this is my essay for the University of Washington any comments ?
Ever since I was a child my dad used to say to me, "Después de escalar una montańa muy alta, descubrimos que hay muchas montańas por escalar," which means "After climbing the highest peak of a mountain, then and there we discover that there are many more mountains to climb." This is how I feel about my college experience; I feel that I have climbed the first mountain of many, and that I am now ready for a new mountain, a new challenge. I have worked very hard in my college career and I know that the next step for me is to transition to a four-year university, such as the University of Washington, where I can continue my academic and personal development with the same amount of enthusiasm that I have applied these previous years.
I have been a student at Butte Community College for the past two and a half years. I moved to The United States mainland from the island of Puerto Rico. At first I found everything was different from what I had expected and what I was used to, but I adapted quickly to the cultural differences and a new set of norms. I never thought of myself as an academic person, when I was in High school I was not a great student I did not envision this future. After moving to the United States this notion quickly changed and I knew that I had to apply myself, I was alone and I had to put my perspectives in priority, I had to follow my dreams even if they seemed impossible. In light of this new discovery about myself, I enrolled myself into Butte College and I have never looked back.
I am an enthusiastic, disciplined, and hard-working student, and my academic achievements reflect this. Currently, I am a member of the National Honor Society as well as a member of the National Leader Society. In addition to these honors, I am the President of the Butte Students for Animal Rights Club and serve as the Inter Council Representative for the club. I have organized several campus events from concept to execution. Additionally, I am fully bilingual in English and in Spanish, and I am learning Italian.
On a personal basis, the way that I was raised showed me that hard work was the path to obtaining what I wanted. My parents set a good example for me; though they had me at a very young age, they did not let the distraction of raising a child deter them from pursuing their own dreams and aspirations. Working hard with focus and discipline, they both graduated with honors and have attained successful careers in their respective fields. Equally as important, they continue to develop their skills through additional education. I believe their determination and will to succeed was instilled in me from a young age and I live by their example. After graduating from high school in Puerto Rico, I attended a private university but I was not a serious student back then and my grades reflected this. I chose not to rush to acquire an education and instead started working as a secretary. After working for a couple of years, I believed that my life would continue along this path, unchanged. This was not the case. I have gone above and beyond my personal expectations all while shining in the academic department, and even though I have enjoyed my college experience, I know that I am ready for, and in fact, need to move to a more challenging setting. I plan to pursue a degree In Art History because I am truly devoted to the arts and culture and I know that the University of Washington will challenge me at every step of the way all while providing me with the best education on these two fields.
Art was introduced in my life when I turned four years of age, when I had the privilege to take painting classes with renowned Puerto Rican artist Andy Bueso, whose surrealist aesthetics still influences my artistic sensibilities and my desire to study art. I have indulged in living a life rich with art and culture I got several opportunities to travel all around the world which gave me the opportunity to attend and participate in plays, exhibits, and artist showcases; these have been and are the foundation for my future goals and aspirations. I also attended the "Liga de Arte de San Juan" a private art institution, where I took art appreciation courses as well as several photography courses.
These activities provided me with some knowledge of the art world, and they lay the foundation for my future goals. Culture will always be an important facet of my life and in my culture art permeates throughout daily life. I am passionate about how people from my country and in other cultures have been enculturated, and I am looking forward to studying how culture shapes their current reality. I believe that the arts reflect the values a particular society and I want to examine, preserve, and display these values. After I finish my undergraduate degree I see myself working in an environment where Art History and Cultural Anthropology are fused, perhaps at a museum or an educational venue. I also envision a future where I am pursuing post-graduate studies in museum studies and curating.
One reason why I chose The University of Washington as my first choice I because it has an excellent anthropology department and a well-rounded Art History curriculum. Another reason why the University of Washington is my first choice is because of Susan Casteras, faculty member in the Art department, which not only has a very impressive Curriculum Vitae, but she also teaches a subject that I am very interested in Constructions of gender, race, and ethnicity in art. After a recent trip to Seattle, I attended several museums as well as doing some sight seeing, during this trip I saw a lot culture which was represented in the vast majority of minorities. After coming back home I was convinced that this is the best place for me to study Art History and Anthropology. I know that Seattle and the University of Washington will provide me with the tools and energy that I need to succeed both as a student and, as a working resident in my area of study. When I visited the University of Washington campus I realized that it was the place where I wanted to pursue my dreams, and I am ready to start climbing that mountain.
