Undergraduate / Being Chinese and adopted ; Central to IDENTITY [4]

#1: Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

Please help with mechanical errors! And if you've got the time, help me assess whether this addresses the prompt well enough and sounds strong. I'm not the most confident writer...

I'll help with any of your essays too, make sure to comment.

Since childhood, I have known that being Chinese and adopted set me apart from others, even in my own family. Growing up in a university town, being Asian was not a rarity, but I endured my fair share of abuse early on. Despite my physical appearance, English was my first language. I ate American-style Chinese take out. I wore Gap hand me downs. I felt similarly as American as I felt un-Chinese. Connecting with the culture I was born with and the one I was raised with was seemingly impossible. Even more, relating to my family has always been difficult. Partly because of the ethnic and social stigmas I carried that none of them could possibly empathize with, and the odd dynamic I created in the family upon my arrival. My brothers have been around together for longer, and share the same father. As for my mother, who raised me alone, the huge generational gap was evident; our morals and personalities simply clashed. When my brothers grew up and moved away and my mom got remarried, my connection with them grew limited and I became more prone to conflict with my mom. My family's arrangement just didn't seem to be cut for me. This disconnection I have experienced in my family and in society has forced me to question who I really am and ultimately, where I belong.

Whether it's within my own family or society, I have never felt included. I'm the perpetual foreigner in a country that I have lived in for nearly my entire life. My knowledge of Chinese culture is limited. When my other family members reminisce, I am often left alone. I have no relation to the man whose last name I bear. People have more expectations about what I should be, in their eyes, than I felt I knew about myself. This struggle has cultivated the aspiration to understand that I believe is truly central to my identity. This ambition manifests in my actions in many ways: I want nothing more than to learn about peoples' struggles, their backgrounds, and what makes them tick; I can spend hours talking to someone about their childhood, or researching a person I find interesting; I would rather not speak at all than participate in vapid small talk. Academically, I'm not the type who can storm through an assignment just to get it completed. I've lost countless hours of sleep just trying to grasp a concept or correctly solve a problem. I dedicate much of my time in thought.

What many fail to realize is that there is more to a person than the circumstances that they are dealt with. My ethnicity and family situation caused experiences that have shaped my identity, but they do not define me as a person. Years ago, I questioned why my race and appearance were at expense. As time wore on, the taunts seemed superficial and repetitive to me. I eventually came to realize that society's preconceptions do not define your worth. Struggling to connect with my Asian and American cultures has made me fascinated with other peoples' backgrounds. My family struggle has been the hardest, and many times I have felt stuck and hopeless where I am. However, in spite of how out of place I feel, I try to see past the surface and connect a person's story to their actions. I believe that keeping an open mind is one of the most essential qualities a person can exhibit. Having experienced first hand the many different individuals around me, I hope to change the way we as humans interact with each other. I want to have an impact, and helping others who have gone through similar struggles as my own is how I will find my place in the world.

Undergraduate / Students and Staff ; unique qualities of Northwestern [4]

Be as critical as you can! Besides mechanical errors, please let me know if I could use a stronger tone, assess the prompter better, be more specific, etc. Also, I hit word limit and I wanted to elaborate on the 1st paragraph more... whoops.

What are the unique qualities of Northwestern - and of the specific undergraduate school to which you are applying - that make you want to attend the University? In what ways do you hope to take advantage of the qualities you have identified? (250 words)

I paid my first visit to a college at Northwestern, prospects for my future in clouded disarray. The high ranking, academic rigor, and situation near the lively city of Chicago both intimated and excited me. My tour guides, close friends, guided me through the beautiful campus, growing nostalgic about their experiences at the school. I felt at home at Northwestern.

I was overwhelmed by all the new information hitting me at once. The students and staff embraced what I felt was unpreparedness, anxiety. Rather than stiff commitment, they promoted the exploration of interests. With some pressure relieved by this revelation, I began to connect some of the unspoken ambitions that lurked throughout my mind.

I believe everyone should approach others with an open mind; everyone has a unique story, and none should be overlooked. I aspire to study the interactions of people, learn about history as well as how to shape the future, and experience as many cultures as I can. I also want to find myself invigorated by new passions.

At the Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences, I will take advantage of the multitude of opportunities abroad and interning, opportunities inaccessible in smaller institutions. However, Northwestern also appeals to me for its personal feel. Every individual I met was helpful, vibrant. Fiercely determined, but not cutthroat academics. The smaller classes would allow me to excel without feeling restricted. The environment at Northwestern provides just the right balance for me to find myself, explore my passions, and construct my future.

Undergraduate / Syracuse - who/what influenced ; dream person; work experience;real-world experiences [4]

I'm less concerned about mechanical errors (still point them out if you see them) but please let me know if I sound cliche, repetitive, rambly, generic, or I'm not addressing the question well enough. Thank you!

Who or what influenced you to apply to Syracuse University
Growing up in a college town has influenced me to seek out other strong academic schools rich in opportunity and diversity. However, after living in such a small town for the bulk of my life, I'm much more interested in schools with a city setting, which can offer even greater opportunities. After researching the school, I think that Syracuse University could be a good fit for me, as I believe that diversity, real-world experience, and a dynamic environment are key in my college selection process.

Who is the person you dream of becoming and how do you believe Syracuse University can help you achieve this?
I hope to open my mind and experience as much as I can during my college years. Syracuse University's city setting and study abroad programs appeal to me because I believe that they offer a multitude of impacting opportunities. I would not only receive an excellent education, but also gain a much richer understanding of the individuals who share this earth with me.

If you have had work experience, what skills and/or knowledge did you gain?
When I worked at the University of Illinois Law Library, all I had to do was move books and trash old ones. Most of the time, I was sitting in a room alone tearing up books that needed to be recycled. While others were relying on me to finish the job, I still had complete autonomy. Ultimately, I could have slacked off and no one probably would have noticed, but I chose to rip up books for hours because I knew that it needed to be done. I learned that, 1) I would like to avoid having a monotonous job later in my life, and 2) Responsibility means that I must stay dedicated to my goal even if others aren't watching.

Based on your interests, tell us what real-world experiences you might pursue during your education at Syracuse as part of the University's Mission, Scholarship in Action?

I aspire to take on a more active role in life, as I feel like I have sunken into routine in many ways, and I haven't been able to express myself as much as I've wanted. This includes becoming more involved in my education, because I can think of too many times when a class has been simply taking notes and copying answers from a textbook. Studying abroad sits high on my list of priorities, and I believe it will provide a refreshing change of pace as well as open my mind to new experiences.