Undergraduate / Chicken Farm & Family Business - Common App/ Significant Experience [5]

I'm in the process of editing an essay for my college application. I just want to be sure that I'm answering the question and I would appreciate any other kind of help with my writing. There is a 500 word limit on the essay. Thanks!

Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.

Our planet is home to approximately 19 billion chickens at any point in time. My family is responsible for 22,800 of those chickens every year. The time, work, and effort that my family and I have put into our business has given me an experience that I believe few will ever be able to fathom. The lessons that I have learned working on my family's chicken houses have proven to be invaluable.

My family came into the possession of the farm during my eighth grade year, when my father decided to resign from his previous occupation and invest in the chicken business. On November 21, 2008 my father signed the necessary forms and we became the proud owners of Aguirre Farms. My life was drastically changed. I found myself spending my summer days running conveyor belts, cleaning eggs that were covered in chicken feces, and walking the chicken houses picking up dead chickens.

Our 22,800 chickens reside in two chicken houses. A 'house' is an enormous chicken coop that can accommodate 11,000 chickens and 400 roosters. The chickens lay their eggs in special nests that deposit the eggs onto a conveyer belt. Every day, the belts must be ran throughout their whole course a minimum of three times. In addition, the houses must be walked daily to remove any of the deceased chickens. This by itself has proven to be the most disgusting thing I have ever done. On one memorable day, I remember yanking on the leg of a chicken that seemed to have been dead for a while. The chicken's entire leg broke away from its body. There are no sufficient words to describe the appalling stench of rotten meat mixed with the sharp bite of ammonia and feces in the air.

I hated the work that I was being forced to do. I felt that there was no value I could gain out of working in the chicken farms. However, as time passed, I became accustomed to working at the chicken farm, going to school, and participating in my multiple extra-curricular activities, and I realized that my work in the farm had taught me several important things. Complaining about unfavorable situations would do me no good. I now strive to push myself to change whatever it is that I believe should be different. Working on the chicken farms has also shown me that I am capable of accomplishing anything I set my mind to. Because of this, I find myself aspiring to achieving great things, knowing that I have the capability to accomplish them. My family's business has not only taught me the value of a great work ethic, it has also taught me that in order to attain what you want, one must sacrifice their time and effort. Embracing these ideas, I look forward to the future and the trials that it will bring because I have ultimately learned that a challenge is, in reality, a lesson in disguise.

Undergraduate / See more of the WORLD; Why Yale?- Diversity and Opportunity [4]

I'd appreciate any help I can get with this. It's the Why Yale question on the Yale supplement. There's a limit of 500 characters and I'm at 498. Thank you soo much. If you could also help with my Common App Essay, I'd appreciate that as well.

In Southern Arkansas, my home for more than 10 years, diversity and opportunities have always been few. Thus, my biggest dreams have been to see more of the world, experience variety, and gain opportunities that are not available to me in Arkansas; like the pursuit of a degree in Cognitive Science. After further discussion with a student, Yale has become to me what America has been to others; a place of opportunity and diversity. A place where I can finally realize all of my goals and dreams.