's, and procrastinating college applications. Time management is key for students, or anybody, to progress and be successful. I can contribute to Rutgers University through my different experiences. As an indecisive Libra, I like to try new things to get a feel of what the world has to offer. "I balance" is the motto for Libra. Knowing a little bit of world, its people, and different ways I can help, will benefit me and the people I come into contact with in the future.

I feel that I can analyze people well when they come to me for advice. I have always been a people-person. The sensitivity I possess helps me be aware of not only their position on a subject, but also that of others. This along with my listening skills and willingness to compromise makes for great relationships. Even if I fight with a friend, my charisma and kindness always helps smooth things over. Because Libra is the most empathetic of all signs, my "patient" will always feel like his or her feelings are understood. This trait can help me help the students at Rutgers. I can be of service as a confidante. As a confidante, or a counselor, at Rutgers, I also hope to assist others in finding balance. One of the most important ways to keep balance is through time management. Students should learn the value of time management for now and the future to keep from living a hectic and stressful life. I am a good example. The beginning of senior year was very busy for me. My weekly routine consisted of me being a student, a sister, a daughter, a granddaughter, a girlfriend, a friend, an athlete, and an employee. On top of that I prepared to take my SAT's a second time and begin applying to colleges. In the middle of volleyball season, I ended up resigning from my job, being unprepared for the SAT's, and procrastinating college applications. Time management is key for students, or anybody, to progress and be successful. I can contribute to Rutgers University through my different experiences. As an indecisive Libra, I like to try new things to get a feel of what the world has to offer. "I balance" is the motto for Libra. Knowing a bit of world, its people, and different ways I can help, will benefit me and the people I come into contact with in the future.

I have never half-liked anything; everything I do, I do with amazing passion and vigor that leaves me breathless at times. In an attempt to better connect myself with my heritage, I began to take Indian cultural dance lessons. I did not anticipate that this would become the most important activity in my life, but surprisingly it came to mean so much more than a once-a-week workout. I love to dance. When I found out my school presents an annual cultural show, I naturally wanted to be a part of the show. This was the opportunity for me to choreograph my own dance for the first time. During try-outs, my best friend and I performed what we believed to be a great routine. However, to my dissatisfaction, my group was not picked. I felt deeply hurt. I was not ready to accept my failure, and I continued to believe the judges were mistaken. I have always been praised for my dancing; I did not know how to accept criticism. When my disappointment finally subsided, I felt an even stronger urge to be successful the next year. During the year leading up to the next try-out date, I worked tirelessly on my routine and realized that I needed to be a part of a group better suited to perform. This meant not being able to dance with my best friend. Try-outs were nerve-racking, but when my team earned praise from the judges, I felt positive that this time I would be successful. Unfortunately, we did not make it on stage...again. I was not nearly as upset this time, and I took my failure with grace. As the next year approached, I vowed that things would be different. I was more experienced and knowledgeable about what makes a dance successful on stage. By reflecting upon every critique I had received about my dances, and coupling that with my determination, I finally earned the privilege of performing in my school's cultural program. Finally I saw that the past three years of my hard work had not been vain. This achievement meant more than performing at my school; it taught me valuable lessons as well. When I face an obstacle, I know not to ever give up because that would eliminate all hope of achieving my goals. I have also learned that failure and criticism are vital parts of the learning experience of life. I am much more open to take criticism now and to use it to strengthen myself, rather than to discourage myself. This obstacle I have faced seems trivial in comparison to what I will face in the future, but the fact that I can now take with me many key characteristics that will help me is what makes it so important. Persistence and hard work are two qualities I now see within myself which prepare me to face the curve balls life is bound to throw at me. [490]

I have never half-liked anything; everything I do, I do with amazing passion and vigor that leaves me breathless at times. In an attempt to better connect myself with my heritage, I began to take Indian cultural dance lessons. I did not anticipate that this would become the most important activity in my life, but surprisingly it came to mean so much more than a once-a-week workout. I love to dance. When I found out my school presents an annual cultural show, I naturally wanted to be a part of the show. This was the opportunity for me to choreograph my own dance for the first time. During try-outs, my best friend and I performed what we believed to be a great routine. However, to my dissatisfaction, my group was not picked. I felt deeply hurt. I was not ready to accept my failure, and I continued to believe the judges were mistaken. Furthermore, I have always been praised for my dancing; I did not know how to accept criticism. When my disappointment finally subsided, I felt an even stronger urge to be successful the next year. During the year leading up to the next try-out date, I worked tirelessly on my routine and realized that I needed to be a part of a group better suited to perform. This meant not being able to dance with my best friend. Try-outs were nerve-racking, but when my team earned praise from the judges, I felt positive that this time I would be successful. Unfortunately, we did not make it on stage...again. I was not nearly as upset this time, and I took my failure with grace. As the next year approached, I vowed that things would be different. I was more experienced and knowledgeable about what makes a dance successful on stage. By reflecting upon every critique I had received about my dances, and coupling that with my determination, I finally earned the privilege of performing in my school's cultural program. Finally, I saw that the past three years of my hard work had not been vain. This achievement meant more than performing at my school; it taught me valuable lessons as well. When I face an obstacle, I know not to ever give up because that would eliminate all hope of achieving my goals. I have also learned that failure and criticism are vital parts of the learning experience of life. I am much more open to take criticism now and to use it to strengthen myself, rather than to discourage myself. This obstacle I have faced seems trivial in comparison to what I will face in the future, but the fact that I can now take with me many key characteristics that will help me is what makes it so important. Persistence and hard work are two qualities I now see within myself which prepare me to face the curveballs life is bound to throw at me. [490]

attached is a copy of my essay for prompt # 2. can you help in editing this and advice as what your thoughts are. if you think it's incorrect, can you please correct it. thanks a lot, your help is greatly appreciated. Has anyone ever thought the fear and stress a person undergoes when applying for admissions to a college or university? Applying for admissions to a prestigious institution such as the University of California is not an easy task. The tremendous fear that goes through every applicant's mind of not being accepted to the college or university of his or her choice is unexplainable. A year ago when my parents and I received a letter from the school that I attend requesting for permission to send my grades to the University of California, it never crossed my mind that I will be receiving a letter from the president of the University of California congratulating and advising me that all the hard work that I have done has placed me in the top four percent of my graduating class. My achievements have qualified me for admission to the University of California through the Eligibility in the Local Context program. It was an honor to have received a personal invitation from the president of the university himself. Growing up in a family where both parents have earned college degrees and expects me to excel in everything has not been an easy task. My parents have always compelled me to do my best in everything that I do. I always did well in school. Through the years, I developed a strong passion for math and science. In my elementary years, I have always excelled in math, science and social studies and have participated in different school competitions relating to these subject matters. This hard work has translated into middle school and especially high school where I took many challenging courses and joined different clubs over the course of my high school years. My love and passion for mathematics, science and history have led me to take honors and AP courses. I enjoyed all the rigorous AP classes that I have taken and love the thrill of competing and succeeding. In my freshman and sophomore years, I took honors courses in math, science, history and english, while in my junior year I took AP chemistry, AP biology, and AP US history, honors english and honors pre-calculus. As these courses were not challenging enough, I took AP government, AP english, AP calculus, AP physics and AP environmental science and attained a weighted GPA of 4.4167 and a non-weighted GPA of 3.75. I rank number thirteen out of 664 senior students and rank number 11 in all tenth through twelfth grades. With all the anxieties and uncertainties of what the future will bring, I can only rest in assurance that no matter what happens, my parents are always supportive of my undertakings. I idolize my father who is an engineer-his character and ways have greatly influenced my desire to be like him. I perhaps have gotten a good deal of his genes that I too am inclined to the point of excelling in the field of mathematics and science. As I ponder on what field I should take for higher learning, my mom's constant reminder of her desire for me to go into the medical field and my desire to be an engineer has made me decide to take up Engineering.

Attached is a copy of my essay for prompt # 2. Can you help in editing this and advice as what your thoughts are? If you think it's incorrect, can you please correct it. Thanks a lot, your help is greatly appreciated. Has anyone ever thought the fear and stress a person undergoes when applying for admissions to a college or university? Applying for admissions to a prestigious institution such as the University of California is not an easy task. The tremendous fear that goes through every applicant's mind of not being accepted to the college or university of his or her choice is unexplainable. A year ago when my parents and I received a letter from the school that I attend requesting for permission to send my grades to the University of California, it never crossed my mind that I will be receiving a letter from the president of the University of California congratulating and advising me that all the hard work that I have done has placed me in the top four percent of my graduating class. My achievements have qualified me for admission to the University of California through the Eligibility in the Local Context program. It was an honor to have received a personal invitation from the president of the university himself. Growing up in a family where both parents have earned college degrees and expects me to excel in everything has not been an easy task. My parents have always compelled me to do my best in everything that I do. I always did well in school. Through the years, I developed a strong passion for math and science. In my elementary years, I have always excelled in math, science and social studies and have participated in different school competitions relating to these subject matters. This hard work has translated into middle school and especially high school where I took many challenging courses and joined different clubs over the course of my high school years. My love and passion for mathematics, science and history have led me to take honors and AP courses. I enjoyed all the rigorous AP classes that I have taken and love the thrill of competing and succeeding. In my freshman and sophomore years, I took honors courses in math, science, history and English, while in my junior year I took AP chemistry, AP biology, and AP US history, honors English and honors pre-calculus. As these courses were not challenging enough, I took AP government, AP English, AP calculus, AP physics and AP environmental science and attained a weighted GPA of 4.4167 and a non-weighted GPA of 3.75. I rank number thirteen out of 664 senior students and rank number 11 in all tenth through twelfth grades. With all the anxieties and uncertainties of what the future will bring, I can only rest in assurance that no matter what happens, my parents are always supportive of my undertakings. I idolize my father who is an engineer-his character and ways have greatly influenced my desire to be like him. I perhaps have gotten a good deal of his genes that I too am inclined to the point of excelling in the field of mathematics and science. As I ponder on what field I should take for higher learning, my mom's constant reminder of her desire for me to go into the medical field and my desire to be an engineer has made me decide to take up Engineering.

Taking care of my siblings requires a lot of time and responsibility. I have three cousins that live near me, that attend to elementary school. Every weekend and sometimes during the weekdays, my cousins would come to my house. I would have to look after them until their parents return from work. The house would be filled with kids running around, jumping up and down, and yelling at each other. To them it feels like a party, but to me it feels like I am working in a zoo. It gets really chaotic around my house once they make themselves feels like home. Every minute they would ask me for something. Every hour they would ask for something to eat. I may have to make them sandwiches, eggs, noodles or I would have to order pizza for them. Concentrating on my school work is difficult for me, because of the noises and distractions my cousins causes. It is hard for me to do my homework or even study. The noises are terrible; people outside can even hear how fun they are having. Even though it is difficult to focus on my work, it became normal and I learned to adapt them slowly. Kids are kids; there is no way of stopping them from having fun. The noises they make around the house will go on until their parents pick them up after work. I manage to finish all my homework and study for my test, while struggling through the noises they cause. At University College, the peaceful environment would allow me to concentrate better in my school work. I would focus and work better at school and continue my education to be a pharmacist in the future. The experiences of taking care of my cousins allow me to be more responsible and work through any obstacle that might stop me from working. When my cousins are sick and the medicine they take does not work well, it worries me. I like to see how happy they are when they are having fun. When they are sick and unhappy, I would feel sad. By studying medicine and having a better knowledge of it I can help my cousin from finding the correct medicine for them, so they can be happy and play again.

Taking care of my siblings requires a lot of time and responsibility. I have three cousins that live near me, that attend to elementary school. Every weekend and sometimes during the weekdays, my cousins would come to my house. I would have to look after them until their parents return from work. The house would be filled with kids running around, jumping up and down, and yelling at each other. To them, it feels like a party, but to me, it feels like I am working in a zoo. It gets really chaotic around my house once they make themselves feels like home. Every minute they would ask me for something. Every hour they would ask for something to eat. I may have to make them sandwiches, eggs, noodles, or I would have to order pizza for them. Concentrating on my school work is difficult for me, because of the noises and distractions my cousins causes. It is hard for me to do my homework or even study. The noises are terrible; people outside can even hear how fun they are having. Even though it is difficult to focus on my work, it became normal, and I learned to adapt them slowly. Kids are kids; there is no way of stopping them from having fun. The noises they make around the house will go on until their parents pick them up after work. I manage to finish all my homework and study for my test, while struggling through the noises they cause. At University College, the peaceful environment would allow me to concentrate better in my school work. I would focus and work better at school and continue my education to be a pharmacist in the future. The experiences of taking care of my cousins allow me to be more responsible and work through any obstacle that might stop me from working. When my cousins are sick and the medicine they take does not work well, it worries me. I like to see how happy they are when they are having fun. When they are sick and unhappy, I would feel sad. By studying medicine and having a better knowledge of it I can help my cousin from finding the correct medicine for them, so they can be happy and play again.

Describe the world you come from ï for example, your family, community or school ï and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations My childhood was spent inside a glass bubble, and while peering at the world beyond, I used rose-tinted spectacles. I grew up believing that everything was perfect and that, just as in fairy-tales, everyone has their happy ending. However, my life quickly took a sharp turn from the regular princess tale, my life has become a balancing act of my Indian heritage and my American surroundings. Both of my parents had emigrated from India, and worked as research scientists at a university which raised the bar at home -- it pushed me to become a high achiever in academics and extra-curricular activities. My parents are my primary source of motivation. No matter what, they always wanted me to put my whole heart into everything I did, and I do exactly that. Unfortunately, my glass bubble cracked, in sixth grade, my father got a new job on the east coast. The move meant leaving my comfort zone and starting over in New Jersey. My eyes opened for the first time when I found myself in a school filled with more than a thousand students, but more importantly, a great number of these students were in the same balancing dilemma as I was. Getting lost in the shuffle was so easy; I felt vulnerable. No one would stop to help me out in this quest to find one's own identity. The transition forced me to become aware of what I wanted to achieve. In my 'perfect world' I never felt the need to worry about anything, everything came effortlessly; yet, experiencing this fierce competition, evoked a desire to prove myself and create my own unique identity. In the following years, my father changed occupations once again; he set out with his entrepreneurial spirit to start his own business. By being able to experience what goes on 'behind the scenes' of a business with my father, I felt compelled to build my own business by becoming an AvonMark Independent Sales Representative. I was responsible for developing a marketing strategy and selling door-to-door. My love for the business world has only grown with what limited tastes I have had. This sales experience, paired with my first job as a scout for Industry & Model Talent Studios (IMTA), taught me the value of being able to articulate clearly and effectively in short amounts of time. The long hours spent chasing after opportunities in heels and finally turning that 'no' into a 'yes' built up my confidence. I also learned to deal with rejection: learning to read and convince people are extremely time-consuming skills that can only be improved upon with experience. Most importantly, both jobs clearly demonstrated my passion to work hard. I am intrigued by the effect corporate strategy of business has on the lives of ordinary people. In the future, I hope to see myself in a position where I could financially advise either corporations or the economy for creating positive social change. UC has many programs of interest that can aid in the pursuit of my dreams. With the limited experience I have, this is what I know I love to do; however, studying a wide variety of courses such as urban economy, finance, or management can help strengthen my interest in my dream while exposing me to other areas I have not explored yet. The academic rigor and social opportunities UC can provide me will properly equip me to fulfill my aspirations. [571]

Describe the world you come from ï for example, your family, community or school ï and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations My childhood was spent inside a glass bubble, and while peering at the world beyond, I used rose-tinted spectacles. I grew up believing that everything was perfect and that, just as in fairy-tales, everyone has their happy ending. However, my life quickly took a sharp turn from the regular princess tale, my life has become a balancing act of my Indian heritage and my American surroundings. Both of my parents had emigrated from India, and worked as research scientists at a university which raised the bar at home -- it pushed me to become a high achiever in academics and extracurricular activities. My parents are my primary source of motivation. No matter what, they always wanted me to put my whole heart into everything I did, and I do exactly that. Unfortunately, my glass bubble cracked, in sixth grade, my father got a new job on the East Coast. The move meant leaving my comfort zone and starting over in New Jersey. My eyes opened for the first time when I found myself in a school filled with more than a thousand students, but more importantly, a great number of these students were in the same balancing dilemma as I was. Getting lost in the shuffle was so easy; I felt vulnerable. No one would stop to help me out in this quest to find one's own identity. The transition forced me to become aware of what I wanted to achieve. In my 'perfect world' I never felt the need to worry about anything, everything came effortlessly; yet, experiencing this fierce competition, evoked a desire to prove myself and create my own unique identity. In the following years, my father changed occupations once again; he set out with his entrepreneurial spirit to start his own business. By being able to experience what goes on 'behind the scenes' of a business with my father, I felt compelled to build my own business by becoming an Avon Mark Independent Sales Representative. I was responsible for developing a marketing strategy and selling door-to-door. My love for the business world has only grown with what limited tastes I have had. This sales experience, paired with my first job as a scout for Industry camp; Model Talent Studios (IATA), taught me the value of being able to articulate clearly and effectively in short amounts of time. The long hours spent chasing after opportunities in heels and finally turning that 'no' into a 'yes' built up my confidence. I also learned to deal with rejection: learning to read and convince people are extremely time-consuming skills that can only be improved upon with experience. Most importantly, both jobs clearly demonstrated my passion to work hard. I am intrigued by the effect corporate strategy of business has on the lives of ordinary people. In the future, I hope to see myself in a position where I could financially advise either corporations or the economy for creating positive social change. UC has many programs of interest that can aid in the pursuit of my dreams. With the limited experience I have, this is what I know I love to do; however, studying a wide variety of courses such as urban economy, finance, or management can help strengthen my interest in my dream while exposing me to other areas I have not explored yet. The academic rigor and social opportunities UC can provide me will properly equip me to fulfill my aspirations. [571]

- Adlai Stevenson It was quotes like this that pacified my fears of moving to a new country from my homeland, India. I could still remember that feeling I had experienced when my mother had told me we were moving to America. I felt as if time had stopped and I didn't know what to think. I couldn't decide whether this life-changing sentence was something I should look forward to or something that will cause me to face more problems than rewards. However, to tell you the truth, I was more excited rather than being in a panic. Nevertheless, I could not bear the fact that I will no longer be able to stroll along the beach minutes away from my house or watch my favorite cricket players dominate the teams of other countries. Even after I realized the objects and people I will miss, I developed a strong feeling that my family's move to America would welcome me with a better future. Little did I know what I would have to endure to experience the future I had wished for. After spending nine years in India, I moved to an environment that was totally different from the one I came from. I knew that this would be my biggest hurdle I would have to overcome. As a new 4th grader in a place where Indians were rare, I felt as if I was invisible in the classroom. Being a novice in English, I was looked down by other students and was not well received. I sat quietly in class and tried not to look at anyone; yet, the others talked to each other while watching me and started to laugh. I can still hear that evil laugh. I could still remember the times when the teacher used ask, "Who doesn't have a partner?" and I would be the only one to raise my hand. I was often upset, feeling that there would be no light at the end of the tunnel. I started to question the truthfulness of the quotes like the one in the beginning of this essay. However, I continued walking through the tunnel, knowing that light will finally be visible. As the second semester approached, my communication skills slowly started to improve. As a result of this progress, I started to enjoy the ability to converse with my classmates. Soon, I made more friends and noticed that I actually enjoyed going to school. Cricket was no more my favorite sport; now, I enjoyed playing the "American" football and basketball. To this day, I continue playing these sports and supporting the Pistons and Lions. The doors finally opened for me, but it took effort. Life was complicated during the transition stage when I was learning to accustom myself to a new language, culture, and customs. There were times in which I did not want to go to school, times I did not want to face humiliation, and times I wanted to return to India. However, as time passed, I soon discovered that America is exactly as Adlai Stevenson portrayed it in the quote. There wasn't a better place I could have moved to. In America, I decide how my future will turn out to be. It is up to me to use my independence with responsibility. My journey across the dark tunnel has taught me a priceless lesson: "Confidence is the result of hours and days and weeks and years of constant work and dedication." I have used this lesson in my adapting to a new environment as different as the USA and I expect to use this lesson as my light to direct me when I stumble upon new tunnels in the future.

- Addie Stevenson It was quotes like this that pacified my fears of moving to a new country from my homeland, India. I could still remember that feeling I had experienced when my mother had told me we were moving to America. I felt as if time had stopped, and I didn't know what to think. Furthermore, I couldn't decide whether this life-changing sentence was something I should look forward to or something that will cause me to face more problems than rewards. However, to tell you the truth, I was more excited rather than being in a panic. Nevertheless, I could not bear the fact that I will no longer be able to stroll along the beach minutes away from my house or watch my favorite cricket players dominate the teams of other countries. Even after I realized the objects and people I will miss, I developed a strong feeling that my family's move to America would welcome me with a better future. Little did I know what I would have to endure to experience the future I had wished for. After spending nine years in India, I moved to an environment that was totally different from the one I came from. I knew that this would be my biggest hurdle I would have to overcome. As a new 4th grader in a place where Indians were rare, I felt as if I was invisible in the classroom. Being a novice in English, I was looked down by other students and was not well received. I sat quietly in class and tried not to look at anyone; yet, the others talked to each other while watching me and started to laugh. I can still hear that evil laugh. Furthermore, I could still remember the times when the teacher used ask, "Who doesn't have a partner?" and I would be the only one to raise my hand. Furthermore, I was often upset, feeling that there would be no light at the end of the tunnel. Furthermore, I started to question the truthfulness of the quotes like the one in the beginning of this essay. However, I continued walking through the tunnel, knowing that light will finally be visible. As the second semester approached, my communication skills slowly started to improve. As a result of this progress, I started to enjoy the ability to converse with my classmates. Soon, I made more friends and noticed that I actually enjoyed going to school. Cricket was no more my favorite sport; now, I enjoyed playing the "American" football and basketball. To this day, I continue playing these sports and supporting the Pistons and Lions. The doors finally opened for me, but it took effort. Life was complicated during the transition stage when I was learning to accustom myself to a new language, culture, and customs. There were times in which I did not want to go to school, times I did not want to face humiliation, and times I wanted to return to India. However, as time passed, I soon discovered that America is exactly as Addie Stevenson portrayed it in the quote. There wasn't a better place I could have moved to. In America, I decide how my future will turn out to be. It is up to me to use my independence with responsibility. My journey across the dark tunnel has taught me a priceless lesson: "Confidence is the result of hours and days and weeks and years of constant work and dedication." I have used this lesson in my adapting to a new environment as different as the USA and I expect to use this lesson as my light to direct me when I stumble upon new tunnels in the future.

also I need help w essay prompt # 2 - it asks to tell about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are. I can no longer think of what to say. Here are my personal qualities. 1. have always been an honor student since 1st grade.2. a gifted and talented student since 2nd grade.3. took honors classes in freshman & sophomore year -a.) freshman year - honors english, natural science & geometryb.) sophomore year - honors english, algebra 2, natural science 2 & worl history4. took AP classes in junior & senior yeara.) junior year - AP chemistry, AP biology, AP US history, honors english, honors pre-calculusb.) senior year - AP government, AP english, AP calculus, AP physics, AP environmental science I excel in math & science - these are my passion GPA - weighted - 4.4167non-weighted - 3.75 class rank: 13 out of 66410-12 grade rank: 11ranked by weighted total GPA SAT 1 score - 1960SAT 2 score - M2 - 690MB - 710 AP US History exam - scored 4AP Biology exam - " 4AP Chemistry exam - " 3

Also I need help w essay prompt # 2 - it asks to tell about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are. I can no longer think of what to say. Here are my personal qualities. 1. have always been an honor student since 1st grade.2. A gifted and talented student since 2nd grade.3. Took honors classes in freshman camp; sophomore year -a.) freshman year - honors English, natural science camp; geometry.) sophomore year - honors English, algebra 2, natural science 2 camp; work history4. Took AP classes in junior camp; senior year.) junior year - AP chemistry, AP biology, AP US history, honors English, honors precalculus.) senior year - AP government, AP English, AP calculus, AP physics, AP environmental science I excel in math camp; science - these are my passion GPA - weighted - 4.4167non-weighted - 3.75 class rank: 13 out of 66410-12 grade rank: 11ranked by weighted total GPA SAT 1 score - 1960SAT 2 score - M2 - 690 MB - 710 AP US History exam - scored 4AP Biology exam -" 4AP Chemistry exam -" 3

Here's the prompt:Describe the world you come from ï for example, your family, community or school ï and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations. When I was a kid, I remember my mother would play this song. It was a Latin American folk song that at the time I considered to be incredibly corny. It went a little like this, "...Y asï como todo cambia, que yo cambiï no es extraïo." In other words, "and in the same way everything else changes, for me to change isn't strange." I guess I thought it was corny because I didn't understand it and it wasn't what I was listening to when I was eight. But as the years have gone by, I feel more moved by this song. It's a song that talks about how everything in the world changes ï that life in itself is a constant change. And now I realize that I have been a part of that change. The egoism within every human may say otherwise, that it's our surroundings that have changed. But I would be a fool to not realize that I too have changed. I have been changed, shaped, and molded into the person I am today by both the things around me and the people around me. Like with all people, the foundation in which people begin to shape comes from their families. And to say that my foundation was built from my family would be an understatement because my foundation and basically my entire structure can be very well credited to my family. We live in Queens, New York being the only Chileans of our neighborhood. And I'll tell you that being Chilean in NYC, in my opinion, is a rarity. I mean New York itself is the world's melting pot with so much diversity that if Globalization were a man, he'd smile upon this multicultural city. Yet, how is it that we manage to be the only Chileans in our neighborhood, in NY? How is it that I manage to be the only Chilean out of the 4,000 student population of my school? If that isn't rare, I don't know what is. So as you can see, my foundation has been formed on rarity and that for the main part of my life has been upheld in my family. We are traditional and pretty hardcore with or "Chilean-ness." Or at least we'd like to think so. Honestly, I can't say we're hardcore Chileans because I eat turkey dinners for Thanksgiving and hamburgers on Fourth of July...that's not too Chilean is it? ...No it's not and whether we like it or not, we've changed. I've changed. When I celebrate Chinese New Year with my friends, or when I decide to fast with my friend during Ramadan, or when I throw colored powder at my friends during the Holi festival...that's not very Chilean. In reality, it comes down to the simple fact that I have my school ï Brooklyn Technical High School ï to thank for changing me. I planned on going into high school learning about science and math yet I came out learning more about the world then I ever thought possible. And learn math and science I did as well but I got more than I bargained for ï I got an education with more than just a little culture spiked into it. I learned that my love for the physical sciences could tie into the social sciences and that my friends from all different backgrounds would be there doing the same as me ï striving to be better people, better humans. The world around me has changed since I was that eight year old kid listening to that corny song. But I too have changed. I realized that me being a rarity in my origin shouldn't be the essence of who I am but rather the essence of what I'll be able to contribute to those I come in contact with. My rarity shouldn't be what molds me but what improves the mold. Between my family and my school I think I've grown into not only into a Chilean but a Chilean with a love for the academia ï a Chilean who carries the growing knowledge and respect for the cultures that surround her and that continue teaching her. Now that is a rarity.

Here's the prompt:Describe the world you come from ï for example, your family, community or school ï and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations. When I was a kid, I remember my mother would play this song. It was a Latin American folk song that at the time I considered to be incredibly corny. It went a little like this, "... Y as Como to-do Zambia, Que yo cabin no BS extra." In other words, "and in the same way everything else changes, for me to change isn't strange." I guess I thought it was corny because I didn't understand it, and it wasn't what I was listening to when I was eight. But as the years have gone by, I feel more moved by this song. It's a song that talks about how everything in the world changes ï that life in itself is a constant change. And now I realize that I have been a part of that change. The egoism within every human may say otherwise, that it's our surroundings that have changed. But I would be a fool to not realize that I too have changed. I have been changed, shaped, and molded into the person I am today by both the things around me and the people around me. Like with all people, the foundation in which people begin to shape comes from their families. And to say that my foundation was built from my family would be an understatement because my foundation and basically my entire structure can be very well credited to my family. We live in Queens, New York being the only Chileans of our neighborhood. And I'll tell you that being Chilean in NYC, in my opinion, is a rarity. I mean New York itself is the world's melting pot with so much diversity that if Globalization were a man, he'd smile upon this multicultural city. Yet, how is it that we manage to be the only Chileans in our neighborhood, in NY? How is it that I manage to be the only Chilean out of the 4,000 student population of my school? If that isn't rare, I don't know what is. So as you can see, my foundation has been formed on rarity and that for the main part of my life has been upheld in my family. We are traditional and pretty hardcore with or "Cleanness." Or at least we'd like to think so. Honestly, I can't say we're hardcore Chileans because I eat turkey dinners for Thanksgiving and hamburgers on Fourth of July...that's not too Chilean, is it? ... No it's not and whether we like it or not, we've changed. I've changed. When I celebrate Chinese New Year with my friends, or when I decide to fast with my friend during Ramadan, or when I throw colored powder at my friends during the Hold festival...that's not very Chilean. In reality, it comes down to the simple fact that I have my school ï Brooklyn Technical High School ï to thank for changing me. I planned on going into high school learning about science and math, yet I came out learning more about the world than I ever thought possible. And learn math and science I did as well, but I got more than I bargained for ï I got an education with more than just a little culture spiked into it. I learned that my love for the physical sciences could tie into the social sciences and that my friends from all different backgrounds would be there doing the same as me ï striving to be better people, better humans. The world around me has changed since I was that eight-year-old kid listening to that corny song. But I, too, have changed. I realized that me being a rarity in my origin shouldn't be the essence of who I am but rather the essence of what I'll be able to contribute to those I come in contact with. My rarity shouldn't be what molds me but what improves the mold. Between my family and my school I think I've grown into not only into a Chilean but a Chilean with a love for the academia ï a Chilean who carries the growing knowledge and respect for the cultures that surround her and that continue teaching her. Now that is a rarity.

the prompt is: Write an essay in which you tell us about someone who has made an impact on your life and explain how and why this person is important to you. My essay: Sometimes we come across a person who changes our whole perspective of life for the better. I came across this person at an early age. She became the person who taught me my prayers before I went to sleep, who let me sleep late on those nights when my parents where out working late, and who demonstrated how something as simple as a pile of pillows had the potential to transform into a majestic castle. I remember this one instance where I literally forced her to teach me how to knit. I had seen her knitting wool sweaters, moving two needles a hundred miles per hour and magically swaying and bending her long fingers in a fascinating manner. With desperate pleads, I asked her to teach me until she finally gave in. A never-ending battle between those two yarn needles and me went on for hours, but she stayed with me and helped me push through even in my moments of frustrating self-doubt. Thread to thread, she remained by my side just like she would for many years to come. As a shy, awkward child, starving for recognition and love, I struggled to survive in the vicious world of elementary school. In third grade, I surpassed everyone in my bilingual class the school counselor convinced my parents to move me up into the Gifted and Talented program. This signified the end of my days where Spanish and English intermingled. The counselor moved me to a class where people only spoke English; I was the only Hispanic girl there. Worst of all, I came to find out that these kids in my new class had known each other since they where in diapers, and most of them even lived in the same neighborhood. I felt extremely out of place. I felt ignored. I felt alone. Even at home, my parents were too busy working all hours of the day to listen to what they thought where insignificant dilemmas. Fortunately, my "Tia Rosa", or Aunt Rose came to my rescue. Only in her early twenties, she immigrated to the United States. Her life in Mexico was that of poverty and as a woman without an education, she found no hope to improve her status. She gathered the courage to come to the U.S, a land over hundreds of miles away from her home, and decided to stay with us. She hoped to better her life and her family's back in Mexico. After she came, life became much easier for me. When frustration overwhelmed me, she sat next to me and told me to not give up. She even helped me with my schoolwork, which grew more difficult each passing day. Even though she didn't know how to speak English, she allowed me to read to her for my daily reading assignment. She helped me study my multiplication tables and vocabulary words by holding up study cards and quizzing me every night. Most importantly, she listened to me when I needed someone to talk to. Without me telling her, she simply just knew when sorrow overwhelmed my heart or when anger settled in the very pit of my stomach. She would sit next to me in my room and made my problems disappear. With her, I never worried about fitting in or trying to impress others. With her, I danced and twirled to Selena's Cumbia beats that blared out of my dad's black Sony stereo almost every day. With her, I had the best of times plastering Aunt Jemima's Pancake mix all over the stove and pouring different shapes of it into my mom's black clay griddle. When Tia Rosa went back to Mexico, I realized I had lost a person who gave me the treasures of love and friendship, both so precious and so hard to find. I remember her writing me letters for the first year or so after her retreat. She told me of my family in Mexico, and I told her of the new friends I had made in school or the new book I had just read. Eventually, she had her own family, her own kids, and her own responsibilities. Distance and time slowly drifted us apart. Nevertheless, I still cherish those letters, but more than anything I cherish all she gave me. The confidence I felt when she pushed me forward with her reassuring words, the way she understood me as though she herself had the mind of a young girl, the drive she allowed me to develop by accepting me and tolerating me even in my worst moments, all of this and much more, I will always carry in my heart.

The prompt is: Write an essay in which you tell us about someone who has made an impact on your life and explain how and why this person is important to you. My essay: Sometimes we come across a person who changes our whole perspective of life for the better. I came across this person at an early age. She became the person who taught me my prayers before I went to sleep, who let me sleep late on those nights when my parents where out working late, and who demonstrated how something as simple as a pile of pillows had the potential to transform into a majestic castle. I remember this one instance where I literally forced her to teach me how to knit. I had seen her knitting wool sweaters, moving two needles a hundred miles per hour and magically swaying and bending her long fingers in a fascinating manner. With desperate pleads, I asked her to teach me until she finally gave in. A never-ending battle between those two yarn needles and me went on for hours, but she stayed with me and helped me push through even in my moments of frustrating self-doubt. Thread to thread, she remained by my side just like she would for many years to come. As a shy, awkward child, starving for recognition and love, I struggled to survive in the vicious world of elementary school. In third grade, I surpassed everyone in my bilingual class the school counselor convinced my parents to move me up into the Gifted and Talented program. This signified the end of my days when Spanish and English intermingled. The counselor moved me to a class where people only spoke English; I was the only Hispanic girl there. Worst of all, I came to find out that these kids in my new class had known each other since they were in diapers, and most of them even lived in the same neighborhood. I felt extremely out of place. I felt ignored. Furthermore, I felt alone. Even at home, my parents were too busy working all hours of the day to listen to what they thought where insignificant dilemmas. Fortunately, my "Tia Rosa", or Aunt Rose came to my rescue. Only in her early twenties, she immigrated to the United States. Her life in Mexico was that of poverty and as a woman without an education, she found no hope to improve her status. She gathered the courage to come to the U.S., a land over hundreds of miles away from her home, and decided to stay with us. She hoped to better her life and her family's back in Mexico. After she came, life became much easier for me. When frustration overwhelmed me, she sat next to me and told me to not give up. She even helped me with my schoolwork, which grew more difficult each passing day. Even though she didn't know how to speak English, she allowed me to read to her for my daily reading assignment. She helped me study my multiplication tables and vocabulary words by holding up study cards and quizzing me every night. Most importantly, she listened to me when I needed someone to talk to. Without me telling her, she simply just knew when sorrow overwhelmed my heart or when anger settled in the very pit of my stomach. She would sit next to me in my room and made my problems disappear. With her, I never worried about fitting in or trying to impress others. With her, I danced and twirled to Selena's Cumbia beats that blared out of my dad's black Sony stereo almost every day. With her, I had the best of times plastering Aunt Jemima's Pancake mix all over the stove and pouring different shapes of it into my mom's black clay griddle. When Tia Rosa went back to Mexico, I realized I had lost a person who gave me the treasures of love and friendship, both so precious and so hard to find. I remember her writing me letters for the first year or so after her retreat. She told me of my family in Mexico, and I told her of the new friends I had made in school or the new book I had just read. Eventually, she had her own family, her own kids, and her own responsibilities. Distance and time slowly drifted us apart. Nevertheless, I still cherish those letters, but more than anything I cherish all she gave me. The confidence I felt when she pushed me forward with her reassuring words, the way she understood me as though she herself had the mind of a young girl, the drive she allowed me to develop by accepting me and tolerating me even in my worst moments, all of this and much more, I will always carry in my heart.

For the last two years, watching the Canyon Middle School cheerleaders perform has been one of the highlights of my life. The flash of their white skirts as they spin, their smiling faces, and their sharp motions are all a part of their amazing performances. When the music stops and they hit their ending pose the crowd applauds their performance and they rally off the field. What the crowd doesn't realize though, is that hours and hours of practice went into the 1 minute performance they just witnessed. They only see the result of all their hard work, condensed into 60 seconds with one shot to get it right in front of their audience. It has been my responsibility for the past two years to make sure that 60 seconds is the best it can be. As a volunteer cheerleading coach, I've learned a lot about what makes a good coach, how to manage a team, and the importance of leaving a legacy. In my experience as a cheerleading coach I've come to understand what makes not just a good coach, but a good role model as well. I learned a lot during my first year as a coach and began my second year determined to continue with the coaching techniques that worked well and to overcome the challenges that held us back the year before. I began by implementing a discipline sequence for tardiness and missed practices. Attendance at practices has improved dramatically since last year and the cheerleaders have also learned to be more responsible by being held accountable for the material they missed at practice if they were absent. Their accountability was also increased by having periodic "cheer quizzes". This was to encourage girls to practice the cheers they learned at home as well so they would know them solidly before performing in front of a much larger audience. Since then I've noticed that they perform with much more confidence in themselves. My coaching experience hasn't just been all about drilling dances and working on cheerleading technique, it's also been about my relationships with the girls I coach. My personal connection with these girls and how they view me is very important to me, since I know I'm in a position where I have fourteen twelve-year-old and thirteen-year-olds looking up to me. By taking the time to encourage girls who are working hard, and having a conversation about the importance of having a positive attitude with girls who are feeling down, I know I'm making positive connections with them and reinforcing important virtues during this pivotal time in their lives. I'm proud to be recognized as a productive leader and a constructive role model in my community. With all of the unprecedented improvements I've made to the Canyon Middle School cheerleading program, I've realized the importance of passing these policies onto the next coach when I leave for college. I received no guidance from the coach before me, and as a Junior in high school I had no prior experience running a team before. I pulled from what my middle school and high school coaches had done and improvised the rest. I plan to prepare the next cheer coach that will take my place when I leave by explaining the policies I established that helped me, as well as showing them how to run a successful practice. I wouldn't want the next cheerleading coach to have to start from scratch as I did my first year. I hope to leave a legacy and a tradition for the Canyon Middle School cheerleaders that will continue on as long as there is a willing coach to take the job. I'm proud of how I learned from my first year of coaching and implemented strategies and rules to better the structure and team dynamics this year. I'm proud that my hard work will not be wasted and will be passed on to the next coach. I'm excited to teach the next coach how to run a smooth practice and encourage her to pass on her skills to the next coach. I want to be able to come back years later and see all the improvements that I initiated thriving. My coaching experience has refined my passion to contribute to my community in a profound and lasting way. My desire was to make positive changes in the cheerleading program and to see them sustained in the years to come. I see success in terms of how you shape your world to better it for others. I can truly say with confidence, that I have become a successful cheerleading coach.

For the last two years, watching the Canyon Middle School cheerleaders perform has been one of the highlights of my life. The flash of their white skirts as they spin, their smiling faces, and their sharp motions are all a part of their amazing performances. When the music stops, and they hit their ending pose the crowd applauds their performance, and they rally off the field. What the crowd doesn't realize though, is that hours and hours of practice went into the 1-minute performance they just witnessed. They only see the result of all their hard work, condensed into 60 seconds with one shot to get it right in front of their audience. It has been my responsibility for the past two years to make sure that 60 seconds is the best it can be. As a volunteer cheerleading coach, I've learned a lot about what makes a good coach, how to manage a team, and the importance of leaving a legacy. In my experience as a cheerleading coach I've come to understand what makes not just a good coach, but a good role model as well. I learned a lot during my first year as a coach and began my second year determined to continue with the coaching techniques that worked well and to overcome the challenges that held us back the year before. I began by implementing a discipline sequence for tardiness and missed practices. Attendance at practices has improved dramatically since last year and the cheerleaders have also learned to be more responsible by being held accountable for the material they missed at practice if they were absent. Their accountability was also increased by having periodic "cheer quizzes". This was to encourage girls to practice the cheers they learned at home as well, so they would know them solidly before performing in front of a much larger audience. Since then, I've noticed that they perform with much more confidence in themselves. My coaching experience hasn't just been all about drilling dances and working on cheerleading technique, it's also been about my relationships with the girls I coach. My personal connection with these girls and how they view me is very important to me, since I know I'm in a position where I have fourteen twelve-year-old and thirteen-year-olds looking up to me. By taking the time to encourage girls who are working hard, and having a conversation about the importance of having a positive attitude with girls who are feeling down, I know I'm making positive connections with them and reinforcing important virtues during this pivotal time in their lives. I'm proud to be recognized as a productive leader and a constructive role model in my community. With all the unprecedented improvements I've made to the Canyon Middle School cheerleading program, I've realized the importance of passing these policies onto the next coach when I leave for college. I received no guidance from the coach before me, and as a Junior in high school I had no prior experience running a team before. I pulled from what my middle school and high school coaches had done and improvised the rest. Furthermore, I plan to prepare the next cheer coach that will take my place when I leave by explaining the policies I established that helped me, as well as showing them how to run a successful practice. Furthermore, I wouldn't want the next cheerleading coach to have to start from scratch as I did my first year. Furthermore, I hope to leave a legacy and a tradition for the Canyon Middle School cheerleaders that will continue on as long as there is a willing coach to take the job. Furthermore, I'm proud of how I learned from my first year of coaching and implemented strategies and rules to better the structure and team dynamics this year. Furthermore, I'm proud that my hard work will not be wasted and will be passed on to the next coach. Furthermore, I'm excited to teach the next coach how to run a smooth practice and encourage her to pass on her skills to the next coach. Furthermore, I want to be able to come back years later and see all the improvements that I initiated thriving. My coaching experience has refined my passion to contribute to my community in a profound and lasting way. My desire was to make positive changes in the cheerleading program and to see them sustained in the years to come. I see success in terms of how you shape your world to better it for others. I can truly say with confidence, that I have become a successful cheerleading coach.

can someone please read my personal statement and tell me how to improve it? please and thank you! ^^ I'd greatly appreciate it! XP Prompt: Describe the world you come from - for example, your family, community or school - and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations Here's my essay: Behaviorists believe that environment is all important, the environment that we grow up in defines who we are. If we grow up in a bad environment, it will make us to be awful people. If we grow up in a good environment, we will grow up to be respectable people. Not only does the environment shape who we are but our family does as well. My family consisted of five people: my mom, my dad, my sister, my uncle and myself. Since my other relatives lived in far away countries, it was just the five of us most of the time. As a result, those 4 other people had a great impact on my dreams, my goals and my personality. My mother probably had the greatest impact on me. She was born in the year of the dragon, and it suited her. My mother was strong and passionate and would do anything for the people she cared about. She didn't care about what other people thought her. And she sacrificed herself and her happiness to make me and my sister happy. We didn't really have a lot of money growing up so when my mom bought us something really expensive, I knew that she was sacrificing money that she could have used for herself but spend it on us in order to make us happy. These sort of selfless actions inspired me to get good grades so I could get a high paying job and buy my parents the dream house they always wanted. She also made me want to stick up for myself and be more assertive so that no one could make me feel inferior and I could be as strong and as fearless as her. My younger sister probably had the second greatest impact on me. My sister was always smart. She was so smart that she ended up taking AP Calculus as a math class and was in the top 10 percent in our high school. She was also my best friend of all time. My friends are all very different from me and never really had the same interests as me. My sister was into all the same things that I was into and shared the same dreams I had: to become a counseling psychologist and a writer. The fact that my sister wanted to have the same career path as me pushed me into working very hard in high school so I could finally beat her in something and become a counseling psychologist first. My father impacted me in small ways. My dad was born in the year of the tiger but I always thought that he should have been born in the year of the lion if there was such a year. My dad was lazy sometimes and liked to sleep a lot just like a lion. My dad was never really the head of the family and was almost never around due to work. He always complained about how much he hated his job. His constant complaints made me want to pursue a career path that I liked. My family shaped my goals so that I wanted could get into a good college, pursue a career path I liked and make a lot of money so I can help out my parents. My family shaped who I am as a person. They shaped me to be a kind, caring, compassionate individual who doesn't care about what other people think and will do anything for those I care about.

Can someone please read my personal statement and tell me how to improve it? Please and thank you! ^^ I'd greatly appreciate it! XP Prompt: Describe the world you come from - for example, your family, community or school - and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations Here's my essay: Behaviorists believe that environment is all important, the environment that we grow up in defines who we are. If we grow up in a bad environment, it will make us to be awful people. If we grow up in a good environment, we will grow up to be respectable people. Not only does the environment shape who we are, but our family does as well. My family consisted of five people: my mom, my dad, my sister, my uncle and me. Since my other relatives lived in far away countries, it was just the five of us most of the time. As a result, those 4 other people had a great impact on my dreams, my goals and my personality. My mother probably had the greatest impact on me. She was born in the year of the dragon, and it suited her. My mother was strong and passionate and would do anything for the people she cared about. She didn't care about what other people thought her. And she sacrificed herself and her happiness to make me and my sister happy. We didn't really have a lot of money growing up so when my mom bought us something really expensive, I knew that she was sacrificing money that she could have used for herself but spend it on us in order to make us happy. This sort of selfless actions inspired me to get good grades, so I could get a high paying job and buy my parents the dream house they always wanted. She also made me want to stick up for myself and be more assertive so that no one could make me feel inferior, and I could be as strong and as fearless as her. My younger sister probably had the second-greatest impact on me. My sister was always smart. She was so smart that she ended up taking AP Calculus as a math class and was in the top 10 percent in our high school. She was also my best friend of all time. My friends are all very different from me and never really had the same interests as me. My sister was into all the same things that I was into and shared the same dreams I had: to become a counseling psychologist and a writer. The fact that my sister wanted to have the same career path as me pushed me into working very hard in high school, so I could finally beat her in something and become a counseling psychologist first. My father impacted me in small ways. My dad was born in the year of the tiger, but I always thought that he should have been born in the year of the lion if there was such a year. My dad was lazy sometimes and liked to sleep a lot just like a lion. My dad was never really the head of the family and was almost never around due to work. He always complained about how much he hated his job. His constant complaints made me want to pursue a career path that I liked. My family shaped my goals so that I wanted could get into a good college, pursue a career path I liked and make a lot of money, so I can help out my parents. My family shaped who I am as a person. They shaped me to be a kind, caring, compassionate individual who doesn't care about what other people think and will do anything for those I care about.

Perhaps the toughest period of time in my life was the drastic change of moving from Peru to the United States at the age of 9. I was born in Lima, the capital. Lima is a very busy and fast-paced city with a population of about 8 million. Having lived there for 9 years of my life I had already established various strong friendships and I was fully accostumed to our delicious foods and style of living. When my parents told me of the news, I was extremely shocked. My mother had received a letter from a program called VIF. VIF is a program that brings teachers to the Unites States from all around the world. My mom heard about this program while reading the newspaper on one ordinary afternoon and decided to apply. She thought she had a very good chance of getting the job position because she had numerous years of teaching experience and a most helpful talent, she was bilingual. A couple of months after the application was sent my mom received this letter back, and what we onced thought of as a dream, became a reality in a matter of seconds. We had a set date in which we were to leave our city, our country, our people. I was quickly informed of the news and at first I didn't know how to take it. I was only 9 years old, I spoke little English, and I was being asked to leave a whole lifestyle behind me and start all over again. The mere thought of having to go to a new school, make new friends, and learn a whole new different language was more than overwhelming to me. My mother informed me that my new home would be called Sanford. On the following days I spent hours laying on my bed imagining what this new city, Sanford, would be like. Would it be like New York, with giant skyscrapers and flashing signs on stores? Would it be anything like Lima? This was a time of complete confusion, I couldn't quite grasp the concept that I was soon to leave my country. As some time passed I realized that something had to be done about this. I couldn't just sit there and cry every night in hopes of time stopping and perhaps waking up from an awful nightmare. Slowly, I started informing my friends of the sad news. Friendships of 5 or more years were soon to be separated. I wouldn't call the friendships broken because I obviously had plans of keeping in touch with them as they were the only friends I had at the time. During the last few months, I remember really worrying about the language barrier. I had no clue how I was supposed to learn a new language so quickly, it all just seemed so complicated, I was scared. Eventually the time came for my mom to depart from Lima. She was required to leave about a month before my father and I because she had to take a few preparation classes. During this month I remember her calling me and describing how beautiful North Carolina was. She always emphasized how green it was, she would tell me about the vast quantity of trees, bushes, and grass all around. She told me there were very beautiful houses and that people seemed extremely friendly. Everytime I talked to her I felt reassured that I was going to the right place. This made me feel splendid because I soon grew excited about my soon to be home. That month flew by incredibly fast and before I knew it, I was giving one last hug to my relatives in the Jorge Chavez International Airport. My flight left Lima and 6 hours later arrive in Miami, Florida. My father's brother came and picked us up and showed us around the city. The city was absolutely breath-taking and gorgeous, it was like nothing I had seen before. The pavement on the highways was perfect and I could not hear a single person beeping their horn. The streets were perfectly clean and the air seemed so clean. These huge positive differences soon made me realize that I was going to love this new place. We only stayed with my uncle for 2 or 3 days and then took our flight to North Carolina. After a short one hour flight my father and I arrive at the RDU International Airport. We soon met my mom and she drove us to Saford. It took her about an hour to get to our apartment in Sanford, but by the time we were there I was exhausted so I went straight to bed. As the days went by, she showed me around town and I learned that Sanford wasn't the biggest of cities. However, it did have everything that was needed to fulfill a person's basic needs, restaurants, grocery stores, a movie theater, and schools. On the third day it was time for me to go to school. I was very nervous as to how I was supposed to communicate with people and understand my classes. I soon found out that this was going to be another adversity. Now that I had overcome the first one of leaving Peru, I had to go through tough times to be able to communicate with people. I hated the fact that I wasn't able to express myself or participate in class. I could not really make friends with the exception of a few hispanics that speaked Spanish. During this period of time, I would often tell my mom that I wanted to go back to Peru. I hated the fact that I couldn't really make friends, I couldn't participate in class, and I couldn't even talk! I really respect and appreciate my mother encouraging me through these tough times. She would tell me that it would soon be over, that soon I would be able to speak this new language like I spoke Spanish. At first, this seemed impossible, but with the passing of about 6 months I found myself speaking enough English to make friends and to start participating in class. This encouraged me even more and after about 1 year I was completely fluent in the language. Once I started speaking English everything became easier. I had friends who I could hang out with now, my teachers finally started seeing my intellectual capabilities, and I didn't feel like I was limited to a circle of friends anymore. Regular classes started to become way too undemanding for me and that's why in the 5th grade, only a year and a half after my arrival to the USA, I was enrolled in the AIG program. The AIG program allowed me to take more challenging courses throughout my middle school career and so far, my high school career. However, now I feel that not even the AIG classes are demanding enough for me and that's why I'm seeking a greater challenge such as NCSSM. Something valuable that I have learned by going through these adversities is that any goal, no matter how impossible it seems, can be accomplished if one is willing to work hard to achieve it. Opportunities like coming to the USA are not offered to everyone in a country like Peru. This is why I am so thankful for my life. I greatly respect my parents for having enough courage to make such a tough decision. This decision has opened up so many doors for me, it has guaranteed me of a bright future if I am willing to take advantage of the opportunities that are offered to me. I consider the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics the best opportunity to succeed that I have been offered yet and that is why I'm planning to take full advantage of it. I once read a quote that said, "The only people that can really find out how far they can go, are the people that risk going too far." I find this quote to be very true and applicable to my situation. I feel that I am ready for the greater challenge and that the only way to really see how far my potential can go is by putting something like NCSSM in my educational career. I believe that I have a very appealing and unique personality. I think the best word to describe my personality is nonconforming. This of course doesn't mean that I don't like to follow directions or that I'm constantly disagreeing or argueing with my teacher. It simply means that I often aim for more than what is required, I'm not conformed with just doing what is enough. I often find myself striving to make logical sense of everything, and I love to analyze, theorize, and understand everything that I am taught. I am not the kind of person that is happy with just knowing the basics of a certain topic being studied. I don't feel that I know enough about a subject until I go very in depth about it. I would say that I have an unusual but yet interesting ability to understand complex and in-depth concepts when there is no kind of pressure or hurry. I am a person that is able to adapt to any environemnt with great dexterity but my best performance can truly be seen in a calm and quiet scenario. Some people also describe me as unpredictable, this might be supported by my constant interest in new things. For example, not too long ago we studied Genetics and DNA in my Biology class. This was a concept that I didn't have much knowledge about. After a few days of interesting talk about the structure of DNA, and the predicted advancements of technology in DNA Engineering, I became very indulged in this concept and I wanted to learn more about it. After I finished the required assignments from the teacher, I would often get on the Internet and research this topic to find out more information. I believe that this ongoing drive to comprehend things and to not conform to the average is perhaps one of the qualities that has really helped me stand out throughout my whole educational career. My behavior in the classroom or in any instructional environment could be classified as introverted. I prefer the teacher to allow students time to think about topics being studied in class and I work best indenpendently. However, I have no problem working in groups or taking part in discussions in the classroom. I learn most efficiently by reading and listening, but I do consider visuals a very helpful complimentary tool. Frequently, a problem associated with an introvertive personality in the classroom is the lack of social interaction, or the fear of speaking in public. I must say that I am not a very talkative person as I am more focused on listening to what the teacher is saying. I don't feel that it is of much class or respect to disrupt teachers while they instruct, it serves no purpose but to make the teacher's job burdensome and it distracts the rest of the alumni in the classroom. Luckily, since the beginning of my middle school education, I've had teachers that have encouraged me and my classmates to do various presentations in front of the class. Throughout many years of presenting in front of the classroom, I have completely overcame this "fear" of speaking in front of people. Such is the case, that in the 8th grade I entered an oratorical contest with the theme, "My future is bright because...". I had an exceptional performance in this contest and I ended up winning the classroom level. I went on to the school level in which I also had a strong performance. At the conclusion of the contest I was given a certificate that recognized my participation. ^^^I feel like this one is too short but the again, I don't know. What else could I put in it? Please also note that it isn't required for me to fill up all 8000 characters, that's just a maximum. At Southern Lee High School, I am a member of both Key Club and Quiz Bowl, I also participate in two varsity sports, soccer and tennis. Through Key Club, we help out our community by doing activities such as working at the bread basket, a place where we give food to the needy and getting funds for international foundations such as UNICEF. My enrollment in Quiz Bowl helps me become a more cultured person by allowing me to participate in several general knowledge competitions throughout the year. Awards and recognitions in my middle and high school careers include: "A" Honor Roll awards, an award from Duke University for mathematically and verbally talented students, a better score in mathematics than 99% of students who took the EOG in my school, a certificate of appreciation for participating in the Optimist Club Oratorical Contest, HealthFitness Award, a certificate of merit in recognition of outstanding achievement in soccer. This year I was the JV soccer team captain and a varsity player. As captain of the team I had many responsibilities such as emotionally bringing up the team when we were down, and being a role model for my teammates. Besides being a player and captain I also referee soccer games every weekend. This leadership position has been extremely rewarding because it's helped become a much better decision maker. As a referee, one must make quick and fair decisions at any point during the match. I have several years of computertechnology experience. In the 7th and 8th grade I took technology and biotechnology respectively. Since the beginning of my high school career I've been enrolled in classes such as Computer Applications I, and Computer Applications II where I've learned to use software such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Powerpoint, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, and various desktop publishing programs. I've also studied subjects such as multimedia, internet basics, and HTML. Some of my other hobbies are playing racquetball, bowling, and weightlifting. I'm also interested in playing instruments. I've been playing the drums for about 4 years and the piano for 1. I'm part of a band that has been together for almost 3 years now and I enjoy playing our music in various cities around NC. In my free time, I also enjoy doing crossword puzzles and taking trivia quizzes. I find both of these activities entertaining because I always fancied doing something productive. There are 10 questions in the application process but I'm not done with the last 3 yet. I will post them as soon as I complete them. Again, thanks in advance for anyone that helps me out on this.

Perhaps the toughest period of time in my life was the drastic change of moving from Peru to the United States at the age of 9. I was born in Lima, the capital. Lima is a very busy and fast-paced city with a population of about 8 million. Having lived there for 9 years of my life I had already established various strong friendships, and I was fully accostumed to our delicious foods and style of living. When my parents told me of the news, I was extremely shocked. My mother had received a letter from a program called IF. IF is a program that brings teachers to the Unites States from all around the world. My mom heard about this program while reading the newspaper on one ordinary afternoon and decided to apply. She thought she had a very good chance of getting the job position because she had numerous years of teaching experience and a most helpful talent, she was bilingual. A couple of months after the application was sent my mom received this letter back, and what we once thought of as a dream, became a reality in a matter of seconds. We had a set date in which we were to leave our city, our country, our people. I was quickly informed of the news and at first I didn't know how to take it. I was only 9 years old, I spoke little English, and I was being asked to leave a whole lifestyle behind me and start all over again. The mere thought of having to go to a new school, make new friends, and learn a whole new different language was more than overwhelming to me. My mother informed me that my new home would be called Sanford. On the following days I spent hours laying on my bed imagining what this new city, Sanford, would be like. Would it be like New York, with giant skyscrapers and flashing signs on stores? Would it be anything like Lima? This was a time of complete confusion, I couldn't quite grasp the concept that I was soon to leave my country. As some time passed I realized that something had to be done about this. I couldn't just sit there and cry every night in hopes of time stopping and perhaps waking up from an awful nightmare. Slowly, I started informing my friends of the sad news. Friendships of 5 or more years were soon to be separated. I wouldn't call the friendships broken because I obviously had plans of keeping in touch with them as they were the only friends I had at the time. During the last few months, I remember really worrying about the language barrier. I had no clue how I was supposed to learn a new language so quickly, it all just seemed so complicated, I was scared. Eventually the time came for my mom to depart from Lima. She was required to leave about a month before my father and I because she had to take a few preparation classes. During this month I remember her calling me and describing how beautiful North Carolina was. She always emphasized how green it was, she would tell me about the vast quantity of trees, bushes, and grass all around. She told me there were very beautiful houses and that people seemed extremely friendly. Every time I talked to her, I felt reassured that I was going to the right place. This made me feel splendid because I soon grew excited about my soon-to-be home. That month flew by incredibly fast, and before I knew it, I was giving one last hug to my relatives in the Jorge Chavez International Airport. My flight left Lima and 6 hours later arrive in Miami, Florida. My father's brother came and picked us up and showed us around the city. The city was absolutely breathtaking and gorgeous, it was like nothing I had seen before. The pavement on the highways was perfect, and I could not hear a single person beeping their horn. The streets were perfectly clean, and the air seemed so clean. These huge positive differences soon made me realize that I was going to love this new place. We only stayed with my uncle for 2 or 3 days and then took our flight to North Carolina. After a short one-hour flight my father and I arrive at the CDU International Airport. We soon met my mom, and she drove us to Sanford. It took her about an hour to get to our apartment in Sanford, but by the time we were there I was exhausted, so I went straight to bed. As the days went by, she showed me around town and I learned that Sanford wasn't the biggest of cities. However, it did have everything that was needed to fulfill a person's basic needs, restaurants, grocery stores, a movie theater, and schools. On the third day it was time for me to go to school. I was very nervous as to how I was supposed to communicate with people and understand my classes. I soon found out that this was going to be another adversity. Now that I had overcome the first one of leaving Peru, I had to go through tough times to be able to communicate with people. I hated the fact that I wasn't able to express myself or participate in class. I could not really make friends except a few Hispanics that spoke Spanish. During this period of time, I would often tell my mom that I wanted to go back to Peru. I hated the fact that I couldn't really make friends, I couldn't participate in class, and I couldn't even talk! I really respect and appreciate my mother encouraging me through these tough times. She would tell me that it would soon be over, that soon I would be able to speak this new language like I spoke Spanish. At first, this seemed impossible, but with the passing of about 6 months I found myself speaking enough English to make friends and to start participating in class. This encouraged me even more and after about 1 year I was completely fluent in the language. Once I started speaking English everything became easier. I had friends who I could hang out with now, my teachers finally started seeing my intellectual capabilities, and I didn't feel like I was limited to a circle of friends anymore. Regular classes started to become way too undemanding for me and that's why in the 5th grade, only a year and a half after my arrival in the USA, I was enrolled in the AIG program. The AIG program allowed me to take more challenging courses throughout my middle school career and so far, my high school career. However, now I feel that not even the AIG classes are demanding enough for me and that's why I'm seeking a greater challenge such as NCSSM. Something valuable that I have learned by going through these adversities is that any goal, no matter how impossible it seems, can be accomplished if one is willing to work hard to achieve it. Opportunities like coming to the USA are not offered to everyone in a country like Peru. This is why I am so thankful for my life. I greatly respect my parents for having enough courage to make such a tough decision. This decision has opened up so many doors for me, it has guaranteed me of a bright future if I am willing to take advantage of the opportunities that are offered to me. I consider the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics the best opportunity to succeed that I have been offered yet and that is why I'm planning to take full advantage of it. I once read a quote that said, "The only people that can really find out how far they can go, are the people that risk going too far." I find this quote to be very true and applicable to my situation. Furthermore, I feel that I am ready for the greater challenge and that the only way to really see how far my potential can go is by putting something like NCSSM in my educational career. Furthermore, I believe that I have a very appealing and unique personality. Furthermore, I think the best word to describe my personality is nonconforming. This of course doesn't mean that I don't like to follow directions or that I'm constantly disagreeing or arguing with my teacher. It simply means that I often aim for more than what is required, I'm not conformed with just doing what is enough. I often find myself striving to make logical sense of everything, and I love to analyze, theorize, and understand everything that I am taught. I am not the kind of person that is happy with just knowing the basics of a certain topic being studied. Furthermore, I don't feel that I know enough about a subject until I go very in depth about it. Furthermore, I would say that I have an unusual but yet interesting ability to understand complex and in-depth concepts when there is no kind of pressure or hurry. Furthermore, I am a person that is able to adapt to any environment with great dexterity, but my best performance can truly be seen in a calm and quiet scenario. Some people also describe me as unpredictable, this might be supported by my constant interest in new things. For example, not too long ago we studied Genetics and DNA in my Biology class. This was a concept that I didn't have much knowledge about. After a few days of interesting talk about the structure of DNA, and the predicted advancements of technology in DNA Engineering, I became very indulged in this concept and I wanted to learn more about it. After I finished the required assignments from the teacher, I would often get on the Internet and research this topic to find out more information. I believe that this ongoing drive to comprehend things and to not conform to the average is perhaps one of the qualities that has really helped me stand out throughout my whole educational career. My behavior in the classroom or in any instructional environment could be classified as introverted. I prefer the teacher to allow students time to think about topics being studied in class and I work best independently. However, I have no problem working in groups or taking part in discussions in the classroom. I learn most efficiently by reading and listening, but I do consider visuals a very helpful complimentary tool. Frequently, a problem associated with an introverting personality in the classroom is the lack of social interaction, or the fear of speaking in public. I must say that I am not a very talkative person as I am more focused on listening to what the teacher is saying. I don't feel that it is of much class or respect to disrupt teachers while they instruct, it serves no purpose but to make the teacher's job burdensome, and it distracts the rest of the alumni in the classroom. Luckily, since the beginning of my middle school education, I've had teachers that have encouraged me and my classmates to do various presentations in front of the class. Throughout many years of presenting in front of the classroom, I have completely overcome this "fear" of speaking in front of people. Such is the case, that in the 8th grade I entered an oratorical contest with the theme, "My future is bright because...". I had an exceptional performance in this contest and I ended up winning the classroom level. I went on to the school level in which I also had a strong performance. At the conclusion of the contest I was given a certificate that recognized my participation. ^^^I feel like this one is too short but the again, I don't know. What else could I put in it? Please also note that it isn't required for me to fill up all 8000 characters, that's just a maximum. At Southern Lee High School, I am a member of both Key Club and Quiz Bowl, I also participate in two varsity sports, soccer and tennis. Through Key Club, we help out our community by doing activities such as working at the bread basket, a place where we give food to the needy and getting funds for international foundations such as UNICEF. My enrollment in Quiz Bowl helps me become a more cultured person by allowing me to participate in several general knowledge competitions throughout the year. Awards and recognitions in my middle and high school careers include: "A" Honor Roll awards, an award from Duke University for mathematically and verbally talented students, a better score in mathematics than 99% of students who took the EOG in my school, a certificate of appreciation for participating in the Optimist Club Oratorical Contest, Healthiness Award, a certificate of merit in recognition of outstanding achievement in soccer. This year I was the JV soccer team captain and a varsity player. As captain of the team I had many responsibilities such as emotionally bringing up the team when we were down, and being a role model for my teammates. Besides being a player and captain I also referee soccer games every weekend. This leadership position has been extremely rewarding because it's helped become a much better decision maker. As a referee, one must make quick and fair decisions at any point during the match. I have several years of computer technology experience. In the 7th and 8th grade I took technology and biotechnology respectively. Since the beginning of my high school career I've been enrolled in classes such as Computer Applications I, and Computer Applications II where I've learned to use software such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, and various desktop publishing programs. I've also studied subjects such as multimedia, internet basics, and HTML. Some of my other hobbies are playing racquetball, bowling, and weightlifting. I'm also interested in playing instruments. I've been playing the drums for about 4 years and the piano for 1. Furthermore, I'm part of a band that has been together for almost 3 years now, and I enjoy playing our music in various cities around NC. In my free time, I also enjoy doing crossword puzzles and taking trivia quizzes. I find both of these activities entertaining because I always fancied doing something productive. There are 10 questions in the application process, but I'm not done with the last 3 yet. I will post them as soon as I complete them. Again, thanks in advance for anyone that helps me out on this.

I did an essay on how creativity is teh personal quality thta is important to me The things that makes all different from one another are our personalities. Each person has a different personality; therefore they all have different characteristics that define their personalities. Each person has different qualities and characteristics that make them special and unique. However, there is usually one quality or one characteristic that a person considers to be more important than the other. For me, that quality is creativity. Most people wouldn't really consider creativity to be the quality that is important to them, but to someone like me it is. Ever since I was a child, I was never really good at any particular subject. I was always average on everything. I never had any special talent or quality that I could proudly display to the world. At times, it would make me sad that I didn't have any special quality or talent to be proud of. When I was older, I came to realize that creativity is a quality. Not everyone can be creative. And the thing I liked about creativity was that there was no right or wrong. Anything that you did could be considered creative. Like the way you design your room or posters. Creativity was not abstract and couldn't be taken away by an accident, no matter what it was always there. My creativity makes me proud because it allows me to turn something plain and ordinary into something exciting and unique. Creativity applies to a great deal of things. Creativity can apply to art, fashion, design and plenty of other things as well. But the kind of creativity that I'm proud to have is the kind that makes a story interesting. Every since I was little child I wanted to a writer. I always wanted to write stories that involved far away lands and extraordinary people. But in order to write an interesting story one has to be creative. One has to be able to use their imagination and creativity and put it all on paper. One has to create something out of nothing. One has to take an idea and develop it so it can be turned into an interesting story. If you think about it, all the great writers must have had creativity otherwise how would they make their stories so interesting? Creativity is important to me because it's something that I'll always have and like faith, it can't be taken away. Creativity is a quality that comes from the heart and it is something that I will always cherish. ~Risa

I did an essay on how creativity is the personal quality that is important to me The things that makes all different from one another are our personalities. Each person has a different personality; therefore they all have different characteristics that define their personalities. Each person has different qualities and characteristics that make them special and unique. However, there is usually one quality or one characteristic that a person considers to be more important than the other. For me, that quality is creativity. Most people wouldn't really consider creativity to be the quality that is important to them, but to someone like me, it is. Ever since I was a child, I was never perfect at any particular subject. I was always average on everything. I never had any special talent or quality that I could proudly display to the world. At times, it would make me sad that I didn't have any special quality or talent to be proud of. When I was older, I came to realize that creativity is a quality. Not everyone can be creative. And the thing I liked about creativity was that there was no right or wrong. Anything that you did could be considered creative. Like the way you design your room or posters. Creativity was not abstract and couldn't be taken away by an accident, no matter what it was always there. My creativity makes me proud because it allows me to turn something plain and ordinary into something exciting and unique. Creativity applies to a great deal of things. Creativity can apply to art, fashion, design and plenty of other things as well. But the kind of creativity that I'm proud to have is the kind that makes a story interesting. Ever since I was little child I wanted to a writer. I always wanted to write stories that involved far away lands and extraordinary people. But in order to write an interesting story one has to be creative. One has to be able to use their imagination and creativity and put it all on paper. One has to create something out of nothing. Furthermore, one has to take an idea and develop it, so it can be turned into an interesting story. If you think about it, all the great writers must have had creativity otherwise how would they make their stories so interesting? Creativity is important to me because it's something that I'll always have and like faith, it can't be taken away. Creativity is a quality that comes from the heart, and it is something that I will always cherish. ~Rise

It's on how "an individuals footprints can make a difference." There's so much I could write about.. It's only 800 words but I can't even get the intro sorted let alone the body. I just can't get anything on to paper.. I dunno what I'm going to do...

It's on how "an individuals footprints can make a difference." There's so much I could write about. It's only 800 words, but I can't even get the intro sorted let alone the body. I just can't get anything on to paper. I don't know what I'm going to do...

Prompt: Describe the world you come from ï for example, your family, community or school ï and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations There are many people who shape the lives of others like a sculptor does with clay. The sculptor uses his fingers to mold and shape the clay into a work of art. In many ways people are like art, all extraordinary and singular and viewed in different sorts of ways. We are shaped by experience and the world around us. But we are mostly shaped by the people we live with, our family. My family is relatively a small one consisting of my mother, my father and my sister. My mother is the strongest one of all. She is very independent, friendly and vivacious. She would always talk to people who she did not know and would make friends easily. She was always determined to get what my sister and I wanted no matter what the cost. If it was something we truly wanted, my mother would find a way to make it ours. She has always been selfless, caring more about my sister and me than she did about herself. She never cared when people stared at her and always told me not to care either. Sometimes she would act like my friend, it was in those times I forgot she was mother. My mother loves Europe and would travel the world if she had money. I learned many things from my mother, some of which she did not teach me. I learned to stand up for myself even when its hard to, to think of others first, to think before speaking, to always plan things for yourself because no one is going to do it for you, to be self disciplined because my mother would not always be there to guide me and to work for what you want because it is hard to be happy with a job you do not like. Another member of my family but an important one is my father. My father is very quiet and very much like a bee occupied in work. My father has always mystified in a way that I would rarely speak with him. My father had once had an artistic talent at least according to him. My parents thought I had an artistic talent, a talent which I use rarely except when inspired. My father is also very intelligent; math had always been his forte much like it is mine. My father liked to read my mother does too but it was mostly my father who I saw as a reader. Sometimes we would even read the same books but those times were a rare exception. My father cared less for what he wore, something my mother always criticized him for. My father wanted to be a lawyer but never could be one and like many father he tried to pass on the dream to me. He was always accepting of my decisions like my decision not to pursue law. In many ways I am like my father and I have learned much from him. I have learned not to care what others think about me something that has paid off in my drama class, to work hard for those you care about and to not be afraid to dream big. Probably one of the most important people in my life is my sister. My sister is much like me but there are those key differences. She is more like my mother like I am more like my father. She cares to look presentable and is not afraid to declare what she dislikes. She was always more friendly than I was and more creative. She could think up of millions of ideas and names in a day. She is not afraid to say what she thinks. She is more blunt and honest than she knows. She is more resentful while I was more forgiving. We were not completely inseparable but very familiar. She knew me better than anyone else much like I knew her. She was someone I could confide in knowing my secrets were safe. She was dependable and I always felt awful whenever I let her down. I learned to be a better person from her, to support those who care for you, to follow your dreams no matter how big they are and to be the person that you no matter what others say about you. I have learned much from my family. Without them I would not be the person I am today. Without them to help me I would not have the courage to be myself and to follow my dreams no matter how impossible they seem.

Prompt: Describe the world you come from ï for example, your family, community or school ï and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations There are many people who shape the lives of others like a sculptor does with clay. The sculptor uses his fingers to mold and shape the clay into a work of art. In many ways people are like art, all extraordinary and singular and viewed in different sorts of ways. We are shaped by experience and the world around us. But we are mostly shaped by the people we live with, our family. My family is relatively a small one consisting of my mother, my father and my sister. My mother is the strongest one of all. She is very independent, friendly and vivacious. She would always talk to people who she did not know and would make friends easily. Furthermore, she was always determined to get what my sister and I wanted no matter what the cost. If it was something we truly wanted, my mother would find a way to make it ours. She has always been selfless, caring more about my sister and me than she did about herself. She never cared when people stared at her and always told me not to care either. Sometimes she would act like my friend, it was in those times I forgot she was mother. My mother loves Europe and would travel the world if she had money. I learned many things from my mother, some of which she did not teach me. I learned to stand up for myself even when It's hard to, to think of others first, to think before speaking, to always plan things for yourself because no one is going to do it for you, to be self-disciplined because my mother would not always be there to guide me and to work for what you want because it is hard to be happy with a job you do not like. Another member of my family but an important one is my father. My father is very quiet and very much like a bee occupied in work. My father has always mystified in a way that I would rarely speak with him. My father had once had an artistic talent at least according to him. My parents thought I had an artistic talent, a talent which I rarely use except when inspired. My father is also very intelligent; math had always been his forte much like it is mine. My father liked to read my mother does too, but it was mostly my father who I saw as a reader. Sometimes we would even read the same books, but those times were a rare exception. My father cared less for what he wore, something my mother always criticized him for. My father wanted to be a lawyer but never could be one and like many fathers he tried to pass on the dream to me. He was always accepting of my decisions like my decision not to pursue law. In many ways I am like my father and I have learned much from him. I have learned not to care what others think about me something that has paid off in my drama class, to work hard for those you care about and to not be afraid to dream big. Probably one of the most important people in my life is my sister. My sister is much like me, but there are those key differences. She is more like my mother like I am more like my father. She cares to look presentable and is not afraid to declare what she dislikes. Furthermore, she was always more friendly than I was and more creative. Furthermore, she could think up of millions of ideas and names in a day. Furthermore, she is not afraid to say what she thinks. Furthermore, she is more blunt and honest than she knows. Furthermore, she is more resentful while I was more forgiving. We were not completely inseparable but very familiar. She knew me better than anyone else much like I knew her. She was someone I could confide in knowing my secrets were safe. Furthermore, she was dependable, and I always felt awful whenever I let her down. I learned to be a better person from her, to support those who care for you, to follow your dreams no matter how big they are and to be the person that you no matter what others say about you. I have learned much from my family. Without them, I would not be the person I am today. Without them to help me I would not have the courage to be myself and to follow my dreams no matter how impossible they seem.

The experience from my mom's daycare gave me the idea of pursuing a career in psychology. The thrash about becoming a psychologist came to my mind when my mother used to baby-sit at home. I used to help my mom with her daycare job. I really enjoyed nurturing the children and opening their minds to new venues. I would help the children if they had homework, gave them advices, and taught them Islamic studies, Quran, and Arabic. The children learned a lot from me and in return, I also learned from them. Since the children responded to my teaching so well, I thought of broadening my experience and volunteering at the Sunday school. Originally I was only a teacher's aide, but I used the experience from the daycare to show how much I knew. I wanted the children for the class I aided for get the. I came up with different techniques of teaching to see which techniques worked best with the students. At times, the teacher gave me the opportunity to take over the class to see how well my techniques of teaching were. When I was given the opportunity, excitement rose over me with ideas that would start whirling in my head. I started off with the basics, reading with the children in class but saw that the children were not remembering what they learned; so I decided to come up with review games that would help them remember what they learned. I would repeat the same questions along with new ones every week for the game and saw that the children understood the lessons that was being taught and were getting good grades on their tests. The students that were quiet and shy and did not participate before, were getting involved with the class activities and were I was happy to see that the children enjoyed my techniques of teaching and were learning hastily. This encouraged me to take the next step forward to having my own class. Now I am confidant enough to teach the class on my own, but I need formal training as a teacher to bring out my full potential abilities that would help me become more successful later on in the future. With the I want to get the best education and tools that would help me reach my goal and dream. My goal is help all those who are in need of guidance and that need someone that will support them all the way through; and my dream is to put smiles back on people faces that were lost and hidden. For me to fulfill this dream, I will put my outmost effort to

The experience from my mom's daycare gave me the idea of pursuing a career in psychology. The thrash about becoming a psychologist came to my mind when my mother used to baby-sit at home. I used to help my mom with her daycare job. I really enjoyed nurturing the children and opening their minds to new venues. Furthermore, I would help the children if they had homework, gave them advices, and taught them Islamic studies, Quran, and Arabic. The children learned a lot from me and in return, I also learned from them. Since the children responded to my teaching so well, I thought of broadening my experience and volunteering at the Sunday school. Originally I was only a teacher's aide, but I used the experience from the daycare to show how much I knew. I wanted the children for the class I aided for get the. I came up with different techniques of teaching to see which techniques worked best with the students. At times, the teacher gave me the opportunity to take over the class to see how well my techniques of teaching were. When I was given the opportunity, excitement rose over me with ideas that would start whirling in my head. I started off with the basics, reading with the children in class but saw that the children were not remembering what they learned; so I decided to come up with review games that would help them remember what they learned. I would repeat the same questions along with new ones every week for the game and saw that the children understood the lessons that was being taught and were getting good grades on their tests. The students that were quiet and shy and did not participate before, were getting involved with the class activities and where I was happy to see that the children enjoyed my techniques of teaching and were learning hastily. This encouraged me to take the next step forward to having my own class. Now I am confidant enough to teach the class on my own, but I need formal training as a teacher to bring out my full potential abilities that would help me become more successful later on in the future. With the want to get the best education and tools that would help me reach my goal and dream. My goal is help all those who are in need of guidance and that need someone that will support them all the way through; and my dream is to put smiles back on people faces that were lost and hidden. For me to fulfill this dream, I will put my outpost effort to

Thanks! Eighteen years of my life have been spent on creating who I am today. Within those growing years, I was given the freedom to explore the world, researching my curiosity, and creating my interests. The interests I have come to harness define me as a unique individual and have given me the tools to be successful in life. Art has been one of my favorite interests and hobby throughout the years. I have explored and created various pieces in electronic media, drawing, and sculpture. With over hundreds of pieces created, and being asked to create media for various events, art has been a big influence in my life. My success in art has as well brought me many awards. Majority of these awards were won through the Parent Teacher association and the Collin County community. Furthermore I have won a gold medal at VASE (annual art competition) four years in a row throughout high school. Expanding my love for art, I joined the National Art Honor Society, a club in which students help create art for the community, and help generate diverse decorations for special occasions hosted at our school. I have been involved in the art community throughout my high school life and it has greatly affected me as an individual by making me a more creative person. In addition to art, I have developed an immense taste for the computer and online zone. My interest in computers started with the creation of a "Halo" base game on the ContinuumSubspace client. This game was a mass online game which was coded and designed from scratch by me. The game rapidly populated to a small community of about five hundred people. By managing the small population created, over time I learned how to become an effective leader, and how to be efficient in life. Soon, I slowly drifted into the web development zone, in which I learned various computer languages such as C++, Java, HTML and Python. Focusing on the video game industry niche, I gradually created one website, and expanded my community to four and five different websites. Ultimately I ended up with a monumental and successful community, with over hundred thousand unique visits each day. By moderating and communicating with people all throughout the world, these communities refined me as a person and helped me learn organization and task managing that greatly helped me in my academic success. Furthermore, my interests and success have geared me to the path of my future career. My generation of people have grown up in a time of violence, war, and death. The fact that people around the world die around the world due to the lack of doctors is a scandalous thought, and I would like to be out there to make a difference in someone's life. Countries such as Africa where poverty exists are in a situation in where they can get all the help they can get. Life being wasted by common diseases that can easily be cured is a heartbreaking thought and I want to be out there to save lives that can potentially be saved. However in order for me to become a medical doctor, I would need to peruse a higher degree of education. From the beginning of my admittance to high school, I was part of the Health Occupational Service Association (HOSA), in which all the members and I helped around our metropolis with various tasks such as, going to the nursing home, creating homes for the homeless, and various fundraisers. In addition to that, every Sunday, I would play Bingo with the seniors at the nursing home, and at least once a week volunteer at the Presbyterian Hospital of Allen; in which I helped in the emergency room. The act of helping other people significantly gave me personal satisfaction, and made me feel proud to do what I did, and I would like to continue doing this as a doctor in the future. I have competed and have been challenged throughout high school and have been involved in many different activities that geared my personal goals to the right direction. Nevertheless, higher education is a prime factor I need to attain before I can make a difference in the world, and I plan to achieve that through hard work and determination.

Thanks! Eighteen years of my life have been spent on creating who I am today. Within those growing years, I was given the freedom to explore the world, researching my curiosity, and creating my interests. The interests I have come to harness define me as a unique individual and have given me the tools to be successful in life. Art has been one of my favorite interests and hobby throughout the years. I have explored and created various pieces in electronic media, drawing, and sculpture. With over hundreds of pieces created, and being asked to create media for various events, art has been a big influence in my life. My success in art has as well brought me many awards. Majority of these awards were won through the Parent Teacher association and the Collin County community. Furthermore, I have won a gold medal at VASE (annual art competition) four years in a row throughout high school. Expanding my love for art, I joined the National Art Honor Society, a club in which students help create art for the community, and help generate diverse decorations for special occasions hosted at our school. I have been involved in the art community throughout my high school life, and it has greatly affected me as an individual by making me a more creative person. In addition to art, I have developed an immense taste for the computer and online zone. My interest in computers started with the creation of a "Halo" base game on the ContinuumSubspace client. This game was a mass online game which was coded and designed from scratch by me. The game rapidly populated to a small community of about five hundred people. By managing the small population created, over time I learned how to become an effective leader, and how to be efficient in life. Soon, I slowly drifted into the web development zone, in which I learned various computer languages such as C++, Java, HTML and Python. Focusing on the video game industry niche, I gradually created one website, and expanded my community to four and five different websites. Ultimately I ended up with a monumental and successful community, with over hundred thousand unique visits each day. By moderating and communicating with people all throughout the world, these communities refined me as a person and helped me learn organization and task managing that greatly helped me in my academic success. Furthermore, my interests and success have geared me to the path of my future career. My generation of people have grown up in a time of violence, war, and death. The fact that people around the world die around the world due to the lack of doctors is a scandalous thought, and I would like to be out there to make a difference in someone's life. Countries such as Africa where poverty exists are in a situation in where they can get all the help they can get. Life being wasted by common diseases that can easily be cured is a heartbreaking thought and I want to be out there to save lives that can potentially be saved. However, in order for me to become a medical doctor, I would need to peruse a higher degree of education. From the beginning of my admittance to high school, I was part of the Health Occupational Service Association (HOST), in which all the members and I helped around our metropolis with various tasks such as, going to the nursing home, creating homes for the homeless, and various fundraisers. In addition to that, every Sunday, I would play Bingo with the seniors at the nursing home, and at least once a week volunteer at the Presbyterian Hospital of Allen; in which I helped in the emergency room. The act of helping other people significantly gave me personal satisfaction, and made me feel proud to do what I did, and I would like to continue doing this as a doctor in the future. I have competed and have been challenged throughout high school and have been involved in many activities that geared my personal goals to the right direction. Nevertheless, higher education is a prime factor I need to attain before I can make a difference in the world, and I plan to achieve that through hard work and determination.

This is the first out of my 3 essays, just posting it here first to see how it goes and if I feel comfrotable I will post the rest. Well here goes, this first one is about any issue important to me, so I wrote about the stuff below (there is no limit): Trashing money is not something we would expect anyone to do. Then why do schools in Texas and throughout the United States do this? Recycling is a abused and ignored subject in society today which is burning up our money. Recycling needs to be a important part of a school as it helps preserve the environment and save money. With the rising costs of various goods today, recycling is an easy solution to alleviate those costs. Take a look at unleaded gas. In Texas today, unleaded gas is hitting and surpassing the three dollar mark per gallon. An average high school in Texas throws away roughly five hundred cans daily. Research shows that recycling one can is saving half a gallon of gasoline (Weyerhauser); hypothetically meaning that one high school can save about two hundred and fifty gallons of gasoline a day. Theoretically, millions of gallons of gasoline could be saved nationwide if every high school in America participated in a recycling program. And all it would take is that schools add green bins in every classroom to collect bottles. Why should oil than be imported from foreign countries if we can utilize the power of recycling and conserve our own oil for a lower price? It would almost seem as if the government would want people to burn up their money. True that recycling might take a bit longer to process and recycle, but it does overall use less resources and money as compared to giant factories and imports. Recycling is a cheaper, and more environmental friendly solution, that helps money and resources. Plastic bottles such as water, and energy drinks are quickly becoming a popular item in schools today. With society constantly speeding up and getting busier day by day, people simply don't have the time they used to, and resort to substitute methods to save time. Plastic bottles are the symbol of indolence. People today are simply too lazy or busy to go up and grab a quick sip at the water fountain and continue back doing what they were. According to The Container Recycling Institute, one high school on average trashes 3,200 water bottles a day. Aggregating all the high schools in the nation, that would easily shoot pass the million mile stone, and billions within a year. Trashing plastic bottles rather than recycling severely hurts the environment. EPA records that millions of sea creatures die annually because of wasted plastic bottles which are thrown into the oceans and landfills instead of being reused. A simple yet effective solution could be created if schools started recycling, and started to get people into a good habit in doing so early. Investing a short amount of money in recycled bins in classrooms all throughout United States schools would be a short amount of money in placing recycling bins throughout US schools would be a smart investment, as its benefits are vast. True that some schools might have a small recycle bin placed in the corner of the room, far from sight, but how much could that small recycling bin really hold? Not even enough to go through a day without being dumped out before it could be used to recycle. Schools need to implement larger recycling bins in all class rooms and enforce the importance of recycling to students. More resources are expedited on creating a product from raw materials, as compared to recycled material. The only advantage there is between using raw and recycled material is that raw material takes less time versus recycling. For recycled material, the material has to be recycled so it can be reused again, then it can be used by factories for exporting goods. Thousands of trees are cut down every day just to create paper, and millions of resources are exhausted every day to create every day material that can be easily reused through recycling. Why does the government oversee this important concept, and continue to ignore it? Such a simple method with powerful results being neglected is shocking, and needs more attention and reconsideration in our society today. However recycling is even frowned upon in some schools such as my current high school. In Allen High School, a group of students and I with a sponsor decided to start a recycling program for our school. We delivered green bins to every class room, and came around every few days to collect the recycled waste. Classrooms would have their giant bins full to the top every time we came around to collect the recycled materials, which resulted in the export of thousands of bottles a day. However after a few months of success the school board came and shut down the recycling organization because there was a complaint that the recycled bottles which piled up near the end of the day made the class room seem sullied and unprofessional. The School Boards seem to be against the promotion of recycling, when thousands of bottles were being exported a day by students, and a school was attempting to make a difference and recycle, the school board shut us down. Recycling is an ignored and abused subject by many throughout society today. No enforcement or promotion is being advertised by schools, and this is affecting the current and future generations in the long run. Recycling is an effective tool to help preserve our planet, conserve resources and save money that needs to be implemented in high schools throughout the US.

This is the first out of my 3 essays, just posting it here first to see how it goes and if I feel comfortable I will post the rest. Well here goes, this first one is about any issue important to me, so I wrote about the stuff below (there is no limit): Trashing money is not something we would expect anyone to do. Then why do schools in Texas and throughout the United States do this? Recycling is an abused and ignored subject in society today which is burning up our money. Recycling needs to be an important part of a school as it helps preserve the environment and save money. With the rising costs of various goods today, recycling is an easy solution to alleviate those costs. Take a look at unleaded gas. In Texas today, unleaded gas is hitting and surpassing the three dollar mark per gallon. An average high school in Texas throws away roughly five hundred cans daily. Research shows that recycling one can is saving half a gallon of gasoline (Warehouse); hypothetically meaning that one high school can save about two hundred and fifty gallons of gasoline a day. Theoretically, millions of gallons of gasoline could be saved nationwide if every high school in America participated in a recycling program. And all it would take is that schools add green bins in every classroom to collect bottles. Why should oil than be imported from foreign countries if we can utilize the power of recycling and conserve our own oil for a lower price? It would almost seem as if the government would want people to burn up their money. True that recycling might take a bit longer to process and recycle, but it does overall use less resources and money as compared to giant factories and imports. Recycling is a cheaper, and more environmental friendly solution, that helps money and resources. Plastic bottles such as water, and energy drinks are quickly becoming a popular item in schools today. With society constantly speeding up and getting busier day by day, people simply don't have the time they used to, and resort to substitute methods to save time. Plastic bottles are the symbol of indolence. People today are simply too lazy or busy to go up and grab a quick sip at the water fountain and continue back doing what they were. According to The Container Recycling Institute, one high school on average trashes 3,200 water bottles a day. Aggregating all the high schools in the nation, that would easily shoot pass the million-mile stone, and billions within a year. Trashing plastic bottles rather than recycling severely hurts the environment. EPA records that millions of sea creatures die annually because of wasted plastic bottles which are thrown into the oceans and landfills instead of being reused. A simple yet effective solution could be created if schools started recycling, and started to get people into a good habit in doing so early. Investing a short amount of money in recycled bins in classrooms all throughout United States schools would be a short amount of money in placing recycling bins throughout US schools would be a smart investment, as its benefits are vast. True that some schools might have a small recycle bin placed in the corner of the room, far from sight, but how much could that small recycling bin really hold? Not even enough to go through a day without being dumped out before it could be used to recycle. Schools need to implement larger recycling bins in all classrooms and enforce the importance of recycling to students. More resources are expedited on creating a product from raw materials, as compared to recycled material. The only advantage there is between using raw and recycled material is that raw material takes less time versus recycling. For recycled material, the material has to be recycled, so it can be reused again, then it can be used by factories for exporting goods. Thousands of trees are cut down every day just to create paper, and millions of resources are exhausted every day to create every day material that can be easily reused through recycling. Why does the government oversee this important concept, and continue to ignore it? Such a simple method with powerful results being neglected is shocking, and needs more attention and reconsideration in our society today. However, recycling is even frowned upon in some schools such as my current high school. In Allen High School, a group of students and I with a sponsor decided to start a recycling program for our school. We delivered green bins to every classroom, and came around every few days to collect the recycled waste. Classrooms would have their giant bins full to the top every time we came around to collect the recycled materials, which resulted in the export of thousands of bottles a day. However after a few months of success the school board came and shut down the recycling organization because there was a complaint that the recycled bottles which piled up near the end of the day made the classroom seem sullied and unprofessional. The School Boards seem to be against the promotion of recycling, when thousands of bottles were being exported a day by students, and a school was attempting to make a difference and recycle, the school board shut us down. Recycling is an ignored and abused subject by many throughout society today. No enforcement or promotion is being advertised by schools, and this is affecting the current and future generations in the long run. Recycling is an effective tool to help preserve our planet, conserve resources and save money that needs to be implemented in high schools throughout the US.

Why am I a vegetarian? In February of 2006 my family took in a cat, and as a result of this I became a vegetarian. I saw happiness, sadness and tremendous fear in her. I had never owned a pet before this, so this experience was new to me. I came to realize that it is wrong and immoral to afflict any harm upon another living creature whether they are feline, bovine, human or otherwise. In October of that year my family and I went to a vacation resort in the Galilee area. At one point in the vacation my brother suggested we go to the cowshed to look at the animals. It wasn't a slaughterhouse or an industry animal farm, just a simple shed with goats and cows. When I arrived there I didn't feel bothered. However the site of a worker moving the goats in a group made me start crying. I had to leave the area, for it was too difficult for me to watch. I didn't expect to react the way I reacted. This occurrence only reassured me that my decision to give up meat was correct. In conclusion, I believe that I am doing my part in order to make a difference. A Journey Through Time If I could travel through time I would no doubt travel to the 1960's.Firstly, the 1960's represented peace, love and freedom more than any other time period in history. Throughout the decade peace was very much sought-after. This spirit of brotherhood is something I would have loved to take part in. Whether it was the 'Civil Rights Act' of 1964, or the music which so often spoke of peace and brotherhood, the 60's always kept sight of our true goals. My inspiration to start playing guitar was Jimi Hendrix, an artist that embarked on his musical journey in the 60's. Had I lived in 1969 I would have gone to the Woodstock Music Festival and attended his most memorable performance. Jimi expressed his love for life through music, I try to do the same. Although during the 60's many saddening events did occur, like the Vietnam War and the assassination of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. I do not believe they outweigh the positive and groundbreaking aspects of this wonderful decade. In conclusion, the 1960's if I had the chance to visit another time period, the 60's would be my definitive choice.

Why am I a vegetarian? In February 2006 my family took in a cat, and as a result of this I became a vegetarian. I saw happiness, sadness and tremendous fear in her. I had never owned a pet before this, so this experience was new to me. Furthermore, I came to realize that it is wrong and immoral to afflict any harm upon another living creature whether they are feline, bovine, human or otherwise. In October of that year my family and I went to a vacation resort in the Galilee area. At one point in the vacation my brother suggested we go to the cowshed to look at the animals. It wasn't a slaughterhouse or an industry animal farm, just a simple shed with goats and cows. When I arrived there I didn't feel bothered. However, the site of a worker moving the goats in a group made me start crying. I had to leave the area, for it was too difficult for me to watch. I didn't expect to react the way I reacted. This occurrence only reassured me that my decision to give up meat was correct. In conclusion, I believe that I am doing my part in order to make a difference. A Journey Through Time If I could travel through time I would no doubt travel to the 1960s. Firstly, the 1960s represented peace, love and freedom more than any other time period in history. Throughout the decade peace was very much sought-after. This spirit of brotherhood is something I would have loved to take part in. Whether it was the 'Civil Rights Act' of 1964, or the music which so often spoke of peace and brotherhood, the 60s always kept sight of our true goals. My inspiration to start playing guitar was Jimi Hendrix, an artist that embarked on his musical journey in the 60s. Had I lived in 1969 I would have gone to the Woodstock Music Festival and attended his most memorable performance? Jimi expressed his love for life through music, I try to do the same. Although during the 60s many saddening events did occur, like the Vietnam War and the assassination of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. I do not believe they outweigh the positive and groundbreaking aspects of this wonderful decade. In conclusion, the 1960s if I had the chance to visit another time period, the 60s would be my definitive choice.

I was falling, just seconds from crashing through the glass window of the school bus as it lurched to one side. When I was dismissed from school that afternoon, I was just another 13-year-old heading home, but a short time later, my life changed forever... It was in June 2004, when I endured a school bus accident that nearly destroyed me. Before the accidence, I was an optimist who experienced fear only when watching a scary movie. During the struggle between life and death, I found out I was no longer optimistic, but a thoughtful and strong-willed warrior fighting for survival every second. As the school bus rumbled into an underpass, my back stiffened at its shrill sound of metal scraping on metal. While we were sitting on the bus minding our own business, a gigantic thrust suddenly pitted us against each other from one side to another. Our school bus had bumped into a truck! The bus started wobbling uncontrollably until it hit the wall and began to turn over. I never felt so petrified in my life as I did the moment when the bus driver fell out of her seat and passed out. Wires started sizzling and spark flying, we all were screaming hysterically fumbling in darkness and managing to make it out. The world went topsy-turvy, but I tried to calm myself down in fright by repeating it over and over: It was just a little collision... I kept praying until the force of the bus was pushing my head as if lifting a feather, closer and closer to a window. Within seconds, I knew I was going to fly out. I stared at the window, contemplating how it was going to be until it cracked into pieces and cut me. Within just few seconds, I realized how fragile I actually was. I was too frightful to think, however, all I wanted was to get out of the bus and arrive home. At that moment, I had never had such a vehement desire to be with my family and friends. I want to smell the perfume of my mother; hear my father's lecture lingering around, and the giggling of my friends. Every second I struggled, my nails dig deeper into the leather of the seat and the more I want to survive. Then, I fought the force that pushed my head into the window by pushing backwards against it; I fought and scrabbled for an emergency window. I fought against everything crazily until the emergency window was being pulled out and we were rescued by the people. When I got away, I only sensed my fatigued body, flashing lights and rushing people to the hospital... For months after the bus accident, I shook whenever I saw a bus. Every time I woke up, I was incredibly relieved that I was still alive. Although I complained about the bus driver putting our lives at risk by driving too fast, without the bus accident I would never see self-growth: considerate, strong-willed and striving. After the accident, I grew to fear and worried that I subconsciously lost some of the spunk for taking challenges, but instead I started pondering more carefully about the lost and gain of every action I take. In negative ways, the bus accident weakened my sense of security and it haunted me all along my life since after. However, it reminded me of how strong-willed I am for surviving and how it possibly contribute to my survival in school and community. Each time when I faced with a problem, I will approach it with strong will and perseverance, just like the moment I felt a strong desire to live and struggled to find a way out. Meanwhile, I strived to work my best in both school and community. I became a camp counselor in boys & girls club and youth center, shared my own story while teaching the youths to be resolute and able to protect themselves in danger. Terror, although it existed whenever I retrospect to a bus accident, I will fight against it with a strong will.

I was falling, just seconds from crashing through the glass window of the school bus as it lurched to one side. When I was dismissed from school that afternoon, I was just another 13-year-old heading home, but a short time later, my life changed forever... It was in June 2004, when I endured a school bus accident that nearly destroyed me. Before the accident, I was an optimist who experienced fear only when watching a scary movie. During the struggle between life and death, I found out I was no longer optimistic, but a thoughtful and strong-willed warrior fighting for survival every second. As the school bus rumbled into an underpass, my back stiffened at its shrill sound of metal scraping on metal. While we were sitting on the bus minding our own business, a gigantic thrust suddenly pitted us against each other from one side to another. Our school bus had bumped into a truck! The bus started wobbling uncontrollably until it hit the wall and began to turn over. I never felt so petrified in my life as I did the moment when the bus driver fell out of her seat and passed out. Wires started sizzling and spark flying, we all were screaming hysterically fumbling in darkness and managing to make it out. The world went topsy-turvy, but I tried to calm myself down in fright by repeating it over and over: It was just a little collision... I kept praying until the force of the bus was pushing my head as if lifting a feather, closer and closer to a window. Within seconds, I knew I was going to fly out. I stared at the window, contemplating how it was going to be until it cracked into pieces and cut me. Within just few seconds, I realized how fragile I actually was. I was too frightful to think, however, all I wanted was to get out of the bus and arrive home. At that moment, I had never had such a vehement desire to be with my family and friends. I want to smell the perfume of my mother; hear my father's lecture lingering around, and the giggling of my friends. Every second I struggled, my nails dig deeper into the leather of the seat and the more I want to survive. Then, I fought the force that pushed my head into the window by pushing backwards against it; I fought and scrabbled for an emergency window. I fought against everything crazily until the emergency window was being pulled out, and we were rescued by the people. When I got away, I only sensed my fatigued body, flashing lights and rushing people to the hospital... For months after the bus accident, I shook whenever I saw a bus. Every time I woke up, I was incredibly relieved that I was still alive. Although I complained about the bus driver putting our lives at risk by driving too fast, without the bus accident I would never see self-growth: considerate, strong-willed and striving. After the accident, I grew to fear and worried that I subconsciously lost some spunk for taking challenges, but instead I started pondering more carefully about the lost and gain of every action I take. In negative ways, the bus accident weakened my sense of security, and it haunted me all along my life since after. However, it reminded me of how strong-willed I am for surviving and how it possibly contributes to my survival in school and community. Each time when I faced with a problem, I will approach it with strong will and perseverance, just like the moment I felt a strong desire to live and struggled to find a way out. Meanwhile, I strived to work my best in both school and community. I became a camp counselor in boys camp; girls club and youth center, shared my own story while teaching the youths to be resolute and able to protect themselves in danger. Terror, although it existed whenever I retrospect to a bus accident, I will fight against it with a strong will.

When I was in middle school, I didn't give much thought in applying to high school. I knew that I wanted to be in one of the three specialized science high schools - Stuyvesant, Bronx Science or Brooklyn Technical. My first choice had been Stuyvesant. I ended up in Brooklyn Tech. And so I went along with what fate had decided for me - I attended Brooklyn Tech. My decision seemed simple at the time considering that I was being offered to go to one of the top schools in New York City. How could I possibly refuse? But I was upset. I wanted to go to the top school in New York City. I didn't want to be third or second best. I believed I deserved better, that I should have gotten into what I wanted... but I didn't. And in my anger I hadn't bothered looking into Brooklyn Technical High School. I hadn't thought about the 4,000 other high school students that would be attending or about the student body that studied as fiercely or fiercer than I did or about the immense competition. I hadn't given Brooklyn Tech too much thought. I just went. I was doubtful, at first. I wasn't sure whether this would be an agreeable. But instead of transferring out, I decided I wasn't going to take the cowards way out - I would stick to my fate, no matter what it was. Or perhaps I decided to stick to my fate because in some twisted way, I grew to like Brooklyn Tech. It was full of diversity, a cultural wonderland where I had friends from all different backgrounds and who were as ambitious and as studious as I was. It was an excellent alternative by far. Brooklyn Tech had showed me a world of academic insightfulness that would forever be branded in my mind. It showed me things that Stuyvesant may not have been able to show me. It oriented me to subjects where I hadn't dared venture before. I learned to love Tech and it no longer seemed to be the second or third best choice. May be on my list it had been in that ranking, but it was obvious that it had been first choice on fate's list. My experience in applying to high school is certainly similar to what I'm experiencing now in applying to college. Of course there are times when I fear I'll be rejected by every institution but then I look back and remember Tech - Brooklyn Tech who had given me a home when those other schools left me in the dark. While I may not get into my first choice for college, I know that there are alternatives in life. If I cannot become an anthropologist, I'll be an enologist, and if I can't be an enologist, I'll be an agronomist. Sometimes, we may not like our options but there are alternatives out there for everyone. It's all up to us whether we decide to make the best of it or not. I know I made the best of my experience at Tech and I certainly hope to do the same throughout college and throughout the rest of my life.

When I was in middle school, I didn't give much thought in applying to high school. I knew that I wanted to be in one of the three specialized science high schools - Stuyvesant, Bronx Science or Brooklyn Technical. My first choice had been Stuyvesant. I ended up in Brooklyn Tech. And so I went along with what fate had decided for me - I attended Brooklyn Tech. My decision seemed simple at the time considering that I was being offered to go to one of the top schools in New York City. How could I possibly refuse? But I was upset. I wanted to go to the top school in New York City. I didn't want to be third or second best. Furthermore, I believed I deserved better, that I should have gotten into what I wanted... but I didn't. And in my anger I hadn't bothered looking into Brooklyn Technical High School. I hadn't thought about the 4,000 other high school students that would be attending or about the student body that studied as fiercely or fiercer than I did or about the immense competition. I hadn't given Brooklyn Tech too much thought. Furthermore, I just went. Furthermore, I was doubtful, at first. Furthermore, I wasn't sure whether this would be an agreeable. But instead of transferring out, I decided I wasn't going to take the cowards way out - I would stick to my fate, no matter what it was. Or perhaps I decided to stick to my fate because in some twisted way, I grew to like Brooklyn Tech. It was full of diversity, a cultural wonderland where I had friends from all different backgrounds and who were as ambitious and as studious as I was. It was an excellent alternative by far. Brooklyn Tech had showed me a world of academic frightfulness that would forever be branded in my mind. It showed me things that Stuyvesant may not have been able to show me. It oriented me to subjects where I hadn't dared venture before. I learned to love Tech, and it no longer seemed to be the second or third-best choice. May be on my list it had been in that ranking, but it was obvious that it had been first choice on fate's list. My experience in applying to high school is certainly similar to what I'm experiencing now in applying to college. Of course there are times when I fear I'll be rejected by every institution, but then I look back and remember Tech - Brooklyn Tech who had given me a home when those other schools left me in the dark. While I may not get into my first choice for college, I know that there are alternatives in life. If I cannot become an anthropologist, I'll be an ecologist, and if I can't be an ecologist, I'll be an agronomist. Sometimes, we may not like our options, but there are alternatives out there for everyone. It's all up to us whether we decide to make the best of it or not. I know I made the best of my experience at Tech and I certainly hope to do the same throughout college and throughout the rest of my life.

I needed som help with the 1st few lines. I think i have to make it a bit stronger. Please review and send me the edit : Ever since childhood I have been listening to my elders discuss the development and management of our real estate business which fuelled my interest in this field. Of late, the Indian real estate industry is poised to emerge as one of the most preferred investment destinations for global realty and investment firms. Its recent boom and expert analysis state that it has a huge potential, predicting it to grow to a staggering amount of over US$ 50 billion within the next four years. Fact such as these led me to dig deeper and find out more about this fascinating field. After the 10th grade, I decided to take up Business Studies to help me achieve my goals of eventually running a successful real estate business. Since then, I have enjoyed reading magazines like "Business Today" and "Business Week" along with the business section of the Daily newspaper to keep a constant tab on the industry. Wanting to know more about our family business, I spend long hours with my father at his office and attended various meetings with him. During our discussions, to broaden my horizons, I ask him several questions such as, "How does the commercial real estate ("CRE") industry work? How can one determine a good plot of land? What risks does a lease option hold for the buyer? How does one determine the type of residential apartment or house on a particular plot?" Answers to such questions have added to my knowledge on the financial sector of this rapidly developing business of real estate as well as that of our family business. In addition to my discussions with family members, I have had the opportunity to interact with International Structural Engineer Predrag Eror and Architect Steven Coates who worked on several real estate projects around the globe. They shared with me their ideas and concepts about modern techniques, for example, explaining a wind tunnel test done on a 3D image of a building to determine the impact of wind on buildings and its counter-effects on its surroundings, including pedestrians. I found that this conversation stimulated my curiosity for the practical application of the various concepts I had read about or heard of in the industry, which was as challenging as the financials of a project. Apart from playing a vital role in the family business my grandfather and mother take a keen interest in serving the under-privileged of society. They have taught me to be considerate, caring and compassionate towards others. Having a family background in community service, I decided to join the Interact Club of my school. Our activities included visiting old-age homes, interacting and conversing with the elderly people, working with doctors providing free medical treatment, and performing dance and music shows for the under-privileged. Four years of my passionate dedication earned me a seat on 'The Executive Board of Directors' of the Interact Club. I was part of the team that organized two fund raisers for the under-privileged, over a span of five days, which helped me inculcate the value time management, team work, organization skills and problem solving abilities. I worked at 'Manovikas Kendra', a school for the "differently-abled" children, looking after and playing games with them and at an NGO called 'Apne Aap Women Worldwide' teaching children of Red Light areas computers. These experiences were enriching as well as humbling. I wish to continue serving the undermined, trying to make a difference to every new place I go. My passion of meeting and associating with new people have seen me travel to over 14 countries including Kenya, Thailand, South America, Australia and England, observing various people, cultures and their ways in which they live. Every visit has left an indelible impression in my mind, leaving me with a thirst for more. Studying in a very competitive school, and being one to take initiative, I was honoured to have been handed many responsibilities. As School Prefect, I became more confident and self-disciplined. Minding classes while the teachers were away helped me realize the importance of commanding juniors and peers, earning their respect as well as being a role model for them. I was one of the four representatives chosen from my school to go to Pune to be part of the 'The National Defense Academy' programme. Here we stayed on the military campus, along with other cadets, spending four days living their lives as a part of the Army. Moving towards my extra-curricular activities, I was elected the TreasurerFinancial Administrator of the Cultural Club of our school, enabling me to interact with various sponsors. This not only improved my negotiation and communication skills but also increased my knowledge on monetary matters of an organization. As the Web Master of the Computer Club of my school, I helped create the school website. Talking about computers, Media Designing is one field that I have always been zealous about. For the past few years, I have been practicing designing, bringing out my creative ideas and concepts and further developing them into graphics. "All work and no play make Jack a dull boy." Fortunately I am not that Jack, but I am a Jack of all Sports! I represented my house in Football, Cricket, Hockey, Rugby and Basketball. Football being my favourite, I play it regularly, and dream of representing India at the Football World Cup one day. Having played numerous sports have enhanced my stamina and brought out the spirit of sportsmanship in me. Moving away from field activities, I was part of my house dramatics team as well as the annual school production team. These gave me a platform to showcase my acting and oratory skills. I was chosen as a supervisor for the inter-house chess tournament along with other students. After having clearly defined my goals of achieving an undergraduate degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Real Estate, I firmly believe that the best option for me would be to pursue my career in administration at one of the leading universities in the U.S.A. known for their exemplary education. My objective to be a businessman, involves earning money, at the same time having a corporate social responsibility, making people's lives happy and of course leaving behind a legacy. This would be an ideal platform to succeed in today's ever changing world and equip me with the skills to be a successful manager and leader in my family business in the future. Thanks,Vedant.

I needed some help with the 1st few lines. I think I have to make it a bit stronger. Please review and send me the edit : Ever since childhood I have been listening to my elders discuss the development and management of our real estate business which fuelled my interest in this field. Of late, the Indian real estate industry is poised to emerge as one of the most preferred investment destinations for global realty and investment firms. Its recent boom and expert analysis state that it has a huge potential, predicting it to grow to a staggering amount of over US$ 50 billion within the next four years. Fact such as these led me to dig deeper and find out more about this fascinating field. After the 10th grade, I decided to take up Business Studies to help me achieve my goals of eventually running a successful real estate business. Since then, I have enjoyed reading magazines like "Business Today" and "Business Week" along with the business section of the Daily newspaper to keep a constant tab on the industry. Wanting to know more about our family business, I spend long hours with my father at his office and attended various meetings with him. During our discussions, to broaden my horizons, I ask him several questions such as, "How does the commercial real estate ("CRE") industry work? How can one determine a good plot of land? What risks does a lease option hold for the buyer? How does one determine the type of residential apartment or house on a particular plot?" Answers to such questions have added to my knowledge on the financial sector of this rapidly developing business of real estate as well as that of our family business. In addition to my discussions with family members, I have had the opportunity to interact with International Structural Engineer Redraw Error and Architect Steven Coates who worked on several real estate projects around the globe. They shared with me their ideas and concepts about modern techniques, for example, explaining a wind tunnel test done on a 3D image of a building to determine the impact of wind on buildings and its counter-effects on its surroundings, including pedestrians. I found that this conversation stimulated my curiosity for the practical application of the various concepts I had read about or heard of in the industry, which was as challenging as the financials of a project. Apart from playing a vital role in the family business my grandfather and mother take a keen interest in serving the under-privileged of society. They have taught me to be considerate, caring and compassionate towards others. Having a family background in community service, I decided to join the Interact Club of my school. Our activities included visiting old-age homes, interacting and conversing with the elderly people, working with doctors providing free medical treatment, and performing dance and music shows for the under-privileged. Four years of my passionate dedication earned me a seat on 'The Executive Board of Directors' of the Interact Club. I was part of the team that organized two fund-raisers for the under-privileged, over a span of five days, which helped me inculcate the value time management, team work, organization skills and problem-solving abilities. I worked at 'Manorial Kendra', a school for the "differently abled" children, looking after and playing games with them and at an NGO called 'Anne AAP Women Worldwide' teaching children of Red Light areas computers. These experiences were enriching as well as humbling. I wish to continue serving the undermined, trying to make a difference to every new place I go. My passion of meeting and associating with new people have seen me travel to over 14 countries including Kenya, Thailand, South America, Australia and England, observing various people, cultures and their ways in which they live. Every visit has left an indelible impression in my mind, leaving me with a thirst for more. Studying in a very competitive school, and being one to take initiative, I was honored to have been handed many responsibilities. As School Prefect, I became more confident and self-disciplined. Minding classes while the teachers were away helped me realize the importance of commanding juniors and peers, earning their respect as well as being a role model for them. I was one of the four representatives chosen from my school to go to Pune to be part of the 'The National Defense Academy' program. Here we stayed on the military campus, along with other cadets, spending four days living their lives as a part of the Army. Moving towards my extracurricular activities, I was elected the TreasurerFinancial Administrator of the Cultural Club of our school, enabling me to interact with various sponsors. This not only improved my negotiation and communication skills but also increased my knowledge on monetary matters of an organization. As the Webmaster of the Computer Club of my school, I helped create the school website. Talking about computers, Media Designing is one field that I have always been zealous about. For the past few years, I have been practicing designing, bringing out my creative ideas and concepts and further developing them into graphics. "All work and no play make Jack a dull boy." Fortunately I am not that Jack, but I am a Jack of all Sports! I represented my house in Football, Cricket, Hockey, Rugby and Basketball. Football being my favorite, I play it regularly, and dream of representing India at the Football World Cup one day. Having played numerous sports have enhanced my stamina and brought out the spirit of sportsmanship in me. Moving away from field activities, I was part of my house dramatics team as well as the annual school production team. These gave me a platform to showcase my acting and oratory skills. I was chosen as a supervisor for the inter-house chess tournament along with other students. After having clearly defined my goals of achieving an undergraduate degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Real Estate, I firmly believe that the best option for me would be to pursue my career in administration at one of the leading universities in the U.S.A. known for their exemplary education. My objective to be a businessman, involves earning money, at the same time having a corporate social responsibility, making people's lives happy and of course leaving behind a legacy. This would be an ideal platform to succeed in today's ever-changing world and equip me with the skills to be a successful manager and leader in my family business in the future. Thanks, Vedant.

That is what im thinking of writing my essay about...negative or positive i would appreciate any kind of honest comments.

That is what I'm thinking of writing my essay about...negative or positive I would appreciate any kind of honest comments.

The following essay is still in need of a sense of individuality and livelihood. I'm all out of ideas. Can you help me please? Prompt: Tell us about yourself. We know which activities you do and what your academic record looks like but what else should we know about you? What fun, cool, or interesting things about you won't fit into the categories on the application? Feel welcome to be clever or funny, or write in a way that reflects your personality. _____________________________________________________ "So you're Peruvianese," was the first thing my friend asked when I told him that I was half Peruvian. I wouldn't blame him because with a quick glimpse of me, you would think that I'm just plainly Chinese. For many, seeing a Chinese person who could speak fluent Spanish is more than unlikely. This strangeness comes from a mother who is South American and a father who is Asian, leaving me with two languages, plus English. Being a first generation American was difficult because I had to deal with the strange looks of others and racist rumors. The balancing of two different cultures is a separate battle that I face in that it can either stay with me or be lost to the outside pressures that tell me to "stop being so Asian," or "speak less Spanish." I slowly grew out of that uncomfortable circle and selected friends who would respect me for who I was. A constant support from my family also allowed me to retain a strong footing in all three cultures. I have a strong will to learn my cultures and become a living example of diversity. However, there were times when I had to overcome discrepancies in my cultural fulfillment, such as when my father passed away leaving me no one to teach me Chinese or loss of my grandfather who taught me almost all the Spanish I know. My culture is my identity, and to turn away from my culture, is the same as refusing myself life. My culture is a mix of the South, East, and West. In my Dizi (Chinese bamboo flute) class I am with other students, many of Chinese decent, and it is as if I am catching up on a second life in a big city while being exposed to the cultural sounds of festivals common in China. When I'm in Peru with my grandparents, I get the feeling of connection with the ancient Incan tribes that once roamed through the marvelous city of Machu Picchu and the joy of cooking what many consider "exotic." Even being with friends here in the states has a strong impact on myself in that, I am the first American in my family and have an obligation to display that side of me as well. After having traveled to the lands of my parents and seeing the sights and sounds both have to offer, whether I'm in the highlands of Peru drinking chicha morada or the crowded streets of China eating dim-sum, I have no problem calling either of them home.

The following essay is still in need of a sense of individuality and livelihood. I'm all out of ideas. Can you help me please? Prompt: Tell us about yourself. We know which activities you do and what your academic record looks like but what else should we know about you? What fun, cool, or interesting things about you won't fit into the categories on the application? Feel welcome to be clever or funny, or write in a way that reflects your personality. _____________________________________________________ "So you're Peruvians," was the first thing my friend asked when I told him that I was half Peruvian. I wouldn't blame him because with a quick glimpse of me, you would think that I'm just plainly Chinese. For many, seeing a Chinese person who could speak fluent Spanish is more than unlikely. This strangeness comes from a mother who is South American and a father who is Asian, leaving me with two languages, plus English. Being a first generation American was difficult because I had to deal with the strange looks of others and racist rumors. The balancing of two different cultures is a separate battle that I face in that it can either stay with me or be lost to the outside pressures that tell me to "stop being so Asian," or "speak less Spanish." I slowly grew out of that uncomfortable circle and selected friends who would respect me for who I was. A constant support from my family also allowed me to retain a strong footing in all three cultures. I have a strong will to learn my cultures and become a living example of diversity. However, there were times when I had to overcome discrepancies in my cultural fulfillment, such as when my father passed away leaving me no one to teach me Chinese or loss of my grandfather who taught me almost all the Spanish I know. My culture is my identity, and to turn away from my culture, is the same as refusing myself life. My culture is a mix of the South, East, and West. In my DZI (Chinese bamboo flute) class I am with other students, many of Chinese descent, and it is as if I am catching up on a second life in a big city while being exposed to the cultural sounds of festivals common in China. When I'm in Peru with my grandparents, I get the feeling of connection with the ancient Incan tribes that once roamed through the marvelous city of Machu Picchu and the joy of cooking what many consider "exotic." Even being with friends here in the states has a strong impact on myself in that, I am the first American in my family and have an obligation to display that side of me as well. After having traveled to the lands of my parents and seeing the sights and sounds both have to offer, whether I'm in the highlands of Peru drinking chichi Moreira or the crowded streets of China eating dim-sum, I have no problem calling either of them home.

I'm a junior in highschool, and I have to write an essay for application to this Governor's School program. It is for a 4 week program during the summer to a certain Governor's School. (In my case its the Engineering one.) It has to be 200-250 words, and it has to indicate why we wish to attend the certain Governor's School. This is my essay, its 228 words: Since I was in third grade I knew that I wanted to do something with mathematics. During my time in high-school I have been introduced to several mathematical courses, such as Physics and Calculus, that I found intriguing and fun. I also have been attracted to technology since I was very little. When I was looking at possible majors for college, I was instantly attracted to the ones concerning Engineering. By studying Engineering as my major in college, I could also pursue a career in Engineering as well. I would love to use my interest in math and technology in my future career to work on improving the world through Engineering. I would like to go to Rutgers School of Engineering because this would introduce me to the college studies of Engineering. I would like to experience the course as well as the challenges of being in such a program. This program would expose me to how the major would be once I get to college. It would influence me in that I would see what the schedule is like, and it would also show me how I should prepare for the major during my last two years of high school. Overall, this program would be an excellent experience that I would love to be a part of and would be an excellent influence on my life. Any feedback would be much appreciated. Thank you.

I'm a junior in high school, and I have to write an essay for application to this Governor's School program. It is for a 4-week program during the summer to a certain Governor's School. (In my case it's the Engineering one.) It has to be 200-250 words, and it has to indicate why we wish to attend the certain Governor's School. This is my essay, its 228 words: Since I was in third grade I knew that I wanted to do something with mathematics. During my time in high-school I have been introduced to several mathematical courses, such as Physics and Calculus, that I found intriguing and fun. I also have been attracted to technology since I was very little. When I was looking at possible majors for college, I was instantly attracted to the ones concerning Engineering. By studying Engineering as my major in college, I could also pursue a career in Engineering as well. I would love to use my interest in math and technology in my future career to work on improving the world through Engineering. I would like to go to Rutgers School of Engineering because this would introduce me to the college studies of Engineering. Furthermore, I would like to experience the course as well as the challenges of being in such a program. This program would expose me to how the major would be once I get to college. It would influence me in that I would see what the schedule is like, and it would also show me how I should prepare for the major during my last two years of high school. Overall, this program would be an excellent experience that I would love to be a part of and would be an excellent influence on my life. Any feedback would be much appreciated. Thank you.

Ronald was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia just two months after his high school graduation. At that point, he already had forty five percent cancer cells in his body; he was to be sent to the hospital for immediate treatment, temporarily putting his scholarship in England on hold. Despite undergoing the distressing chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Ronald fought leukemia with perseverance while keeping an optimistic attitude throughout. I was blindly susceptible to his tough act and completely convinced by him that everything was only temporary. In fact, it was. On February 23, 2007, less than two years after Ronald had been diagnosed with cancer, he took his last breath. He fought a fierce battle with leukemia courageously and gracefully, making a strikingly bold statement at the end of it. Although I am unable to place my finger on exactly what he wished to announce with his departure, I do recognize the irony of Ronald allowing me to acknowledge things in life that are not always noticeable. He drew my attention to smaller details that otherwise I would have neglected, even the most trivial things. I thought I knew what life and death meant, but my understanding was only skin-deep. Forced to look at death in the eye, I now see that between life and death exists only one fine line. Although Ronald's crossing of this line induced a rush of emotions and unbearable sorrow upon me, still I know I will never fully understand the concept of death. I have come to learn that grief and pain are essential things that are associated with living and dying, things that I must live with. I look at life now with different perspectives and have discovered new meanings in the ordinary. It seems sweet just to be going to school every day, being with my family, having friends and feeling healthy. I used to make a big deal out of insignificant little things, like thinking that B- for math was disastrous. But a pitiful math grade does not define life, there comes a point where I have to get over it and move on. These small things now fall into perspective. My friend grew stronger from excruciating pain; I have grown wiser from deep sorrow. Ronald wished his death to be grand and was ironic about it being grandiose. The finale to Ronald's song of life was indeed grand. It was through his courageous act that had enabled me to appreciate the simplest joys in life, and to take notice of the ordinary. I no longer mourn the death of a dear friend, but have learned to celebrate the life of a hero in disguise.

Ronald was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia just two months after his high school graduation. At that point, he already had forty-five percent cancer cells in his body; he was to be sent to the hospital for immediate treatment, temporarily putting his scholarship in England on hold. Despite undergoing the distressing chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Ronald fought leukemia with perseverance while keeping an optimistic attitude throughout. I was blindly susceptible to his tough act and completely convinced by him that everything was only temporary. In fact, it was. On February 23, 2007, less than two years after Ronald had been diagnosed with cancer, he took his last breath. He fought a fierce battle with leukemia courageously and gracefully, making a strikingly bold statement at the end of it. Although I am unable to place my finger on exactly what he wished to announce with his departure, I do recognize the irony of Ronald allowing me to acknowledge things in life that are not always noticeable. He drew my attention to smaller details that otherwise I would have neglected, even the most trivial things. I thought I knew what life and death meant, but my understanding was only skin-deep. Forced to look at death in the eye, I now see that between life and death exists only one fine line. Although Ronald's crossing of this line induced a rush of emotions and unbearable sorrow upon me, still I know I will never fully understand the concept of death. I have come to learn that grief and pain are essential things that are associated with living and dying, things that I must live with. I look at life now with different perspectives and have discovered new meanings in the ordinary. It seems sweet just to be going to school every day, being with my family, having friends and feeling healthy. I used to make a big deal out of insignificant little things, like thinking that B- for math was disastrous. But a pitiful math grade does not define life, there comes a point where I have to get over it and move on. These small things now fall into perspective. My friend grew stronger from excruciating pain; I have grown wiser from deep sorrow. Ronald wished his death to be grand and was ironic about it being grandiose. The finale to Ronald's song of life was indeed grand. It was through his courageous act that had enabled me to appreciate the simplest joys in life, and to take notice of the ordinary. I no longer mourn the death of a dear friend, but have learned to celebrate the life of a hero in disguise.

Throughout the funeral I cried and barely made it through my speech. The weeks to follow were even worse. Tears fell from my eyes every morning and night. I became apathetic towards school, only reminiscing about the "good times" I had had with my little brother during class. From my lack of class work and homework, my grades suffered and dropped significantly. I went from an honor roll student to a below average student. I started to perform better in school as more time went on, but I was still not working up to my full potential. After receiving my final report card for the year, I was very disappointed in myself. Deep down inside I knew I could have done much better. From that point on I realized that my brother would not have wanted me to be how I was and that life was to short. Saying goodbye to my brother was a heartbreaking experience, but now in everything I do, I strive to do the best and try my hardest. My experience made me more appreciative of life and the many opportunities I have that others do not. It also motivated and encouraged me to go into the medical field and succeed; so that I can help others and their families go through situations, like my brother and my family had to go through, maybe even help find cure for cancer.

Throughout the funeral I cried and barely made it through my speech. The weeks to follow were even worse. Tears fell from my eyes every morning and night. I became apathetic towards school, only reminiscing about the "good times" I had had with my little brother during class. From my lack of class work and homework, my grades suffered and dropped significantly. I went from an honor roll student to a below average student. I started to perform better in school as more time went on, but I was still not working up to my full potential. After receiving my final report card for the year, I was very disappointed in myself. Deep down inside I knew I could have done much better. From that point on I realized that my brother would not have wanted me to be how I was, and that life was too short. Saying goodbye to my brother was a heartbreaking experience, but now in everything I do, I strive to do the best and try my hardest. My experience made me more appreciative of life and the many opportunities I have that others do not. It also motivated and encouraged me to go into the medical field and succeed; so that I can help others and their families go through situations, like my brother and my family had to go through, maybe even help find cure for cancer.

The topic: who is the most significant person in your life. Hi, I was wondering if you could review my essay before submission. Thank You I have stumbled across many special people in my life. For the most part, my parents and siblings are extremely special and significant, but the one person I believe is the most significant to me is my desired and most cherished friend, Matthew Wolach. We met in the middle of our sophomore year, and our friendship has bloomed into an incredible bond and relationship. What I admire most about Matthew are his passionate family values. He has always told me that friendships come and go, but family will always be there by your side, through the good and bad times. Before I met Matthew, my views on family were completely different. I was used to going out every single weekend, all day with my friends, hardly spending anytime with my family. What made it worse was that my parents are divorced and I am only able to see my father every two weeks and even on his weekends I would be out and about. Constantly, I would get into arguments with my parents about spending way too much time with my friends and I would always defend myself and say "No I don't", although, deep inside, I knew I did and I had no way of showing my parents that I was extremely sorry for my selfishness. It was not until Matthew's family came across a difficult situation that I finally realized the importance of family. He showed me that family is the most important thing that you have in life and that I you should never put them second best. When I saw how close his family was, it made me see what I have been missing out these past couple of years; the family gatherings and the bonds that form between everyone. I suddenly began to spend more time with my family than with my friends. I know I can never make up for the lost time, but I still have the rest of my life to spend and treasure every moment with them. I thank Matthew everyday for influencing me in such a way that has left me to see the better side of life. I hope to continue to appreciate and idolize my family as much as I can. I know that one day it will all end for each of them, and I must enjoy the time I have with them now. Felix Adler once said "The family is the school of duties - founded on love"

The topic: who is the most significant person in your life. Hi, I was wondering if you could review my essay before submission. Thank You I have stumbled across many special people in my life. For the most part, my parents and siblings are extremely special and significant, but the one person I believe is the most significant to me is my desired and most cherished friend, Matthew Coach. We met in the middle of our sophomore year, and our friendship has bloomed into an incredible bond and relationship. What I admire most about Matthew are his passionate family values. He has always told me that friendships come and go, but family will always be there by your side, through the good and bad times. Before I met Matthew, my views on family were completely different. I was used to going out every single weekend, all day with my friends, hardly spending anytime with my family. What made it worse was that my parents are divorced, and I am only able to see my father every two weeks and even on his weekends I would be out and about. Constantly, I would get into arguments with my parents about spending way too much time with my friends and I would always defend myself and say "No I don't", although, deep inside, I knew I did, and I had no way of showing my parents that I was extremely sorry for my selfishness. It was not until Matthew's family came across a difficult situation that I finally realized the importance of family. He showed me that family is the most important thing that you have in life and that I should never put them second best. When I saw how close his family was, it made me see what I have been missing out these past couple of years; the family gatherings and the bonds that form between everyone. I suddenly began to spend more time with my family than with my friends. I know I can never make up for the lost time, but I still have the rest of my life to spend and treasure every moment with them. Furthermore, I thank Matthew every day for influencing me in such a way that has left me to see the better side of life. Furthermore, I hope to continue to appreciate and idolize my family as much as I can. Furthermore, I know that one day it will all end for each of them, and I must enjoy the time I have with them now. Felix Adler once said "The family is the school of duties - founded on love"

I was in eighth grade, when I won over all first place winner of my middle school Science Fair. To say I felt completely and incandescently happy would be an understatement. The joy I felt was ineffable. That day and that success will remain in my heart always for a reason that, inexplicably, has nothing to do with winning. Rather it had to do with me reflecting on my racial ethnicity and who I was. I felt pride at my triumph. I loved science, I loved learning, and most importantly, I loved being who I was ï what I represented. And today, I'm still proud of who I am. I come from a background with so many layers that if you could peel me, you'd never get through. But in every academic environment I participated in, I didn't just have my culture to offer, I had myself. My potential has only merged more with my own breedï a Chilean New Yorker. That by definition should be a rare breed considering how scarce we are in the first place, but more than that, it's that fact that simply being a New Yorker makes us understand diversity because we are diversity. University of Michigan must have diversity of every sort, and even though my Chilean rarity has always left an impression on almost everyone I've met, I'm not about just one culture ï I'm multicultural and I'm an open book, for anyone who's willing to dare, to be read and learnt from.

I was in eighth grade, when I won over all first place winner of my middle school Science Fair. To say I felt completely and incandescently happy would be an understatement. The joy I felt was ineffable. That day and that success will remain in my heart always for a reason that, inexplicably, has nothing to do with winning. Rather it had to do with me reflecting on my racial ethnicity and who I was. I felt pride at my triumph. I loved science, I loved learning, and most importantly, I loved being who I was ï what I represented. And today, I'm still proud of who I am. I come from a background with so many layers that if you could peel me, you'd never get through. But in every academic environment I participated in, I didn't just have my culture to offer, I had myself. My potential has only merged more with my own breed a Chilean New Yorker. That by definition should be a rare breed considering how scarce we are in the first place, but more than that, it's that fact that simply being a New Yorker makes us understand diversity because we are diversity. University of Michigan must have diversity of every sort, and even though my Chilean rarity has always left an impression on almost everyone I've met, I'm not about just one culture ï I'm multicultural, and I'm an open book, for anyone who's willing to dare, to be read and learned from.

prompt: In the space provided, please write a concise narrative in which you describe a meaningful event, experience or accomplishment in your life and how it will affect your college experience or your contribution to the UF campus community. You may want to reflect on your family, your school or community activities, or your involvement in areas outside of school. My father is a full time parts manager at Braman Honda, yet he manages to squeeze in his daily activity: cycling. His daily routine consists of riding every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at five o'clock in the morning and returning home at eleven o'clock in the morning. At the beginning, cycling was just an exercise to help lower his blood pressure; however, it has transformed into an obsession and a way of life. Furthermore, my father has knowledge of the dangers that come with cycling. The thought of losing a loved one had never crossed my mind until December 16, 2006. At that moment in time, I thought my world was about to end.

Prompt: In the space provided, please write a concise narrative in which you describe a meaningful event, experience or accomplishment in your life and how it will affect your college experience or your contribution to the OF campus community. You may want to reflect on your family, your school or community activities, or your involvement in areas outside of school. My father is a full time parts manager at Brahman Honda, yet he manages to squeeze in his daily activity: cycling. His daily routine consists of riding every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at five o'clock in the morning and returning home at eleven o'clock in the morning. At the beginning, cycling was just an exercise to help lower his blood pressure; however, it has transformed into an obsession and a way of life. Furthermore, my father has knowledge of the dangers that come with cycling. The thought of losing a loved one had never crossed my mind until December 16, 2006. At that moment in time, I thought my world was about to end.

Here is My essay. Born Allen Deon Logan on the day of April 16, 1989 at Arlington Hospital located in Arlington, Virigina at approximately 5:34 a.m., weighting 5 pound exactly making me the second child of Frances Walters. Thourghout my child hood I was always ambitious and open to learning new things, and gaining additional knowledge. At the age of seven I won my first basketball championship game. Shortly after that time I was getting ready to go to summer camp. Summer camp was one of the best things I loved about summer time. During summer camp I learn about sportsmanship and communication and just relaxing and having a good time with my peers to express myself. While in Junior High School I started getting interest in the computer field. I was also chosen out of my eighth grade class to participate in a computer engineering summer program at the University of District of Columbia location in Washington D.C. While attending the University of District of Columbia I learn how to uses various software, build and break down computer hardware. At the age of 13 year old I auditions for my first play, during the audition I was extremely nervous but glad my nervousness didn't show while playing my character in front of a live audiences. Later that day I was selected to play Malcolm X I was so excited. Entering High School was a major step for me. During the first day of high school I was thrilled to meet new people and enjoy the fact of being a high school student but at the same time I was ready to learn. I was also looking forward to the up coming school year. In the tenth grade my guidance counselor started informing me about different college's and career opportunities, she ask me various questions concerning my goals and achievements, one of the questions was where do I see myself in ten years and etcetera . While answering the questions I first told my guidance counselor. My goals are to be a successful educated young man, to attend Howard University, Be an entrepreneur and own million's of businesses around the countries, advance myself with as much experiences as I can, accomplish a degree during my four to five years in college. Secondly I inform my counselor about my achievements, I finish a summer program at the University of District of Columbia. I also told my guidance counselor that I'm looking forward to my up coming achievements that the future holds for me. Thirdly in ten year I see myself as a young professional business man who has achievements a lot. While completing my high school education in the eleven grade I took a plumbingheating course to advance myself with a trade. During the first day of this course my teacher Mr. Goldsmith explain the description of the course which last for two years. In plumbing class I work on water heaters, toilet, sink faucets and etc. Toward the end of the eleven grade school year I receive an intern position with a federal government contractor company. While working for the company I receive a lot of government and I.T. experiences. This intern position really made me focus on my career. Reaching my senior year of high school I really got serious about going to college. The college that I strongly feel that I want to attend is Howard University Located in Washington D.C. Throughout my four years of High School I feel like I accomplish a lot and I am look forward to the future.

Here is My essay. Born Allen Deon Logan on the day of April 16, 1989, at Arlington Hospital located in Arlington, Virginia at approximately 5:34 a.m., weighting 5 pounds exactly making me the second child of Frances Walters. Throughout my childhood I was always ambitious and open to learning new things, and gaining additional knowledge. At the age of seven I won my first basketball championship game. Shortly after that time I was getting ready to go to summer camp. Summer camp was one of the best things I loved about summer. During summer camp I learn about sportsmanship and communication and just relaxing and having a good time with my peers to express myself. While in Junior High School I started getting interest in the computer field. I was also chosen out of my eighth grade class to participate in a computer engineering summer program at the University of District of Columbia location in Washington D.C. While attending the University of District of Columbia I learn how to use various software, build and break down computer hardware. At the age of 13-year-old I audition for my first play, during the audition I was extremely nervous but glad my nervousness didn't show while playing my character in front of a live audience. Later that day I was selected to play Malcolm X I was so excited. Entering High School was a major step for me. During the first day of high school I was thrilled to meet new people and enjoy the fact of being a high school student but at the same time I was ready to learn. I was also looking forward to the upcoming school year. In the tenth grade my guidance counselor started informing me about different college's and career opportunities, she asks me various questions concerning my goals and achievements, one of the questions was where do I see myself in ten years and etcetera. While answering the questions I first told my guidance counselor. My goals are to be a successful educated young man, to attend Howard University, Be an entrepreneur and own million's of businesses around the countries, advance myself with as many experiences as I can, accomplish a degree during my four to five years in college. Secondly I inform my counselor about my achievements, I finish a summer program at the University of District of Columbia. I also told my guidance counselor that I'm looking forward to my upcoming achievements that the future holds for me. Thirdly in ten year I see myself as a young professional businessman who has achievements a lot. While completing my high school education in the eleven grade I took a plumbing heating course to advance myself with a trade. During the first day of this course my teacher Mr. Goldsmith explain the description of the course which last for two years. In plumbing class I work on water heaters, toilet, sink faucets etc. Toward the end of the eleven grade school year I receive an intern position with a federal government contractor company. While working for the company I receive a lot of government and I.T. experiences. This intern position really made me focus on my career. Reaching my senior year of high school I really got serious about going to college. The college that I strongly feel that I want to attend is Howard University Located in Washington D.C. Throughout my four years of High School I feel like I accomplish a lot, and I look forward to the future.

You may want to reflect on your family, your school or community activities, or your involvement in areas outside of school. Five AM morning workouts that lasted three hours coupled with five PM afternoon workouts that lasted two hours made for one hell of day. This was my routine Mondays, Wednesday, Fridays, and Saturdays for each of my three summers during high school when I participated in Speed Camp. Speed Camp is an endurance and strength building program that is offered by my school in order to prepare athletes for upcoming seasons. Through Speed Camp I learned what my limits were both mentally and physically and I learned how to push those limits beyond all expectations. I was also a Captain and I learned what it means to have other guys depending on you to come through for them when it matters most. Due to Speed Camp I am able to not only push my own boundaries, but also help others push their own. Limits are meant to be pushed, some further than others. Physical limits are easy to overcome, you just have to accept the fact that this is really going to hurt immensely but it will make you better and stronger.Psychological limits on the other hand can be incredibly difficult to overcome. It is not just a matter of thinking it and doing it like physical limitations, but you have to believe in yourself and know that you can do it, which at times is challenging. However, when those barriers are broken down you are able to accomplish so much more, both physically and mentally.Having my body thrashed for hours on end has prepared me, not only physically, but mentally for the rigors of college both inside and outside of the classroom. Knowing that I have overcome so much gives me the confidence to be able to excel at anything I do, no matter what. Having twelve other guys look up to you and depend on you to succeed is an overwhelming burden. When all of your teammates are exhausted beyond belief they depend on their captain to carry them mentally and occasionally physically over the hill and across the finish line. As the Captain, one can never show weakness because your men are counting on you to help them in their time of dyer need. In order to be a leader one must not only believe in oneself but also have his men believe in him. The weight that was placed on my shoulders made me the person and leader I am today and will enable me to lead my fellow freshmen into great success not only at the University of Florida but also outside of it. While my training at Speed Camp has ended, the lessons it has taught will stay with me forever. I will be able to use them throughout my entire life. Whether my life leads me to the UF campus or somewhere far away, I know that I am equipped with the skills I need to not only succeed but to help others succeed as well, all because of Speed Camp.

You may want to reflect on your family, your school or community activities, or your involvement in areas outside of school. Five AM morning workouts that lasted three hours coupled with five PM afternoon workouts that lasted two hours made for one hell of day. This was my routine Mondays, Wednesday, Fridays, and Saturdays for each of my three summers during high school when I participated in Speed Camp. Speed Camp is an endurance and strength building program that is offered by my school in order to prepare athletes for upcoming seasons. Through Speed Camp I learned what my limits were both mentally and physically, and I learned how to push those limits beyond all expectations. I was also a Captain and I learned what it means to have other guys depending on you to come through for them when it matters most. Due to Speed Camp I am able to not only push my own boundaries, but also help others push their own. Limits are meant to be pushed, some further than others. Physical limits are easy to overcome, you just have to accept the fact that this is really going to hurt immensely, but it will make you better and stronger. Psychological limits on the other hand can be incredibly difficult to overcome. It is not just a matter of thinking it and doing it like physical limitations, but you have to believe in yourself and know that you can do it, which at times is challenging. However, when those barriers are broken down you are able to accomplish so much more, both physically and mentally. Having my body thrashed for hours on end has prepared me, not only physically, but mentally for the rigors of college both inside and outside the classroom. Knowing that I have overcome so much gives me the confidence to be able to excel at anything I do, no matter what. Having twelve other guys look up to you and depend on you to succeed is an overwhelming burden. When all of your teammates are exhausted beyond belief they depend on their captain to carry them mentally and occasionally physically over the hill and across the finish line. As the Captain, one can never show weakness because your men are counting on you to help them in their time of dyer need. In order to be a leader one must not only believe in oneself but also have his men believe in him. The weight that was placed on my shoulders made me the person and leader I am today and will enable me to lead my fellow freshmen into great success not only at the University of Florida but also outside it. While my training at Speed Camp has ended, the lessons it has taught will stay with me forever. I will be able to use them throughout my entire life. Whether my life leads me to the OF campus or somewhere far away, I know that I am equipped with the skills I need to not only succeed but to help others succeed as well, all because of Speed Camp.

Some people are more curious than others. They cannot suppress the urge to find a deeper explanation to a problem. They're mathematicians. They have an incentive to explore the depth of math equations and conjectures, relish this desire by staying up until 3 a.m. to solve a problem, and finally arrive at the answer after hours of arduous work. This is the type of person I strive to be. I had never experienced this type of curiosity until high school. In the past, math came easily to me. I enjoyed solving simple math calculations and word problems. Every question was a puzzle that could be easily deciphered. As an elementary school student in ***, I was chosen to represent my school in numerous math competitions. After moving to America, I was selected by the gifted and talented program after taking an IQ test and was assigned a personal math tutor to teach me advanced materials. I felt confident about my studies in math. After entering high school, I even joined Math Club in hopes of demonstrating my superior understanding of the subject. Yet these math problems involved using complex problem solving methods and logic that simply escaped my basic understanding. For the first time, I was confounded by them. Their integers sneered up at me and teased my superficiality. I continued to participate in various competitions, but I broodingly stared at the word problem packets which eagerly awaited my meticulous proof steps. I could only offer a helpless stare and the frustration of my incapability. I realized there were far more problems beyond my knowledge. But this drove my curiosity. Grasping the concepts seemed easy, but demonstrating them in practice problems required me to have a deeper insight into interactions and analyses of numbers. Investigations into limits taught me the functions' various aspects; complex geometry figures and angle measurements perfected my trigonometric skills; integration and derivatives tested my understanding of relationships of areas and slopes. It took significant practice, but I gradually grew confident with the problems and developed an insatiable curiosity. Now, after two hours with the study light steadily radiating from overhead, a calculator in hand and piles of scratch papers around me, I take time to explore the depths and find buried treasures. After numerous misleading calculations and conjectures, tedious brain-twisting convolution, prolonged frustrating dead-ends, I penetrate the surface. My curiosity is satisfied.

Some people are more curious than others. They cannot suppress the urge to find a deeper explanation to a problem. They're mathematicians. Furthermore, they have an incentive to explore the depth of math equations and conjectures, relish this desire by staying up until 3 a.m. to solve a problem, and finally arrive at the answer after hours of arduous work. This is the type of person I strive to be. I had never experienced this type of curiosity until high school. In the past, math came easily to me. I enjoyed solving simple math calculations and word problems. Every question was a puzzle that could be easily deciphered. As an elementary school student in ***, I was chosen to represent my school in numerous math competitions. After moving to America, I was selected by the gifted and talented program after taking an IQ test and was assigned a personal math tutor to teach me advanced materials. I felt confident about my studies in math. After entering high school, I even joined Math Club in hopes of demonstrating my superior understanding of the subject. Yet these math problems involved using complex problem-solving methods and logic that simply escaped my basic understanding. For the first time, I was confounded by them. Their integers sneered up at me and teased my superficiality. I continued to participate in various competitions, but I broodingly stared at the word problem packets which eagerly awaited my meticulous proof steps. I could only offer a helpless stare and the frustration of my incapability. Furthermore, I realized there were far more problems beyond my knowledge. But this drove my curiosity. Grasping the concepts seemed easy, but demonstrating them in practice problems required me to have a deeper insight into interactions and analyses of numbers. Investigations into limits taught me the functions' various aspects; complex geometry figures and angle measurements perfected my trigonometric skills; integration and derivatives tested my understanding of relationships of areas and slopes. It took significant practice, but I gradually grew confident with the problems and developed an insatiable curiosity. Now, after two hours with the study light steadily radiating from overhead, a calculator in hand and piles of scratch papers around me, I take time to explore the depths and find buried treasures. After numerous misleading calculations and conjectures, tedious brain-twisting convolution, prolonged frustrating dead-ends, I penetrate the surface. My curiosity is satisfied.

Sarah ------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------- Why I chose Penn State University I was not born in Germany but rather in Pakistan, yet I call Germany my home not because I have the urge to be modern or western but rather because of what Germany has given me and how it has shaped my personality, and yet I am proud of my heritage and consider the South asian region as one of the richest in culture and history. I have seen people moan about not being treated fairly when it comes to promotion of education because they are not german, but I have experienced something completely different. Germany has given me a free environment and place where I could search for the knowledge I wanted and at the same time express my views on the things I disagreed on, which is a rare thing in this world. Another rare thing is to get an education while being the child of not wealthy or not educated parents, but who promote knowledge, tolerance, honesty, sincerity and many other things. Despite having a good life I have seen and heard that not everyone has these chances in life like I did, and it is a disappointing fact. My world in the university consists of a lot more than what may be reflected in my grades, because not everyone with not good grades has to be disinterested in studies or his field. My interests go over a wide range. During the courses in the university I travel in the world of Adam Smith and contemplate about the free market economics, I discuss the philosophical aspect of human interests in Leviathan, I travel with marx but my journey does not end here it goes on when I ride a sad train with Anna karenina, fight alongside Napoleon and write down the family values described by Jane Austen or paint a picture with Oscar Wilde, I write letters with Hemmingway and many, many others. I am free to be with all of them and to build my opinion upon the knowledge that my country and my university offers me, but who thinks about the majority of the world for those who do not have this privilege and these opportunities? And certainly not a single person alone can change everything, we all have to get together to do it. This is also why I want to go to Pennsylvania State University, so I can get the best education in order to offer this world a piece of my knowledge and try make this world a better place for others. Eventually what remains in life is not the materialism you have in your bank account but rather what have you done for others. Another reason why Pennsylvania State University appealed to me was because of a speech of the President Dr. Graham Spanier on the Penn State University, where he emphasised the importance of educating youth on the global economic revolution (1) and his promotion of education and his understanding of youth was just impressive and his views seemed appealing to me as I totally agreed with him and want to take a part in the direction of helping the less privileged in my life.

Sarah ------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------- Why I chose Penn State University I was not born in Germany but rather in Pakistan, yet I call Germany my home not because I have the urge to be modern or western but rather because of what Germany has given me and how it has shaped my personality, and yet I am proud of my heritage and consider the South Asian region as one of the richest in culture and history. I have seen people moan about not being treated fairly when it comes to promotion of education because they are not German, but I have experienced something completely different. Germany has given me a free environment and place where I could search for the knowledge I wanted and at the same time express my views on the things I disagreed on, which is a rare thing in this world. Another rare thing is to get an education while being the child of not wealthy or not educated parents, but who promote knowledge, tolerance, honesty, sincerity and many other things. Despite having a good life I have seen and heard that not everyone has these chances in life like I did, and it is a disappointing fact. My world in the university consists of a lot more than what may be reflected in my grades, because not everyone with not good grades has to be disinterested in studies or his field. My interests go over a wide range. During the courses in the university I travel in the world of Adam Smith and contemplate about the free market economics, I discuss the philosophical aspect of human interests in Leviathan, I travel with Marx, but my journey does not end here it goes on when I ride a sad train with Anna Karenina, fight alongside Napoleon and write down the family values described by Jane Austen or paint a picture with Oscar Wilde, I write letters with Hemingway and many, many others. I am free to be with all of them and to build my opinion upon the knowledge that my country and my university offers me, but who thinks about the majority of the world for those who do not have this privilege and these opportunities? And certainly not a single person alone can change everything, we all have to get together to do it. This is also why I want to go to Pennsylvania State University, so I can get the best education in order to offer this world a piece of my knowledge and try to make this world a better place for others. Eventually what remains in life is not the materialism you have in your bank account but rather what have you done for others. Another reason why Pennsylvania State University appealed to me was because of a speech of the President Dr. Graham Spaniel on the Penn State University, where he emphasized the importance of educating youth on the global economic revolution (1) and his promotion of education and his understanding of youth was just impressive and his views seemed appealing to me as I totally agreed with him and want to take a part in the direction of helping the less privileged in my life.

For a time we lived with my grandparents in San Antonio. While my mom was struggling to get our American residency, she was also faced with looking for employment. Like many immigrants who leave their country, she was looking for the hope to change and do the things that she had not be able to do in her country. In my case, my mom as a single mother in her native country saw that the laws favored men and that they didn't respect the women of there country. She in turn chose to find a place where there was equality. Even though we did leave the place where my family lived, they did not want me to lose their native language. My family has always spoken Spanish at home, and I learned English at school. Lots of time I would begin to speak in English at home, which came easier to me, and it was a lot more struggling to learn another language. But my mom remained constant in speaking Spanish at home. This has made me comprehend the Spanish language more and has made me have a closer intimate family relationship. There were many years that my family sought for a way to become Americans, it was a constant struggle and worry for me. It was a relief and a joy to have patriotism of the country I had liked in so long. I had already been educated and raised with all the American values of having liberty and freedoms of this country. In many other countries it is only a dream waiting to happen. As you can see I have preserved in having the nationality of this country for many years, and through all the things that I have my family is one of the most important to me. In this country there are so my opportunities, to be someone, even though we all come from different backgrounds. To preserve to be the one to accomplish what those of my family have not is a dream that I hope to achieve. ... would really appricate any help

For a time we lived with my grandparents in San Antonio. While my mom was struggling to get our American residency, she was also faced with looking for employment. Like many immigrants who leave their country, she was looking for the hope to change and do the things that she had not be able to do in her country. In my case, my mom as a single mother in her native country saw that the laws favored men and that they didn't respect the women of there country. She in turn chose to find a place where there was equality. Even though we did leave the place where my family lived, they did not want me to lose their native language. My family has always spoken Spanish at home, and I learned English at school. Lots of time I would begin to speak in English at home, which came easier to me, and it was a lot more struggling to learn another language. But my mom remained constant in speaking Spanish at home. This has made me comprehend the Spanish language more and has made me have a closer intimate family relationship. There were many years that my family sought for a way to become Americans, it was a constant struggle and worry about me. It was a relief and a joy to have patriotism of the country I had liked in so long. I had already been educated and raised with all the American values of having liberty and freedoms of this country. In many other countries it is only a dream waiting to happen. As you can see I have preserved in having the nationality of this country for many years, and through all the things that I have my family is one of the most important to me. In this country there are so my opportunities, to be someone, even though we all come from different backgrounds. To preserve to be the one to accomplish what those of my family have not is a dream that I hope to achieve. ... would really appreciate any help

i have started writing on the following topic IMAGINE THAT YOU HAVE JUST COMPLETED YOUR 300 PAGE BIOGRAPHY.PLEASE SUBMIT PAGE 217 following is my starting.i unable to continue this essay as i am out of ideas.please help me and narate me an outline for the essay i would be very greatful. following is my extract Five days before my fifty second birthday I signed an MOU with the very same corporation that had supported me in my beginning endeavors when my company had been in its teething stages. Back then I needed their help desperately and they provided it in the form of a big loan which helped me to lay the foundation stone of what was now my extremely successful corporation. However, today it was these very people who required my help. I remember feeling tremendously relieved that day, I could finally in part repay these people for what they had done for me very long ago. As I signed the MOU, I remember very clearly a rush of nostalgia had hit me and I had been transported back in time: a 42 year old man with a bleak future. While my friends were working for multi-nationals and earning six figure salaries I was still struggling to establish myself in the world of trade and commerce. My wife had often taunted me with this very fact but I had always remained steadfast. Fiercely independent I had never relished the idea of working under someone for the rest of my life. Also being the eldest child not only in the house but also in my extended family I had donned the mantle of responsibility at a comparatively young age. Being responsible for people had become second nature to me and I had always been conscientious in my task. However, my extremely successful business had now somewhat lost it's thrill. I had achieved almost all that I had ever wanted to and now felt as if at a standstill. It was as if I had nowhere to go... nothing to achieve anymore.

I have started writing on the following topic IMAGINE THAT YOU HAVE JUST COMPLETED YOUR 300-PAGE BIOGRAPHY.PLEASE SUBMIT PAGE 217 following is my starting.i unable to continue this essay as I am out of ideas. Please help me and karate me an outline for the essay I would be very grateful. Following is my extract Five days before my fifty-second birthday I signed an YOU with the very same corporation that had supported me in my beginning endeavors when my company had been in its teething stages. Back then I needed their help desperately, and they provided it in the form of a big loan which helped me to lay the foundation stone of what was now my extremely successful corporation. However, today it was these very people who required my help. I remember feeling tremendously relieved that day, I could finally in part repay these people for what they had done for me very long ago. As I signed the YOU, I remember very clearly a rush of nostalgia had hit me and I had been transported back in time: a 42-year-old man with a bleak future. While my friends were working for multi-nationals and earning six-figure salaries I was still struggling to establish myself in the world of trade and commerce. My wife had often taunted me with this very fact, but I had always remained steadfast. Fiercely independent I had never relished the idea of working under someone for the rest of my life. Also being the eldest child not only in the house but also in my extended family I had donned the mantle of responsibility at a comparatively young age. Being responsible for people had become second nature to me and I had always been conscientious in my task. However, my extremely successful business had now somewhat lost its thrill. I had achieved almost all that I had ever wanted to and now felt as if at a standstill. It was as if I had nowhere to go... nothing to achieve anymore.

I'm having a LOT of trouble with my introduction; the rest also needs work, but I can handle that after my intro is fixed. Here it is: Political ideas can only completely satisfy a group of people if it destroys or universally alienates the wants and needs of all other groups. This process is polarization, and is the source of discrimination and genocide. In such a situation, the choices are limited; with little acceptance for the indecisive or neutral, groups of differing opinions oppose each other, until the initial goal, to help people, is lost, replaced by the desire to defeat everyone and every group that does not agree. Each side segregates itself from the others, building up conviction until the conviction that each respective side is necessarily right and the other necessarily evil is strong enough that the supporters of one side would kill supporters of the other for the betterment of the world. This blindness to foreign ideals is the essential nature of xenophobia, the fear of foreigners, in this case extended to mean the fear of people who are different. It's awful I know... but I have one other problem. I can't stand writing about me and my life. I mean, I can't even give a decent response to "what was your day like?", but I can write short stories. I already used that topic on a different application (This other one's for a scholarship to the same college), so I need help. The topic is: "What inspires you describe yourself." Any good ideas? 250 words. I know it's hard to say when you don't know me, but I DO NOT want to write about role models (because I don't have any concrete ones, to be honest; I couldn't even say a role model in elementary school), and I tried a different subject, but it seemed rather negative and icky. Any suggestions for good topics?

I'm having a LOT of trouble with my introduction; the rest also needs work, but I can handle that after my intro is fixed. Here it is: Political ideas can only completely satisfy a group of people if it destroys or universally alienates the wants and needs of all other groups. This process is polarization, and is the source of discrimination and genocide. In such a situation, the choices are limited; with little acceptance for the indecisive or neutral, groups of differing opinions oppose each other, until the initial goal, to help people, is lost, replaced by the desire to defeat everyone and every group that does not agree. Each side segregates itself from the others, building up conviction until the conviction that each respective side is necessarily right and the other necessarily evil is strong enough that the supporters of one side would kill supporters of the other for the betterment of the world. This blindness to foreign ideals is the essential nature of xenophobia, the fear of foreigners, in this case extended to mean the fear of people who are different. It's awful I know... but I have one other problem. I can't stand writing about me and my life. I mean, I can't even give a decent response to "what was your day like?", but I can write short stories. Furthermore, I already used that topic on a different application (This other ones for a scholarship to the same college), so I need help. The topic is: "What inspires you describe yourself." Any good ideas? 250 words. I know it's hard to say when you don't know me, but I DO NOT want to write about role models (because I don't have any concrete ones, to be honest; I couldn't even say a role model in elementary school), and I tried a different subject, but it seemed rather negative and icky. Any suggestions for good topics?

"Justice has been served in the Department of Justice." Senator Schumer's historical statement regarding the resignation of one of America's most controversial Attorney Generals was heard by Americans across this country. As the news media broadcasted the Senator's public statement live, Americans watched history taking place through their television screens. However, amidst the television cameras and news reporters, one aspiring young man was standing less than ten feet across from the Senator, vigorously taking notes on the Senator's statement and his question and answer session with the news media. I was that young man and I was apart of living history. While a large majority of high school students choose to spend their summer relaxing, I decided I wanted Summer 2007 to be something more; I wanted to gain something out of it. Sure, I could have spent the dog days of summer doing something unproductive, or just going to play ball at my neighborhood park. However, when I received notice from the Senator's office that I was one of the students chosen to intern at his New York City office, I decided that this was an offer I could not refute. Looking back, I could not have pictured myself anywhere else at nine in the morning, on those hot summer days, but sitting behind my assigned desk, reading letters, both typed and handwritten, from concerned constituents. While this process may seem monotonous to some, to me it really wasn't. Every envelope opened revealed a new story, ranging from one constituent writing to complain about identity theft to another who wrote to inform us that big Sallie (Mae) was going to eat her alive. I truly wanted to assist these people in anyway that I could, and for that reason, I usually found myself rushing to open responses to letters I had sent out on behalf of these constituents from various federal agencies in hopes of opening a letter that read: "Dear Senator Schumer, We thank you for keeping us informed on your constituent's matter.... After a thorough review we have concluded that your constituent is in fact eligible for this program." My internship was also important to me in that it really tested my ability to work independently, to make decisions, and to stand out. There were many times throughout the course of my internship, when I had to make decisions without the guidance of my staffer. I had to take the initiative to investigate a complaint before I took the necessary steps to start a case. I knew that as one of the only high school students in the office, I had to work hard and demonstrate that I could handle the very same tasks that some of my fellow interns who were current students at prestigious Universities such as Yale, University of Pennsylvania, and NYU did. I'm glad to say that I all-in-all, I did well. I also look back on my internship as one of the most important events in my life because it really made me sure that a career in public service was the path that I wanted to take. It is my greatest hope, that the fall of 2008 will lead me into new endeavors and allow me to become one of the approximately two thousand freshman students accepted to the University of Miami. I really want to attend the University of Miami because I know that the home of the 'Canes, is a great place to grow and get an education. Ultimately, I hope to gain an education that will last me a lifetime and yet another interesting experience that I can look back on and say was a significant one in my life.

"Justice has been served in the Department of Justice." Senator Schumer's historical statement regarding the resignation of one of America's most controversial Attorney Generals was heard by Americans across this country. As the news media broadcasted the Senator's public statement live, Americans watched history taking place through their television screens. However, amidst the television cameras and news reporters, one aspiring young man was standing less than ten feet across from the Senator, vigorously taking notes on the Senator's statement and his question and answer session with the news media. I was that young man, and I was a part of living history. While a large majority of high school students choose to spend their summer relaxing, I decided I wanted Summer 2007 to be something more; I wanted to gain something out of it. Sure, I could have spent the dog days of summer doing something unproductive, or just going to play ball at my neighborhood park. However, when I received notice from the Senator's office that I was one of the students chosen to intern at his New York City office, I decided that this was an offer I could not refute. Looking back, I could not have pictured myself anywhere else at nine in the morning, on those hot summer days, but sitting behind my assigned desk, reading letters, both typed and handwritten, from concerned constituents. While this process may seem monotonous to some, to me, it really wasn't. Every envelope opened revealed a new story, ranging from one constituent writing to complain about identity theft to another who wrote to inform us that big Sallie (Mae) was going to eat her alive. I truly wanted to assist these people in any way that I could, and for that reason, I usually found myself rushing to open responses to letters I had sent out on behalf of these constituents from various federal agencies in hopes of opening a letter that read: "Dear Senator Schumer, We thank you for keeping us informed on your constituent's matter.... After a thorough review we have concluded that your constituent is in fact eligible for this program." My internship was also important to me in that it really tested my ability to work independently, to make decisions, and to stand out. There were many times throughout the course of my internship, when I had to make decisions without the guidance of my staffer. I had to take the initiative to investigate a complaint before I took the necessary steps to start a case. I knew that as one of the few high school students in the office, I had to work hard and demonstrate that I could handle the very same tasks that some of my fellow interns who were current students at prestigious Universities such as Yale, University of Pennsylvania, and NYU did. Furthermore, I'm glad to say that I all-in-all, I did well. Furthermore, I also look back on my internship as one of the most important events in my life because it really made me sure that a career in public service was the path that I wanted to take. It is my greatest hope, that the fall of 2008 will lead me into new endeavors and allow me to become one of the approximately two thousand freshman students accepted to the University of Miami. I really want to attend the University of Miami because I know that the home of the 'Canes, is a great place to grow and get an education. Ultimately, I hope to gain an education that will last me a lifetime and yet another interesting experience that I can look back on and say was a significant one in my life.

I am sending you my final personal statement.please edit it.and identify any monotonous area.or any point which is invalid.i wud request u to phrase some sentences for my sports achievement in cricket and my fitness training course.shud i include these points and where shud i include them.please phrase some sentences for me regarding this topic. The application and significance of mathematics in every discipline of life from space sciences to managing daily experiences is what fascinates me the most. Its complexities and logical implications further aroused my profound interest in this subject. Solving complex mathematical problems give me infinite joy and immortal satisfaction. I believe that this passion has instilled in me logical, coherent and realistic thinking skills. Applied mathematics is what I have aimed for myself. My ultimate desire, to design mathematical models, has inspired me to apply for the courses of engineering, Actuarial Sciences and Operations research. I believe that each of these courses will eventually pave my way and fulfill my desire My choice of diverse subjects at the A Level, has strongly supported my desired goals. Chemistry Physics and AS Biology has helped me broaden my depth of logical awareness. Economics is one subject of social sciences which complements my other subjects of interest, i.e., Maths and Physics. I am deeply involved with these three disciplines. Physics has equipped me with logical awareness, Math has enabled me to develop an abstract mode of thought and thinking ability, whereas, Economics has taught me an analytical approach to tackle distinctly organic and complex concepts. This triangle has intrigued me so much that I see my future revolving around these three fields I am currently enjoying further Maths study. Though my college is not offering this subject, it is purely my love and obsession for this subject that has persuaded me to make an exceptional effort to study it on my own. This is a unique experience for me and has given me a valuable chance to develop extraordinary problem solving skills and dexterity in handling practical problems. I always believe that those of us who are privileged, both with respect to talent and abilities, are obliged to contribute on a larger scale. My efforts to establish a mathematical society for the first time was a step in this direction. I arranged mathematical contests for the students of different levels and participated myself in the National Mathematical Olympiad, held in 2006. Being an active member of T.N.S Mathematical Society, I attended many seminars which added to my knowledge of theoretical and practical aspects of applied mathematics. I never thought that teaching mathematics could be so satisfying, until I experienced teaching remedial classes of O and A levels students. Considering my strong conceptual base and communication skills, I was appointed as an assistant to the professor of mathematics. This was altogether a new experience because it provided me information about some totally new aspects of Mathematics Active participation in a variety of activities has enhanced my self-confidence and helped me to LEARN MORE ABOUT MY ENVIRONMENT.One such activity was my internship with the Women Aid Trust this year.It was a gratifying experience to help poor and distressed women in rehabilitation.The other significant land mark in my student life so far has been holding the posts of the G-SEC of the student concil in 2007 and the president in 2007.In these capacities,I brought into lime light some of the basic problems the students had been facing and was sucessful in getting them solved.My most memorable contribution was to organize a Model United Nations involving 20 different schools of Islamabad.This was a ocasion which i luckily utilized to learn leadership,organization skills,crises resolution and event management. I was chosen by my school as the Head Delegate of the School Links Program organised by the British Council. My participation in this program ignited my interest in British education and, with my experience with the GCE O level and A level programs, I feel confident to apply for the undergraduate programs at the leading British universities. I look forward to the challenge of designing mathematical models and other applications of mathematical knowledge in my career. I believe that the wide spectrum of curriculum and highly supportive faculties at the top class British universities will help me to excel.

I am sending you my final personal statement. Please edit it. And identify any monotonous area. Or any point which is invalid.i would request u to phrase some sentences for my sports achievement in cricket and my fitness training course.shut I include these points and where shut I include them. Please phrase some sentences for me regarding this topic. The application and significance of mathematics in every discipline of life from space sciences to managing daily experiences is what fascinates me the most. Its complexities and logical implications further aroused my profound interest in this subject. Solving complex mathematical problems give me infinite joy and immortal satisfaction. I believe that this passion has instilled in me logical, coherent and realistic thinking skills. Applied mathematics is what I have aimed for myself. My ultimate desire, to design mathematical models, has inspired me to apply for the courses of engineering, Actuarial Sciences and Operations research. I believe that each of these courses will eventually pave my way and fulfill my desire My choice of diverse subjects at the A Level, has strongly supported my desired goals. Chemistry Physics and AS Biology has helped me broaden my depth of logical awareness. Economics is one subject of social sciences which complements my other subjects of interest, i.e., Math and Physics. I am deeply involved with these three disciplines. Physics has equipped me with logical awareness, Math has enabled me to develop an abstract mode of thought and thinking ability, whereas, Economics has taught me an analytical approach to tackle distinctly organic and complex concepts. This triangle has intrigued me so much that I see my future revolving around these three fields I am currently enjoying further Math study. Though my college is not offering this subject, it is purely my love and obsession for this subject that has persuaded me to make an exceptional effort to study it on my own. This is a unique experience for me and has given me a valuable chance to develop extraordinary problem-solving skills and dexterity in handling practical problems. I always believe that those of us who are privileged, both with respect to talent and abilities, are obliged to contribute on a larger scale. My efforts to establish a mathematical society for the first time was a step in this direction. I arranged mathematical contests for the students of different levels and participated myself in the National Mathematical Olympiad, held in 2006. Being an active member of T.N.S Mathematical Society, I attended many seminars which added to my knowledge of theoretical and practical aspects of applied mathematics. I never thought that teaching mathematics could be so satisfying, until I experienced teaching remedial classes of O and A-levels students. Considering my strong conceptual base and communication skills, I was appointed as an assistant to the professor of mathematics. This was altogether a new experience because it provided me information about some totally new aspects of Mathematics Active participation in a variety of activities has enhanced my self-confidence and helped me to LEARN MORE ABOUT MY ENVIRONMENT. One such activity was my internship with the Women Aid Trust this year. It was a gratifying experience to help poor and distressed women in rehabilitation. The other significant landmark in my student life so far has been holding the posts of the G-SEC of the student council in 2007 and the president in 2007. In these capacities, I brought into limelight some basic problems the students had been facing and was successful in getting them solved. My most memorable contribution was to organize a Model United Nations involving 20 different schools of Islamabad. This was an occasion which I luckily utilized to learn leadership, organization skills, crises resolution and event management. I was chosen by my school as the Head Delegate of the School Links Program organized by the British Council. My participation in this program ignited my interest in British education and, with my experience with the ICE O level and A level programs, I feel confident to apply for the undergraduate programs at the leading British universities. I look forward to the challenge of designing mathematical models and other applications of mathematical knowledge in my career. I believe that the wide spectrum of curriculum and highly supportive faculties at the top class British universities will help me to excel.

i am sending you another personal essay which is on economics.please edit it and guide me if there are any areas for corrections.please rate this essay out of 10 so that i can identify its worth. thank you for your coperation PERSONAL STATEMENT Intrigued by the melodrama of the economic activity of a developing country Pakistan, I tuned myself with economic ideas. The analytical and realistic approach required by the study of economics appeals my conscience. A sound understanding of mathematical concepts has equipped me with logical thinking and problem solving abilities which are, need less to say, beneficial in economics. An indepth analysis of the problem posed by unstable Sensitive Price Index (SPI), energy inefficiency and emissions (particularly electricity) and excessive defense budget has generated my interest particularly in Development and Welfare Economics. Diversified subjects--- Accounting, Chemistry and As Physics, have groomed my reasoning skills and enhanced my thinking abilities. General Paper in particular inculcated in me argumentative skills and taught me thorough evaluation of theories and facts. My essay on Arms Control, Disarmament, and International Security (ACDIS) won applause from my teachers as I dexterously explained the negligence of poverty due to mammoth defense expenditure. In lieu of my interest in International trade policies and the working of WTO, I participated in a regional seminar on 'Discrimination or Globalization'. Contesting the wisdom behind encouraging imports from member states in trade bodies, I supported the developing countries in their cause. In another seminar organized by Jinnah Council of Social Sciences, I gave a presentation on 'Disasters: natural or social?' Disasters happen in society, of which economy is a subset. Therefore I maintained in my speech the importance of the role of social scientists in disaster management. I believe political and social problems of a country are immensely influenced by economic policies. My aptitude pursued me to take part in a brainstorming session on 'The political, social and economic problems of Pakistan' organized by the British Council. I was awarded the title of 'Young leader' due to my effective communicative abilities and lateral thinking. All such activities have widened my vision and hence taught me the skill to think rationally and express my views cohesively. I believe responsibility of spreading knowledge is incumbent on educated pupil. Having the distinction of acquiring 100% in As Accounting, I taught the subject to O and As-level students. It was a gratifying experience and as I worked with students who had varied approach towards solving problems, I realized the importance of patience and significance of preservation in acquirement of success. The improvement in my communicative skills and confidence are also invaluable benefits I gained from teaching. Participation in a nationwide Model United Nation was an enthralling experience. My profound love for economics made me represent Pakistan on the Economics committee. Development Disparities and the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) was a key issue in my address to the assembly. My greatest honour was to be nominated as the Campus Counselor of my college in 2007. The principal nominates only those students who excel in studies, have a clean character record and enjoy high integrity among fellow students. I had to talk to students about their reckless habits, selection of subjects in O and A levels and to solve their study problems. This has been an absorbing learning venture for myself, as it equipped me with crisis resolution abilities, and instilled in me calmness when dealing with students of different temperaments. Utilizing my counseling abilities and complementing my desire for welfare of humanity, I took care of orphans at Edhi's rehabilitation centre which, incidentally was situated adjacent to my college. It was a gratifying experience and I became conscious of my duty, as an individual to serve effectively our society. The diversity of culture and traditions in the world are captivating for me. I participated in a 'Cultural Exchange Program' between Turkey and Pakistan organized by PakTurk Foundation. The brotherly love showered on us by the people of Turkey made me realize that through understanding and appreciation of each others cultural values, the world can become a better place. I am an eager sportsman and played for my college cricket and football teams. In fact I was the member of the selection committee for both the teams. In my leisure time, I read books on various topics. I like to enquire about the minds of successful individuals and found the book 'Seven habits of successful people' by Dale Carnedge quite captivating. Often I write articles in magazines such as 'Toleration in a multi-religious world' published in the 'US' magazine. The experience of pursuing my education in Britain would be familiar for me as I have visited Britain twice. I highly anticipate commencing my university life and benefit form the high standards of teaching and research facilities available at the British Universities. I am sure that my urge to excel academically and contribute in all areas of campus life, will help me to adjust amicably in the new environment and assist me to overcome the upcoming challenge.

I am sending you another personal essay which is on economics. Please edit it and guide me if there are any areas for corrections. Please rate this essay out of 10 so that I can identify its worth. Thank you for your operation PERSONAL STATEMENT Intrigued by the melodrama of the economic activity of a developing country Pakistan, I tuned myself with economic ideas. The analytical and realistic approach required by the study of economics appeals my conscience. A sound understanding of mathematical concepts has equipped me with logical thinking and problem-solving abilities which are, need less to say, beneficial in economics. An in depth analysis of the problem posed by unstable Sensitive Price Index (SPI), energy inefficiency and emissions (particularly electricity) and excessive defense budget has generated my interest particularly in Development and Welfare Economics. Diversified subjects--- Accounting, Chemistry and As Physics, have groomed my reasoning skills and enhanced my thinking abilities. General Paper in particular inculcated in me argumentative skills and taught me thorough evaluation of theories and facts. My essay on Arms Control, Disarmament, and International Security (ACDI) won applause from my teachers as I dexterously explained the negligence of poverty due to mammoth defense expenditure. In lieu of my interest in International trade policies and the working of WTO, I participated in a regional seminar on 'Discrimination or Globalization'. Contesting the wisdom behind encouraging imports from member states in trade bodies, I supported the developing countries in their cause. In another seminar organized by Jinnah Council of Social Sciences, I gave a presentation on 'Disasters: natural or social?' Disasters happen in society, of which economy is a subset. Therefore, I maintained in my speech the importance of the role of social scientists in disaster management. I believe political and social problems of a country are immensely influenced by economic policies. My aptitude pursued me to take part in a brainstorming session on 'The political, social and economic problems of Pakistan' organized by the British Council. I was awarded the title of 'Young leader' due to my effective communicative abilities and lateral thinking. All such activities have widened my vision and hence taught me the skill to think rationally and express my views cohesively. I believe responsibility of spreading knowledge is incumbent on educated pupil. Having the distinction of acquiring 100% in As Accounting, I taught the subject to O and As-level students. It was a gratifying experience and as I worked with students who had varied approach towards solving problems, I realized the importance of patience and significance of preservation in acquirement of success. The improvement in my communicative skills and confidence are also invaluable benefits I gained from teaching. Participation in a nationwide Model United Nation was an enthralling experience. My profound love for economics made me represent Pakistan on the Economics committee. Development Disparities and the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) was a key issue in my address to the assembly. My greatest honor was to be nominated as the Campus Counselor of my college in 2007. The principal nominates only those students who excel in studies, have a clean character record and enjoy high integrity among fellow students. I had to talk to students about their reckless habits, selection of subjects in O and A-levels and to solve their study problems. This has been an absorbing learning venture for myself, as it equipped me with crisis resolution abilities, and instilled in me calmness when dealing with students of different temperaments. Utilizing my counseling abilities and complementing my desire for welfare of humanity, I took care of orphans at DHI's rehabilitation center which, incidentally was situated adjacent to my college. It was a gratifying experience and I became conscious of my duty, as an individual to serve effectively our society. The diversity of culture and traditions in the world are captivating for me. I participated in a 'Cultural Exchange Program' between Turkey and Pakistan organized by Pasture Foundation. The brotherly love showered on us by the people of Turkey made me realize that through understanding and appreciation of each other's cultural values, the world can become a better place. I am an eager sportsman and played for my college cricket and football teams. In fact, I was the member of the selection committee for both the teams. In my leisure time, I read books on various topics. I like to inquire about the minds of successful individuals and found the book 'Seven habits of successful people' by Dale Carnegie quite captivating. Often I write articles in magazines such as 'Toleration in a multi-religious world' published in the 'US' magazine. The experience of pursuing my education in Britain would be familiar for me as I have visited Britain twice. I highly anticipate commencing my university life and benefit form the high standards of teaching and research facilities available at the British Universities. I am sure that my urge to excel academically and contribute in all areas of campus life, will help me to adjust amicably in the new environment and assist me to overcome the upcoming challenge.

Applying to colleges and universities is a tedious task that takes a lot of researching as well as time to think through it all. Finding the right school is just as hard. There are many different factors to look into when deciding what school is right. I feel UCF is the right school for me. My goal is to Major in Biology, with the intention to pursue a career in the Medical field. In applying to UCF I feel I can accomplish and obtain my goal. As well as gain the "college experience". I would be able to leave home, which would enable me to learn to live on my own, mature as well as value everything my parents have done for me so far. When I decided to apply to UCF I thought about the various opportunities UCF has to offer. If accepted I would apply to the various clubs, take part in as much school activities and try my hardest to maintain outstanding grades.

Applying to colleges and universities is a tedious task that takes a lot of researching as well as time to think through it all. Finding the right school is just as hard. There are many factors to look into when deciding what school is right. I feel UCF is the right school for me. My goal is to Major in Biology, with the intention to pursue a career in the Medical field. In applying to UCF I feel I can accomplish and obtain my goal. As well as gain the "college experience". I would be able to leave home, which would enable me to learn to live on my own, mature as well as value everything my parents have done for me so far. When I decided to apply to UCF I thought about the various opportunities UCF has to offer. If accepted I would apply to the various clubs, take part in as much school activities and try my hardest to maintain outstanding grades.

Please submit one essay.Remember to keep within the 400-500 word maximum length. In the space provided, please write a concise narrative in which you describe a meaningful event, experience or accomplishment in your life and how it will affect your college experience or your contribution to the UF campus community. You may want to reflect on your family, your school or community activities, or your involvement in areas outside of school. The heart that had been emotionless for so long suddenly sank into my chest; I couldn't bear to carry it anymore. The eyes that hadn't cried in years began to rupture, cascades of acid rain flowed down my cheeks. How is it possible that people have to live like this? In December of 2005, I made a trip that changed my life entirely: I went to Nicaragua. It wasn't like I hadn't gone before: I had been here multiple times before, as it is where my parents were born and where most of my family lives. But this year was entirely different. On Christmas Eve, we cooked and bought toys to hand out to homeless children the next day. It was a massive collaboration between my entire family. My uncle told us that we were going to the "Children of the trash". I really didn't think much about it until I arrived there. The stench of the place was reminiscent of a dead rat after days had passed since its death. We were in the outskirts of Managua, in the second poorest country of the Americas, but yet, I was never expecting it to be this way. The children had every bone visible in their bodies and pot-bellies full of parasites. I saw a boy licking an empty can of beans with a hope in his eyes that maybe there was still some juice left. Most of the children were naked; we saw scars, rashes and bruises. As the children formed the line, we served them a small plate of pork and rice. I cried every time I got a hug from them, and every one of my heartbeats was either despair or sorrow. A little girl around five wiped the tear out of my right cheek with a small delicate finger. My head was spinning and I started to feel guilty for all the things I had taken advantage of in my life. We then began to give out the clothes and the toys we had gotten for them. I wished I was a millionaire to help these kids, these innocent souls that were born into these revolting conditions. When we set off to leave, all the children smiled and waved goodbye. I couldn't see their faces well anymore, as my watery eyes only saw blurs. This trip was heartbreaking, but it allowed me to change the way I am. I am now more appreciative for how I live and hardly complain about anything. My experiences encourage me to excel in my schoolwork and become what I want to be so that one day I can go back and help these children. In college, I will make sure to volunteer wherever I can and take advantage of the opportunities given to me, mainly because not everyone has them. The opportunities we have to excel have to be taken and surpassed, as by getting educated about the world around you, we begin to change the planet for good.

Please submit one essay. Remember to keep within the 400-500 word maximum length. In the space provided, please write a concise narrative in which you describe a meaningful event, experience or accomplishment in your life and how it will affect your college experience or your contribution to the OF campus community. You may want to reflect on your family, your school or community activities, or your involvement in areas outside of school. The heart that had been emotionless for so long suddenly sank into my chest; I couldn't bear to carry it anymore. The eyes that hadn't cried in years began to rupture, cascades of acid rain flowed down my cheeks. How is it possible that people have to live like this? In December 2005, I made a trip that changed my life entirely: I went to Nicaragua. It wasn't like I hadn't gone before: I had been here multiple times before, as it is where my parents were born and where most of my family lives. But this year was entirely different. On Christmas Eve, we cooked and bought toys to hand out to homeless children the next day. It was a massive collaboration between my entire family. My uncle told us that we were going to the "Children of the trash". I really didn't think much about it until I arrived there. The stench of the place was reminiscent of a dead rat after days had passed since its death. We were in the outskirts of Managua, in the second-poorest country of the Americas, but yet, I was never expecting it to be this way. The children had every bone visible in their bodies and pot-bellies full of parasites. I saw a boy licking an empty can of beans with a hope in his eyes that maybe there was still some juice left. Most of the children were naked; we saw scars, rashes and bruises. As the children formed the line, we served them a small plate of pork and rice. I cried every time I got a hug from them, and every one of my heartbeats was either despair or sorrow. A little girl around five wiped the tear out of my right cheek with a small delicate finger. My head was spinning, and I started to feel guilty of all the things I had taken advantage of in my life. We then began to give out the clothes and the toys we had gotten for them. I wished I was a millionaire to help these kids, these innocent souls that were born into these revolting conditions. When we set off to leave, all the children smiled and waved goodbye. I couldn't see their faces well anymore, as my watery eyes only saw blurs. This trip was heartbreaking, but it allowed me to change the way I am. I am now more appreciative for how I live and hardly complain about anything. My experiences encourage me to excel in my schoolwork and become what I want to be so that one day I can go back and help these children. In college, I will make sure to volunteer wherever I can and take advantage of the opportunities given to me, mainly because not everyone has them. The opportunities we have to excel have to be taken and surpassed, as by getting educated about the world around you, we begin to change the planet for good.

During the times, I spent most of my time reading and practicing computer programming. Of great interest to me was also computer networking with simulations and actual networking equipments like the 2600 series router. Prominent experts in the areas have written the books I imbibed. All these significantly improved my understanding of the field and further enhanced my interest in it. I found computer science to be of great interest to me. My extensive knowledge of mathematics and ability of visualization proved to be very useful in understanding the principles that underlie computational phenomena in the areas I read. Consequently, one of my interest study is programming and the other is computer networking in particular Cisco equipments and concepts. I carried out my first reading on advanced computer knowledge in programming with c++. Here, I got full theoretical and practical exposure of concepts like writing real-life-problem codes, identifying and correcting errors and compiling. I enjoyed working on iterations and loops for solving Fibonacci Sequence and many other interesting problems. Creating my own data types using the enum feature of c++ and getting advantage of their special property to take the type cast and not to be used in IO streams using the insertion << and extraction >> operators is quite fascinating. Equal interests are also the special features of struct and union and their practical significance for real life problems as in keeping and organizing annals and employee data in hierarchy. This was especially interesting because I worked closely with university lecturers and received valuable feedback. By the end I successfully completed the regular c++ requirements for CS degree students in universities here. Currently I am working on a second reading on computer networking under the guidance of the book and simulation by Todd Lame. So far I am on the verge to consummate the necessary course requirements for CCNA certification. The seven levels of the OSI model with their realization using equipments and networking components, IP addressing, subnetting, including VLSM and there troubleshooting, router and switch configurations and IP routing are among the concepts I already shade lights in my study. By April of 2007 I will have enough results in order to defend my CCNA certificate in few months earlier than the CCNA students finish the course in local Cisco academies here. After graduating in CS I plan to continue my scientific career in the field of computer networking. Successful learning requires modern equipment and facilities which in current financial situation Ethiopian universities can not afford. Also, the consideration given for students and the smaller student to class ratio are main reasons that forced me to look for other opportunities to continue my education in the US. I would regard my admission to my first choice university not only as a great honor but also a great responsibility and an obligation to work hard.

During the times, I spent most of my time reading and practicing computer programming. Of great interest to me was also computer networking with simulations and actual networking equipments like the 2600 series router. Prominent experts in the areas have written the books I imbibed. All these significantly improved my understanding of the field and further enhanced my interest in it. I found computer science to be of great interest to me. My extensive knowledge of mathematics and ability of visualization proved to be very useful in understanding the principles that underlie computational phenomena in the areas I read. Consequently, one of my interest study is programming and the other is computer networking in particular Cisco equipments and concepts. I carried out my first reading on advanced computer knowledge in programming with c++. Here, I got full theoretical and practical exposure of concepts like writing real-life-problem codes, identifying and correcting errors and compiling. I enjoyed working on iterations and loops for solving Fibonacci Sequence and many other interesting problems. Creating my own data types using the ENIM feature of c++ and getting advantage of their special property to take the type cast and not to be used in IO streams using the insertion Lt;Lt; and extraction Sgt;Sgt; operators is quite fascinating. Equal interests are also the special features of struct and union and their practical significance for real life problems as in keeping and organizing annals and employee data in hierarchy. This was especially interesting because I worked closely with university lecturers and received valuable feedback. By the end I successfully completed the regular c++ requirements for CS degree students in universities here. Currently, I am working on a second reading on computer networking under the guidance of the book and simulation by Todd Lame. So far I am on the verge to consummate the necessary course requirements for CCNA certification. The seven levels of the OSI model with their realization using equipments and networking components, IP addressing, subletting, including VLSM and there troubleshooting, router and switch configurations and IP routing are among the concepts I already shade lights in my study. By April 2007 I will have enough results in order to defend my CCNA certificate in few months earlier than the CCNA students finish the course in local Cisco academies here. After graduating in CS I plan to continue my scientific career in the field of computer networking. Successful learning requires modern equipment and facilities which in current financial situation Ethiopian universities can not afford. Also, the consideration given for students and the smaller student to class ratio are main reasons that forced me to look for other opportunities to continue my education in the US. I would regard my admission to my first choice university not only as a great honor but also a great responsibility and an obligation to work hard.

Thanks in Advance! It was October 17th, 2002: the day I became an adolescent. I will always remember this as the day the most important person in my life, my grandmother, moved away. My grandmother knew the Bible like the back of her hand, quoted scriptures to me on a daily basis while feeding me, teaching me to read, or putting me to bed. Of all the scriptures she told, her favorite was Deuteronomy 28:13, "Be the head and not the tail." On the day of her departure, the last time she quoted it to me in person, I knew I had to make her proud by becoming the head and not the tail. My passion at the time was music, music, music. I found myself in a trance when I played my saxophone, as if on top of the world, when in reality, I was a mere band member in a group of 40. Somehow, I had to branch out from the bunch and illustrate how artistic and competent I actually was. I began to audition for various community bands, receiving first chair or principle player. I knew then that I was beginning to lead and not follow. Soon after, I entered high school, unsure what I could do to reach that goal while having the best four years of high school possible. I didn't want to follow the path my peers took; instead, I wanted to go where there is no path and leave a lasting trail. At my high school, it's a tradition to showcase the Senior Class Officers' photos on the senior wall to show respect and honor their accomplishments. As I scanned the pictures, one caught my attention. On the far left, was the Senior Class President. As I gazed on her face, I saw life in her eyes, fulfillment in her smile, as if everything she had done had finally paid off; a leader, not a follower, a person of high standards with a great future ahead. I saw myself in her. And I knew that was what my Grandmother would have wanted me to be. After that day, I had my mind set on becoming president of the senior class. I concentrated on my studies to maintain the GPA required, I participated in many extra-curricular activities to get involved with my school and community, and served as a Junior Class Officer with hopes of preparing myself for the future. It's been four years since I've seen my grandmother. The next time I see her will be the day I graduate--the day I know I will remember forever because it will be the day that I can stand in front of all my peers, family, role models, and loved ones, and say to them, "I, Jessica Hughes, Senior Class President, will always be the head and not the tail."

Thanks in Advance! It was October 17th, 2002: the day I became an adolescent. I will always remember this as the day the most important person in my life, my grandmother, moved away. My grandmother knew the Bible like the back of her hand, quoted scriptures to me on a daily basis while feeding me, teaching me to read, or putting me to bed. Of all the scriptures she told, her favorite was Deuteronomy 28:13, "Be the head and not the tail." On the day of her departure, the last time she quoted it to me in person, I knew I had to make her proud by becoming the head and not the tail. My passion at the time was music, music, music. I found myself in a trance when I played my saxophone, as if on top of the world, when in reality, I was a mere band member in a group of 40. Somehow, I had to branch out from the bunch and illustrate how artistic and competent I actually was. I began to audition for various community bands, receiving first chair or principle player. I knew then that I was beginning to lead and not follow. Soon after, I entered high school, unsure what I could do to reach that goal while having the best four years of high school possible. I didn't want to follow the path my peers took; instead, I wanted to go where there is no path and leave a lasting trail. At my high school, it's a tradition to showcase the Senior Class Officers' photos on the senior wall to show respect and honor their accomplishments. As I scanned the pictures, one caught my attention. On the far left, was the Senior Class President. As I gazed on her face, I saw life in her eyes, fulfillment in her smile, as if everything she had done had finally paid off; a leader, not a follower, a person of high standards with a great future ahead. I saw myself in her. And I knew that was what my Grandmother would have wanted me to be. After that day, I had my mind set on becoming president of the senior class. I concentrated on my studies to maintain the GPA required, I participated in many extracurricular activities to get involved with my school and community, and served as a Junior Class Officer with hopes of preparing myself for the future. It's been four years since I've seen my grandmother. The next time I see her will be the day I graduate--the day I know I will remember forever because it will be the day that I can stand in front of all my peers, family, role models, and loved ones, and say to them, "I, Jessica Hughes, Senior Class President, will always be the head and not the tail."

"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." - Wayne Gretzky It was the 2004 Florida Youth Hockey League State Championship Game; my team was down by one goal with one minute remaining. I had the puck with only the goalie to beat; I saw the winning shot in clear view. I knew I could have tied the game with one shot; I hesitated and never attempted the shot. We ended up losing that game. Wayne Gretzky once said, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." After the heartbreak and humility of losing that game, I made sure that quote defined the way I live my life. This quote is influential to me because I do not only apply it to hockey; I apply it to my daily life as well. I truly believe that you should never let the fear of failure get in the way of what you are trying to accomplish. It is foolish to be afraid of something you have not yet attempted. The worst that can happen is you fail! Then again, you still fail if you never take the risk and try. Great leaders learn from their mistakes and keep trying until they are triumphant. I strive to be great, if you look throughout history great people at one point in their life failed and they were never afraid of failure. They put it all on the line, did not look back; this is what builds character and great leaders. As I get older, looking back on my life, I want to feel confident that I exhausted every effort and utilized all the opportunities available to me. These efforts and opportunities will help propel my future in the areas of my life including education, relationships, business, and sports. This resiliency defines the person that I am. I am no longer afraid of taking risks. If I fail, I see it only as a stepping stone to gaining more knowledge and to becoming more successful. I want to become a successful person in everything I attempt. I'd be honored to be admitted and allowed to further pursue my educational goals at a university as prestigious as Florida State University. I would be an asset to your university because I am goal oriented, extremely persistent, resilient, and I am always willing to put it all on the line in order to succeed.

"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." - Wayne Gretzky It was the 2004 Florida Youth Hockey League State Championship Game; my team was down by one goal with one minute remaining. I had the puck with only the goalie to beat; I saw the winning shot in clear view. I knew I could have tied the game with one shot; I hesitated and never attempted the shot. We ended up losing that game. Wayne Gretzky once said, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." After the heartbreak and humility of losing that game, I made sure that quote defined the way I live my life. This quote is influential to me because I do not only apply it to hockey; I apply it to my daily life as well. I truly believe that you should never let the fear of failure get in the way of what you are trying to accomplish. It is foolish to be afraid of something you have not yet attempted. The worst that can happen is you fail! Then again, you still fail if you never take the risk and try. Great leaders learn from their mistakes and keep trying until they are triumphant. I strive to be great, if you look throughout history great people at one point in their life failed, and they were never afraid of failure. They put it all on the line, did not look back; this is what builds character and great leaders. As I get older, looking back on my life, I want to feel confident that I exhausted every effort and utilized all the opportunities available to me. These efforts and opportunities will help propel my future in the areas of my life including education, relationships, business, and sports. This resiliency defines the person that I am. I am no longer afraid of taking risks. If I fail, I see it only as a stepping stone to gaining more knowledge and to becoming more successful. I want to become a successful person in everything I attempt. I'd be honored to be admitted and allowed to further pursue my educational goals at a university as prestigious as Florida State University. Furthermore, I would be an asset to your university because I am goal oriented, extremely persistent, resilient, and I am always willing to put it all on the line in order to succeed.

New York University- Andy Warhol said that we are all famous for 15 minutes. What will your 15 minutes be?Looking at the dark stage of Stockholm concert hall, I felt each and every wing of the butterflies swarming inside my stomach. With countless intimidating eyes in the audience, I was sitting backstage waiting for the words "Vishal Sunkarapalli" to be heard. It was then I saw the winner of the physiology and medicine department walk back in a mature manner until the spotlight was off of him. Then I directed my ears to focus to only hear the upcoming words: "Next, we would like to introduce our winner for the newly established business department. Not only is he responsible for creating the world's largest business empire, he also discovered the factors that contribute to the economic cycle. I am proud to announce the recipient of the 2035 Nobel Prize for outstanding contribution in business, Vishal Sunkarapalli!" Calm as the night breeze, I rose to enter the spotlight. With applause louder than thunder, I knew my fifteen minutes of fame had finally come. As the attention fell on me, I entered as the professional Vishal took control inside my body. As I was giving my thank you speech, the "other" side of me realized how far I have come since my teenage days in Troy High School. I still remember how I launched my exploration in the field of business. At first, I wanted to pursue a career in medicine. However, after taking many science classes, I realized that even though I was interested in this area, this is something that I would not want as a job. My first taste of business was in my economics class during summer school. Here, I instantly fell in love with the way both finance and economics governed the lives of us common people. Wanting to strengthen my understanding in this region, I took Financial Management and Economics AP as my courses in school. Ironically, it was my Physics teacher who suggested that I attend a summer program called "Planning for Business Success" at Michigan Technological University. Seizing this opportunity, I quickly signed up to attend. I even convinced two of my friends to accompany me. During this week long class, I explored the tactics to another business component, Entrepreneurship. With a team, I created a plan to start a new business and attempt to persuade potential investors to my business. With the skills obtained from this class, I learned the process of starting and keeping a successful business, tactics used to influence prospective investors, and methods of campaigning to your target audience. Lost in my thoughts, I came back to senses and professional Vishal just ended the fourteen minute speech. "Wait! Fourteen minutes? Where's my other minute?" I returned behind the scenes and was congratulated by the other elite winners who represented their respective departments. After these awkward conversations, I felt relief when I finally noticed my parents. Their face was a clear evidence of how proud they were of me. I walked up to my dad and said, "Thanks for giving me my fifteenth minute."

New York University-Andy Warhol said that we are all famous for 15 minutes. What will your 15 minutes be? Looking at the dark stage of Stockholm concert hall, I felt each and every wing of the butterflies swarming inside my stomach. With countless intimidating eyes in the audience, I was sitting backstage waiting for the words "Vishal Sunkarapalli" to be heard. It was then I saw the winner of the physiology and medicine department walk back in a mature manner until the spotlight was off of him. Then I directed my ears to focus to only hear the upcoming words: "Next, we would like to introduce our winner for the newly established business department. Not only is he responsible for creating the world's largest business empire, he also discovered the factors that contribute to the economic cycle. I am proud to announce the recipient of the 2035 Nobel Prize for outstanding contribution in business, Vishal Sunkarapalli!" Calm as the night breeze, I rose to enter the spotlight. With applause louder than thunder, I knew my fifteen minutes of fame had finally come. As the attention fell on me, I entered as the professional Vishal took control inside my body. As I was giving my thank-you speech, the "other" side of me realized how far I have come since my teenage days in Troy High School. I still remember how I launched my exploration in the field of business. At first, I wanted to pursue a career in medicine. However, after taking many science classes, I realized that even though I was interested in this area, this is something that I would not want as a job. My first taste of business was in my economics class during summer school. Here, I instantly fell in love with the way both finance and economics governed the lives of us common people. Wanting to strengthen my understanding in this region, I took Financial Management and Economics AP as my courses in school. Ironically, it was my Physics teacher who suggested that I attend a summer program called "Planning for Business Success" at Michigan Technological University. Seizing this opportunity, I quickly signed up to attend. I even convinced two of my friends to accompany me. During this week-long class, I explored the tactics to another business component, Entrepreneurship. With a team, I created a plan to start a new business and attempt to persuade potential investors to my business. With the skills obtained from this class, I learned the process of starting and keeping a successful business, tactics used to influence prospective investors, and methods of campaigning to your target audience. Lost in my thoughts, I came back to senses and professional Vishal just ended the fourteen-minute speech. "Wait! Fourteen minutes? Where's my other minute?" I returned behind the scenes and was congratulated by the other elite winners who represented their respective departments. After these awkward conversations, I felt relief when I finally noticed my parents. Their face was a clear evidence of how proud they were of me. I walked up to my dad and said, "Thanks for giving me my fifteenth minute."

My brother and I were very few of the students who went to the school on bicycles. Although my brother is 3 years older than I, we both started going to the school on bikes together. It took us about 10 minutes to reach us school everyday, but when we raced it took just 5. It was a unique experience. Unlike any other child who was dropped and then picked from the school, I felt responsible and trusted by my parents. In fact, the morning ride on the bike, especially in winter fog, was very refreshing. I always felt more alert in my morning classes. When I graduated to the 7th grade, I was put in a new class section according to my chosen O levels subjects. Right from the very 1st day two groups were naturally formed, one snobbish and the other relatively humble. Being a part of the later group, I was always the other group's prime target for practical jokes and humiliations; merely my coming to the school on a bike was viewed as substandard. Occasionally, at the end of the day I would find that someone had deflated the tires of my bike. Then I had to walk all the way home with my bike, a memory which, back then though brought my spirits down a great deal, now engenders a smile on my face. I was the only one amongst my group confined to within my group; everyone else was at least well acquainted, if not friends, with each other. Although I made many friends within my group, I always desired to be friends with everyone in my class. That seemed so difficult then that I believed it to be impossible; I tried it many times, but always ended up getting embarrassed. Even more disappointing were the comments like 'go away and hang around with the kids of your type'. They never said it directly, but the implications alluded to my middleclass family. And this was even more obvious when, in my presence, they boasted of their cars which they drove themselves to school. I admit it to some extent that I too started feeling inferior. It was only when I managed to debunk my belief of inferiority that I finally got assimilated within whole of my class. Just some cognition, a series of clever thoughts, and I figured it out. Before the class tests and the final exams, when teachers refused to give any hint about what questions would come in the tests, I helped my friends clear their concepts, solved questions for them and told them what to concentrate more on. Seeing more people encircled around me, the people, whom I thought hated me, joined me; I helped them wholeheartedly. I gained wider acceptance when I got selected in my school football team. 8th grader and the youngest player in my school football team, I managed to help my class win some of the inter-class football matches with my free-kicks. They started loving me. Things got even better when in 9th grade I made a website on my class. Designed on macromedia flash, my website showed brief profiles of all my class fellows. That website still never fails to bring memories back. All my friends mailed me their pictures. Some of them, who had never called me before, now even talked to me on the phone, discussing what to put in their profiles. I felt more than recognized. Then up till now, I call 'those people' my friends. What I can call the culmination of my success of getting assimilated and recognized by class fellows, who once looked down on me are last year's school elections. I stood for the position of Sports Representative. That I won in the elections wasn't as surprising as the margin by which I won. Out of the 400 votes I got around 210 votes, 100 more votes than the 2nd highest votes-winner; a success which I attribute to my friends and my better acquaintance with everyone. In retrospect, I realize my success. Even though now I have achieved recognition amongst my friends and school fellows, which once I believed I never could, the humble part of me is sill dominant in my personality. All these events developed my interest in human behavior psychology. Now not only do I understand other people better, but also I am more considerate towards them. I have become more observant, more empathetic and more thoughtful.

My brother and I were very few of the students who went to the school on bicycles. Although my brother is 3 years older than I, we both started going to the school on bikes together. It took us about 10 minutes to reach us school every day, but when we raced it took just 5. It was a unique experience. Unlike any other child who was dropped and then picked from the school, I felt responsible and trusted by my parents. In fact, the morning ride on the bike, especially in winter fog, was very refreshing. I always felt more alert in my morning classes. When I graduated to the 7th grade, I was put in a new class section according to my chosen O levels subjects. Right from the very 1st day two groups were naturally formed, one snobbish and the other relatively humble. Being a part of the later group, I was always the other group's prime target for practical jokes and humiliations; merely my coming to the school on a bike was viewed as substandard. Occasionally, at the end of the day I would find that someone had deflated the tires of my bike. Then I had to walk all the way home with my bike, a memory which, back then though brought my spirits down a great deal, now engenders a smile on my face. I was the only one amongst my group confined to within my group; everyone else was at least well acquainted, if not friends, with each other. Although I made many friends within my group, I always desired to be friends with everyone in my class. That seemed so difficult then that I believed it to be impossible; I tried it many times, but always ended up getting embarrassed. Even more disappointing were the comments like 'go away and hang around with the kids of your type'. They never said it directly, but the implications alluded to my middle class family. And this was even more obvious when, in my presence, they boasted of their cars which they drove themselves to school. I admit it to some extent that I too started feeling inferior. It was only when I managed to debunk my belief of inferiority that I finally got assimilated within whole of my class. Just some cognition, a series of clever thoughts, and I figured it out. Before the class tests and the final exams, when teachers refused to give any hint about what questions would come in the tests, I helped my friends clear their concepts, solved questions for them and told them what to concentrate more on. Seeing more people encircled around me, the people, whom I thought hated me, joined me; I helped them wholeheartedly. I gained wider acceptance when I got selected in my school football team. 8th grader and the youngest player in my school football team, I managed to help my class win some inter-class football matches with my free-kicks. They started loving me. Things got even better when in 9th grade I made a website on my class. Designed on macro media flash, my website showed brief profiles of all my class fellows. That website still never fails to bring memories back. All my friends mailed me their pictures. Some of them, who had never called me before, now even talked to me on the phone, discussing what to put in their profiles. I felt more than recognized. Then up till now, I call 'those people' my friends. What I can call the culmination of my success of getting assimilated and recognized by class fellows, who once looked down on me are last year's school elections. I stood for the position of Sports Representative. That I won in the elections wasn't as surprising as the margin by which I won. Out of the 400 votes I got around 210 votes, 100 more votes than the 2nd highest votes-winner; a success which I attribute to my friends and my better acquaintance with everyone. In retrospect, I realize my success. Even though now I have achieved recognition amongst my friends and school fellows, which once I believed I never could, the humble part of me is still dominant in my personality. All these events developed my interest in human behavior psychology. Now not only do I understand other people better, but also I am more considerate towards them. I have become more observant, more empathetic and more thoughtful.

To write about an incident that happened in my life that change my mind about something. The thesis should indicate the specific event and the change that occurred. Body should be chronological order of events. The conclusion should restate the main idea and let the reader know that all has been said on the subject. I tried my best on the essay. I had a handy grammar book when I was writing it. So hopefully I didn't make many mistakes. Please tell me if there are any grammatical errors. I also think that some of my sentence dragged on and I don't know how to rewrite it. Few questions though. 1. Was it any good?2. Did it meet the requirement of the prompt?3. Was it a bit wordy? It was a beautiful morning on this particular day. Birds chirping, squirrels running around, and kids screaming and laughing as they played under the sun. No one was to suspect the ominous atmosphere that would shroud the neighborhood. I stepped out of the house into a beautiful shade of red and brown. The brisk cool breeze blew as I stood and watch the leaves falling. I walked over to the car as the sound of leaves crunching beneath my feet. My father strolled out, jingling the keys in his hand. We were on our way to see his friend whom I affectionately called grandpa. When we reached grandpa's house, my father moseyed up into the house. I was left outside to find something interesting to do. I sauntered around to the side of the house where I spotted a pile of leaves, riped for my picking. I readied myself for jumping, my knees bent slightly; a push of my leg muscles and I was airborne heading toward my destination, the pile of leaves. To my surprise as I descended, the pile of leaves gave way to emptiness. There was no solid ground to land on. My arms flailed around seeking to grab onto anything. After what seemed like hours, one of my hands finally connected with the laundry pole nearby. My other hand clutched at a patch of weeds. As I hanged precariously above doom, my thoughts turned to spikes that would eagerly embrace me if I were to fall. At least, that's what movies led me to believe. I decided to use what little strength I had to pull myself out. My feet searched for anything to get leverage on. Here my memory failed me as to why I did not call for help. At last, after what seemed like an eternity-it might have been 2 minutes-I managed to drag my body out. I crashed onto the ground, all strength had left me. Gasping for air as I clutched at my side, I struggled to stand and observe the opponent who nearly defeated me. Being a child, my fears warped itself into curiosity about this similarly oddity of nature. Back then, I did not know how the leaves held itself up when nothing was supporting them. I stood, knees slightly shaken. I could now see that the hole was a tunnel. As I peered into the tunnel, I expected nothing but darkness instead a flicker of light greeted me. My father, man of perfect timing, appeared on the porch. He gestured me to the car as I complied. On the ride home, I told him about the event that had happened. I was expecting a serious response to my story but was met with loud laughter. A cruel and unusual trick was played on me that day. An event that could have landed me a spot on the nightly new and cause embarrassment if it did not go the way that had happened. Now whenever I think of doing something reckless or stupid, I always remember back to that event of my childhood. If it could end up with me on the news then it's probably best not to do it. P. Huynh

To write about an incident that happened in my life that change my mind about something. The thesis should indicate the specific event and the change that occurred. Body should be chronological order of events. The conclusion should restate the main idea and let the reader know that all has been said on the subject. I tried my best on the essay. I had a handy grammar book when I was writing it. So hopefully I didn't make many mistakes. Please tell me if there are any grammatical errors. I also think that some of my sentence dragged on, and I don't know how to rewrite it. Few questions though. 1. Was it any good?2. Did it meet the requirement of the prompt?3. Was it a bit wordy? It was a beautiful morning on this particular day. Birds chirping, squirrels running around, and kids screaming and laughing as they played under the sun. No one was to suspect the ominous atmosphere that would shroud the neighborhood. I stepped out of the house into a beautiful shade of red and brown. The brisk cool breeze blew as I stood and watch the leaves falling. I walked over to the car as the sound of leaves crunching beneath my feet. My father strolled out, jingling the keys in his hand. We were on our way to see his friend whom I affectionately called grandpa. When we reached grandpa's house, my father moseyed up into the house. I was left outside to find something interesting to do. I sauntered around to the side of the house where I spotted a pile of leaves, ripped for my picking. Furthermore, I readied myself for jumping, my knees bent slightly; a push of my leg muscles, and I was airborne heading toward my destination, the pile of leaves. To my surprise as I descended, the pile of leaves gave way to emptiness. There was no solid ground to land on. My arms flailed around seeking to grab onto anything. After what seemed like hours, one of my hands finally connected with the laundry pole nearby. My other hand clutched at a patch of weeds. As I hanged precariously above doom, my thoughts turned to spikes that would eagerly embrace me if I were to fall. At least, that's what movies led me to believe. I decided to use what little strength I had to pull myself out. My feet searched for anything to get leverage on. Here my memory failed me as to why I did not call for help. At last, after what seemed like an eternity-it might have been 2 minutes-I managed to drag my body out. I crashed onto the ground, all strength had left me. Gasping for air as I clutched at my side, I struggled to stand and observe the opponent who nearly defeated me. Being a child, my fears warped itself into curiosity about this similarly oddity of nature. Back then, I did not know how the leaves held itself up when nothing was supporting them. I stood, knees slightly shaken. I could now see that the hole was a tunnel. As I peered into the tunnel, I expected nothing but darkness instead a flicker of light greeted me. My father, man of perfect timing, appeared on the porch. He gestured me to the car as I complied. On the ride home, I told him about the event that had happened. I was expecting a serious response to my story but was met with loud laughter. A cruel and unusual trick was played on me that day. An event that could have landed me a spot on the nightly new and cause embarrassment if it did not go the way that had happened. Now whenever I think of doing something reckless or stupid, I always remember back to that event of my childhood. If it could end up with me on the news then it's probably best not to do it. P. Hugh

It is difficult to live an economically stable life style. In today's society many people that have no more than a high school diploma are struggling to maintain a decent quality of life. My father once told me to "study hard so you can play hard"; my father gave me those words of advice to help me understand the payoff of a good education. My father wants me to have the better things in life, and without a college degree that is not possible. Life is too expensive and difficult, life would be much simpler with a college degree and necessary to succeed and be someone. There are many unemployed citizens that are having a difficult time finding a job because they did lack a college degree. Lacking a college degree creates obstacles due to the rising costs of necessities. For example an average home in Miami, Fl is now $350,000, which is very expensive for people earning an average salary. Then you have all the medical, auto and home expenses that are very costly. So one must study hard in order to earn a salary to provide for a financially stable life. Once you graduate from graduate school it becomes a breeze to find a job. For example my uncle is a pharmacist recruiter in California, and he offers students straight out of graduate school a $32,000 signing bonus on top of a $150,000 salary. The income of a graduate that accepts that offer is more than a person with a high school degree makes in several years, maybe a lifetime. Also professionals tend to have many benefits such as raises, vacation, and bonuses. That shows that you must study hard so your desires are easier to obtain. One must study hard to become someone and be able to have the better things in life. Being a successful professional means a lot to a lot of people including family, teachers, and most importantly yourself. Just the thought of knowing you are someone important would make you feel good about yourself and confidence is key to living a content lifestyle. For example, I have an older brother that is about to graduate law school and it looks as if he will become a successful lawyer. He knows it so it seems to make him work harder so he can have a rich life. My father always told my brother and myself to study hard so we can enjoy life. We took his words of wisdom and are following it exactly, because we know he is right. The quote "study hard so you can play hard" was told to me by my father. Those words mean exactly what they state, to study and work hard so you can have the better things in life. My father wants me to be as content as possible so he uses those words to motivate me to go to college and study as hard as possible so when I finish I could have the better things in life and a certificate stating I am a professional at what I choose to be. Society is too difficult and expensive to not have gone to college, going to college would make life a lot easier, and lastly a college degree will help me in my goal to be someone successful.

It is difficult to live an economically stable lifestyle. In today's society many people that have no more than a high school diploma are struggling to maintain a decent quality of life. My father once told me to "study hard, so you can play hard"; my father gave me those words of advice to help me understand the payoff of a good education. My father wants me to have the better things in life, and without a college degree that is not possible. Life is too expensive and difficult, life would be much simpler with a college degree and necessary to succeed and be someone. There are many unemployed citizens that are having a difficult time finding a job because they did lack a college degree. Lacking a college degree creates obstacles due to the rising costs of necessities. For example an average home in Miami, Fl is now $350,000, which is very expensive for people earning an average salary. Then you have all the medical, auto and home expenses that are very costly. So one must study hard in order to earn a salary to provide for a financially stable life. Once you graduate from graduate school it becomes a breeze to find a job. For example my uncle is a pharmacist recruiter in California, and he offers students straight out of graduate school a $32,000 signing bonus on top of a $150,000 salary. The income of a graduate that accepts that offer is more than a person with a high school degree makes in several years, maybe a lifetime. Also, professionals tend to have many benefits such as raises, vacation, and bonuses. That shows that you must study hard, so your desires are easier to obtain. One must study hard to become someone and be able to have the better things in life. Being a successful professional means a lot to a lot of people including family, teachers, and most importantly yourself. Just the thought of knowing you are someone important would make you feel good about yourself and confidence is key to living a content lifestyle. For example, I have an older brother that is about to graduate law school, and it looks as if he will become a successful lawyer. He knows it, so it seems to make him work harder, so he can have a rich life. My father always told my brother and me to study hard, so we can enjoy life. We took his words of wisdom and are following it exactly, because we know he is right. The quote "study hard, so you can play hard" was told to me by my father. Those words mean exactly what they state, to study and work hard, so you can have the better things in life. My father wants me to be as content as possible, so he uses those words to motivate me to go to college and study as hard as possible so when I finish I could have the better things in life and a certificate stating I am a professional at what I choose to be. Society is too difficult and expensive to not have gone to college, going to college would make life a lot easier, and lastly a college degree will help me in my goal to be someone successful.

"The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle", written by Haruki Murakami, has resonated within my existence as one of the most influential works upon my character, my being, and my intelligence. It is at once, a novel of excruciatingly beauty and genius. It is a story of loss and love, of the deepest entrapments of the human psyche and the extents to which humanity can lend itself. At heart, the novel is an archetypal story of the protagonist, Toru Okada, searching for his vanished wife whom he refuses to believe left on her own accord. But beyond the basic plot, within the dynamic idiosyncrasies of each character, there lingers a transcendental mental complexity and a profound emotional depth like shadows flickering at the end of each sentence and the start of each word. Reading the book for the first time in the summer of my sophomore year I found it to be magnificent, the very peaks and valleys of human sentiment stood out radiantly and resplendently to my hungry eyes. The intricacies of life, death, and love flashed before me as concrete as the ink and binding that held them together. Up to that point, out of either ignorance or arrogance, I had never dared to look past the boundaries of my own existence. I had never stopped to consider the people around me as the world turned and the weather changed with each season. Like my peers around me, I was immature and assured of my own immense infallibility. But with the rise and fall of each word, I felt that illusion of safety slipping between my fingers until I was left to face a brave new world with new bright eyes. Before that point I had never realized how complex and complicated the human soul could be, and how empty my own was. The book was a call to arms, emboldening me to devour literature like a starving man. An unappeasable glutton, I read Milton's "Paradise Lost", Sartre's "Nausea", Soseki's "I am a cat", and Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" all in the first month after finishing "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle". These dead writers, nothing more than ashes and bones, became my heroes, my teachers, and my friends. I began to write more and more. I was terrible at first, but despite each abhorrent word and clumsy sentence, I kept on writing. I had found something beyond the scope of my limited world, something far outside of my immaturity and apathy. In the written word I had found empathy and compassion, in writing I found what had been missing from the cavernous depths of my soul. I had found something I loved. By the start of my junior year, I knew that writing was what I wanted to dedicate my life and my education to. That if the sky happened to fall one terrible morning I would be clutching vellum in one hand and charcoal in the other, scribbling away madly in some long-forgotten hole, endeavoring to pull beauty out of tragedy.

"The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle", written by Kabuki Murasaki, has resonated within my existence as one of the most influential works upon my character, my being, and my intelligence. It is at once, a novel of excruciatingly beauty and genius. It is a story of loss and love, of the deepest entrapment of the human psyche and the extents to which humanity can lend itself. At heart, the novel is an archetypal story of the protagonist, Tour Oneida, searching for his vanished wife whom he refuses to believe left on her own accord. But beyond the basic plot, within the dynamic idiosyncrasies of each character, there lingers a transcendental mental complexity and a profound emotional depth like shadows flickering at the end of each sentence and the start of each word. Reading the book for the first time in the summer of my sophomore year I found it to be magnificent, the very peaks and valleys of human sentiment stood out radiantly and resplendently to my hungry eyes. The intricacies of life, death, and love flashed before me as concrete as the ink and binding that held them together. Up to that point, out of either ignorance or arrogance, I had never dared to look past the boundaries of my own existence. I had never stopped to consider the people around me as the world turned, and the weather changed with each season. Like my peers around me, I was immature and assured of my own immense infallibility. But with the rise and fall of each word, I felt that illusion of safety slipping between my fingers until I was left to face a brave new world with new bright eyes. Before that point I had never realized how complex and complicated the human soul could be, and how empty my own was. The book was a call to arms, emboldening me to devour literature like a starving man. An unappealable glutton, I read Milton's "Paradise Lost", Sartre's "Nausea", SOSes's "I am a cat", and Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" all in the first month after finishing "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle". These dead writers, nothing more than ashes and bones, became my heroes, my teachers, and my friends. I began to write more and more. I was terrible at first, but despite each abhorrent word and clumsy sentence, I kept on writing. Furthermore, I had found something beyond the scope of my limited world, something far outside my immaturity and apathy. In the written word I had found empathy and compassion, in writing I found what had been missing from the cavernous depths of my soul. I had found something I loved. By the start of my junior year, I knew that writing was what I wanted to dedicate my life and my education to. That if the sky happened to fall one terrible morning I would be clutching vellum in one hand and charcoal in the other, scribbling away madly in some long-forgotten hole, endeavoring to pull beauty out of tragedy.

I joined FFA in the 7th grade, and I became really dedicated to the organization when I entered high school. I joined several teams, I showed a hog and three steers, I participated in countless speaking contests and banquets, and I attended several conferences and conventions. I discovered that I have a knack for land and soil judging when I placed first at a regional contest and participated on our regions state team. Showing my fair animals helped me develop dedication and responsibility, and also proved to be one of the best experiences of my life. As for the speaking contests, I absolutely dreaded the first one. Prior to the FFA public speaking contest, I had always avoided speaking in front of a group of people. Public speaking sent chills down my spine and stuttering to my lips. I could know my subject inside and out, and if I had to tell a group of people about it, I would forget everything. However, I had performed groundbreaking research on a new beetle used to eradicate an annoying pasture weed, and my teacher thought that it would make the perfect topic for a prepared speech so she entered me in the contest. I ended up placing second in the contest, but I took home much more than a red ribbon. After that one contest, I have a lot more confidence about speaking to groups, and I am now the one who volunteers to go first in class instead of hiding in the back so that I can go last. I attended FLA, or Florida Leadership Adventures, with my chapter. At FLA I not only learned how to lead my chapter, but I also developed leadership skills I can use forever. FLA helped me develop so much confidence in my own decisions and my own abilities. While my FFA experience will end when I graduate, the lessons it had taught me will stay with me forever. I will be able to use them throughout my entire life. Whether life leads me to the UF campus or somewhere far away, I know that I am equipped with the skills I need to succeed, all because I was part of FFA.

I joined FFA in the 7th grade, and I became really dedicated to the organization when I entered high school. I joined several teams, I showed a hog and three steers, I participated in countless speaking contests and banquets, and I attended several conferences and conventions. Furthermore, I discovered that I have a knack for land and soil judging when I placed first at a regional contest and participated on our regions state team. Showing my fair animals helped me develop dedication and responsibility, and also proved to be one of the best experiences of my life. As for the speaking contests, I absolutely dreaded the first one. Prior to the FFA public speaking contest, I had always avoided speaking in front of a group of people. Public speaking sent chills down my spine and stuttering to my lips. I could know my subject inside and out, and if I had to tell a group of people about it, I would forget everything. However, I had performed groundbreaking research on a new beetle used to eradicate an annoying pasture weed, and my teacher thought that it would make the perfect topic for a prepared speech, so she entered me in the contest. I ended up placing second in the contest, but I took home much more than a red ribbon. After that one contest, I have a lot more confidence about speaking to groups, and I am now the one who volunteers to go first in class instead of hiding in the back so that I can go last. I attended FLA, or Florida Leadership Adventures, with my chapter. At FLA, I not only learned how to lead my chapter, but I also developed leadership skills I can use forever. FLA helped me develop so much confidence in my own decisions and my own abilities. While my FFA experience will end when I graduate, the lessons it had taught me will stay with me forever. I will be able to use them throughout my entire life. Whether life leads me to the OF campus or somewhere far away, I know that I am equipped with the skills I need to succeed, all because I was part of FFA.

The first essay is: Tell us more about yourself by providing information not addressed elsewhere on this application. In an essay of about 300 words, describe your passions and special interests. In your opinion, what makes you unique? "I am my own matchless self," That is what I enjoy telling myself day after day. There is nothing more important in life than to be your own person, to do the things you love, and to live your life to its full potential. I believe that I am unique because of my personal interests, as well as my distinct personality. What I truly love about my hometown, Chicago, is the ever changing weather around us. Currently it is summer and although many people think of this as the season of high humidity, sweat, and constant torturous heat beating down upon us, I view it as an opportunity to be outdoors and enjoy the limited time when I have the luxury of wearing loose, comfortable clothing. Summer is the only time I can explore my typically unheard of interest referred to as longboarding. Most people look at me and ask, "You mean skateboarding?" They couldn't be more wrong about calling it a skateboard; in fact, longboarding bears no similarities to skateboarding other than it being a board on wheels. "Surfing the pavement," is the term I use. There is nothing comparable to soaring down sunbleached streets on a scorching summer day and feeling the cool wind rush past you. Since the summer season here doesn't last very long, with our first snowfall I adjust my outdoor activities. Winter brings brisk air which keeps you cool with even the most upbeat activity. Cruising down the mountains on my snowboard is my winter. Unfortunately, Chicago is not the ideal place for my favorite athletic interest, but that could never deter me from exploring this sport especially considering that the best part of it is traveling America in constant search of yet higher mountains and more beautiful terrain. Not only do I get to enjoy gliding down mountains at high speeds, but I am privileged enough to be able to see other parts of our vast and beautiful country. Although I try my best to involve myself in these two sports as frequently as possible, it is not always the right time or place for either. When this is the case I pursue other interests which include furthering my knowledge in the field of automotives as well as in the endlessly beautiful world of musical art on my electric guitar. Neither of these activites are restricted due to weather conditions, enabling me to enjoy both on a year-round basis. My interests along with my personality is the unique combination which makes me the only person who exists in this world who will ever be me. Iearned over the last several years how important it is to make your own choices. That is the only way to ensure true happiness and fulfillment. Although I've developed passion for some very high-energy activities, my personality is quite the contrary. I am extremely laid back, not to be mistaken for lazy. This combination allows me to multi-task with little or no stress. I believe this will be of great benefit to me as I put forth my best effort in my upcoming adult years which will certainly unveil more difficult challenges. The second essay is: In an essay of about 300 words, tell us more about your professional and intellectual aspirations and prior personal experiences relevant to your choice of a specific college or academic program at the University of Illinois. It is September 1, 2007 and it is hard to believe I am writing the most important essay of my life so far. How well I express myself could definitely impact my soon-to-begin college career and subsequent work career. Athough I am unsure of my future career at this time, I am able to say that I am skilled in several areas with the potential in each area to help me in my final career decision. Since I was 16 I have been employed at my local grocery store Jewel-Osco and was recently promoted to cashier. In part, I am holding this job while trying to balance my academic and social life in order to financially contribute towards my goal, which is to attend the University of Illinois. Currently, I am applying myself to several varied interests, one of them being automotive classes. Over the last summer I spent much of my time assisting my friend in his auto mechanics shop to further develop my skills in automotives. In a more office-like environment, I contributed some spare time to my father's export business. I handled accounting tasks, prepared quotes, negotiated with factories, as well as placed purchase orders. A third area I have involved myself with is computers. My interest and understanding of computers has allowed me to build my own personal computer as opposed to simply purchasing a pre-built one. Possessing a general education in the field of computers has been of great assistance in both academic projects as well as my father's business. Through self acquired experience I now have the ability to apply my knowledge of computers to my future tasks, and I feel that this expertise will be of great aid in both my future education and career. I recognize I will be looking toward a great deal of both academic and personal growth in my upcoming college years. I am extremely excited at the prospect of achieving these goals in Champaign-Urbana and look forward to meeting the upcoming challenges which lie ahead. Thanks for any help! I appreciate it! Alex

The first essay is: Tell us more about yourself by providing information not addressed elsewhere on this application. In an essay of about 300 words, describe your passions and special interests. In your opinion, what makes you unique? "I am my own matchless self," That is what I enjoy telling myself day after day. There is nothing more important in life than to be your own person, to do the things you love, and to live your life to its full potential. I believe that I am unique because of my personal interests, as well as my distinct personality. What I truly love about my hometown, Chicago, is the ever-changing weather around us. Currently, it is summer and although many people think of this as the season of high humidity, sweat, and constant torturous heat beating down upon us, I view it as an opportunity to be outdoors and enjoy the limited time when I have the luxury of wearing loose, comfortable clothing. Summer is the only time I can explore my typically unheard of interest referred to as longboarding. Most people look at me and ask, "You mean skateboarding?" They couldn't be more wrong about calling it a skateboard; in fact, longboarding bears no similarities to skateboarding other than it being a board on wheels. "Surfing the pavement," is the term I use. There is nothing comparable to soaring down unbleached streets on a scorching summer day and feeling the cool wind rush past you. Since summer here doesn't last very long, with our first snowfall I adjust my outdoor activities. Winter brings brisk air which keeps you cool with even the most upbeat activity. Cruising down the mountains on my snowboard is my winter. Unfortunately, Chicago is not the ideal place for my favorite athletic interest, but that could never deter me from exploring this sport especially considering that the best part of it is traveling America in constant search of yet higher mountains and more beautiful terrain. Not only do I get to enjoy gliding down mountains at high speeds, but I am privileged enough to be able to see other parts of our vast and beautiful country. Although I try my best to involve myself in these two sports as frequently as possible, it is not always the right time or place for either. When this is the case I pursue other interests which include furthering my knowledge in the field of automotive as well as in the endlessly beautiful world of musical art on my electric guitar. Neither of these activities are restricted due to weather conditions, enabling me to enjoy both on a year-round basis. My interests along with my personality is the unique combination which makes me the only person who exists in this world who will ever be me. Earned over the last several years how important it is to make your own choices. That is the only way to ensure true happiness and fulfillment. Although I've developed passion for some very high-energy activities, my personality is quite the contrary. I am extremely laid back, not to be mistaken for lazy. This combination allows me to multitask with little or no stress. I believe this will be of great benefit to me as I put forth my best effort in my upcoming adult years which will certainly unveil more difficult challenges. The second essay is: In an essay of about 300 words, tell us more about your professional and intellectual aspirations and prior personal experiences relevant to your choice of a specific college or academic program at the University of Illinois. It is September 1, 2007,, and it is hard to believe I am writing the most important essay of my life so far. How well I express myself could definitely impact my soon-to-begin college career and subsequent work career. Although I am unsure of my future career at this time, I am able to say that I am skilled in several areas with the potential in each area to help me in my final career decision. Since I was 16 I have been employed at my local grocery store Jewel-Osco and was recently promoted to cashier. In part, I am holding this job while trying to balance my academic and social life in order to financially contribute towards my goal, which is to attend the University of Illinois. Currently, I am applying myself to several varied interests, one of them being automotive classes. Over the last summer I spent much of my time assisting my friend in his auto mechanics shop to further develop my skills in automotive. In a more office-like environment, I contributed some spare time to my father's export business. I handled accounting tasks, prepared quotes, negotiated with factories, as well as placed purchase orders. A third area I have involved myself with is computers. My interest and understanding of computers has allowed me to build my own personal computer as opposed to simply purchasing a pre-built one. Possessing a general education in the field of computers has been of great assistance in both academic projects and my father's business. Through self acquired experience I now have the ability to apply my knowledge of computers to my future tasks, and I feel that this expertise will be of great aid in both my future education and career. I recognize I will be looking toward a great deal of both academic and personal growth in my upcoming college years. I am extremely excited at the prospect of achieving these goals in Champaign-Urbana and look forward to meeting the upcoming challenges which lie ahead. Thanks for any help! I appreciate it! Alex

Falling asleep as a middling writer, high school essayist and just an adolescent opinion to waking up a recognized and most of all accepted journalist is the crossing I experienced in high school. This maturation, which I deem the most significant event to happen in my life, has trained and prepared me for numerous situations, allowing me to communicate to the world. Starting with just one answered phone call, one idiom voiced through the telephone by the editor-in-chief of Teentime, I was malformed into a shade of perfection, into something improved for the benefit of the youth. I was officially accepted into Teentime, a program designed for students like myself who valued all forms of culture, might that be the arts, entertainment or current events. In Teentime I chose to primarily write film reviews, music reviews and live reviews. Starting the second you enter high school and ending the moment you leave, I managed to contribute until its demise with a discontinuation due to a fusion of papers alike. It was not just an activity I did once in a while, it was a full commitment. There were meetings I attended, press screenings so I could view the films in advance to analyze them, and workshops to sculpt my writing. This program lead me to interviewing actors such as Will Smith, Leonardo DiCaprio, Dijimon Honsou, Billy Bob Thornton, Emma Roberts and directors, Edward Zwick and the Polish brothers. I wrote article after article until my writing advanced to the point I won two awards at the 2007 Sun-Sentinel High School Journalism Awards. I received First place as film reviewer of the year, second place for filmmusic reviewer of the year and honorable mention as an entertainment writer for Teenlink, another publication I write for, sent to every Broward county school. Approximately 75,000 students read it. My name was printed over 600,000 times each week, Kyle Cowan was viewed over a million times online, and my work was wired all across the country. The combination of all of that and my online blog being viewed by thousands is what made me who I am today, a journalist explaining how if I can gain the attention of South Florida, I can tackle the population of the University of Florida. I already have experience reaching out to high school students, as I move on I want to go with my graduating class and still be able to deliver the same experience. My growth into a journalist contributes to the community of the University of Florida by capturing the thought of every student. My language is stimulating; every word of every sentence is like a beat that runs through you, causing you to take comfort in my rhythmic communication. There is no greater feeling than when friends of mine in need promptly choose my outlook and base their views and decisions on what I have to contribute towards a topic. If people find themselves lost in conversation, all they have to do is look to me, and they will feel comfort with the advice I give them. Becoming a journalist at such a young age made all my friends and family happy. My friends see if I like a movie before they see it, and my grandmother looked forward every Friday morning to see if my name was in the newspaper. A main reason why this will contribute to the University of Florida campus is shown in the acceptance process. By accepting students on many factors, unlike Florida State University, which claims to be solid academia, UF looks at everything, taking time to consider who I am. I am rich in character, and full of flavor, similar to a cup of. I compare myself to coffee because people feel different after drinking a cup. It gives you energy; it is stimulus to continue the day. I enlighten people all the time, giving them new and interesting conversation starters; some things are just better with coffee just how I have this hunch that the University of Florida will be better with me. People trust me with my words and with their trust I would love to write for the Independent Florida Alligator and hopefully watch the whole cycle start over again. People will begin to know my name, and in the great scheme of things, the one reporter they know they can trust is I, and that is a great feeling to know already so soon. I am not just a member of the press, but also a correspondent to the people. A great sense of satisfaction goes into saying those few words. Towards the end of this year I hope to be wearing orange and royal blue and have the fulfillment of knowing that not only do dreams come true, but if I could choose any animal to be dressed in, put on my license plate, or on a banner hanging in my bedroom, it would definitely be a gator. Like Stevie Wonder said, "Signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours."

Falling asleep as a middling writer, high school essayist and just an adolescent opinion to waking up a recognized and most of all accepted journalist is the crossing I experienced in high school. This maturation, which I deem the most significant event to happen in my life, has trained and prepared me for numerous situations, allowing me to communicate to the world. Starting with just one answered phone call, one idiom voiced through the telephone by the editor-in-chief of Teen time, I was malformed into a shade of perfection, into something improved for the benefit of the youth. I was officially accepted into Teen time, a program designed for students like myself who valued all forms of culture, might that be the arts, entertainment or current events. In Teen time I chose to primarily write film reviews, music reviews and live reviews. Starting the second you enter high school and ending the moment you leave, I managed to contribute until its demise with a discontinuation due to a fusion of papers alike. It was not just an activity I did once in a while, it was a full commitment. There were meetings I attended, press screenings, so I could view the films in advance to analyze them, and workshops to sculpt my writing. This program lead me to interviewing actors such as Will Smith, Leonardo DiCaprio, Digimon Honshu, Billy Bob Thornton, Emma Roberts and directors, Edward Wick and the Polish brothers. I wrote article after article until my writing advanced to the point I won two awards at the 2007 Sun-Sentinel High School Journalism Awards. I received First place as film reviewer of the year, second place for film music reviewer of the year and honorable mention as an entertainment writer for Teen link, another publication I write for, sent to every Broward County school. Approximately 75,000 students read it. My name was printed over 600,000 times each week, Kyle Conan was viewed over a million times online, and my work was wired all across the country. The combination of all of that and my online blog being viewed by thousands is what made me who I am today, a journalist explaining how if I can gain the attention of South Florida, I can tackle the population of the University of Florida. I already have experience reaching out to high school students, as I move on I want to go with my graduating class and still be able to deliver the same experience. My growth into a journalist contributes to the community of the University of Florida by capturing the thought of every student. My language is stimulating; every word of every sentence is like a beat that runs through you, causing you to take comfort in my rhythmic communication. There is no greater feeling than when friends of mine in need promptly choose my outlook and base their views and decisions on what I have to contribute towards a topic. If people find themselves lost in conversation, all they have to do is look to me, and they will feel comfort with the advice I give them. Becoming a journalist at such a young age made all my friends and family happy. My friends see if I like a movie before they see it, and my grandmother looked forward to every Friday morning to see if my name was in the newspaper. A main reason why this will contribute to the University of Florida campus is shown in the acceptance process. By accepting students on many factors, unlike Florida State University, which claims to be solid academia, OF looks at everything, taking time to consider who I am. I am rich in character, and full of flavor, similar to a cup of. I compare myself to coffee because people feel different after drinking a cup. It gives you energy; it is stimulus to continue the day. I enlighten people all the time, giving them new and interesting conversation starters; some things are just better with coffee just how I have this hunch that the University of Florida will be better with me. People trust me with my words and with their trust I would love to write for the Independent Florida Alligator and hopefully watch the whole cycle start over again. People will begin to know my name, and in the great scheme of things, the one reporter they know they can trust is I, and that is a great feeling to know already so soon. I am not just a member of the press, but also a correspondent to the people. A great sense of satisfaction goes into saying those few words. Towards the end of this year I hope to be wearing orange and royal blue and have the fulfillment of knowing that not only do dreams come true, but if I could choose any animal to be dressed in, put on my license plate, or on a banner hanging in my bedroom, it would definitely be a gator. Like Stevie Wonder said, "Signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours."

Aftter thinking about it, dancing was the subject that I came up with. I was wondering if someone could read over it for anything grammatical, and if there is anything confusing in terms of organization or descriptions. Also, its not categorized as an essay, but rather like a short-answer question. Is this too longessay like? There is a separate essay with specific requirements, but this one has no word length... I've been so nervous about these essays that I can't organize things sensibly ^^; Hope this makes sense... The resin box is running low and there is less than a minute to show time. The stage goes dark. . I am terrified of being in front of so many watchful eyes. I shuffle to my position, following in the white footprints across the floor, hoping some resin will rub off on my shoes The butterflies in my stomach have worked their way into my throat, but with some quiet self-encouragement, they have fluttered out of my mouth completely. I have realized that I am not as nervous as I thought I would be. "Why's that?" I asked myself. "Because I'm doing something that I truly love." All of my ballet training had led up to that moment, that single recital, that final number. That day was the last time I would feel those satin ribbons tied against my skin, not because of a preoccupation with academics or a part-time job ï I found the time for dance in my schedule ï but because my knees simply had other plans. My future health meant giving up ballet and putting my pointe shoes away for good. I had been dancing since I could walk. The Oscar Meyer jingle on T.V., the radio, anything; no matter what the song was, I would dance. Once I enrolled in dance classes I discovered that ballet was my true passion. From then on, my springs and summers were filled with rehearsals and recitals, and my off-season consisted of attending any ballet production that came into town. I trained hard enough to begin dancing en pointe, and loved every minute of it. An immediate thrill of adrenaline came with dancing. It was beautiful, it was passionate, and it involved using every ounce of emotion to create something beautiful of my own. Dance was not only about being inspired, it allowed me to consume inspiration, infuse it with my own passion, and emit more inspiration for others to utilize. I also reaped the benefits of the not-so-immediate effects. Dancing taught me more about myself, my emotions, and my work ethic than anything else could have. I was eager to attend classes and learn. I was responsible to rehearse on my own account. I was dependable to dance with a group. I was ambitious to train and show the world what I could do. I was proud of myself that I shone in the spotlight, and could continue to do so long as a persevered. After three and a half years en pointe, and many more of ballet, I have decided to dance just for fun ï no more classes, no more recitals, no more rushing around to find the resin box. I dance simply for the joy it brings into my life. That does not mean my dancing lacks in passion or does not exude the same inspiration. That does not mean that I have forgotten all that I have learned about myself. I will always carry those lessons with me; I will always carry that passion. Only this time, I'm not scared of the bright lights.

After thinking about it, dancing was the subject that I came up with. I was wondering if someone could read over it for anything grammatical, and if there is anything confusing in terms of organization or descriptions. Also, it's not categorized as an essay, but rather like a short-answer question. Is this too long essay like? There is a separate essay with specific requirements, but this one has no word length... I've been so nervous about these essays that I can't organize things sensibly ^^; Hope this makes sense... The resin box is running low and there is less than a minute to show time. The stage goes dark. . I am terrified of being in front of so many watchful eyes. I shuffle to my position, following in the white footprints across the floor, hoping some resin will rub off on my shoes The butterflies in my stomach have worked their way into my throat, but with some quiet self-encouragement, they have fluttered out of my mouth completely. Furthermore, I have realized that I am not as nervous as I thought I would be. "Why's that?" I asked myself. "Because I'm doing something that I truly love." All of my ballet training had led up to that moment, that single recital, that final number. That day was the last time I would feel those satin ribbons tied against my skin, not because of a preoccupation with academics or a part-time job ï I found the time for dance in my schedule ï but because my knees simply had other plans. My future health meant giving up ballet and putting my point shoes away for good. I had been dancing since I could walk. The Oscar Meyer jingle on T.V., the radio, anything; no matter what the song was, I would dance. Once I enrolled in dance classes I discovered that ballet was my true passion. From then on, my springs and summers were filled with rehearsals and recitals, and my off-season consisted of attending any ballet production that came into town. I trained hard enough to begin dancing en point, and loved every minute of it. An immediate thrill of adrenaline came with dancing. It was beautiful, it was passionate, and it involved using every ounce of emotion to create something beautiful of my own. Dance was not only about being inspired, it allowed me to consume inspiration, infuse it with my own passion, and emit more inspiration for others to utilize. I also reaped the benefits of the not-so-immediate effects. Dancing taught me more about myself, my emotions, and my work ethic than anything else could have. I was eager to attend classes and learn. I was responsible to rehearse on my own account. Furthermore, I was dependable to dance with a group. Furthermore, I was ambitious to train and show the world what I could do. Furthermore, I was proud of myself that I shone in the spotlight, and could continue to do so long as a persevered. After three and a half years' en point, and many more of ballet, I have decided to dance just for fun ï no more classes, no more recitals, no more rushing around to find the resin box. I dance simply for the joy it brings into my life. That does not mean my dancing lacks in passion or does not exude the same inspiration. That does not mean that I have forgotten all that I have learned about myself. I will always carry those lessons with me; I will always carry that passion. Only this time, I'm not scared of the bright lights.