Undergraduate / Korea - Rutgers Essay [4]

Topic: Rutgers University is a vibrant community of people with a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. How would you benefit from and contribute to such an environment? Consider variables such as your talents, travels, leadership activities, volunteer services, and cultural experiences. Only personal essays submitted via our website will be considered. You may enter a maximum of 3800 characters including spaces.

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The diversity within Rutgers University creates a similar model of the world. The different races and cultures of those in the school do not only branch out the education a person can receive by interacting with one another, but it also embodies a solid understanding of another's culture, religion, etc. One of the many contributions that I can bring into the community of Rutgers is my open-mindedness and my heritage.

Generally, I was the type of person who disliked watching sports on television, but I was also the type of person that did not really like being Asian due to all the disadvantages. Thus, many people, including my friends and family, did not enjoy my company when it came to Sundays or major game days. I was often clueless and not up-to-date when it came to "sports talk". People would tend to get irritated because I knew nothing about sports. All of this changed when I came upon my first experience watching the 2002 Fifa World Cup. The fact that Korea was playing soccer against foreign countries had made me curious. The first few minutes of watching "Korea vs. USA" was very hard and difficult, but that all changed when I saw Korea score their first goal. A surge of excitement ran through my body and I couldn't help but follow the chant everyone was screaming, "Deh-han-min-gook!" (which means Korea! in Korean). I didn't realize it at that time, but it was the first time in a while that I had quality time with my friends and family. Later in the week, due to my "sports knowledge" I made a new best friend, Marco Henriques. Having Marco as a friend and watching Fifa on T.V. helped me make the decision to play soccer for my school, and by joining the team; I made tons of friends and now there is nobody in the class of 2009 that does not know my name.

My Korean heritage has given me a unique perspective on the importance of nationalism. Korea is a petite country that is known to few people. Unlike America, Korea made its name by using international sports competitions and industries. I am proud to call myself Korea, and I appreciate the fact that the people in Korea have brought themselves a good reputation. Of course having excessive pride will bring my downfall, hence I look at things in a different perspective. I find myself using my role models as my source of pride as well. I think I am Portuguese sometimes when I talk about Christiano Ronaldo, who is one of the best overall players in the world. I find amazing things about other countries so I like to have a culturally diverse state of mind. I appreciate other countries for their accomplishments and I make new friends by acknowledging another persons country. I would like to learn more about the vast amount of cultures that our world has to offer, and I believe by attending Rutgers University, I will have a chance at accomplishing my goal.

My first experience with the World Cup, and my pride for Korea has helped shaped me into a better student, and a better person. Participating in school sports has helped me maintain good grades and it even helped me elevate to a higher level of education. Not only did sports help me get into better classes, but it also motivated me to participate in clubs, such as, Science Club, Math Club, Student Council and much more. In the overall, I became a better person. I was almost 100% anti-social, until I had my reached my current pride for Korea. I help a lot of people and participated in community helping activities. My new ego has turned me around 180 degrees and my friend Chanyang Ju has praised me by stating, "I will be forever jealous of you because you have the ability to become friends with everyone around you." Chanyang's words haven proven to be true, and I do believe that my presence will make a difference the community offered by Rutgers University.

Thanks!
-David

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Undergraduate / Last minute Columbia Essay ("Everyday was the same.") [6]

Everyday was the same. Wake up at 6AM, go to school, come home, do homework, study, play around, and sleep. For the first 2 years of high school, I felt that I didn't have a purpose in life, and when I thought about my future, I felt I would be so unprepared that I'd have to rely on my parents my whole life. However, all of this changed, starting from my junior year. I felt that if I didn't change who I was, I would end up no better than a homeless person in the streets. I hated anything that required hard work. One day, my mom read me a newspaper article about a boy that barely did well in his first few years of high school, but did well in his last year and ended up as a prosecutor. I thought to myself, if I were to start doing well, and be active in my community, would I be able to become a dentist? I felt hope and decided to change my attitude towards the world. I looked forward to the first day of school, and I wanted to make more friends by participating in clubs and activities.

As school progressed, I received better grades and joined many clubs. In the end, when school was almost over, I ran for president of Student Council. Although I did not win the run, the experience was a great lesson.

By my senior year, due to the grades I received in my junior year, I was able to get into all 6 of the 6 AP courses I applied for. However, because some of the classes did not fit in with my schedule, I had to get rid of three courses, AP Chemistry, Physics, and Government and Politics. At first, I thought I was able to handle the new level of studies, but unfortunately, I found that I was not as ready as I thought. I found two of the three courses very difficult, due to the different method of teaching. Instead of posting notes on the projector, we were given lectures and notes.

Although my studies weren't going as well as I wanted, my involvement in the community and school increased dramatically. I volunteered at Cooper University Hospital as a nurse assistant and I became the Vice-President of the Science Club, the General Secretary of the Math Club, an officer of the World of Difference Club and a peer leader of the Transition Project.

Everyday, I look back at how I hated to be social, and how I always said no to things. As I changed, I started saying yes to many things, such as hanging out, volunteering, helping teachers and parents, and even teaching my best friend's little brother algebra. I thank myself for changing and I look at everyday with optimism. By working a little harder, and adjusting to the new level of studies, I believe that I will become a dentist.

Undergraduate / DREXEL SHORT ANSWER; I had been what others would call "the stupid kid" [5]

In 250 words or more, please tell us why you have chosen the major you've indicated above and your unique qualifications and talents as they relate to that major.

I have learned the importance of education not so long ago. I had been what others would call "the stupid kid." I went to the hospital only a few times in my life, only one that I can remember now; Cooper University Hospital. I came upon this opportunity of going to Cooper Hospital by finding a place to volunteer for. Fortunately, my best friend's mom worked as a computer technician at Cooper, so my friend and I were easily admitted into volunteering.

During my few weeks of volunteering at Cooper, I not only learned the basics of treating patients, but I also found the fundamentals doctor and patient relationships. I found this to be a great bond. I imagined myself as a patient being cared for by a warm, nice and intelligent doctor. Then I thought of the great things I could do if I were a doctor. However, I knew at my current level, dreaming of becoming a doctor was out of my league. I never wanted anything more in my life than to become the doctor I imagined myself as.

For the first time in my life, I had set a goal that I had determination for. After setting my goal, I wrote a list of what I had to achieve in order to obtain the position as a doctor. The first on my list was bringing up my grades. Today, I look back and compare the grades I received in my three years of middle school and my first two years of high school, and my last two years of high school. I am making daily progress and I feel I am getting closer each day. Just recently, I have accomplished one of the tasks in my list; I was accepted into taking the AP Biology course. Although the course has been difficult, I find myself occasionally interacting with the teacher and students around me during lectures. Biology has been a pleasure to have and it has become one of my favorite classes.

The next task on my list is to get accepted into college as Biology major. I feel that if I were an undergraduate at Drexel University, I could further my accomplishments and get to the point where I become a doctor.