Broese
Nov 30, 2012
Undergraduate / Describe the world you come from; UC promps - (subjects volleyball and computers) [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.
"When Nick isn't slaying dragons and curing cancer he builds computers," my friend replies jokingly to the school newspaper interviewer. Although I will likely never slay a dragon or cure cancer, I hope that my fascination in technology will one day lead me to contribute significantly to the world.
When I was only two I would sit on my grandfathers lap and play an old 8-bit side scrolling computer game which asked basic addition and subtraction problems. He helped me use a calculator to solve each problem I was fascinated by the technology and became curious of how it worked. By the age of four I could identify several basic parts of computers and their function. I managed my six gigabyte hard drive installing and uninstalling hundreds of different programs. My grandfather passed away several years later but he had instilled in me a passion for technology which burns more brightly each day.
Each year I would look forward to my family gatherings for various holidays because I couldn't wait to hear about all the things my two electrical engineer uncles were working on. I yearned for day when I too could create something that changes the world. The summer preceding my junior year I decided to put my knowledge of computers to the test. First I decided to transfer an old computer to a new case. I disassembled the entire computer piece by piece taking careful note of how each part interacts, reassembled everything in the new case, plugged in the power cord, and pressed the power button. It worked. I knew I needed a new computer and now I knew I could build one. I began researching the parts I would use. I spent several weeks evaluating exactly what I would need to build a computer that fit my needs and last as long as possible under my budget. I then ordered the parts and built the computer of my dreams. My confidence in my computer knowledge growing, I built my brother a fast computer as well by salvaging a majority of the parts from old computers.
This passion in technology has motivated me throughout my education as every bit of information could be essential and allow me to amount to something vastly greater than myself. I have worked to pursue greater knowledge of technology and hope to take this knowledge to the next level in my college studies. Who knows, maybe I will one day discover a cure for cancer or something of that magnitude.
Prompt 2: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?
Beads of sweat rolled off my nose as I forced myself to the ground after the sound of the final whistle. The September sun emitted an unforgiving heat that radiated from the turf as well. The odor of recycled water filled my nostrils. The small black pellets scorched the palms of my hands, the pain of which escaped me, replaced by more intense pain that consumed nearly every muscle in my body. My arms throbbed and shook as I made another push off the ground. That marked the tenth whistle of the final set but, I and many others were unable to keep pace with the whistle. Everyone else stopped, regardless of completion. However, that option did not appeal to me. I pushed on through my final two repetitions alone, rolled on my back, and began gasping for air. I had been warned of volleyball conditioning's extreme difficulty but, I had no idea what difficulties were in store, no idea that the stairs would become a mountain when I climbed back up. Soon after we began I realized that I had never before faced such an extremely physical challenge having mistakenly taking P.E in ninth grade fifteen pushups was all that was ever asked. The challenge I had begun would be difficult, but I was willing to climb to the summit of Mt. Everest to become a part of the team.
To my astonishment I completed the entire workout of which fifty pushups were the easier half. I struggled to my feet and gathered for a cheer. I barely had the strength to raise my arms and gasped for air to cheer a "Redondo." Even putting on my backpack was a daunting task as my arms, now nearly immobile, unable to bend even ninety degrees. Yet I knew I merely scratched the surface, but I was ready to embrace the challenge.
Each week was harder than the last but regardless of the challenge I always completed it ignoring the pain which consumed my body. I did not see the pushups, weightlifting, and plyometrics as something I was forced to suffer through in order to play on the RUHS volleyball team, but rather an opportunity to get better. My extreme soreness after each workout represented how much stronger I would become. My exhaustion indicated how much more endurance I would have. Becoming a better volleyball player meant grueling training. Each exercise would help me jump slightly higher, or hit the ball slightly harder. Any lack of effort could be the difference between blocking a ball and the ball brushing against my fingertips, between a point for our team and a point for the other, between a win and a loss, second place and the championship. I knew each and every step, every pushup, and every jump I would make myself that much better, that I was doing everything in my power to become the best I could and to make our team the best.
Junior year I decided that I would create an even greater challenge for myself. I would not only participate in the school volleyball workouts next year, but I would also push myself even harder by also joining a club volleyball team thus increasing my workouts from two to five times a week. Senior year I began weightlifting on my own four times a week on top of my previous commitments, trying to gain even the slightest advantage on my competition. Through my volleyball experience, I have discovered not only how to face an insurmountable challenge, but I also have learned to push myself beyond what seems possible. Hard work, sheer will power, and perseverance are tied to achievement of great things.
also I need to cut 35 words so if you see something i could cut let me know.
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.
"When Nick isn't slaying dragons and curing cancer he builds computers," my friend replies jokingly to the school newspaper interviewer. Although I will likely never slay a dragon or cure cancer, I hope that my fascination in technology will one day lead me to contribute significantly to the world.
When I was only two I would sit on my grandfathers lap and play an old 8-bit side scrolling computer game which asked basic addition and subtraction problems. He helped me use a calculator to solve each problem I was fascinated by the technology and became curious of how it worked. By the age of four I could identify several basic parts of computers and their function. I managed my six gigabyte hard drive installing and uninstalling hundreds of different programs. My grandfather passed away several years later but he had instilled in me a passion for technology which burns more brightly each day.
Each year I would look forward to my family gatherings for various holidays because I couldn't wait to hear about all the things my two electrical engineer uncles were working on. I yearned for day when I too could create something that changes the world. The summer preceding my junior year I decided to put my knowledge of computers to the test. First I decided to transfer an old computer to a new case. I disassembled the entire computer piece by piece taking careful note of how each part interacts, reassembled everything in the new case, plugged in the power cord, and pressed the power button. It worked. I knew I needed a new computer and now I knew I could build one. I began researching the parts I would use. I spent several weeks evaluating exactly what I would need to build a computer that fit my needs and last as long as possible under my budget. I then ordered the parts and built the computer of my dreams. My confidence in my computer knowledge growing, I built my brother a fast computer as well by salvaging a majority of the parts from old computers.
This passion in technology has motivated me throughout my education as every bit of information could be essential and allow me to amount to something vastly greater than myself. I have worked to pursue greater knowledge of technology and hope to take this knowledge to the next level in my college studies. Who knows, maybe I will one day discover a cure for cancer or something of that magnitude.
Prompt 2: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?
Beads of sweat rolled off my nose as I forced myself to the ground after the sound of the final whistle. The September sun emitted an unforgiving heat that radiated from the turf as well. The odor of recycled water filled my nostrils. The small black pellets scorched the palms of my hands, the pain of which escaped me, replaced by more intense pain that consumed nearly every muscle in my body. My arms throbbed and shook as I made another push off the ground. That marked the tenth whistle of the final set but, I and many others were unable to keep pace with the whistle. Everyone else stopped, regardless of completion. However, that option did not appeal to me. I pushed on through my final two repetitions alone, rolled on my back, and began gasping for air. I had been warned of volleyball conditioning's extreme difficulty but, I had no idea what difficulties were in store, no idea that the stairs would become a mountain when I climbed back up. Soon after we began I realized that I had never before faced such an extremely physical challenge having mistakenly taking P.E in ninth grade fifteen pushups was all that was ever asked. The challenge I had begun would be difficult, but I was willing to climb to the summit of Mt. Everest to become a part of the team.
To my astonishment I completed the entire workout of which fifty pushups were the easier half. I struggled to my feet and gathered for a cheer. I barely had the strength to raise my arms and gasped for air to cheer a "Redondo." Even putting on my backpack was a daunting task as my arms, now nearly immobile, unable to bend even ninety degrees. Yet I knew I merely scratched the surface, but I was ready to embrace the challenge.
Each week was harder than the last but regardless of the challenge I always completed it ignoring the pain which consumed my body. I did not see the pushups, weightlifting, and plyometrics as something I was forced to suffer through in order to play on the RUHS volleyball team, but rather an opportunity to get better. My extreme soreness after each workout represented how much stronger I would become. My exhaustion indicated how much more endurance I would have. Becoming a better volleyball player meant grueling training. Each exercise would help me jump slightly higher, or hit the ball slightly harder. Any lack of effort could be the difference between blocking a ball and the ball brushing against my fingertips, between a point for our team and a point for the other, between a win and a loss, second place and the championship. I knew each and every step, every pushup, and every jump I would make myself that much better, that I was doing everything in my power to become the best I could and to make our team the best.
Junior year I decided that I would create an even greater challenge for myself. I would not only participate in the school volleyball workouts next year, but I would also push myself even harder by also joining a club volleyball team thus increasing my workouts from two to five times a week. Senior year I began weightlifting on my own four times a week on top of my previous commitments, trying to gain even the slightest advantage on my competition. Through my volleyball experience, I have discovered not only how to face an insurmountable challenge, but I also have learned to push myself beyond what seems possible. Hard work, sheer will power, and perseverance are tied to achievement of great things.
also I need to cut 35 words so if you see something i could cut let me know.