Undergraduate / 'Math, constructing and designing models' - Lafayette Supplement Essay Help [7]

This is my first time posting. The question is a very common one.But I thnk I should write something different. Welcome corrections as much as possible. I have not come up with a proper ending yet.

In an effort to learn more about you, we ask that you describe an intellectual or creative interest or accomplishment.

In high school, my interest in mathematic Olympic have win me numerous national and provincial awards as show in application. I also experienced success in debates and speeches. However, I found constructing and designing models the most interesting activities. And I believe this is closely related to my future major-engineering.

Student union organizes "Brain Storm" intellectual competition annually. Last year, the theme was "Saving Eggs".

The activity gave each participant 3 eggs, asking us to throw eggs from the 5-floor of a building but can not broke them. Use some simple and cheap materials to design a protecting model. As a participant, I did as followed:

1. Prepare a foam cube, (50cm*40cm*20cm). Then drill a hole on the cube, and set the eggs in.
2. Use cellophane tape or other strong glue to seal the hole, make sure the eggs have been consolidated on the cube.
3. Find a deserted plastic paper with an area of 2 square meters. Tie its corners with 4 strings (50cm in length each). On the other end of the each string, fasten a nail. And then tack the nails into the cube. Use cellophane to fix them.

A simple parachute for eggs is completed. The large area of plastic paper and foam would cause large resistance to reduce its speed. The comparatively large volume of the whole model would decline the direct harm on the eggs. Fortunately, none of eggs broke when I threw them off during the competition.

My other designs contain a small model bridge made of wood. Because it can stand a weight of 14.8 kilos, it became the best work in intellectual competition. I also sent a model-airplane made from wood stick and deserted plastics as a birthday present to my friend. I found such engineering activities most interesting.

Undergraduate / "Born in China mainland" - Dickinson essay [10]

Dickinson College founder, statesman and physician Benjamin Rush wrote several essays on education for this new nation. Listed below are three of Rush's philosophies. Choose ONE and explain how that philosophy relates to your talents, goals and the reasons you chose to apply to Dickinson.

*Dickinson students shall understand that they do not belong to themselves.
Any suggestions are highly welcome and appreciated.

School founder Benjamin Rush's philosophy of "Dickinson students shall understand that they do not belong to themselves" clearly states his expectation about Dickinson students to think beyond themselves and to understand their role in social responsibility. This is also a goal I want to achieve myself.

Born and brought up in mainland China, I witnessed much poverty and destitution. Poor people always suffered from a shortage of accommodation and food. Backward buildings and construction concepts prevailed. Those families that were unable to afford their children's education need our help and sympathy. Though recently, China's overall economy has soared dramatically, poverty and inequity still exist.

Ever since I realized I do not belong only to myself, I have been thinking about combating poverty and inequity. However, as a full-time student without income, what I can do is limited to rising donations in school. If I get enrolled in Dickinson, I believe I could command two crucial capacities to contribute the world.

I would first emphasis on my academic performances. I have a deep interest in engineering and business. Market survey helped me accumulate marketing experience, while engineering practice taught me general concept of construction. Once on a trip to a railroad construction site in Fuzhou, I found the workers were still using a technique called "explosion driving", which caused many casualties. I asked my father why they did not use "advanced shield driving"; my father told me that explosion driving is still the most widely used driving method in China because of financial and technological limitations. This alarming fact consolidates my will to use my own knowledge, to serve the community.

However, individual power can hardly affect the world. I must arouse others using my charisma and leadership, like I tried in school. From an announcer, to a clinic officer's assistant, and finally to the monitor of hygiene department in student union, I know that to lead also means to serve. It's a server to a larger community, a server to a grander target. My job at school which based on leniency is highly appreciated by fellow classmates. That's why the donation I held for the earthquake achieved a great success.

Since I understand I do not belong to myself, my life career has a final target of humanity. I believe the education in Dickinson would prepare me a life of service.

Undergraduate / Trinity's supplement , integrity contract [4]

Trinity's Integrity Contract articulates our expectations of honesty, personal responsibility, active consideration of others, and respect for our community. What personal "integrity contract" do you employ in your own life? (To view Trinity's Integrity Contract, please visit trincoll.edu/StudentLife/DeanOfStudents/student_handbook.htm)

Liberal arts essays are very challenging, just don't reserve your critics and your suggestions.Thanks in advance.

Personal Integrity contracts almost refer to every aspect of human life, and things like honesty, responsibility, respect, love, might be intrinsically related. However, like a Chinese proverb indicated: Man cannot survive without credit, nothing else from my integrity contract could be as profound and broad compared with honesty, which is the fundamental criterion of humanity.

My reminiscence dropped back to a chemistry class where honesty education impressed me by a spot check. My chemistry teacher, Mr. Zhang, was a national special-grade teacher with 40 years' experience. He told us to turn to page 183 of the exercise book, but we only finished page 182. We were so upset that some of us started to fill ABCDs in the circles quickly without consideration. I hesitated, knowing that I might avoid punishment if I would scrabble, but I would get nothing cheating the teacher. And I was definitely sure that our assignment did not contain page 183. As we kept our breath, Mr.Zhang looked over around in silence, said: "I am sorry that none of you finished P.183 last night. You wrote in haste and the ink is still wet, and you left the scratch pad blank. Obviously, ladies and gentlemen, you did it right then in order to avoid punishment." He paused, "but I'm surprised, Mr.Li, he did not fake assignment. However, all of you are only supposed to finish page 182. Unfortunately, you are not cheating me, you are cheating yourselves. I am glad there is one exception." I gaped as others, suddenly realizing that a teacher of chemistry is actually giving us a moral test, and I passed.

Fortunately, there were plenty of other chances in which my personal integrity contract, especially honesty did me a favor. Like my job in the hygiene department of student union, I am obliged to check the hygiene status of each class after school everyday, which is a thankless task. The former director was dismissed because of covering up his class, and I was appointed to the post for union's trust in me. However, I trapped in some dilemma when friends asked me to screen them until I finally came up with a solution. I would either give them time for remediation or help them do the cleaning myself. On the other hand, it confirms to my wish of honesty--I could report the true hygiene status.

Employing honesty in life gave me joy and confidence, and beside this, there is no other way for the betterment of humanity, so I have no reason to forsake it.