Undergraduate / Home is Where Honduras is - some things are best when together - my goal and passion [5]

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.

Home is Where Honduras is

Early 2006, after a four-hour flight, I had arrived to the place my mother calls "home" and where I would call home some time later in my life. Upon reaching my destination and looking out of the window, I was in unimpressed with the little I saw of Tegucigalpa and in doubt of what the future held. I asked my mother, "Why did you want to move here?" After a long pause, she answered, "Open your eyes, Andrew, and see what's around you. Honduras offers us much more than you think." I should have listened to her.

From a young age, I had been told that the only constant thing in this world is change. I learned this first-hand. Six months before that flight, I remember enjoying my days without concern about the future. I lived in my hometown of New Orleans, where I enjoyed a stable, upper-middle class, suburban lifestyle. I am grateful for those days. Despite being told so, I was unaware that change was down the road. On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. Being young, I didn't think there was much to it. I had assumed that after Katrina, I would go back to my daily routine in New Orleans. I was wrong. During Katrina, my parents told my brother and I, "As soon as the storm blows over, we are moving to Honduras." Having lived in New Orleans my whole life, I distinctly remember that moment as one where I felt that life was falling apart.

To be honest, at the time, I did not only dislike the idea of leaving New Orleans but I also disliked the fact that I was leaving it to go to Tegucigalpa. In my eyes, Tegucigalpa was a place that was too far behind industrially, economically, and politically. For the most part, my feelings toward Honduras remained the same for a couple of years but were changing gradually toward the better after that. It was due to my denial that I didn't notice the certain charm Honduras offered. It grew on me. Soon enough, Honduras became my second home, not only by flesh and blood but on an emotional level as well. What I used to see as an undeveloped and unfair society, I now see as a diamond in the rough. More specifically, I saw my future unfold itself before me. Living in Honduras made me realize what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I want to industrialize and develop Honduras, my home.

In my opinion, there are things that are best when they are together with my goal and my passion being a prime example. It only took a couple of years of living here to realize what my goal was. It was and still is to industrialize and develop my home, Honduras, for the better. Years later, by letting time takes its course and taking advantage of the opportunities my school offered me, I found out what my passion was. I knew that I loved the idea of engineering. It was then that it hit me. I realized that I could accomplish my goal through my passion. Through engineering, I could industrialize the country and, with a chain reaction, I could accomplish my goal of developing my home. The pieces of the puzzle were finally coming together.

Even though I did not like the idea at first, living in Honduras has been the most rewarding experience in my life. It revealed to me the path I want to follow in life, something I will be grateful for as long as I live. Despite thinking so at one point, life wasn't falling apart. It was actually falling into place.

Undergraduate / Diversity is a beautiful thing. Imagine how boring the world would be if it were homogenous [8]

Diversity is a beautiful thing. Imagine how boring the world would be if it were homogenous. Diversity, or the lack of it, was always on my mind when it came to the sports my school offered. There were only three sports offered at my school: basketball, soccer, and volleyball. I really enjoyed sports yet none of these seemed to be the right fit for me. Like many others, I thought that the possibilities were limited.

Last year, I noticed a trophy that looked remarkably different from the rest in one of the gym teacher's office. On the top of the trophy, there was a man running instead of someone playing basketball, soccer, or volleyball. I asked him about it. He explained that the school used to offer cross-country and track & field but a budget cut in the nineties stopped it indefinitely. He then mentioned something that really struck me. He said, "We haven't had these sports for twenty years. I want to start them again but I don't think anyone would join and I don't want to waste my time." No more than a minute later, I wrote down my information and signed up. Both, cross-country and track & field, were reborn. A week later, we had about 15 members for both clubs.

It was on the field where I grew love for the sports and I instantly knew why. I realized I was my biggest competitor and my biggest supporter. When something does not go my way or if I do not win, there is no teammate or competitor to blame. If I win, it isn't because of someone else's talent or skill. The result depends solely on myself, no matter what the outcome, and I love that. Due to this, these sports catalyzed my sense of discipline and ambition. Almost everyday, I would run as long and as hard as I could. Some days were better than others but stopping was not an option. If I stopped running, on the field or altogether, I would lose my sense of discipline and impede my ambition to improve myself both on and off the field. Ultimately, stopping means losing against myself. When, and if, that day comes, as my biggest supporter, I have the obligation to pick myself up, brush myself off, and keep on running. Both, cross-country and track & field, taught me that I have to keep on moving forward.

This is the answer to Vandy's supplement question. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.