Undergraduate / University of Michigan supplement - My role in the army [5]

Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups defined by (among other things) shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community and your place within it. [300 Words]

Every Singaporean male is required to serve two years in service to the country essentially delaying our education and subsequent entrance into the workforce. Most people see this as a nuisance, but for me, I saw this as an opportunity to better myself as a brother and leader.

I have gone through thick and thin with my bunkmates, which has helped mature our relationship into a brotherhood. I see myself as the jokester of the group. The one who would smuggle biscuits to share during jungle exercises, smile and say the training was "too easy" even though my whole body was aching, and crack a joke to boost morale. I've learned to truly be a part of a team and would do whatever it takes to watch them succeed.

Being a commander, I realized that a great leader is willing to listen and lead by example. Being a commander has helped me become more empathetic to my men and understand matters from their perspective, and only when I connected with my men did I realize the significance of my role in their lives. Some of my men come from harsh backgrounds- almost to the point where I was the closest parental figure in their lives. For an eighteen-year-old, it was a daunting task. But it is because of them that I strive to be a better role model. So I acknowledge the responsibilities of my rank: to place other's safety above my own, to let no one feel left behind, and to treat their every small problem like my life depended on it.

Finding your place in a large organization is never easy. But if there's anything that I've learned from my army days, it's that this journey will help you recognize your significance and guide you towards who you want to become.

Undergraduate / Why USC? Supplement - Environmental Science Major/ Economics Minor [2]

Describe how you plan to pursue your academic interests at USC.

Please feel free to address your first- and second-choice major selections. (250-word limit)

Elon Musk's success with Tesla is an example of how corporations are increasingly embedding sustainability into their new business models, promising to deliver financial values while working towards a net-zero emissions economy. By majoring in environmental studies and minoring in economics at USC's Dornsife College, I hope to attain a diversified background to also become an environmentally conscientious business leader.

To achieve my goal, I first need to understand the nature of the problem. Courses such as Environmental Ethics will allow me to systematically analyze problems associated with protection of the environment, while Business and Environmental Sustainability will give me insight on how the broader political-economy is crucial in shaping the interaction between businesses and the environment.

Classwork alone will not be sufficient to develop a complete understanding of this issue. USC's Environmental Studies Program offers a plethora of Field Courses to enhance my understanding through field experience. Opportunities such as Intro Sci-Diver Course and Tropical Coastal Zone Sustainability in the Bahamas affords the perfect marriage between adventure and passion - the ideal combination to nurture my aspirations.

I am also curious about the role of economics in sustainability. Studying economics will not only develop my quantitative analysis skills when evaluating the market but also introduce me to the world of behavioral economics. So that I can fully understand the economic reasoning that motivates businesses.

As a Trojan, I hope to become more astute about sustainability and approach the business industry with a "Think Exponentially" mindset. Ultimately achieving a greener future.

Undergraduate / Film-making interest - USC Supplement [5]

Hi, this these are my USC supplement essay. It would really mean a lot to get some helpful feedback !!!

[1] Describe something outside of your intended academic focus about which you are interested in learning. 250-word limit

my grandfather's Alzheimer and filmmaking

Filmmaking has always been more than just pointing your camera at something aesthetic, slapping effects on it, and posting it online. Videos are so intensely personal; a single film could inspire thousands of different interpretations shaped by the audience's experiences, but only the creator knows the true meaning of his or her craft. It's an unfathomable thought - with a single button, we're able to cherish moments eternally or experience life as we've never seen before.

My interest in filmmaking stemmed from an encounter I had with my grandfather who suffered from Alzheimer's disease. I teared as I watched him struggle to remember the names of his children. My family has a history with the illness, and, although not scientifically proven, I can't afford the risk of one day having no recollection of the life I lived. This is why I turned to videos. So that one day, even if my mind deteriorates and my memories fade into the darkness, I will still be able to live vicariously through the lens of my old life.

I have developed this interest through volunteering as a videographer for an animal rescue shelter and on several service trips, capturing life through a different perspective and sharing my experiences with the world around me. It's through these captured memories and the impact filmmaking has had on my outlook on life that shapes the person who I am today.

So, what better place to mature my hobby than the best film school in the world?

Undergraduate / Common App Essay - "Accepting Your Mother's Facebook Friend Request" [3]

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

overcoming obstacles is crucial for a further success

Hi, I would appreciate any constructive feedback on my common app essay. My biggest fear is that my topic of "divorce" isn't especially unique which is why I tried to shift the focus of the essay onto how I coped with the divorce rather than the divorce itself.

Thursday, 25th December 2013. Christmas day. The room filled with the loud sobs of my mother as she whimpered the words that no child ever wanted to hear: "It's not your fault." There was always a part of me that knew the announcement was inevitable. In the months prior, I hid under the covers and listened to the yelling and screaming that were my lullabies. There were so many times I felt like opening the door and telling my parents to stop fighting, but I never had the courage. Then, on that cold Christmas night, my childhood ended right before my eyes.

With my sisters both studying abroad, I was the only one living at home. I was the only one who knew about their fights, yet I couldn't do anything to stop them.

The effects of their divorce started to impact other facets of my life. When I attended classes, the same humility that prohibited me from confronting my parents during fights also restrained me from asking that "dumb question" in class.

A few weeks later, I noticed a peculiar letter addressed to my mom. It was labeled "MindnLife." Curiously, I googled the organization and found out it was a psychologist center. It occurred to me that I was so self-absorbed that I had failed to recognize how hard it must have been for my mother. When I shut the world out after their announcement, it included her.

Despite the feelings of guilt and wanting to change the past, I knew their divorce was nobody's fault. After months of keeping these pent-up feelings to myself, I wanted to tell my mother that sometimes life just needs to happen and no one is to blame.

Around that time, my school hosted a poetry slam competition, which I decided to sign up for. Hours of brainstorming came to no avail until, like any procrastinating teenager, I went on facebook. To my surprise, I found inspiration on the platform to craft my poem Accepting Your Mother's Facebook Friend Request. I poured myself into the poem. My goal wasn't to win the competition but to unravel my feelings and express them. I handed an invitation to my mother and saved her a front row seat to the event.

The beaming lights adjusted their focus on me as I walked toward center stage. The auditorium was filled with hundreds of people, but in my eyes, only one person mattered. In the blink of an eye, it was all over.

At the end of the night, I remember seeing my mother standing at the exit and holding a bouquet of flowers. I noticed her slightly smudged mascara and red nose. I asked her if she was fine, to which she replied: "I couldn't be better." We didn't say much to each other, and we didn't feel the need. We just smiled at each other as we walked home.

By resolving my problems at home, it helped me focus on other aspects of life. In school, I started to volunteer for geographic excursions, dabble in video editing, and immerse myself in the knowledge of my peers. Furthermore, being on stage in the poetry slam made me realize how much I loved to perform. I auditioned for the school play, which introduced me to a community that helped me grow into the outgoing individual that I am today

There are some things in life, that you simply can't control. However, what you do have authority over, which is even more powerful, is what you make life as you move forward. My family's problems were only as big as I allowed them to be. By finding closure, I learned to humble myself enough to ask and give help. In many ways, this lesson has spurred me towards becoming a more empathetic individual - a person who I will carry with me through life.