Undergraduate / Thrill interspersed with some doubts - CSID application [6]

im having trouble choosing fancy words to make my essays sound mature. review

Essay Topic # 5
Tell us more about one of the activities you listed above by explaining what your goals were, the role you played, and what you learned in the process. (Maximum 200 words)

When I first found out about the opening of a volunteering position at CSID I was instantaneously thrilled but at the same time doubtful. Thrilled by the thought of being able to help and spend time with the unfortunate children with all sorts of disability, doubtful about my capability to get along with them since I've never dealt with anything like this before.

Initially I wanted to visit the slum areas twice a month and spend the weekend getting to know their lives. I wanted to build a sense of trust. By assisting the senior workers with demonstrating social safeguard actions and giving them knowledge about the government and its plans for underprivileged kids such as 'child budgeting' I realized I wanted to visit them more therefore I made weekly visits.

Apart from the serious work, the children and volunteers spend afternoons singing, dancing and reciting. I was amazed by the talent present there. It was truly an enlightening experience. Saying goodbye to the kids was really tough. I can honestly say, and my colleagues can vouch for this, I have become so much more grateful and still learning to be happy with little in life.

Undergraduate / Long division and logarithms are not for me - what in exchange? [5]

Essay Topic #4
Be it inside or outside of the classroom, what have you done to challenge yourself intellectually? Describe an issue, topic or area of study that you have investigated or pursued. (maximum 200 words)

"Changing Tracks"

After the first two weeks of pure math classes during my O levels, it had become clear that long division and logarithms just wasn't for me. I had made a convenient decision to drop the subject and focus on the business ones. Little did I know, A-level mathematics was a detailed extension of what was taught in pure math.

I was terrified knowing all my friends who had taken pure math would be one step ahead of me. In class, our teacher skipped the first few chapters as majority of the students, unlike me, could easily solve the problems themselves. My home tutor would be shocked every time I couldn't do a sum. Every class I had to hear 'should've taken pure math'; I was completely filled with regret.

However, I understood the importance of math and how helpful it would be in the future. As tough as balancing extra classes and hours of studying math with my other subjects had been, I was persistent and motivated. I took to YouTube for help and all-nighters had become a part of my routine. I doubled my effort by staying focused on just studying.

Receiving an A in my mock examination had made all the effort and a lack of social life completely worth it.

Undergraduate / 'Can I be the next team captain?' A bizarre situation and my reaction [3]

Essay Topic #1
Explain how you responded to a problem and/or an unfamiliar situation. What did you do, what was the outcome, and what did you learn from the experience? (maximum 200 words)

An ominous rhythm

When I finally felt secure with my life, and found a familiar rhythm that I was comfortable with; life as I knew it was snatched from me.

I had started my academic life at maple leaf, continuing my education there for eight years. I effectively managed to avoid making new friends by deferring to two close friends and sticking to our small group. I skipped presentation days during project works.

Summer of 2011 my father broke news that we were moving to a new area which meant a new school. Tears welled up in my eyes just by thinking about adjusting to a whole new school. While picking out classes for eighth grade I decided to step out my element and enroll in a debate club.

My heart would start pounding during roll calls'; speaking amongst 20 excellent debaters was on another level of nightmares. Yet I never gave up. With time I stopped reading off my script and made eye contact with the audience. I learnt the importance of interaction which helped increase my self-esteem and establish a sense of self.

Soon, I asked my teammates, something I never imagined myself saying 'Can I be the next team captain?'

Undergraduate / "With great power, comes great responsibility" - essay for college [6]

My future depends on this, can someone proofread my essay for college, its short.

Essay Topic #2
We frequently work in groups that are diverse in terms of culture, experiences, personalities and skills. What have you found to be the most difficult part of reaching agreements and achieving goals when working in such groups? How did you manage it? Please provide a specific example. (maximum 200 words)

The Human Heart

"With great power, comes great responsibility". A few years ago I would have said that this statement was little more than cliché. My thirteen-year-old self would have heard it from teachers, read it in books, billboards or bumper stickers but never would have thought it would apply to my life.

During our annual science fair, I was given the title of team captain by my teacher. To this day I'll never know on what basis, she had made this decision given that science is not my strongest suit. However, I chose to rise to the occasion and make the most of it.

At first I had no clue as to how I would motivate my teammates as there were no tangible rewards. I told them how the certificate can help them in school and college applications which turned out to be successful. I divided the work based on each member's specialty and made sure I did my part efficiently. That way my teammates were encouraged to so as well. In my brief period of captaincy, It taught me how be a team player and revise my skills according to my group.

We earned second place for our project, 'The Human Heart'.