Undergraduate / How would I describe the culture of my school community? Personal profile question [4]

I'm a 12th grade student hoping to get into the UBC, Canada next year and I'm trying to attain a position in the International Scholars Program. I've started on my personal profile questions and I am finding it very hard to be concise and write within the word limit. Any and all help is welcome and deeply appreciated. This is the question I am currently working on:-

"Briefly describe the culture of your school community and your involvement within it.

What impact has the school culture had on you? How would you enhance or change it?"

I would describe the culture of my school as one that is spiritually inclined, conducive for academics and sports alike and well endowed with opportunities.

Right from the very beginning, I could sense the level of importance that was given to spirituality in the holistic development of students. From our morning spiritual classes to evening aarti sessions ( a Hindu religious ritual of worship, a part of puja, in which light is offered and songs (bhajans) are sung in praise of the deity ), each day was packed with lessons, verses and teachings from The Bhagvad Gita, the Vedas and other such ancient texts.

Every new festival brought along with it, ample opportunities for showcasing our skills and so I participated in several cultural programmes, notable among which was my role in the Annual Janmashtmi ( the day marking the birth of Lord Krishna) Celebrations, where I played the role of Draupadi ( the wife of the Pandyas).This was very enriching as I explored an avenue well out of my comfort zone and it proved to be one of the best experiences of my life.

As the school was a co-ed, residential one, the bond that we as students shared with each other and with the teachers, wardens, and faculty was very deep. Our teachers were more than just advisors and educators; we were one huge family, learning, celebrating, and growing together. The school housed students from a score of countries and this provided us with an unprecedented sense of a global community.

Another aspect that was unique to the school was its strong involvement in charity and humanitarian programmes. As senior students, we were taken to a Chinmaya CORD facility ( an organization for rural development) led by Dr. Mira where we witnessed how rural women empowered themselves and formed self-help groups with the help of resources from the school. We were shown a true glimpse into the struggles that women in such areas face and I could see in practice how the little good we do can go a long way to help somebody.

I would probably suggest a more democratic way to select its Council Members (Student Body) like a secret ballot to enhance the level of student participation in the creative efforts that go behind organizing various festivities.