Undergraduate / 'Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address' - UF Essay: (meaningful event) [7]

In the space provided, please write a concise narrative in which you describe a meaningful event, experience or accomplishment in your life and how it will affect your college experience or your contribution to the UF campus community. You may want to reflect on your ideas about student responsibility, academic integrity, campus citizenship or a call to service.

I considered myself different than the other children; I didn't live in an ordinary humble neighborhood like them, I had no one to play with nor did I ever play outside. I lived in the slums, the majority of the area consisted of crime, deprivation, minorities, and filth. Just like my neighborhood I felt isolated from those who dared to be seen or step foot on the notorious 14th Street. I was the odd ball who had short frizzy, curly hair and wore a puffy dress. I tried so hard to conceal my customs and my culture and act as if I wasn't born and raised in an area of poverty, prostitution and drugs; fortunately my surroundings have no effect on my appearance.

In high school I have recognized the vast diversity of students of the color wheel.
The Indian Student Association is one ethnic club at UF which inspires me to embrace and learn more about my culture. The ISA has been advocating festivals, dancing, and the true essence of Indian culture food provided by ISA to all students on campus. The atmosphere at the UF campus is a ray of all different ethnicities into one university. This is different for me because I was born and raised in a less than desirable environment. With a curbside view of many people's lives, filled with crime, deprivation, minorities, and filth it is a hardship to be a bystander.

As a result I started a Model United Nations club at my high school to promote peace and equality throughout the school. As a very diverse group of members, we have learned so much about the United Nations and the variety of countries on their political, economical and social issues. To be part of the UF Model United Nations would not only be very prestigious, but also to share the love I have with others on international affairs. To travel around the country to places I dreamed of going and to attend conferences with students from all over the nation would be an experience of a life time. Raising awareness with various events and fundraisers to support families in third world countries, with shelter, food, vaccines, and basic knowledge of hygiene is a goal I strive for today.

Starting Model United Nations has affected my life and forced me to have a boundary so I could strive for a better life. I have learned to stay positive and continue to strive for my goals and surpass the roadblocks that come in my way. Seeing people's struggles of finding a job, money, and possibly food gave me a whole new meaning to the way I perceive being a better person academically, socially and my attitude towards life.