Undergraduate / Texas App. Essay About Family [5]

Essay A: Write an essay in which you tell us about someone who has made an impact on your life and explain how and why this person is important to you.

When I first read this essay topic, I had no idea how to approach it. In fact, this essay is the last to be written of all of the college application essays I have had to write. I find this essay extremely difficult to write because, as I am sure a lot of others have found, it is extremely difficult to gauge the impact that the people in my life have made on me. Every person who I considered writing this essay about has, indeed, made a profound impact on my life. But who am I to say which has made the greatest? My life is not over yet. I have not yet met every person who will impact me as a person, and surely I have not yet seen or felt the full impact that the people I already know can bring into my life. So, for the purpose of this essay, I will discuss the small impacts that the people closest to me have made on my life.

My mother, presumably the first person I laid eyes on, has definitely had a deep impact on my life, solely for the fact that she gave birth to me. She has always been there for me in my life. She taught me right from wrong, and always helps me sort out the gray areas in life. I can talk to her about anything, and I will always be grateful for that. What she has taught me about morals and ethics will always be in my mind and in my life. I will never forget the impact she has made.

Another person who has had an immense impact on my life is my dad. From an early age, my dad taught me that laughter was important. He instilled in me the ability to take everything with a grain of salt. I believe that, because of my dad, I am able to accept criticism well, and not take everything so personally. My dad has definitely helped me to become a lighthearted person who knows when to take things seriously. My dad has made a huge impact because his lessons help to make life simpler and more fun.

Finally, my little sister has made a great impact on my life. She is always on my mind. Like my conscious, it is my baby sister who reminds me to make the right choice. The thought that I have a little girl who looks up to me always encourages me to do the right thing. In dealing with others, I try to treat people like I would like my sister to be treated because I only want the best for her. I want to do right by my sister. I believe that if I can do that, I will end up being a well-rounded, respectable person. And to be a respectable person - not a rich person, an extremely well-connected person, or a beautiful person - is on the top of my list of aspirations.

It is through the lessons and the mindsets that my mom, dad, and sister have instilled in me that I live my life. With their help, I strive to be a good person and a first-rate citizen. I believe that, so far, these people have made the greatest impact on my life and my decisions, and it is with these people that are truly important to me. My family is the group of people that I look up to the most, value the most, and love the most out of anyone I know. With my family in my heart and in my mind, I know I can succeed.

Undergraduate / Texas App. Essay About Open Mindedness [4]

Essay B: Choose an issue of importance to you - the issue could be personal, school related, local, political, or international in scope-and write an essay in which you explain the significance of that issue to yourself, your family, your community, or your generation.

Open Mindedness
One issue that I find important in today's society is the issue of open-mindedness. The fact is that open-mindedness is a characteristic that I do not see enough of in people, and when I think about the problems with society as a whole, I begin to really recognize the importance of having an open mind. A lot of the problems I see could be bettered or eliminated if people would open their minds to change and different ideas.

Living in Killeen, Texas (near the largest U.S. army base, with people from a lot of different places) for 10 years, I have experienced a lot of diversity. I have always tried to face diversity with an open mind, because one of the benefits of being open to different ideas is the eradication of prejudices. I try to be as open-minded as possible, and through this practice, I find that people no longer seem so different or bad when I look at them with an open mind. Any differences a person has will no longer have negative connotations when you take a look at the so-called "difference" from another point of view. Differences become similarities, and these similarities bring us closer together. When one has an open mind, prejudice is nonexistent.

I think the most amazing thing about having an open mind is that, when you have an open mind, limitless possibilities spread out in front of you. Instead of only being open to knowledge that confirms your beliefs, you are open to all kinds of knowledge, regardless of any kind of bias. You may not accept the knowledge as something you believe, but at least you are open to hearing about it. This is another way open mindedness can bring people together. When we are all educated, and can share our points of view on issues - though they may be different - we can gain so much from it.

Once you learn about other people's beliefs and ideas, you can begin to question your own beliefs to find who you are and what you believe in. Open mindedness is a characteristic that develops character. It involves acknowledging, but not necessarily accepting, and questioning, but not necessarily rejecting. In my mind, to be open-minded is to be sure of yourself and of your beliefs. When you are flexible in your beliefs and ideas, you can be flexible in your life and really become a citizen of the world.

Open minds not only open many doors to the world around us, but they help us explore what lies beyond the door with impartial eyes so that we may see the true beauty of it. This is why I believe that open-mindedness is a very significant issue.