Undergraduate / "The Family System"- Quest Bridge Biographical Essay [2]

We are interested in learning more about you and the context in which you have grown up, formed your aspirations and accomplished your academic successes. Please describe the factors and challenges that have most shaped your personal life and aspirations. How have these factors caused you to grow? (800 word limit) *

Growing up in the Philippines until the age of nine, I was oblivious to the societies and cultures in the world outside my own. The influences prevalent there were very different than the ones I experience now. I was surrounded in a place where the culture was built firmly on family and the belief that being socially active would help one overcome anything. The relatives of one family would open welcome arms to other family members until there was a network of families. My family in particular was so close and the majority of us lived in the same city. Contrary to our closeness my mother divorced my dad and moved to the U.S. when I was seven.

During the years that followed the divorce, I had to learn how to adjust without a mother figure for almost two years. My father and I were not poor, nor were we wealthy. Because of my mother's absence, my father had to work longer hours and step up as a single parent. Whenever I needed help with my studies, my father would hire a tutor. One of my tutors in particular was studying to be a nurse. She was so incredibly intelligent and cultured that I wanted to have that same level of sophistication. I knew that many Filipinos chose to work as nurses to escape poverty, but my tutor convinced me that the healthcare field had more to offer. When I turned nine, my mother decided that my life would be better in America. The tenacious connectedness I had with my large family dissolved almost instantly.

I was disconnected from the people I love and trust and transported into unfamiliar surroundings. I was full of fear, uncertainty and insecurities. I felt like I was living in one of those sitcoms I had seen on TV. New to America, I had to learn how to interact with people. I had to adjust to the school systems, and I had to follow the new culture. I was placed in a society where people were very different than the ones I was used to. I was shy and out of place so I learned the "American way" by quietly watching my classmates and other people. In time, I had started getting a grasp of the accepted norms and started to make friends. I was trying new things. I had replaced the strong family structure I had in the Philippines with support from the friends I had made and the activities I joined. It all seemed so surreal. Soon after moving to the U.S., my mother remarried, gave birth to my sister, and rented a house in the suburbs. In those few years of my mom's remarriage, I felt like a normal kid once again. I had a family unit that I thought would lend security and support until I could figure things out. However, I was placed back into reality when my mother divorced my stepfather after few years of marriage. I was with a single parent once more.

Living with my mother was almost the same as living with my father. She worked long hours and left me independent with regards to my school work. This time, though, I had no tutor. In addition, I had the added responsibility of watching over my sister. The pivotal moment I knew I had to rely only on myself and that I can achieve anything on my own was when my mother said to me "I wish I could be like you. You can be anything you want because you are smart." Not only did this statement boost up my confidence, but it also reaffirmed my thought of achieving anything I desired to become.

Throughout the years, my mother's financial situation has steadily worsened. My mother would say, "Don't be like me." This statement would constantly remind me of my goal and motivated me to strive for more. As a result my grades have steadily increased each year. I felt that it was my duty to give back to her with my success. I studied hard. And in that studying I realized my passion for science. Especially subjects related to healthcare. In healthcare I found that it was comprised of individuals who collaborated towards common goals. I remembered my life in the Philippines and how the family structure was extremely similar. I also thought about how highly I thought of my tutor for being a nurse. My ideas were confirmed when I took a Nursing Assistant course in the summer after my junior year. I met many happy people who were grateful to work within a family system. Healthcare seems to me like an opportunity to feed my interests and gain back that family I lost so long ago.

Undergraduate / "Resilience and Strength"- Quest Bridge Essay [2]

Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you. (500 word limit)
Tell me what you guys think and help me find grammatical errors please!

Our nascent group gathered by the admissions desk within the silent halls of the nursing home. The smell of cleaning supplies and bodily fluids lingered around our tenuous noses. I could tell that we callow group of Nursing Assistants were apprehensive. As we counted down the minutes before the entirely new experience began, a small old woman scooted by us in her wheel chair. She had an almost blank look on her face. It seemed that she was totally oblivious of the twenty intruders dressed in glistening white scrubs. "Hi", one of us said. She shifted her attention to us, smiled, warm-heartedly greeted us, and left. Her grace nonchalantly turned our apprehension to optimism. Our instructor turned to us and said, "That's Christine, she's blind."

The classical definition of a Certified Nursing Assistant is a person who assists residents of nursing homes with their daily tasks. However, I soon learned that a CNA's duty is more than just physical assistance. A holistic approach to care was just as important as any drug. In the classroom, our instructor kept reiterating, "There is more you need to know than what is in the book."

I went to the nursing home not knowing what to expect. All the things I knew about healthcare came from the short CNA classes at Harper College and the many science classes I took. The first day was an orientation day. We were shown around the facility and introduced to some of the residents. As I spoke to some residents, I noted that each one of their personalities was masked by physical pain and loneliness. Their resilience really impressed me.

As the weeks progressed, we CNAs assisted the residents with their daily tasks such as bathing, eating, changing, and socializing. The holistic picture of healthcare started to manifest itself almost instantly. Even with their heavy doses of medication and their physical discomfort, the residents always let out a big grin and shared stories when talked to about subjects as simple as fishing. The slightest bit of companionship palliated their ailments. While I shared much about me with them, I learned much about their lives and experiences. It slowly occurred to me that these people were model citizens. They were so unbiased and uninfluenced by popular culture and social norms that they did not have to hide their true character. Many of the residents shared stories and life lessons, both directly and indirectly, which I will always remember.

During this hectic time of opening opportunities and closing doors, I can't help but think of Christine and the residents at that nursing home. I will remember their resilience and attitude in dealing with hardships. I will remember how they stayed true to their selves no matter what the circumstance.

Undergraduate / "She was bound by IV lines..."- Quest Bridge [3]

Describe an experience that you have had or a concept you have learned about that intellectually excites you. When answering this question, you may want to consider some of the following questions: Why does this topic excite you? How does it impact the way you or others experience the world? What questions do you continue to ponder about it?

She was bound by IV lines to the center of a bleak mattress. I was old enough to understand death, but not intellectually mature enough to grasp the nuances of it. I looked at my great grandmother lying, lifeless and empty. She was the closest person I knew to die. However, I did not feel any indignation because she and I had accepted the fact she was passing. I then asked myself: Why? Not in a sense of questioning my faith; I was questioning the circumstances and exact causes of her death. There were so many questions that could be asked about something as deceivingly simple as a hundred pounds of flesh and water.

To me the concept of medicine and healthcare answers the most perplexing questions and predicts the outcomes of one's life. The only association I had early in my life with medicine were my trips to the doctor. Even there I was amazed at the knowledge and precision that my doctor had. Later on in my schooling, around junior high school, I learned subjects that dealt with life and its processes. Those science classes drew my interests in medicine even further. I was learning about different parts of the body and what they did. Though, it was not until high school when I reached the paramount of my interest in medicine.

In high school, I had an affinity for two particular subjects: Chemistry and Biology. All the nuances in them screamed medicine. Those two subjects fostered my interests enough to cause me to select medicine as my career path. I made my decision known to my family and my teachers and they told me they would support me. During the summer after my Junior year of high school, enrolled in a Nursing Assistant class in order to supplement that path. The class taught me so much. Pretty soon I was searching for diseases and medicines online for fun.

The field of medicine is a complex topic but an exciting one. In my mind it is a big problem solving subject with lots of variables. The goal is to find the definite truth, be it a cure, diagnosis, or symptom.

Undergraduate / 'a supportive and structured environment' - Northwestern Statement [3]

What are the unique qualities of Northwestern--and of the specific undergraduate school to which you are applying--that make you want to attend the University? In what ways do you hope to take advantage of the qualities you have identified? Grammar and spelling errors are welcome :)

When I thought about going to college, the same theme kept plaguing my mind: changes. I was not sure if the college atmosphere would be a reflection of high school life or an aberration from my current sense of community. There was a possibility that I could leave the lifestyle that nurtured me with academic and moral support for so many years. However, during my visit to Northwestern in 2011, all my questions were answered and my curiosity was satiated.

The moment I stepped onto Northwestern's campus, I was overwhelmed by the wave of purple. It did not just cover the flags and walls of the buildings; it covered the spirits of students and the aura of the school. Every student I saw was dressed in Wildcat colors and walked about without the slightest amount of pessimism. The attitudes of the students were shadowed, however, by my group's enthusiastic tour guide, Sara.

I had heard from many sources that many research schools were bland ways to get an education. This cannot be said for Northwestern. Sara oriented us on some of the 400 organizations on campus. She told us about the Happiness Club and its never-ending quest to make people feel happy. She also mentioned the friendly competitions between the different schools. Our tour then proceeded into one of the classrooms on campus. I was certainly surprised when we were told that the tiny room we were sitting in was a norm in Northwestern. The comprehensive and small class sizes really appealed to me because it meant that I could be accommodated more easily. More importantly, it meant that Northwestern cares about its undergraduates. Instead of feeling completely independent, the school provides excellent resources, such as the enormous library I saw, and affable faculty. The opportunities Northwestern provides will allow me to understand class material fully, yet at a challenging pace.

As our tour came to an end, I asked Sara about the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. She told me that because of Northwestern's prestige and standing in the scientific community, the government funds the school well. I was ecstatic to know that the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences will provide me with the most up-to-date systems and technologies that other colleges cannot afford.

I finally realized that the clubs, schools, and people act the same way we high school students do. We both strive for togetherness in academics and societal interactions while having fun at the same time. Northwestern provides a supportive and structured environment that is superior to any college that I have seen. In addition, it allows students to achieve a well-rounded education with plenty of opportunities. I hope to see and feel purple in my future.