Undergraduate / liberal arts + Southeast Asian and International History - Brown application essays [3]

Please tell us more about your interest in Brown: Why does Brown appeal to you as a college option? Who or what has influenced your decision to apply? (1000 characters with spaces)

"Brown has one of the best liberal arts colleges in the United States." This got me started in researching about Brown. For the past 6 years, my high school has provided me with an environment that encourages the importance of joy, when pursuing our passion and achieving our goals, to enjoy the learning process. It has also inculcated in me the importance of having global perspective, the need to venture beyond because the world is our classroom. In 2010, Brown was awarded one of the most numbers of Fulbright Grants. This shows that Brown will be able to offer me opportunities to attain greater global vision and to allow me to better understand people of other countries, shaping me to become a true global citizen. Princeton review has also ranked Brown 1st in the country in 2007, 2010 and 2010 for having the "happiest students". Brown appeals to me mainly because of its ability to provide the opportunity to venture beyond the campus and a campus life that proves to be lively and joyful.

Why are you drawn to the academic fields you indicated in the Anticipated Degree and Academic Interest questions above? (1000 characters with spaces)
(I chose government, law, social service, environment, media as my academic interests- it's compulsory to pick 5 and the options are limited) (BA- pol sci, international relations is my anticipated degree choice)

During my two years of junior college, I took up both Southeast Asian and International History. I have always been intrigued by how societies can adopt different political systems yet still be able to function properly and prosper, and how successful and adequate political dialogues can be crucial in ensuring regional peace and global perspective. Issues such as the Kashmir conflict between India and Pakistan or the recent deterioration of relations between North and South Korea shows there is an urgent need to enforce on peaceful resolution and to enhance on global cooperation and security. The globalization process on the other hand, has also integrated countries in many different aspects which further enhances the importance of having a good global relation. I'm also fascinated by how leaders of countries talk to each other for example when President Bush said that he could understand all he needed to know about the Russian president Vladimir Putin by simply looking him in the eye.

comments please! anything you think useful would be appreciated:)

Undergraduate / My father is a man who will relentlessly provide for his children. [2]

thanks for your comments i will go improve on it:)

this is my commonapp essay too! please do comment too:) thanks!

Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.

From a very young age, I have always envied the concept of freedom, which in my case, having the liberty to decide for myself what I want to do exactly. Every small detail was planned out for me so I had little to worry. I simply did what I was told. I had always thought life was simple and smooth sailing for my family. But as time progresses, I begin to see that all that comes at a cost. Much sacrifice was made by my parents, especially by my dad. Sacrifices that have positively influenced my life and will no doubt continue to guide me in my journey to become a responsible young man. My dad was never good at expressing himself with words, but through his actions, he was able to influence me in many different ways.

In year 2000, my father met with an accident in China on his way home from work. He was a casualty in an armed robbery which caused him to lose partial mobility in his left leg and to experience random sharp pains throughout the day, something that he has been forced to live with ever since. I guess I was too young then to truly understand the implications of him getting injured. My sister told me a few years later that she saw my dad crying in his hospital ward one day back then, and that started to get me thinking. To me, my dad had always portrayed himself as an emotionally strong man who, no matter how tough situations are or how bleak the future seems, would be able to remain strong and continue to be the pillar of hope and support in our lives. Slowly, I began to understand that all the things that were provided to me did not come easy. Instead, I was only able to have a carefree childhood because my father was determined to carry out his responsibility as a father. And all this had greatly influenced my perception of life, especially regarding the importance of taking responsibility in everything that I do.

"I might just lick boots if that will get me paid". That was what my father said when the world economy collapsed after 911 in 2001. He was on the verge of bankruptcy due to the relentless rise in cost of living together with his business client's refusal to pay him. But he knew that by declaring bankruptcy, it might have dire consequences or even jeopardize our future. If he had chosen to declare bankruptcy, I would definitely not have the opportunity to study overseas. In these 6 years, by studying and living in a foreign country homeland alone, not only was I able to adopt a more comprehensive world view as well as to learn to view my country from an external point of view but it has also made me an independent learner that will strive to push myself further in pursuing my passion and achieving my goals. Indeed, most parents would go through the hard works to provide the best for their kids, but to me personally, few would go to such a great extent like my dad. He will rather work harder than to transfer us to local schools. He will rather work overtime so we can afford to study overseas. He will rather push himself even harder than to give up and complain about how unfair life has been. Through his actions, my father has shown me the importance of trying before giving in. He has also influenced me to be tenacious in my pursuit of my passion and dream such as to study about politics, government and international relations.

I have always been intrigued by how societies can adopt different political systems yet still be able to function properly and prosper, and how successful and adequate political dialogues can be crucial in ensuring regional peace and global perspective. How there is an urgent need to enforce on peaceful resolution and to enhance on global cooperation and security regarding issues such as the Kashmir conflict between India and Pakistan and the recent deterioration of relations between North and South Korea. My father has provided me with an opportunity which greatly impacted my growth, allowing me to have a chance to venture beyond and to pursuit my interest in this field.

My father is a man who will relentlessly provide for his children no matter how difficult things might seem. He, too, is a father who will not utter a word of complaint even if he has to keep giving without any guarantee of return. His steadfast character in assuming his responsibilities as a dependable father has made clear to me the need for me to carry out my own responsibilities; be it as a citizen of my community or as a student in an institution. My dad's unwavering determination to fulfill his responsibility as a dutiful father has not only led me to realize the need for me to fulfill my obligation towards the community, but also my interest in the field of politics.