Undergraduate / Is it better to live with a single parent than living with both in an uncomfortable relationship? [10]

Hey, guys..this is my first time on this forum.Since English is my second language there may be many mistakes.But, any critics and suggestions are welcome :)

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.

They stared at me constantly from the corner of the room. I remained far from that clumsy and dark rectangular room, too far to witness their ungainly faces, yet I felt their pity for me. Weeping, I was left alone to preserve with the obnoxious surroundings-a police station.

"It's better to live with a single parent than living with both parents in an uncomfortable relationship"; came the words which can scare the wits out of any six year old girl. Nevertheless, the cop told them without showing some prudence. Maybe he was unable to understand the tender emotions of a kid surrounded by lock-ups and those frightening MojoJojos. I'd in no way had imagined that my parents would complain of "Domestic Violence" against each other. Domestic Violence, what's that? However, even the Power Puff Girls couldn't have saved me from the invidious situation where I was being asked to select one between my parents. The cop uttered several terms such as divorce, hearing, and alimony, though my tiny brain could let in only two-name one. Clearly, those days sullied my innocence, my dreams, and my fairy tales alike.

FORTUNATELY or UNFORTUNATELY, they refused to divorce and remained ambivalent regarding their marriage. But it neither stopped those frequent court letters from bundling up in the mailbox nor my tears from spoiling my books. Somewhere deep inside it developed into my biggest adversary.

Childhood memories are to cherish throughout one's life, however that isn't the case here. I hated summer breaks, days my friends spent backpacking and I sulked in thoughts of their exciting and adventurous plans. Our family hardly went for vacations, but when we did, only images that flashes are not on those pristine beaches, or hilltop resorts, or parks but of their inevitabledisputes. I tremendously endured the sufferings. With each year passing by my grades had a steep decline. I was wounded emotionally and gradually turned anomic. Soon, devastating summers comparably turned peaceful when dad separated. Time I spent witnessing the deepening of mom's inverted smile (as I call it). No doubt, pictures of dad skating or attending the annual parents-teacher meeting are something my subconscious album lacks. My mind always occupied with his thoughts. He still dons his favorite blue shirt on Mondays? How much beard, he must have grown? Now who helps him find his lost files? And above all, does he miss his daughter? In general, five years seemed five centuries of my life. However, those years gave certain maturity no other child of my age had- the Power of acceptance.

"When we oppose and resist reality, life becomes an endless series of disappointments, frustrations and sorrows. Once we learn to accept and embrace, we find real happiness." David Richo author of "Five Things we cannot Change" This has changed my perception towards endurance. Adopting an attitude of acceptance can neutralize unpleasant experiences and transform them into pleasant ones. If our own selves don't make an effort to acknowledge, we'll go on chasing shadows and far away mirages forever, never realizing that they only appear beautiful when it's distant from us.

I accepted my world the way it persisted and found myself in a constant state of elation and peace. This knowledge provided me with the opportunity to bring them back together with just a mere conversation of my thought. I learned significantly in life from their "FAILED" marriage, the way people refer; nonetheless with the passage of time we are embracing further love and acceptance.

Is it too bad?...i'm nervous...

Writing Feedback / Dream, the only harmless drug in the world - gap year explanation [14]

Hi, this is my gap year explanation essay.Apart from the grammatical mistakes , i'm quite concerned with the last para.Any suggestions, critiques are welcomed. Help!

Dream, the only harmless drug in the world. We may have an overdose, though the hangover needs to be controlled with passion, determination and conviction. I dreamt of studying in the US.

Having attended a 9 to 4 school and other tutorial classes, my high school days were spent remaining outside for almost twelve hours a day. Only after graduation, I realized that four crucial years of my life were spent in-studying for school, for tuitions, and state and national levels. When results were declared, I was shocked and had no words to describe my grief. It took me days to swallow the fact that the girl, once who scored A's and who was famous for her computer programming has failed to secure a place in a government college.

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Undergraduate / Apart from studies, University of Pennsylvania has abundance of sources and activities to explore [19]

The admission committee would like to learn why you are a good fit for your undergraduate school choice. Please tell us about specific academic , service, and research opportunities at the University of Penn that resonate with your background, interests and goals.

His bright red eyes, his ruminations, his tricks and smartness are what have been fascinating me since I first saw him. He is my hero, he is the "foolproof and incapable of error" HAL 9000. An inspiration from where I developed my interests in Computers, AI, and the human brain. Agreed, there have been numerous inventions like him, but none innate with all his almost human emotions and perceptions. But wait, he is a lethal discovery of AI. The field of study which will eliminate the humankind in the near future.

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Undergraduate / Untranslatable meanings of special words - UChicago Supplement [4]

In French, there is no difference between "conscience" and "consciousness." In Japanese, there is a word that specifically refers to the splittable wooden chopsticks you get at restaurants. The German word "fremdschämen" encapsulates the feeling you get when you're embarrassed on behalf of someone else. All of these require explanation in order to properly communicate their meaning, and are, to varying degrees, untranslatable. Choose a word, tell us what it means, and then explain why it cannot (or should not) be translated from its original language.

In the northern realm of the country, it is known as 'Gol Gappa', whereas the denizens of the western frontier call it 'Pani Puri'. The Sultans of the medieval era called it 'Paani Ke Batashe' and the people in the south-eastern call it 'Gup Chup'. But, "Phuchka", as we call it here, can be regarded as a staple evening snack for the Kolkatans. And when it comes to street food, Phuchka is the indisputable leader.

A deep fried and crisp hollow sphere stuffed with a delicious mix of mashed potatoes and served with a hard hitting tangy sensation of pickled tamarind water, is as much a treat to the eyes as they are to the mouth. And the name "Phuchka" is the only word representing this particular recipe, because the rest of the eleven names it has imply different 'Pani' (water) and 'Puri' (stuffing) across India. Having grown up in various cities, I have tried and tasted all the twelve different recipes and styles, but none comes close to the one made in my city-Kolkata.

Phuchka has its name from the bursting sound "Phuch" when it is eaten (Indeed!).The originality of its taste and name goes deep down in our Bengali culture roots. The word represents Kolkata's likeness for tangy and over spicy food choice. It carries emotions of thousands of people of the city and definitely would not prefer its name to be translated. What if tomorrow you are asked to change your official name? Yes, there comes a void. That's what the power of a name is.

For foreigners in India, especially in Kolkata, the name Phuchka can seem more difficult to chew than the dish itself. However, for their convenience, some sellers have even gone far trying to translate it in English. Then comes what? "Watery Breads" and "Crisp Spheres"! The name Phuchka itself invades our senses with its aroma, even before we dig into it. However, 'bread' or 'sphere' surely can't wet your taste buds when away from it. Instead, it leads the unknowns to believing that it is bread which needs to be dipped in spicy tamarind water and eaten. Oh, please! (Let's not try the translation again).

The name Phuchka makes us long for some bite, even if we just finished our lunch. It signifies our search for the best "Phuchka Walla" (seller) in our locality. It signifies the food gathering (gossips) we have around the stall. It signifies the debate we have with strangers around the stall about the correct amount of chickpeas or chilies the Phuchka Walla should have used, and the always asking for extra free bites. It signifies that blissful moment when I put the first piece in my mouth (ask an Indian). Nothing lifts my mood than screaming "Phuchkaaaa", when suggesting a quick hang out with friends. And this name sounds hundred times delicious and better than Watery Breads.

However, all these points about Phuchka have made me crave for some and I need to run to my nearest Phuchka Walla now!

Undergraduate / I learned the sport all by myself - Skating - Extracurricular Activities essay [13]

Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences.(150)

Left leg first, imagine your right leg on an "S", start from the tail, draw the symbol and push yourself. Left leg and an 'S' with your right.

Still in pain from the last night bruises, I put my legs on the cold metal plates, in the early winter morning, and moved ahead. Not to fall, but glide against the striking winds. Yes, I could finally skate! I started skating from my first grade when I noticed two mysterious shoes with wheels, hanging in a store. After continuous spills and toppling over for weeks, I learned the sport all by myself. I don't know how this 'S' method came into being, but I'm proud that I designed my style. Friends say it's not the correct method. But who cares? Until I beat them in races. Until it makes me feel like a bird.