Undergraduate / 'My Dad's Illness Gave Me Inspiration' - UC Prompt #1 [25]

Prompt: Describe the world you come from - for example, your family, community or school - and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.

"You're worthless." "You'll never amount to anything." These are the words my father screamed at me the last time I looked in his eyes. Normally, a daughter would take these words to heart, but to me it was just like any other day. Except this time I decided to take a huge step by leaving his house, making a change that would permanently affect my life for the better. It wasn't because of the constant belittling remarks he made or the lack of love he showed; he had to know that he and his illness were not going to control me any longer. My father is considered "physically disabled", due to his struggles with bipolar disorder and an extreme case of fibromyalgia.

For the majority of my life, even after he and my mom divorced, my dad was the dad everyone in my class wanted, and that I had been so lucky to have. He always had the biggest smile on his face and would always be the one to crack a lot of the jokes. But as years passed, things changed. He changed. He would be in a mood that exclaimed, "I'm on top of the world," and then, suddenly, he would start screaming and throwing things for reasons no one understood. The father that used to play basketball with me everyday without fail was gone. He started sleeping all day and staying awake all through the night. And even if he tried to sleep, I would hear him scream and curse in his dreams, never escaping pain and fear, even with his eyes closed. When we argued, I would instantly agree, admit that I was wrong, and forget about it. If I didn't, then he would say that I would cause him to have a heart attack. I censored my thoughts and allowed him power over my voice.

Amid all this, my life did have a second side. My mother freed me from the mental imprisonment of my father and allowed me to live under her care full time; I was able to express opinions that I never could express before. However, my dad did do something that impacted my life immensely. He led me to believe that all the anger and ignorance that he showed resulted from disappointment. A constant reminder that he was restricted from many things he wanted to accomplish due to his disabilities. Learning that there are many others, like my father, who live their lives in agony has altered the direction I have taken for my career. My father was my main influence in the decision to pursue the field of physical therapy.

To see people in pain will be extremely difficult for me, but after what I've experienced with my father, I know that physical therapy with be the path for me. Every time I looked at my father, I felt helpless. I didn't know what to do; all I wanted was for him not to suffer any longer. I know that it may be too late to help my father, but there are still many people in the world who need help in repairing their disabilities. I'm going to be the one who will help the fallen soldier walk again after he loses his leg in battle. I'm going to be the one who helps the young pitcher throw again at his next baseball game. I'm going to be the one who will help mend dreams of the broken and the suffering. Every time I think of those words that my dad said to me, I will push myself harder, knowing that someday I will help someone to the path of recovery and a brighter future.

Thank you! Please leave feedback! :)

Undergraduate / 'Magic within Photography' - UC Prompt #2 [2]

Prompt:Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are?

From the time I was born, I was considered the "weird" child. I was the girl who liked green onions over chocolate, finger-painted with glue, and put stickers all over herself. I also had quite the obsession over disposable cameras. Whenever I received a new disposable camera, I always felt that rush of excitement that every child gets Christmas morning. With just a push of a button, I was able to capture a moment in time. "Magic" was the first thing that popped into my naďve little head after the surprise of the first flash. Even though in reality this little device was just a piece of plastic, it meant the world to me.

As I grew older, achievements in sports and academics were in the spotlight, while the artsy side of me stayed in the shadows. It was not until I was injured during Cross Country season did my love for photography really start to show. Every race that I did not run, I would be at the finish line capturing the expressions of relief as my teammates used every bit of energy they had left to finish the race. My friends were shocked by my keen ability to capture such intense moments. Soon, I had people asking me to take pictures of them. Eventually, I had the opportunity to take pictures for other sports and events. I even had the opportunity to take pictures for our yearbook club; a club I'm not officially part of. I am thrilled that I will be able to look back at my senior year and take pride in the moments I captured; I will be able to relive that priceless feeling of success.

When I look at the pictures I have taken, I feel a sense of accomplishment knowing that no one will ever take that specific picture ever again. No one will have the same angling, lighting, emotion and thought that I put into each individual photograph. The pictures I have taken capture who I am today. They are the moments I have lived and the memories I will never forget. I have always had that artistic eye, and I will always be the girl who sees the "magic" in every photo.

I have another topic for the same prompt and that's Working with Special Ed. Kids. Tell me which one would go better with my other essay, please?

All criticism appreciated. I know this essay is long from perfect. :P

Undergraduate / Exercise Biology - Transfer UC ;What is your intended major? [2]

Prompt: What is your intended major? - Discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had in the field-such as volunteer work, internships and employment, participation in student organizations and activities-and what you have gained from your involvement.

For most of my life, the morning routine usually began by helping my father out of bed, as it was too difficult for him to do it on his own. My father was diagnosed with fibromyalgia when I was only seven and received news of a herniated disc only the next year. Not only was he disabled by these physical difficulties, but his diet mainly consisted of pepsi and pretzels, with unsightly results in his body shape. From that point forward, the pain made it not only difficult for him to move, but it was also made it difficult for him to enjoy life. I always dreamed of playing basketball or racing my father, but I knew that is highly unlikely that it would ever happen. As years passed, I became more and more interested in how the body is supposed to perform during movement, with special interest in my father's condition. This initiated the desire to understand the subjects of nutrition, physical activity, and biomechanics- all encompassed within exercise biology.

My interest in exercise biology only grew stronger when I was given the opportunity to work as an assistant to an Adaptive Physical Education teacher. Visiting all of the elementary schools in my area, I worked with children that had either mental or physical disabilities- or both in some cases. My contributions included performing stretches on various muscle areas, creating innovative activities that improve motor skills and hand-eye coordination, and teaching basic routine skills, like buttoning a shirt. Every child was unique; each had their own obstacles to overcome. I created a special bond with one child in particular. His name was Nick, and he had muscular dystrophy. Every week we helped him out of his wheelchair, using multiple stretches to slow the rate of his muscle deterioration. Although his condition confined him to the shackles of a wheelchair, he did not let it limit the quality of his life experiences. His drive to become class president and earn straight As inspired me to pursue my own life ambitions. I am determined to help people overcome their physical limitations, for which my ultimate goal is to become a physical therapist.

There are many people in the world just like Nick and my father who need help in overcoming their disabilities. I am going to be the one who will help the fallen soldier walk again after he loses his leg in battle. I am going to be the one who helps the young pitcher throw again in time for his next baseball game. I am going to be the one who will help mend the dreams of the broken and suffering. Every time I reminisce on these experiences, my deterministic spirit is refreshed by the realization that someday I will help someone to the path of recovery and a brighter future.

I would really appreciate any feedback! This is extremely important to me.