Undergraduate / USC Transfer Essay Prompt - What Matters To Me & Why [4]

Please write an essay, approximately 500-700 words (typically one page) in length.

USC's speaker series "What Matters to Me and Why" asks faculty and staff to reflect on their values, beliefs, and motivations. Presenters talk about choices they have made, difficulties encountered, and commitments solidified. Write an essay about an event or experience that helped you learn what is important to you and why it is important.

I was wondering what pieces of information should I take out to match the length of 500 - 700 words. Also, I would appreciate some revision of my essay and comments on how I should improve on this.

Thank you very much.

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Someone once said, "Dreams and goals that are not written down are just wishes." Everyone has a wish, and they would like it to come true. Unfortunately, wishes are imaginary not realistic. What is realistic are your dreams and goals. In my view, dreams can play an important role in life, providing a vision of the future to inspire, motivate and even plan. A person with great dreams can achieve great things. Successful people have always pressured the fact that they got where they are through education and through their dreams and goals. As hard as I want to visualize myself in their shoes, that picture will never be the same until I am actually walking in them. I want to be successful like them in the future and the only way to do that is to start at the beginning: with education. It is true that life is full of ups and downs, but the endgame remains the same. Attending a prestigious college with a degree is what matters to me.

Ever since I was a child, I have been living a leisure life here in the United States, considering the fact that I was born in Seoul, South Korea. Learning English was part one of achieving my goals, but taking advantage of this language helped me achieve many things in life, but most importantly in schools. During my time as an elementary student, I always thought that school was not important. I did not do homework, failed tests/quizzes, and did not respect my need for education. Child psychology would tell you that once a child is burdened with failing homework and tests, they try to compensate by "showing off" or "acting out". In my case, I "showed off" by being a troublemaker. My rambunctious attitudes towards education, teachers, and adults made me the bane of their existence.

During the 5th grade was a very difficult time for me because I couldn't understand the materials that my teacher taught us. I constantly failed tests and my homework received low grades. After a rigorous parent-teacher conference, my parents told me that the best way that I was going to get the education that I needed was to attend private school. I realized the impossibility of graduating from a public school with my friends. These young students had an abundance of experiences behind them, and I was a mile away from them. As hard as I run to them, there were many obstacles in the way. In order to catch up, I had no choice but to attend private school. As strange as this may sound, attending a different school was part two for achieving my goals.

While I attended private school, I had a lot to reflect upon my past and realized what a huge mistake I made in my life. Taking this into account, I have worked hard and went to after-school tutoring for my studies. I have realized that every time I study hard, good grades will be given to you and they have. I received numerous awards from my school for academic achievements and won the respect of my teachers. I constantly kept studying and read books and this has helped me graduate from the 6th grade. It took me 2 years to realize that a working experience will help you achieve your goals. I have changed and matured as a student as well as a person with morals and ethics. This was part three of achieving my goals.

After completing high school, I thought about majoring in Biology, so that I may help others with illness and other unfortunate applications. My mother has always told me that I am always a winner. But in order for me to be the winner, I need to plan to win. Studying hard and working hard was my rudimentary plan. I tried not to deviate from that plan by not partying with my friends, not completing my assignments and not ditching my classes. Now that I have graduated from high school, I am one step closer to achieving my goal: completing college with a high degree and a good job in the future.

I would like to think that I have achieved many, but my experience with education does not end with me completing K-12 schools, in fact it's only the beginning. In college, and through the rest of my life, not only will I continue to learn through my own experiences and what life has given me, but I will also offer my own unique perspective to the world around me.

Book Reports / 'The Guidance of Education for a Slave' - Frederick Douglass -- Education Essay [2]

So, I just wrote an essay about Frederick Douglass.

I'M HOPING THAT YOU GUYS CAN LOOK OVER THIS ESSAY, GIVE ANY FEEDBACK AND CORRECTIONS. AND DOES THIS ESSAY ANSWER THE QUESTION, BECAUSE I HAVE DOUBTS ABOUT THIS.

PROMPT: Write an essay on the role that education played in Frederick Douglass' struggle from slavery to freedom.

The Guidance of Education for a Slave

There is an old saying, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." The "old dog" personifies an African-American slave whoworked in the United States during the 1800s, and the task that they were taught to do is work, and there was nothing else they did. This time period was filled with pain and suffering, where slaves had to work every day, and lived in fear of receiving punishments, or face the worse case scenario, death. Freedom and equality were highly restricted in the South, where rules and regulations were strictly established to prevent any incentive for slaves. There were other ways to acquire freedom, and education was one of them. For a nation that possessed a powerful workforce, slavery played a key role in the South's profit structure. The idea of providing education for slaves was highly immoral and a controversial idea for the white slave-owners, because without slaves, their revenues would shrink dramatically, and eventually, antislavery would occur. Education leads to freethinking, and that in turn can lead to revolts, and the fear was that this could lead to a collapse in the economy. Despite many attempts to prevent little or no education for slaves throughout the South, it was inevitable that education played a major role in the abolition of slavery, and men like Frederick Douglass, used his insufficient, minute education to emerge from a slave to a free man.

At the beginning of the text, Douglass emphasizes that slaves were viewed as a group of cattle that lacked any sign of intelligence, and were isolated within plantations. The unknown was what they questioned every single day and in this case, Douglass never knew his own age or his father's name. He wrote that "a want of information concerning my [age] was a source of unhappiness to me even during childhood. The white children could tell their ages. I could not tell why I ought to be deprived of the same privilege" (Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, pg. 395). The readers can tell that Douglass was envious and jealous that certain people had the privilege to know the unknown and this was basically the start of his educational journey and freedom. Slaves seen as witless and stupid were stereotypical ideas, however false. With the proper education that can be given to slaves, they can become just as smart as those who scoffed them since the inception. This motivated Douglass to become active in education and hoped this will hand him the key to his future.

One education that Douglass received was that he was taught the ABCs from Sophia Auld, the wife of a slaveholder. Understanding that the life of a slave was closely monitored and was restricted to many things, Douglass knew that any slave caught of any wrongdoing, was to be severely punished. The stench of fear and death roaming across the plantation has turned slaves into a broken and fragmented race, for they have accepted that work and death was to be their way of life. However, in Douglass' case, he was fortunate and lucky enough that his treatment was different when he lived with the Auld family. Up until this moment, Douglass' life was filled with misery, despair, and pain when he was separated from his mother, saw his aunt suffer at the hands of a white man's whip, lived in poor living conditions, and wept that there was no justice in this world. Fortunately for Douglass, his life with the Auld family was the first stage to his freedom.

Douglass described his mistress as "a woman of the kindest heart and finest feelings" (Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, pg. 409), although strange according to him. "She very kindly commenced to teach me the ABCs [and] assisted me in learning to spell words of three or four letters." Sophia treated Douglass as an equal and saw the hypocrisy and the inhumanity of slavery. Unfortunately, these lessons did not last long, for Sophia Auld's husband discovered Sophia's intentions. "If you teach that [slave] how to read, he would at once become unmanageable, and of no value to his master. It would make him discontented and unhappy," said Mr. Auld (Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, pg. 409). It almost sounds as if Mr. Auld was protecting Douglass from repercussions either from the other slaves or other slave-owners. But what really surprised Douglass were Mrs. Auld's transformation and her change of heart, which told Douglass that she was a victim of slavery just as he was. It was from this experience that taught Douglass that his education should not stop there, for this act of defiance made him discover his true passion for education, which in turn has achieved the first step towards freedom.

Despite that the lessons have been put to an end, Douglass continued to improve his skills by enlisting the help "of all the little white boys whom [he] met in the street" and fed them bread in exchange for reading lessons, which played another role in Douglass' struggle to freedom. Douglass continued to express his passion and enthusiasm for learning even though this would get him punished. He didn't care; he just wanted to be treated as an equal in the eyes of the white race. If not for Douglass' education, he never would have read "The Columbian Orator", where he discovered a philosophical dialogue between master and slave, where eventually, the slave was set free. Also, he discovered a speech where it discussed Irish emancipation and human rights. Slaves fighting for their freedom were no different than the Irish fighting for theirs, for both groups were trying to achieve the same goal. Having read this speech, the struggle of slavery helped Douglass articulate his true feelings. "The moral which I gained from the dialogue was the power of truth over the conscience of even a slaveholder" (Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, pg. 412). It was this moment where he discovered the term "abolition", meant "antislavery", and the idea of escape came into mind. With time and patience, Douglass eventually accomplished a feat that no slave could have done in the South.

Douglass continued to enhance his skills with reading and writing as he got older, and engaged himself in activities that helped improve his education. He continued to interact with the local boys until he had to move to a different plantation. While sailing south, Douglass "paid particular attention to the direction which the steamboats took to go to Philadelphia" (Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, pg. 417). Freedom sailed right by him and this made him realize that freedom was to be taken at first sight. He resolved to escape again at the earliest opportunity and refused to let it slip away.

Education was his life at this point, and as his mind grew, so did his thirst for escape. Before this event, Douglass had dedicated his life in the South educating other slaves because he believed that all men are equal, no matter what the slave-owners said. "The work of instructing my dear fellow slaves was the sweetest engagement with which I was ever blessed" (Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, pg. 431). Douglass felt blessed teaching his fellow brethren reading and writing, and hoped that education can help set them free also. The idea of independence came from the teachings of education, and if Douglass did not have the interest for education, he never would have escaped and slavery would become his life.

Douglass continued to contribute his life to antislavery and sought education once he has escaped from the bonds of slavery and sought his freedom in the North. After settling down, Douglass managed to work for pay without the harsh incentive of a whip held by his former white masters. He then discovered "the Liberator", where it discussed the evils of slavery and it must be abolished. It seems that his education helped achieve change into this world by sharing his testimony, which in turn, created more movements for antislavery. He taught that African-Americans must not be seen as slaves, but as an equal to whites and must receive fair treatment. The purpose of the education that Douglass received during his time in slavery, was to apply it to others, teach them about the negative effects of slavery, how it is a sin, which in turn created a spark for change within the next few years.

African-Americans were the only race that made up the slave population in the United States. They basically had no freedom, no rights, and were not considered to be as equal as others. The life of a slave was highly monitored and restricted to any kind of freedom. Education was one example that represented freedom, because this leads to freethinking, and would lead to revolts across the South. Not many slaves had the luxury of receiving an education, let alone few. Douglass was very fortunate to receive a full education in a region that forbade this, knowing that he could get punished or worse, be executed. Douglass' passion for learning helped him survive through most of the horrible times that he had to endure, and in the end that reward paid off. They say that the pen is mightier than the sword, and by writing his own Narrative, he hoped that this would be the ultimate weapon in fighting against the immorality of black enslavement. This act of defiance made Douglass a well-known celebrity during this time, and it was rare to find a slave that could have accomplished just as much as he did. His passion for education and his enthusiasm is contagious, which is why we still honor his memory even to this day. Despite Douglass' minimal education, he managed to amplify his passion for education, emerged from a slave to a free man, and in turn, made him a major voice in educating others against the evils of slavery.

Undergraduate / Passion Behind Computers (intended major) [5]

Hi, there! I'm a transfer student writing my UC application essay. I was hoping that you guys can read over and edit anything that you can think of and see. I really appreciate for your time and effort. Also, write down your opinions too (I won't get offended) so I can improve on this essay. Thanks!

PROMPT: What is your intended major? Discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had in the field - such as volunteer work, internships and employment, participation in student organizations and activities - and what you have gained from your involvement.

Each day, we see things that fascinate us very easily, like a child observing magic for the first time. It grabs our attention and human nature teaches us that we want to learn. The thing that grabbed my attention is a computer. We live in an age where technology is the most powerful tool ever used on the planet. Computers are highly popular in this century and we use it on a daily basis. My skills around computers proved to be undeniable, for I know that this is what I want to work with in the future; computer science is my intended major in college.

Computers have always been a part of my childhood life, and I was fascinated for the first time I laid eyes on this "magic box" (which is what I called it when I was a child). Even to this day, I still use computers at various locations, such as my school, my home, my work, and at my church. I first became involved with computers ever since I first attended church. Joining the media team was the best decision I have ever made in my life. Being part of this group helped me enhance my computer skills such as PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and other basic programs that the church used. We also provided technological lyrics, audio/visual aid and other media aspects that helped our congregants visually and auditorily. Throughout the years, my skills around a computer have continued to improve and my knowledge for technology has been dramatically enhanced, thanks to the people that have taught me everything that I know. Learning about computers is what keeps my passion fueled up and nothing would ever extinguish that.

With the teachings that I have learned, I continue to apply them even to this day and use them to teach others. At my place of my employment, some employees were technologically illiterate, and I was happy to teach them. Whenever I teach computers to someone, I want them to experience the same joy and happiness that I experienced when I first learned about computers. That made me who I am today. The knowledge that I had gained in the past is the wisdom in the future.

I may have experiences with computers, but not much with programming. When I was attending college, I took a computer science class where we were taught how to use Python. It was similar to C++, but it was a tool for beginners. It was meant to teach us how to program basics before we move on to advanced programming. I had fun writing programs with Python, and I still use it today for practice. Also, in my spare time, I have watched videos on YouTube and read programming books in order to gain an understanding on how to create more complex codes, and honestly, it is an intricate subject. Challenges are what I adore, and it helps me become a better student and a person. Learning about computers may be a challenge, but learning about programming will be no different.

What I gained from these experiences is the knowledge about computers, but I gained something else out of all this: passion. If my passion for computers made me successful initially, then my passion for programming will turn me into a success. I admit I lack the experience in programming, but my goal is the same. My goal for the future, upon receiving a bachelor's degree, is to work in the field of computer security and possibly to teach others in my spare time at my graduating college. As I stated earlier, the knowledge in the past is the wisdom of the future. Throughout the rest of my life, I will continue to learn through my own experiences, learn what life has given me, and I will also offer my own unique perspective to the world and the people around me.

** ALSO, DOES THIS ESSAY ANSWER THE QUESTION. ALSO, I KNOW THAT I LACK EXPERIENCE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE, BUT CAN THIS PERSUADE THE ADMISSIONS PEOPLE? **