Undergraduate / "journey to success in America" - Describe the world you come from [4]

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.

A young man coming off a strenuous ten hour flight from England arrived in LAX with an empty pocket. At the age of 21, he knew little about American society and culture. He left his family and friends in hopes of more opportunities to succeed and achieve something nobody else in his family had achieved. Working his way up, he was able to open his own business through diligence and persistence. This man, who made sacrifices everyday to support his wife and children, was my father. As a child, I can recall sleeping with my family on the floor in our small apartment. We had no furniture at all. My father used to come home late every day after a long, arduous day of work. He always used to tell me about his journey to America, and how he worked so hard to put food on the table. Gradually, my father's hard work paid off and our family was in a much better state than before.

It was no surprise that I, as a child, was not aware and did not fully understand what my father had done to support my family. However, as I got older and began to mature, I understood that my father had sacrificed his time, money, and effort for my family's wellbeing. My father's road to success has played a key role in shaping who I am. When I started working for my father as a cashier, I admired the way he had prioritized his tasks when running his business. As a child and still today, my father mentions to me, "procrastination is a sign of failure." My father does not procrastinate and he finishes his errands as soon as he can. In school, I use the same techniques when I am assigned homework and projects that I have to complete by a deadline. Not only does this mindset help me now in school, it will also help me in college and when I have a career. My father's dedication has influenced me never give up on anything. Throughout my childhood, and still today, my father always stresses the value of money. He always tells me, "money doesn't grow on trees." Therefore, I have learned to not take money for granted. Whenever I am buying something, I always ask myself is it worth buying, and how will it help me. The value for money will help me throughout my career because I will appreciate what I earn, and learn how to use it wisely.

My father's journey to success in America inspires me now and will continue to inspire me in the future. I plan to complete my undergraduate degree in economics, and get an MBA in finance. After I receive my MBA, my dream is to work for a successful financial firm. My father's dedication and persistence will be a source for inspiration when I am working to achieve these goals. I will always treasure his formula for success throughout my life. I have learned important values from my father and will continue to implement these values into my life. As I take on more challenges in my life, these values will be a source of light in the darkness.

Editing would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Undergraduate / UC Essay Prompt 2: Feeding the Homeless [4]

UC Essay Prompt 2: Tell us 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?

On an early Saturday morning in the city of Santa Ana, hundreds of people were gathered in an empty parking lot. Onlookers wondered, trying to make out what was happening. They were not accustomed to such action. Vans entered the parking lot, holding supplies. With a group from my mosque, I joined others in setting up separate tables that served as stations for food, hygiene, clothing, and medical aid. People who came to contribute were not only from my mosque, but also from other mosques and churches. No matter what our differences were, we all shared the same vision of helping the less fortunate. When all the tables were set up, scores of homeless had already gathered around the parking lot. I could see the smiles on their faces, as they went past each table, collecting what they needed to survive on the streets. As they walked pass me, they would smile at me and thank me, and I would smile back, feeling great about what I was doing. Not only was I proud of myself for helping the homeless, I was also proud that the homeless appreciated what I had done. As I would pass the homeless people a bag of food, I could see the appreciation in their eyes. While I was giving out food, I asked myself what if I was one of those people in line. I would have to rely on homeless shelters for food and aid. I would probably end up sleeping on the streets. One of the homeless people started talking to me about how he used to be so successful, but just got unlucky. I realized that I was fortunate enough not to be one of those people. After that day, I began to appreciate what I had, and to make the most of what I had. I stopped spending money on unnecessary items because I realized that the money could be used for a better cause. I stopped wasting food because I knew there was somebody else in the world who would take food out of a dumpster to survive. I wanted to involve myself in organizations that would help the needy. I participated in food drives and fund raising events, which further increased my desire to help the needy. Anytime I had the chance to donate money to help the less fortunate, I would always take the opportunity to do so. As a person, I became increasingly generous and less greedy toward people I knew. In the future, when I receive my college education, I plan to raise my efforts toward the cause of helping the needy by funding non-profit organizations, which only have one goal: curing poverty. My dream is to make a significant impact that can reduce the number of impoverished in our world today.

Editing would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.