Undergraduate / I was offered an opportunity to study in the USA for one year at the age of fifteen to sixteen [3]

Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

After having been constantly taken care of and protected by my family members starting from my childhood, I was offered an opportunity to study in the United States for one year at the age of fifteen to sixteen. It was a brand new life for me because it was the very first time for me to stay in a foreign country where there weren't any familiar context. I learned not only how to solve difficulties by myself but also trained my independence at the age of fifteen. I fully appreciated the valuable opportunity provided by parents that was not very ordinary to many teenagers.

The most challenging tasks for me to face were to speak in English only and interact with classmates from around the world. At the beginning, I was shocked that I have to handle all the situations by myself without any assistance from my family. The only two words I used most frequently were yes and no. Little by little, with the encouragement by new classmates and teachers I learned how to communicate with what I had learned. Finally, I could catch up with school schedules and fit in the dormitory life. For example, once when I recognized that the season had turned from summer to winter I ordered a quilt with cotton wadding because I knew that I had to take care of myself otherwise it might lead to a asthma trouble.

Unfortunately, once I had found out someone had made unauthorized use of my credit card; I panicked because I had lost five hundred dollars. As an underage girl, I went into the bank and reached the counter as soon as possible. I kept insisting and confirming that I hadn't purchased those products. However, it wasn't that successful because the bank teller thought I was just a little girl who was causing a disturbance. I knew that I was capable to solve the difficulties as an underage girl I signed up a meeting with the bank manager and examined each possible detail that could prove I was innocent. Fortunately, the truth had brought into daylight I found out it was a girl who lived next door used my credit card without my permission. As sixteen years old adolescence, I wasn't afraid of solving difficulties by myself although sometimes there might be language barriers.

I was pleased that my mom had offered me an opportunity to study abroad for a year. To me, that year was like a rite of passage because it marked a point when I began taking more responsibility for myself. I had grown up not only externally but also internally. Although sometimes I might mishap and faced impediment I learned from the lesson in order to avoid of happening again. This single experience accumulates my ability of being independent and had positively influenced my future along the way.

Undergraduate / ''Who else in your classroom has this opportunity to travel to The United States at this age?" [2]

Syracuse University - Who or what influenced you to apply to Syracuse University?

Every dear summer time in the elementary, I would travel to the United States to visit my aunt by myself. In those short precious time, my visions comparing to other classmates has changed because I firsthand a completely different culture. My mother often said, ''who else in your classroom has this opportunity to travel to The United States at this age?" It wasn't a sense of pride but the more often she mentioned the question the more I cherish and devoted into these opportunities. Having relatives that studied abroad was an advantage for the next generations. Whenever my aunt had classes a teacher would have babysit me. At the age of ten that was the first time I acknowledge the Syracuse University. When I the teacher asked me what do you want to be in the future? I answered her undoubtedly that I wanted to be a businesswoman just like my mom. Right after that she told me that there is a excellent school near here that take care of international student nicely with the mascot of Otto the Orange thereby a-ten-year old kid was attracted by it. To you it may be a coincident but to me it was a little girl's dream that wanted to attend into the business school in Syracuse University. Two years ago, when I went back to the United States to studied in the for grade nine, I further research and heard the diverse programs of Syracuse University by the school facilities. Starting from that time, I slowly force myself to achieve my goals through the way out. After all the decisions and actions, getting into the Syracuse University is now a mission for me that I needed to accomplish. I strongly believe that this school will fit me ideally as an undergraduate student.