Undergraduate / How books shaped my world - UC Application Personal Statement Prompt [3]

[b]Personal Statement 1

The world that I come from consist of magical creatures, such as, warlocks, wizards, vampires, angels, werewolves, necromancers who take me on breathtaking adventures everyday because the world that has shaped my dreams and aspirations are my books. My dream is to have a life where I can wake up each day and know that a mystery or adventure that needs to be embark upon the moment I get up. As some may prefer to lounge in relaxation I prefer a fast paced and ever changing day filled with the strangest, but exciting encounters than a constant one.

Books that are responsible for the world I come from are The Mortal Instruments Series, Fallen Series, Vampire Academy Series, The Dark Powers Series, The Wake Series, Hunger Games. In each book the protagonists discover something out of the ordinary where a mystery follows, and in the midst of their adventures a dilemma occurs. However no matter the difficulty of the situation they never give up and always accomplish what they originally aim for. I can relate myself to books because persistence is one of many redeeming qualities to my character, as the chapters in my life unfold I face harder situations yet I fight against the odds and manage to pull through. My persistence can sometimes portray arrogance but it is what motivates me to achieve success.

Although I do not fight with mind compulsion or supernatural abilities like these fictional characters, I fight with one of my strengths, persistence. I may not be a shadowhunter, necromancer, or a fallen angel but what I have common with them is that I fight strongly for something I believe in. I joined the IGCSE program a year behind from everyone else and took the challenge of economics, through my struggle I realized that my persistence is my supernatural ability.

As each page turns not only I reveal a story but also myself since the similarity of each character is frighteningly similar to me, for example how I tend to do or say things before I think of the consequences. In class when the teacher asks the class a question everyone grows silent while I shoot my hand in the air and shout the answer continuously until I get it right, the teacher laughs at my attempts but appreciates the confidence I have in all my answers. Despite the fact that I completely make a fool of myself in class I still remain positive because I know that to give effort is just as important as the result.

I have become more confident, outspoken, persistent, and strong from the world I live in because nothing has shaped me more then my books. My books taught me more valuable lessons then my school and family could ever give because the reading I have done has given insight into the person who I have become.

Undergraduate / "Art Accomplishment" - UC Application Personal Statement Prompt [3]

When I was young I was one of those kids who knew how to draw before the moment I could walk or talk, which started my love for art. While toddlers at my age pronounced "Mama" I coloured anything I could get my hands on, as I grew so did my passion for art. Therefore in junior year I opted art as one of my higher level subjects in the International Baccalaureate Program because I wanted art to always be with me. My parents thought my passion for art was just a temporary phase and never believed that I could make progress with art so from that day on I made a vow that someday I would prove them wrong. But I struggled to achieve this goal because their disapprovement for art had a toll on me, such as, self doubt.

The self doubt fooled me into believing that I had no purpose in art which discouraged me to pursue art. However I was sick of feeling sorry for myself so I painted day and night until it reached my standards, that was when I noticed that I did have a purpose in art and I would never surrender without a fight. After seventeen years of my dedication to art I received a message from my mom that one of my pieces made it to Jakarta Teacher And I (JATI) Exhibition. The message showed that my ability in art, even if it took me seventeen years to prove it.

Today I do not know how I would feel if I quit art because the thought of me giving up is an indication that I granted their wish. Due to my early connection with art I felt that my sudden release in art would crush me because I cannot imagine letting something go I have worked so hard on for so many years. This made me rebel against my parents' wishes and inspired me to continue art, which led me to nothing but fights with them. I felt stronger after every fight because their criticism instead motivated me to do better, I was surprised at the revelation of how I was able to transform their criticism from a negative aspect into a positive one.

I realized that criticism was not meant to hurt despite the harsh choice of words directed at us, although the conversion of criticism is an odd method to use it is the most effective encouragement tool. I know that now I can achieve whatever I set my mind to because ever since that incident I now know that criticism are just words. As a dilligent individual I always had the impression that I put one hundred percent, or more of effort into everything I do and that would be enough. So when my parents terrorised me with their criticism I was in shock at first, but gradually moved on and I never felt happier. Now whenever I surround myself with art I will always remember my experience and accomplishment of overcoming hesitation in art.