Undergraduate / 'a big, close, Hispanic family' - prompt 1 [7]

prompt #1 "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."

Growing up in a big, close, Hispanic family, there wasn't one weekend I didn't spend with my grandparents when I was I child. My family met every Sunday morning for breakfast just to talk and be together. Each cousin, aunt, uncle, and grandchild brought some amazing irreplaceable quality that made each of us fit perfectly together. We were our own world.

My grandfather was the ultimate glue that held our family together. He and my grandmother only had an elementary school education but working on the ranches and the diaries for years he grew wise from experience; a different form of education. My mother absolutely adored him and wanted me and my two older brothers, now also attending universities, to know how much my grandparents and parents sacrificed for us and to show us that if you always have motivation and determination there is no limit on what you can accomplish. My grandparents wanted a better life for their children, and my mom succeeded by giving them their first child to attend to college out of eight.

In 2009 my grandfather was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The doctors said he had 6 months. He passed away 2 short weeks later. My family was in shock. And our world, my world, was broken. I watched my family try to fill the gap and come to terms with what happened but as the years passed by; my family's connection that was once so strong was lost.

Seeing my family struggle to recreate the bond we once shared I realized my dream of helping others deal with a sick loved one or the loss of one. I dedicated my junior and the rest of my senior year of high school to doing exactly that. I founded a club at my school that helped raise money for cancer and other sicknesses awareness. I organized a full calendar school year with 5 walks that were held within at least one hour driving distance and led each team at every walk. Hearing others stories and sharing my own of the people we lost was an amazing experience and motivated me to always want to be involved in walks like Relay for Life and Light the Night. I want to go to college to get an education in medicine so one day I can achieve my dream of helping others. Carrying with me the spirit of my grandfather's hard work I know I can achieve anything if I have the education that allows me to. College is a chance for me to start achieving my dreams not only for myself but for my family as well.

Undergraduate / 'a student committed suicide' - 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?"

My freshman year of high school a student committed suicide. Her name was Samantha Stevens. She was an eleventh grade honors student, a star athlete, and a truly remarkable person. I met her when I was just a shy six year old, I moved into my new house and she was my new neighbor. Her personality astonished me. She was loud and adventurous, we were complete opposites. She taught me how to rollerblade even if I was absolutely terrified. Every time I fell she would pick me up and show me how to do it right. She moved after two years and I didn't see her again till high school, where we played water polo together and the connection we once had was renewed. She forced me to do "lob" shots during practice even though I never made a goal. "You're getting better, try again!" her words became imprinted in my brain.

I remember the day she died perfectly. I was out to dinner with my mom and I left my phone in the car. In the middle of our dinner my eldest brother, who was at UCSB, called to see if we had heard the bad news. We left the restaurant immediately and I ran to the car to get my phone. I could barely breathe when I saw six missed calls and a new voicemail appear on the screen. I played the message; it was my best friend and teammate. I could barely make out her words through her sobs and I could feel her pain through the phone. I didn't understand what was happening and I didn't believe a word. My hands started shaking and I dropped to the ground. My mother held me for what felt like an eternity, I tried to calm down and breathe slowly.

My mom dropped me off at my best friend's house where the team was meeting. It was silent at first; we just sat around a fire pit outside and stared into the flames, each of us trying to understand why Sam would ever do such a thing. Then a senior girl who was closest to Sam told a story about her. It wasn't a meaningful one, just a funny thing Sam said at practice once. Eventually everyone, but me, started sharing stories both silly and serious. It was like I was the shy little six year old all over again I was too afraid to talk because I didn't want to fall. I imagined what Sam would say if she knew what I was thinking. At that moment I started to tell of story of when Sam and I were young, and I could hear her encouraging words as I got the courage to speak.

Because of Sam I learned how to rollerblade and do a "lob" shot but more than anything else she taught me to try things I think I am incapable of. I push myself to be the best because I know that there is no limit on what I can achieve as long as I have the courage to fall and the drive to pick myself back up and try again. I apply this quality to my education by never limiting myself on what school I can attend or what degree I will strive for. Achieving my dream of being a doctor is something that I will never stop trying at no matter how many times I fall.

any hints would be helpful!:)