manchesterpma
Oct 29, 2010
Undergraduate / "I had a tendency to stereotype Americans" Common App Essay 1 [6]
I am an international student from Panama. I really want to improve my essay...what do you think?
Please BE HARSH!
Do I need a title? ...recommendations?
1. Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.
If you walk through the Missouri Academy dorm hallway and you hear the sounds of CNN on TV, you can easily infer that these sounds are coming from my room. The voices of TV anchors reporting news such as: "China does not plan to buy US Treasuries or Bonds..." or "Iranian President raises doubts about the official US account of the 9/11 attacks..." reverberate off the walls of my room all day long. Studying in the United States helped me discover the beauty of learning about world politics and understanding different cultures. My friends were not surprised when I decided to pursue a bachelor's degree in international relations and political communication.
I first became interested in studying in the United States because of an extraordinary EducationUSA advisor in Panama. She started a program which enables underprivileged students who live in Panama's more rural areas to study English at the Missouri Academy for two months. Propelled by this incredibly inspiring woman, I earned a scholarship to attend the Missouri Academy. I was concerned about leaving the comfort of my family to attend an early-entrance-to-college program in rural Missouri with a group of strangers. Nevertheless, I knew that by coming to the United States I would be taking my first steps towards a career in international relations.
Before I attended school in the United States, I had a tendency to stereotype Americans. My previous knowledge about the United States' involvement in the invasion of Panama and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan made me believe Americans were haughty and unpleasant. I even thought they wanted to rule the world. After a few months attending the Missouri Academy, however, my perception of Americans gradually changed, and I realized how wrong I was.
By the end of the first semester, I had an established group of friends. We would talk all the time - even during study periods. To my surprise, most of our conversations turned out to be about Panama. Some of my friends used to ask questions such as: "It's really hot down there, isn't it?" or "Is it cheap?" Others just showed their lack of knowledge about my country: "Is the Panama Canal still in Panama?" or "So, since you are from Panama, are you an American citizen?" It was rather confusing for me to see people in this country-especially teenagers-having a considerable interest in my country. The people I categorized as arrogant wanted to know about my homeland. They may have had little or no knowledge about Panama, but they sure took interest in learning about it.
Every time one of my friends invited me to stay at their house during an academic break, I would feel uneasy. I thought my friends' relatives would not treat me well because I am not white or because I come from an underdeveloped country. I used to think the older Americans were shallow individuals grumbling about their government's inability to take over the world. I could not believe how wrong I was. My friends' relatives turned out to be the most pleasant, polite, and fun individuals I have ever met. They did not care about my skin color or financial status; they just wanted me to tell them everything I could about Panama. At that time, I started feeling guilty. How could I ever stereotype people like that? I kept asking myself. After visiting and interacting with my friends' relatives, my perception of Americans finally changed.
Studying in the United States has helped me develop intercultural competence-an ability a specialist in international relations must possess. I discovered I would never be a true connoisseur of international relations if I stereotype people as I used to. In order to understand and deal with world politics, I must be able to recognize cultural differences and discard social stereotypes. After a year in the United States, I realized that I cannot judge people without getting to know their culture.
While attending the Missouri Academy, I noticed that in spite of many differences we are all the same. We all face the same problems, we all have economic needs, and we all struggle to stand up after we fall down. Most importantly, we all have the same aspirations of liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Undoubtedly I will be confronted with similar, if not more serious, misconceptions in the future. However, thanks to these experiences I have grown wiser. I have become interculturally competent.
I am an international student from Panama. I really want to improve my essay...what do you think?
Please BE HARSH!
Do I need a title? ...recommendations?
1. Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.
If you walk through the Missouri Academy dorm hallway and you hear the sounds of CNN on TV, you can easily infer that these sounds are coming from my room. The voices of TV anchors reporting news such as: "China does not plan to buy US Treasuries or Bonds..." or "Iranian President raises doubts about the official US account of the 9/11 attacks..." reverberate off the walls of my room all day long. Studying in the United States helped me discover the beauty of learning about world politics and understanding different cultures. My friends were not surprised when I decided to pursue a bachelor's degree in international relations and political communication.
I first became interested in studying in the United States because of an extraordinary EducationUSA advisor in Panama. She started a program which enables underprivileged students who live in Panama's more rural areas to study English at the Missouri Academy for two months. Propelled by this incredibly inspiring woman, I earned a scholarship to attend the Missouri Academy. I was concerned about leaving the comfort of my family to attend an early-entrance-to-college program in rural Missouri with a group of strangers. Nevertheless, I knew that by coming to the United States I would be taking my first steps towards a career in international relations.
Before I attended school in the United States, I had a tendency to stereotype Americans. My previous knowledge about the United States' involvement in the invasion of Panama and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan made me believe Americans were haughty and unpleasant. I even thought they wanted to rule the world. After a few months attending the Missouri Academy, however, my perception of Americans gradually changed, and I realized how wrong I was.
By the end of the first semester, I had an established group of friends. We would talk all the time - even during study periods. To my surprise, most of our conversations turned out to be about Panama. Some of my friends used to ask questions such as: "It's really hot down there, isn't it?" or "Is it cheap?" Others just showed their lack of knowledge about my country: "Is the Panama Canal still in Panama?" or "So, since you are from Panama, are you an American citizen?" It was rather confusing for me to see people in this country-especially teenagers-having a considerable interest in my country. The people I categorized as arrogant wanted to know about my homeland. They may have had little or no knowledge about Panama, but they sure took interest in learning about it.
Every time one of my friends invited me to stay at their house during an academic break, I would feel uneasy. I thought my friends' relatives would not treat me well because I am not white or because I come from an underdeveloped country. I used to think the older Americans were shallow individuals grumbling about their government's inability to take over the world. I could not believe how wrong I was. My friends' relatives turned out to be the most pleasant, polite, and fun individuals I have ever met. They did not care about my skin color or financial status; they just wanted me to tell them everything I could about Panama. At that time, I started feeling guilty. How could I ever stereotype people like that? I kept asking myself. After visiting and interacting with my friends' relatives, my perception of Americans finally changed.
Studying in the United States has helped me develop intercultural competence-an ability a specialist in international relations must possess. I discovered I would never be a true connoisseur of international relations if I stereotype people as I used to. In order to understand and deal with world politics, I must be able to recognize cultural differences and discard social stereotypes. After a year in the United States, I realized that I cannot judge people without getting to know their culture.
While attending the Missouri Academy, I noticed that in spite of many differences we are all the same. We all face the same problems, we all have economic needs, and we all struggle to stand up after we fall down. Most importantly, we all have the same aspirations of liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Undoubtedly I will be confronted with similar, if not more serious, misconceptions in the future. However, thanks to these experiences I have grown wiser. I have become interculturally competent.