Undergraduate / 'A motorbike flew past us' - U Richmond - Leaving the comfort zone [5]

Tell us about an experience in which you left your comfort zone. How did this experience change you?

Some people purposefully leave their comfort zones. But sometimes it is not by choice, but by a twist of fate. My comfort zone disappeared when I witnessed a tragic accident. It was something so sudden that I was dumbfounded; something so unbelievable that it changed my life forever.

It was a typical hot summer Sunday morning in Sydney. As my brother and I were walking to church, a motorbike flew past us, making a distinct, loud noise. I smirked, thinking that the rider was deliberately speeding. What a clown!

"Bang!" A deafening crash drew my attention.

There was an accident. Instinctively, I walked cautiously towards the scene. It was the rider who just sped past us. I saw his helmet and his leather jacket still attached, lying on the ground, but an immediate glimpse around the scene left me puzzled. Where was the person?

Suddenly, I was stunned to realize that I was staring at a body from the waist up, lying thirty centimeters away from me, while the other half was a few meters away. It took me a few seconds before I could grasp the situation. The bike rider was cut in half.

Soon, the ambulance and the police arrived. I was still in shock while giving my report to the policeman. But as I said the words "I was only about three meters away when the accident happened," I froze.

Five seconds slower and I could have been at the exact spot of the accident. That five seconds was all there was between being the bystander or the casualty. That could have been the end of the comfortable lifestyle that I had been living for fourteen years.

A small memorial was erected a few weeks later. It was dedicated to the life of the twenty one year old that came to an end prematurely, while riding to work on a Sunday. This led me to ask questions such as, did the fact that he was trying to avoid a turning car prove that no matter what we do, we cannot change our fate? Or was it his decision to speed that caused his own death - thus do we create our own destiny? Although I never knew him, he changed me in ways a thousand books could not. His death influenced me to contemplate my life and start asking questions. I began to think more deeply about an aspect which we all tend to take for granted - this building block called life. Although one life ended, another one was changed.

As Brian Tracy once said "You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you."

Although I was only fourteen at the time, it turned my life around. It was a first-hand experience of how short and unpredictable our life is. However, I did not cry or become emotionally damaged. But I embraced it as an experience which tested my limits and revealed my potential as a human being. By having a positive attitude towards this incident, I was able turn this tragedy for one human being into an opportunity for myself. I was able to mature and learn from this incident and most of all, I found myself no longer satisfied with just staying in my "comfort zone." It motivated me to constantly seek a challenge, accepting any hardships so that I would be better prepared for more difficult moments like these. I became willing to stretch my "comfort zone," to embrace all situations that confronted me, because I believe that the more I leave my "comfort zone", the stronger the person I will become. Everyone says that college life can be extremely demanding. Well, I am looking forward to this new challenge.

now does this answer the prompt? and the ending - too weak? and i need to shorten it a bit if i can...

sorry about the poor quality. Its 5am here in Korea and I just finished this lol
thanks in advance guys!

Undergraduate / The last time I post this - Tufts supplements - "why Tufts?" [5]

yes i have posted about tufts before but these are completely different to the other ones. and not many people have helped me out

Why tufts?

Due to the globalization, the world is coming closer. This is why I believe we should be more aware of others and learn about our neighbors instead of ignoring them. Tufts, with its strong International Relations school and support for study abroad programs will help me to understand the world, not just through books, but along with its diverse campus, through first-hand experience. Tufts will make me better prepared to face the challenges and to lead this new beginning of our world

"let your life speak. Describe the environment in which you were raised and how it influenced the person you are today.

Me: Help me God! I need something to write about!
God: Why don't you write about me?
M: About you? What do you mean?
G: Well, your relationship with me and my influences on your life.
M: Sorry, still not following.
G: Okay. You have been following me for... what, 18 years?
M: No, I was born agnostic. But I was baptized before I left for Australia, so about eight years? And I have been an alter server for about seven.

G: Wow! That is impressive! You must be considered quite "holy" amongst your friends. I mean Australia is quite a secular society.
M: Yes, but I don't consider myself "holy." I have not finished the Bible and I am having a hard time following all your teachings. Some of them do not make sense to me and a lot of them seem to contradict each other.

G: That's interesting. Though you do not agree with everything I have said, what made you remain a Catholic? How did my teachings influence you?

M: Well, one thing that influenced me the most was, "love your neighbor as yourself," the golden rule. As a Catholic, I loved the fact that we are asked to help and look after each other regardless of their race, economic status or even their religious faith. It changed my view of the world. It is no longer just about me, but it's also about everyone else around me. I feel the need to help others any way I can, whether it is with their math homework or listening to their problems or sharing my spare change. (need better examples than these lol)But it is not just people either. I try to recycle and not waste material and save as much energy as possible. I think this attitude of mine is why I want to pursue a career where I can devote my time for others. I think this is the greatest influence Catholicism has had on me.

G: There, you have answered your own question.
M: Wow! Thank you so much! But can I ask you something else before you go?
G: Hmm?
M: Will I get into Tufts?
G: ... Umm, oh look at the time! I will have to get back to you on that.
M: Okay! Talk to you later God!