Undergraduate / Krushi- The Inspiration to Inspire - Common App Essay- Topic 1 [8]

Hi. I wrote an essay responding to topic 1 of the Common Application:
"1.Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you." *I evaluated an experience.

Here it is:

Krushi- The Inspiration to Inspire

I had always thought that the most significant experience of my life would always be my journey from India to the United States at the age of eight. I was under the impression that nothing else that could occur in my life could ever force me to open my eyes and witness a whole new world. This was until last summer, when I spent one week at an orphanage in India. Never before had the course of five days ever affected me so much. I met about one hundred boys, aged 4 to 18, all with stories of their own. I never imagined that while learning so much about others' lives, I would actually learn more about myself.

The orphanage was called "Krushi," a word in my native language of Telugu meaning success. The objectives of the directors of the home were to help young boys that were lost in society and find a place in society. India is a rapidly developing nation, with the rift between the successful and the impoverished widening every day. The injustice of the caste system is still prevalent today, making it extremely difficult for people born into lower social classes to move up in rank on their own. The Krushi Home provides young boys off the road and gives them a home, a family, and an opportunity to succeed in the world. A lost soul can be set back on track if given hope, and that is precisely what this home does. It provides hope for these boys, and gives them a chance to aspire and accomplish their dreams. One day, when most of the boys were off at school, I spent time with the youngest member of the home, Raju, who was only three years old and therefore too young for school. When I asked if he wanted to go to school, he told me (in Telugu of course) that he did, so he could be smart and rich and take care of his mother and sister. Imagine, a three year old saying he wants to achieve success so he can help his family. The thought of a toddler thinking about is life goals and not about toys completely seemed so novel to me.

In my five days at the Krushi home, I taught the children chess and computers and helped them with their homework. I did not realize that they would help me just as much as I helped them. As soon as I set foot into the home, I was greeted by utmost respect and courtesy, a kind that I had never seen anywhere. Most of these kids did not have families before arriving at Krushi, and they value the presence of all of their peers so much that whenever an outsider comes to the home, he is showered with friendship and attention. For example, the boys play cricket for about an hour every day after coming back from school. When they distributed the teams, I was picked first every day, even tough I was probably the worst player there. They gave me so much admiration and joy that even though my stay at the home lasted on week, it will stay with me for years.

On one of my days at Krushi, a five year old boy, Satish, was drawing lines in the dirt outside in the cricket field. I taught him how to write his name with the stick and he spent the rest of his time outside running round and writing and sketching his name everywhere. This filled me with a type of satisfaction that I rarely ever feel. I realized that helping others, especially those less fortunate than me, is one of the best things I have ever done. Inspiration gives way to aspiration. Strong aspiration gives way to success and one's success sprouts inspiration in another. After my stay at Krushi, I have learned how important it is to help and inspire others, and in turn their success would inspire more people. In order to motivate others to succeed, I must first achieve success. I am proud to say that my stay at the Krushi home has opened my eyes and inspired me and now I must do my part in continuing the cycle.

Undergraduate / Individuality, Notre Dame Supplement [3]

1. The Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., President of the University of Notre Dame, said in his Inaugural Address that, "If we are afraid to be different from the world, how can we make a difference in the world?" In what way do you feel you are different from your peers, and how will this shape your contribution to the Notre Dame community?

Here is my response:

University of Notre Dame Supplement

Individuality is an imperative ingredient of success. One mustn't follow the beaten path, but rather pave his own. Like Rev. John I. Jenkins said, in order to make a difference in this world, one has to think for himself and dare to be different. The majority of the advancements and accomplishments that have progressed the world, both technologically and philosophically, have been caused by men and women that were not afraid to be different, not afraid to think and act outside of the norm. If everyone behaves in the same way, the world will remain as it is, lacking the power to continue growing. Thanks to a few individuals who dared to be different from their peers, the world has always been evolving. However, in order to accelerate the rate of progress in today's world, we need more of these individuals. I strive to someday have the essential tools which, combined with my determination to better the world, will enable me to become one of these individuals. Becoming a part of the exceptional community at the University of Notre Dame will bring me substantially closer to that day.

My strongest quality that will enable me to augment the community at Notre Dame is my perspective. My ability to see a unique side of every predicament or incident has resulted from my experiences and has helped me solve many dilemmas. I was born in India and lived there for eight years before immigrating to the United States. Half of my life was spent by me learning, growing, and adapting to the world around me, and suddenly I was forced to start the process over again. I came to America and I had to learn in a different way than before, grow to be a different person, and adapt to an entirely different culture and society. In my first couple of years in this new world, I struggled socially and found myself daily wishing I never had to leave my home. As my years in the United States progressed, I began to notice fewer differences between my old and new homes, and more similarities. I started to appreciate the unique perspective that my experiences had given me. I learned that instead of focusing on the negatives of my circumstances, I needed turn my attention to the advantages that have resulted from them. When I first came to America, I dreaded the fact that I was so "different" from my peers. Slowly, my views changed and today, I am proud of the fact that I am unique. I am still very much attached to my native culture, but enjoy all the parts of American culture as well. My family and I celebrate all the Hindu festivals, talk in Telugu (our native language) at home, and watch Indian movies regularly, and I have no difficulties balancing both worlds in my life.

Winston Churchill once said, "The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty." In addition to giving me a chance to be part of two wonderful worlds and enabling me to have a bigger and more eclectic perspective, my experiences have taught me this valuable lesson: no matter how dark and dreary one's perspective is, he must learn to turn around and see the other side of it. This valuable lesson has helped me see the positives in every problem I have been through.

One of the core principles in the university's mission statement is that it focuses greatly on the overall development of its students, both mental and spiritual. This is what separates Notre Dame from the other colleges in the country. My drive to mature as a person and succeed is a perfect complement to my determination to better the world. My unique perspective, coupled with my enthusiasm to help my peers, is what will make me a valuable addition to the University of Notre Dame.

Please critique my essay. Thank a lot!

Undergraduate / 'New opportunities and new experiences' - Dear Roommate - Babson Supplement [3]

Write a letter to your first-year roommate at Babson. Tell him or her what it will be like to live with you, why you chose Babson, and what you are looking forward to the most in college:

Dear Roommate,

First and foremost, I would like to congratulate you on becoming part of the exemplary community that can only exist at a place like Babson College. I think we both deserve pats on the back and I undoubtedly expect that the butterflies that are currently in my stomach are inhabiting yours as well. Many people have said that their university years were the best of their lives, so I think it is extremely important to know the person you will be spending a major part of these years with.

I am an outgoing, smart, and helpful person who likes new opportunities that lead to new experiences. Our college years will provide perfect examples of these. We are now in a new place, among new peers, and about to embark on new and exciting journeys. What better place to do this than Babson College? In the course of a man's lifetime, there are many doors from which he can choose to enter. Some lead to success and others to failure, and the cost of choosing one door is losing the opportunity to pass through a possibly better one. Thus, life is about taking educated risks. One cannot afford to bear the consequences of losing the chance to enter a door which could present him with a new, exciting, and amazing world. Babson gives its students such a door. The door to Babson is a golden door that leads its students to wonderful opportunities. If presented with a chance to enter this brilliant new world, one cannot afford to choose another.

Since both of us have successfully chosen the right door and have worked hard to make it to here, I am sure you have decided that Babson is a great fit for you. For me, Babson is great match and I am proud of my choice, one that I will definitely not regret. There are many reasons as to why Babson is a great fit for my abilities and my needs. When I was researching colleges prior to completing my applications, I was attracted to Babson College and its ideals. Of the many universities I have researched, Babson was one among the few that stood out of the pack. This is due to its academic brilliance, its student culture, and the strong vision and core values it has. The values that Babson places emphasis on are very important to me. Integrity, diversity, innovation, collaboration, and excellence are the wheels that this school runs on, and these wheels can take us to places we have never been.

We both know that Babson will provide us with great opportunities, but you are probably wondering what I can offer you and the rest of the Babson community. Well first of all, I promise I'll be a great roommate. I am very helpful, very social, and I will not cause any disturbance as a roommate. However, one thing I cannot do is be a recluse and completely ignore you. A human being in one's room is far too great to ignore, no matter how hard he may try. I am a social person and expect the relationship between two roommates to be mutually beneficial. I am an eager helper, and am always happy to provide any kind of assistance, and expect this in return from my roommate. I will also be a valuable addition to the Babson community. I spent half of my life in India before moving to California, and being part of two worlds has given me a unique and wider perspective. I strongly believe that my unique perspective can definitely augment the community and in return, my experiences at Babson will only add to my perspective and help me grow as a leader, a roommate, and most importantly, as a person.

-Sincerely,
Sreekar Jasthi.

Undergraduate / 'being dismissed from class' - Emory University Supplement [2]

Many students decide to apply to Emory University based on our size, location, reputation, and yes, the weather. Besides these valid reasons as a possible college choice, why is Emory University a particularly good match for you?

Emory University

As of late, the college admission process has largely become a quantitative process. Today's applicants find and apply to schools that match their scores and statistics, but not their interests. How well an applicant's grades and scores match up with the average statistics of the university is an important factor in deciding which schools to apply to, but it should not be overshadowed by the fact that the school first needs to match the applicant's interests, attributes, and needs. One needs to imagine himself at the university in question, and should decide to attend that school only if he feels as if he could not imagine himself anywhere else. I am lucky enough to have found my dream school already. I cannot imagine spending the next four years of my life anywhere other than the marvelous community of Emory University.

There are many reasons why Emory is perfect for me. My ideal college would provide me with the tools to not just achieve success, but would also enable me better the world around me. Emory's mission is "to create, preserve, teach, and apply knowledge in the service of humanity." I believe that it is important for students to develop and mature during their university years, and Emory makes sure of this. It places much emphasis on ethics and has an unparalleled commitment to creating responsible and humane leaders.

Of all the colleges I have researched during my admissions process, none have captivated me as much as Emory. Almost every night for the last month or so, I have began to imagine myself actually at Emory. Every night before I drift off to sleep, I see myself as a part of the Emory community. I see myself with an unknown but friendly roommate in Dobbs Hall. I see myself eating lunch with friends at the DUC. I see myself studying overnight in the Candler Library. I see myself in listening to the professor as he speaks during an Advanced Corporate Finance class in the Goizueta Business School. I see myself playing recreational tennis and basketball at the Clairmont Campus. I see myself being dismissed from class by a particular friendly skeleton during Dooley week. And finally, I see myself as a mature, responsible, and intelligent individual, the type of person that can only result from an Emory education.

Please critique my essay. Thanks a lot!