Undergraduate / "Oh so you're Persian?" + "College search" - UCF entrance [4]

1. How has your family history, culture or environment influenced who you are?

"Oh so you're Persian?" "Yea like the cat, you know meow". Answering the many frightened and inquisitive people in a way to lighten the mood. As soon as I inform people of my heritage they automatically think of the negatives of having the blood of a Persian. "So where is Persia?" "Persia no longer exists, when the empire fell it became Iran".. "IRAN, like Ahmadinejad? Like Sharia law?" and the questions just don't stop, and the chance isn't even given to me to explain that I'm a Persian Jew. I am the epitome of all human paradoxes. I was born in America, and born with a Persian background and raised the Jewish faith. Growing up as a minority in America, I have the opportunity to view the world with a different perspective. I have been exposed to my culture as well as other cultures. My first language is Farsi, my parents were very strict upon teaching me Farsi before English. When I was younger, my father wouldn't speak to me unless it was in Farsi. I would get so frustrated because I was learning English in school and Farsi at home, and I would, sometimes, just not talk to him. And to think, I once thought my parents were torturing me, I now know they have loved me so much that they would take the extra effort to teach me a tough language. Therefore I now have the ability and the patience to learn languages easily. I learned to read and write and speak Hebrew on my own while I made a visit to Israel. And learning Spanish in school was a breeze. I may not be a pro, but I know all the basics.

As I curiously wait to learn my fate, I know my parents are behind me and ready to watch me put all the life lessons to use.

2. Why did you choose to apply to UCF?

"College search after college search, where do I go? Where do I belong? Will I succeed?" All these thoughts clustered my mind until a recent college road trip to the UCF campus. UCF appealed to me when I began my college search because of its beautiful campus, copious course selection, and of course my familiarity with many of the students attending UCF. After making a visit to UCF, I have learned that UCF is growing in all of its aspects, gaining recognition for all of its services being provided, and that all in all UCF is a well commended University. I believe that how you feel in an environment is very important in achieving nothing but success. And standing in the UCF campus just gave me that home feeling that reassured me that success is near. The warm and friendly atmosphere gives me the feeling of nothing but feeling at home, and ready to take on the University life.

Undergraduate / "a youth group called USY" - UF College [3]

This is what I have so far, and I need some insight. All help is appreciated.

UF:
In the space provided, please write a concise narrative in which you describe a meaningful event, experience or accomplishment in your life and how it will affect your college experience or your contribution to the UF campus community. You may want to reflect on your ideas about student responsibility, academic integrity, campus citizenship or a call to service.

It was my Freshman year of high school when a couple of classmates told me about a youth group called USY. I was a bit hesitant about the idea- stepping into an unknown atmosphere. Hold on, Lets back track to middle school. I used to be an overweight girl with frizzy hair, connect the dots pimple face, and glasses. Nobody ever considered me a person in middle school, and I was just a lonely, unconfident and shy innocent soul. But in the summer of eighth grade, I decided I was going to get healthy, step out of my comfort zone and show them who I really am! So I lost about 30 pounds, got contacts, and finally made an appointment with my dermatologist. I stepped onto the high school campus and walked the halls like I owned the place. I felt like I was Regina George from mean girls, ALL EYES WERE ON ME. Jaws were dropping and necks were breaking, okay maybe necks weren't breaking, and I had never felt more confident in my life before.

Usually the first week of high school is pretty awkward, everyone is hesitant on who to talk to, who to sit to, you know the deal. It was my second period Spanish class and my teacher had assigned seats for everyone and I was seated in between a girl and a guy. They were both talking about a youth group and I seemed engaged in their conversation, even though I wasn't a part of it. And then they asked me if I was interested. Even though I had a hint of confidence in me, I was still extremely nervous about fitting in a youth group where I didn't know anyone. And it's hard enough making friends in school, now a youth group? Oh dear goodness, how will I be able to do this. So I thought about it all day, and I questioned myself, "what's the worst that could happen? Just give it a try".

And so I did. I decided to stop by their first program and little did I know, USY was the best thing that would ever happen to me. I was welcomed with big hugs and kisses and exciting introductions. As the years went on, I made so many friends and I lost sense of my insecurities. I learned to be happy with myself and I learned to love myself for who I was. Slowly, all of that confidence bumped me onto the Chapter Board. I was elected Membership/Communications vice president in my junior year and I was elected President for my Senior year.

With all of these lessons that I learned, I taught them to incoming freshmen and people that I saw myself in. And I helped them gain insight about their inner and outer beauty. In my mind, every soul is beautiful no matter what the past may have looked like; every person has good in them. And even if one may have messed up in the past, they still have another chance to fix it and redeem themselves.

This will definitely affect my college experience where I'll be more open minded to meeting new people, and more accepting towards the human race. I will know not to judge a book by its cover, because I honestly may not know what's written inside. Throughout my high school career I have learned to tolerate all types of backgrounds, faiths, and heritage. And I am ready to carry that onto the college campus. But the one thing that I will definitely never forget is who I was before and how much pain belligerent and uncaring people put me through; I know that I will never be one of those people and I will be more accepting towards people.

Undergraduate / "An American Persian Jew raised in America" - University of Florida Undergrad Essay [3]

Here's the topic:
In the space provided, please write a concise narrative in which you describe a meaningful event, experience or accomplishment in your life and how it will affect your college experience or your contribution to the UF campus community. You may want to reflect on your ideas about student responsibility, academic integrity, campus citizenship or a call to service.

*I need some help adding a bit more umph to the ending about how these life lessons can help contribute to the UF campus. Thanks!*

"Oh so you're Persian?" "Yea like the cat, you know meow" Answering the many frightened and inquisitive people in a way to lighten the mood. As soon as I inform people of my heritage they automatically think of the negatives of having the blood of a Persian. "So where is Persia?" "Persia no longer exists; when the empire fell it became Iran", "IRAN, like Ahmadinejad? Like Sharia law?" and the questions just don't stop, and the chance isn't even given for me to explain that I'm a Persian Jew. I am the epitome of all human paradoxes. I was born in America, and born with a Persian background and raised into the Jewish faith. Growing up as a minority in America, I have the opportunity to view the world with a different perspective. I have been exposed to my culture as well as other cultures. My first language is Farsi; my parents were very strict upon teaching me Farsi before English. When I was younger, my father wouldn't speak to me unless it was in Farsi. I would get so frustrated because I was learning English in school and Farsi at home and I would, sometimes, just not talk to him. And to think, I once thought my parents were torturing me, I now know they have loved me so much that they would take the extra effort to teach me a tough language. Therefore I now have the ability and the patience to learn languages easily. I learned to read and write and speak Hebrew on my own while I made a visit to Israel. As I curiously wait to learn my fate, I know my parents are behind me and ready to watch me put all the life lessons to use.

Not only have I learned to push myself harder during rigorous tasks, but I have learned to be more open minded to meeting new people, and more accepting towards the human race. I will know not to judge a book by its cover, because I honestly may not know what's written inside. Throughout my high school career I have learned to tolerate all types of backgrounds and I am ready to carry that onto the college campus. The University of Florida is the optimal university for meeting new people because of its vast majority of diverse peoples.