breannh
Dec 28, 2015
Undergraduate / Helping hand in translating - Common App essay. Does this all work together? [9]
What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response.
Helping Hand
One of my inspirations, Kartar Singh Sarabha, attended Berkeley in 1912. He encountered a lot racism because India was under British rule at the time. He dreamed of freeing India because he believed in peace and justice, and wanted Indians to be accepted at other nations. He moved back to India and fought for India's rights. He was hanged after revolting against British government. I was 12 when my parents told me about moving to US. I didn't want to leave my little world behind.I asked my parents to reconsider but of course they were pensive about our future. And they knew life a lot better than a 12 year old diva.
I hopped on the plane for the first time in my life. It was astonishing. When the plane landed, I saw this really gorgeous blonde girl and I turned over to my cousin and said, " Oh my god!! Look at her, she looks like a real life Barbie doll". I was soon forced out of my childhood because my parents didn't speak English and I only spoke very little English. Thanks to my amazing teachers and fellow students who made me feel accepted when I started school. My teachers helped me to enhance my English. I started loving school and worked really hard on my English at home. Soon I was told that I didn't need to take any ESL classes because I placed really high on the WASL(Washington Assessment of Student Learning) test. I was really overjoyed.Unfortunately, I encountered my worst fear of losing my loved ones. I lost 8 of my loved ones in 2015. All of these deaths were unforeseen and left me emotionally damaged. I felt adrift, numb, and sad. I sensed my stomach drop and anticipated nothing was wrong but later perceived that this was the new normal. This phase of my life has taught me so much. I had difficulty handling so many deaths. I started dealing with anxiety and depression. This really affected my school as my grades dropped. Though I still deal with anxiety attacks, I won against my depression. I am a lot stronger now than I was before.
I am so grateful for my teachers. I look up to them everyday. I was seeking for an opportunity to thank my teachers. A new student from India started school, and she didn't speak any English. I was asked if I wanted to help, and I took that opportunity with a smile. I showed the girl around our school, introduced her to teachers, and helped her in translating. I stayed after school to teach her English because I was in her spot just a few months ago. I helped her with everything, and soon she passed her English test and didn't have to take any ESL classes. I was so happy for her accomplishment. I realized that I loved helping others so I started volunteering at our local library where English classes are held for adults. I translated for the Punjabi and Hindi students. I was offered the position of an assistant teacher. I got to help many individuals grow, and do great things in life.
This was such a great experience for me. My family went through the hardship of not knowing English. Thanks to our amazing community for helping and encouraging my family to learn English.I can't thank Kartar Singh Sarabha enough for fighting for India's independence and helping Indians feel welcomed at foreign countries. I love giving back to my community because without them I wouldn't be where I am today. I plan on contributing my knowledge to fight against inequality in the world.
What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response.
Helping Hand
One of my inspirations, Kartar Singh Sarabha, attended Berkeley in 1912. He encountered a lot racism because India was under British rule at the time. He dreamed of freeing India because he believed in peace and justice, and wanted Indians to be accepted at other nations. He moved back to India and fought for India's rights. He was hanged after revolting against British government. I was 12 when my parents told me about moving to US. I didn't want to leave my little world behind.I asked my parents to reconsider but of course they were pensive about our future. And they knew life a lot better than a 12 year old diva.
I hopped on the plane for the first time in my life. It was astonishing. When the plane landed, I saw this really gorgeous blonde girl and I turned over to my cousin and said, " Oh my god!! Look at her, she looks like a real life Barbie doll". I was soon forced out of my childhood because my parents didn't speak English and I only spoke very little English. Thanks to my amazing teachers and fellow students who made me feel accepted when I started school. My teachers helped me to enhance my English. I started loving school and worked really hard on my English at home. Soon I was told that I didn't need to take any ESL classes because I placed really high on the WASL(Washington Assessment of Student Learning) test. I was really overjoyed.Unfortunately, I encountered my worst fear of losing my loved ones. I lost 8 of my loved ones in 2015. All of these deaths were unforeseen and left me emotionally damaged. I felt adrift, numb, and sad. I sensed my stomach drop and anticipated nothing was wrong but later perceived that this was the new normal. This phase of my life has taught me so much. I had difficulty handling so many deaths. I started dealing with anxiety and depression. This really affected my school as my grades dropped. Though I still deal with anxiety attacks, I won against my depression. I am a lot stronger now than I was before.
I am so grateful for my teachers. I look up to them everyday. I was seeking for an opportunity to thank my teachers. A new student from India started school, and she didn't speak any English. I was asked if I wanted to help, and I took that opportunity with a smile. I showed the girl around our school, introduced her to teachers, and helped her in translating. I stayed after school to teach her English because I was in her spot just a few months ago. I helped her with everything, and soon she passed her English test and didn't have to take any ESL classes. I was so happy for her accomplishment. I realized that I loved helping others so I started volunteering at our local library where English classes are held for adults. I translated for the Punjabi and Hindi students. I was offered the position of an assistant teacher. I got to help many individuals grow, and do great things in life.
This was such a great experience for me. My family went through the hardship of not knowing English. Thanks to our amazing community for helping and encouraging my family to learn English.I can't thank Kartar Singh Sarabha enough for fighting for India's independence and helping Indians feel welcomed at foreign countries. I love giving back to my community because without them I wouldn't be where I am today. I plan on contributing my knowledge to fight against inequality in the world.
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