Undergraduate / UVA essay- 250 word limit- a small engineering project to help a friend or family member. [3]

For many years my family and I would drive to Richmond, Virginia to visit with relatives, including my great-grandmother. Through those seventeen years, I watched my great-grandmother struggle with everyday activities and found myself wondering: What can I do to help? One problem, in particular, was getting in and out of a vehicle. It was always an inconvenience for her to stand up out of her wheelchair and try to force herself into the passenger seat.

My engineering project is to create an extension from the car that would allow a person in a wheelchair to slide into the car seat instead of struggling to stand up and try to lower themselves into the seat. It would be a small board made of (MATERIAL) and attached to the side of the seat. It hinges beside the seat and can be lifted and locked into place when ready for use. To use it you would simply lift the board and lock it into place, then remove or fold the arm on the wheelchair (which is already a function on most wheelchairs), and position the wheelchair next to the board.

This idea is fairly simple and relatively cheap, but could help many people. Anyone in a wheelchair could benefit as well as those who assist them. They wouldn't have to worry about injuring themselves or the person in the wheelchair by trying to pick them up.

Undergraduate / Etcetera: the most mysterious word in the English language. [2]

What is your favorite word and why? Do you think this is a good essay for UVA application?

Etcetera:

the most mysterious word in the English language. A word that is used to represent literally anything. A word with such importance and such great use, but one that is rarely ever written in its complete form, and instead is abbreviated. How can a word with such purpose only be worthy of three letters followed by a period?

The reason that I like the word etcetera so much is because of its functionality. It can mean anything in the world, and to me, it is crazy to think that this word, which derives from a language that is now dead, is the only word in the English language that can mean whatever we want.

From one line to the next, etcetera is able to change in meaning, and I can relate to that. One of my greatest strengths is my ability to participate in and communicate with a wide variety of groups. In any given day I can go from Latin Convention to basketball practice comfortably.

Social settings dictate how we interact and connect with others and this is a life skill. Interacting effectively and comfortably with people in any situation is a hallmark of a good leader, and I believe, one of my strengths. Matt Byram: Son, brother, friend, athlete, student, etcetera.