Undergraduate / My mother's advice to me. Columbia University Essay. [8]

This is a continuation of a previous thread titled Columbia University Essay. I was unaware of the rules for naming threads so it was deleted.

The ending is fairly awkward so any help with that would be appreciated.
Otherwise I am fairly content with my essay but welcome any constructive criticism.
Topic:
Write an essay which conveys to the reader a sense of who you are. Possible topics may include, but are not limited to, experiences which have shaped your life, the circumstances of your upbringing, your most meaningful intellectual achievement, the way you see the world - the people in it, events great and small, everyday life - or any personal theme which appeals to your imagination. Please remember that we are concerned not only with the substance of your prose but with your writing style as well. We prefer that you limit yourself to approximately 250-500 words (or 1-2 pages).

Essay (partially revised):
September 15, 2006. That day would be the turning point of my life. On that seemingly ordinary day, I returned home from school to discover both of my parents in tears. After much suspense, I was told that my father would soon lose his job and we would, in all probability, have to move to Indiana. This realization shook me. I could never move; New Jersey was the only home I had ever known. It was then, during one of my lowest times, that my mother gave me the simplest yet most useful advice I have ever received. She told me, "Nothing can ever change who you are. Always make the best out of a seemingly bad situation." It was not until I moved to Indiana that I realized how much wisdom this simple remark actually possessed.

For many weeks after moving, I did nothing but mope. I talked very little and did almost nothing but sit around my new house and feel sorry for myself. Suddenly, during another of my blandly miserable days, I remembered the long forgotten remark of my mother. Within the context of my state of mind, this simple statement gained profound meaning. The advice forced me to reevaluate how I had acted. Why should I let a relocation change who I was? Why should I dwell on something that I could not change? If I was miserable, why couldn't I make an effort to make things better? It was at that moment that I decided I would stop hiding from my fears and seek out new experiences that would make my life truly rewarding.

I no longer lived in New Jersey, so my initial goal was to make Indiana my new home. To achieve this, I began searching my school and community for many interesting people and activities. Although challenging, integration into this new community thrilled me. It did not take long for me to find fascinating individuals among the diverse group of people in my high school. I also decided that trying new things could be achieved by joining school clubs. The Robotics and Japanese Clubs were the two that I found the most appealing. Participation in both of these clubs gave me exclusive opportunities. After my robotics team won a local competition, I was given the chance to take part in a national competition in Atlanta, Georgia. Japanese Club presented me with the opportunity to host two foreign exchanges students. The customs and differences of these fascinating people gave me a remarkable experience that I will never forget.

I did not exclusively live in the moment, however. I knew that high school would end sooner than imaginable, so I planned extensively for the future. Believing school work to be the most definite way to improve my abilities, I focused heavily on it. While I had achieved a fulfilling and interactive social life, my school work - along with reading literature, my personal attempt at a greater understanding of the world - became a major part of my private life. My ensuing scholastic achievements can be traced solely to the enlightened words of my mother.

Undergraduate / Inspiration from musings over David Lynch. My columbia Short Answer Essay [6]

This thread was previously closed as a result of ignorance to thread naming conventions. Any help is appreciated. I need to cut out about 400 characters of this so help in that regard would be much appreciated.

Prompt: Please tell us what you find most appealing about Columbia and why.

Essay: In my search for a suitable college I have desired above all an environment in which I am able to discuss my interests and develop opinions with my peers. Columbia University has already proven to be the perfect place for this goal.

During my freshman year of high school I was ecstatic to visit Columbia University's Miller Theatre for an opera adaptation of David Lynch's masterpiece "Lost Highway".

While waiting for the opera to begin, I overheard two Columbia students discussing several of Lynch's movies. As I heard their interpretations of many of Lynch's works, I marveled at their ability to develop opinions as a team. In my search for a college, I have desired, above all, an environment in which I can develop ideas as those brilliant students did. Columbia University has proven to be the greatest opportunity for this.

Undergraduate / Why I want to study engineering/Computer Science. Fu Foundation Short Answer [5]

I would really appreciate any advice anyone can give me on this prompt. I'm not so sure I wrote it well. Also, I can't add much more without being over the limit.

Thank you very much for any help.

Prompt: For applicants to The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, please tell us what attracts you specifically to the study of engineering.

For all my life, I have had both a strong desire to understand how things work and a keen ability to find out. From fixing things around my house to developing major features in the software of my school's FIRST Robotics Competition robot, this set of attributes has always proven to be useful. As a computer science major, I will be able to utilize my problem solving skills to make revolutionary innovations in a wide variety of technologies.