Undergraduate / My dream of studying and helping aqautic animals - UC Essay #1 [16]

UC Essay #1: Describe the world you come from- for example, your family, your community, or your school. How has your world shaoed your dreams and aspirations?

Beads of sweat raced down my palms as I approached Casa Grande High School for the very first time at the ripe age of thirteen. The quarter of a mile walk from my house to the school appeared to take mere seconds as the overwhleming feeling of entering a new world put my mind in a haze; I expected to get lost, made fun of, or be completely ignored. I had forgotten my school map at home and was far too intimidated to ask for assistance, so I quickly became lost; the school was divided into several buildings. I began to walk towards the office, the only building I knew the location of, when a tall man in faded blue jeans and a black shirt with a fish in the upper left hand corner approached me and asked if I needed any help. I was so shocked that someone had reached out to me that I failed to respond for a good minute. This nice man revealed that he was Mr. Furrer, the wildlife biology teacher and the founder of the United Anglers program on campus. This spontaneous encounter changed my high school experience in a way I never could have imagined.

After assiting me, Mr. Furrer invited me to have lunch with him at the hatchery, where his classroom was located. I was extremely anxious throughout my morning classes and could not wait to see Mr. Furrer again and ask him the millions of questions that were swimming around in my head. The bell finally rang at twelve thirty and I pulled my map out heading for what would soon become my safe haven.

A polar bear, a grizzly bear, geckos, and salamanders were what I encountered upon entering Mr. Furrer's classroom with my mind in utter amazement. I could not fathom that such a fascinating room could actually exist outside of a museum; I knew I had to be a part of this amazing class in any way possible. Mr. Furrer informed me about his United Anglers program, which has completely resurrected the Adobe Creek and now works to save Fall Run Chinook Salmon stuck in the Petaluma River. I applied for a position in the program immediately and have been a part of it for the past three years. Since becoming a part of the program, my perception of school has completely changed. In the past, teachers and students alike would stress the importance of learning, but it was implicitly obvious that grades were their main concern. I believed that grades were all that mattered in order to get into a good school because that was what I was taught, however the United Anglers program presented me with an entirely different viewpoint. I learned that while grades are important, they should not be the sole focus of one's high school years; teenagers need to be exposed to as many different situations as they can so they are able to grow and mature and that simply does not happen if they constantly have their heads stuck in books studying.

In the United Anglers program, we primarily work as a unit outside of the classroom where a plethora of activities can be performed. We work to educate the community about keeping the city clean and conservation, which comes in the forms of giving tours of our student-run hatchery and teaching elementary school kids about salmon and their life cycle. It is through these experiences that I have learned the most about myself. This program has increased my confidence through working with a myriad of people in sundry situations. As time has gone on and I work with more and more fish, I find that I want to study them more than I want to spawn them. My love of aquatic animals and my fascination with science are now equal and I found that I could combine them with marine biology.

My love for both persists and I can only dream of studying and helping aqautic animals of all sorts because they play such a valuable role in the world. I find the personal fulfillment that I will achieve in this field far more valuable than anything else. As I approach the next stage in my life, I am prepared to experience my two passions on a more serious level and in a way that will impact the entire world rather than just one community. I want to be that person who explores the seas and discovers new species and educates people about the amazing creatures that live where most people never have the opportunity to travel.

*This is my rough draft all editing and other feedback is well appreciated!

Undergraduate / My dad has sensitive skin; Casa Grande High School, UC Essay #2 [15]

UC Essay #2: Tell us about a personal quality, talent, experience, contribution, or accomplishment that you bring to the University of California. What makes you proud of this quality or accomplishment and how does it relate to the person you are? (472)

* This is a rough draft. Not sure if it answers the question enough. Editing and other feedback is greatly appreciated!

The bitter taste of freshly made leomade burst into my mouth as my dad and I enjoyed a nice summer day in the backyard. It was a typical summer day with my sister chasing the dog around the grass as my parents and I were engaged in a conversation with our neighbors, who were over for the afternoon. My dad has sensitive skin, so after a few hours he had to move inside. I followed along not wanting to end our conversation. His face was extremely red and I worried he had been in the sun too long.

After we had all eaten, everyone congregated to the family room to watch a movie. About thirty minutes into The Incredibles, I got the overwhelming sensation that something was not right. I looked around and did not notice anything unusual until I glanced at my dad; he was having trouble breathing. His skin was an unimaginable shade of white. I screamed out of shock as the adults surrounded him and my mom called 911. It felt as if my world had suddenly frozen: the moment was dragging on, as I feared that I would never laugh with him again.

Our neighbor rode with my dad in the abulance, while my mother rushed the rest if us to the hospital. Sitting in the waiting room was agonizing; I was shaking uncontrollably. Two hours after we had arrived, we were allowed to see him. I started crying on the way, not knowng what to expect. As I walked into the room, I saw his smiling face and normal skin tone. My tears changed from that of fear to that of happiness.

The doctor informed my mom that a side affect of my dad's cholesteral medication was fainting if he spent too much time in the sun and was not drinking enough liquids. I knew that his sensitivity to the sun had also played a significant role. He had pushed himself to far and should have gone inside sooner.

This expereice has taught me that I need to appreciate my parents more. My bonds with both of them are bonds that I will never be able to replace. This scary encounter made me realize that I need to enjoy ery precious moment that we get to spend together because I never know when they can be taken from me. I have learned that I need to take more risks and be more open to the sundry opportunities that I will come across throughtout my life.