Undergraduate / UC Prompt 2 : Simply saying "No." [3]

Feedback appreciated

Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are?

It was a bright and sunny summer day after my volunteer work at camp. We were walking down Art Street on our way to the stallion market. I looked at him and asked "So how's the drug problem going?" He answered, "It's been going alright. I quit drinking for a month now and I'm trying to quit smoking." I told him "Don't worry, just keep at it and never cave in. You'll eventually get used to it and not start to crave it anymore." He replied "Thanks dude. I wish I never started before, if I had gotten back in time I would have said 'No.' I don't know how you do it. You must have had guts to say no when they asked you." I smiled and said, "Well, I don't know. It's just how I am. Next time just say 'No."

For my whole life I was always against smoking or drinking. I was always the oddball. It may sound stereotypical, but from my 4 years of my high school, I've known quite a lot of people who smoke weed everyday and drink on occasions. Back in 9th grade I have had a group of friends I've always used to hang out with. They all never smoked in their life and they all never really planned to. We all made a promise to each other that we would never smoke. 2 years had gone by and I became the only person out of my 7 friends who still kept that promise. I've been to a few parties and I have been offered weed and alcohol before but I've always said the magic word, "No." I never really gave in to peer pressure before. I consider myself as an individual who sticks to moral beliefs and when I make a promise I keep a promise and I never break it. I've been exposed to drugs and alcohol before but just because my friends do it doesn't mean I will do it either.

Abstaining from drugs and alcohol was always a personal choice of mine. I knew the effects it had and I've seen the effects before from all of my friends. A real close friend of mine from elementary and middle school recently had a close encounter with death because of dangerous alcohol intoxication. Out of my entire group of friends who smoke, I'm the only one who manages to keep my grades up and focus on my schoolwork or attend after school club meetings rather than going to parties. I have tried to help my close friends to stay away from drugs, and I have even attended the school's "Adopt a friend" program to get a friend off drugs but I've always had difficulties. They would stop for a day or so but always come right back. However during my volunteer work and job as a Camp Counselor at my local summer camp, I've always warned the small campers about the dangerous effects of alcohols and drugs and when they were ever offered, just say "No." I may have not had the best luck with trying to keep friends who previously did drugs or drink before, but I think I did a good job warning the youth not to do it.

Simply saying "No," to drugs has always made me proud. I always feel a sense of superiority and control, and it's not just because I don't do drugs, it's much more than that. The sense comes from my perseverance and my ability to stay strong in my beliefs and to not conform to anything that I view would be bad for others or myself. I choose to live a clean lifestyle and still to this day I'm determined not to ever break my promise.

Undergraduate / My dad has always had this personal history of how he escaped from communist Bulgaria [4]

Constructive criticism much appreciated

Describe the world you come from - for example, your family, community or school - and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.

My dad has always had this personal history of how he escaped from communist Bulgaria that really influenced the idea that if you have the balls to accomplish something, then it will be accomplished. That sort of mindset stuck to me ever since he told me his story.

It was Christmas Eve during my 9th grade year when all of my dad's friends asked my dad to tell them his story of how he escaped from Bulgaria. We were all sitting around a big table that was topped with a large turkey dinner, couscous, and mushroom soup. The fireplace near the table displayed a warm and homey ambience around the room. My dad took a spoonful of his soup and drank it down and started to tell his story.

My dad was only 18 when he knew it was time to escape. It was a dark and cold evening. The atmosphere was silent and all you could hear was nothing but cricket chirps and the occasional sounds by the farm animals. Around midnight my dad climbed onto a large truck that carried farm animals and hid under the tarp. It was from there after 2 straight days of hiding in the large truck when my dad finally crossed the border. After reaching Italy my dad changed his last name to Fendi to change his identity as an Italian. After a long series of immigration camps, my dad finally reached the U.S.

My dad's history played a huge influence on my life. It wasn't just the history itself though, but the moral that went along with it. No matter what, if you put your mind to it, anything can be accomplished. Throughout most of my childhood before high school, I never took my dad seriously as much. I just viewed him as my dad and nothing more. He would occasionally tell me to do my homework or do my chores but I usually rebelled and in turn he would make sure that I completed what I had to do by either yelling or intimidation. However after I learned about what he really went through on that Christmas Eve, I had grown a lot of respect for him and I slowly started to rebel less and started to do things on my own. I used to depend on my mom and dad telling me when do to my homework or when to do my chores. Now I started to learn that it's really my responsibility to complete what needs to be done and if I set a goal I would finish it. I would always look back to what my dad went through to know that anything can be accomplished if you push yourself to accomplish it.

For example, I remember 1 incident when my dad took my laptop away back when I was in 10th grade because I was busy using it until midnight playing a few computer games. He told me that the only way to get my laptop back was to prove that I was a hard worker. Back then my laptop really was my life, I did everything on it. However I was determined to get my laptop back so instead of arguing with my dad, I decided to really prove I was determined to show I really was a hard worker. Following that incident, every morning I would wake up and tend his entire garden everyday, feed the chickens, dogs, and sheep, and clean the entire house room by room until it was spotless. My dad honestly thought I wouldn't last but after an entire week of deeds, my dad was amazed. He really was persuaded that I really would do what needs to be done to accomplish a goal. Without hesitation he patted my shoulder, gave my laptop back, and told me "I deserved it." I smiled and felt a sense of pride and accomplishment. Ever since that incident I learned something about myself that I never really knew before. I was willing to do anything if I wanted it badly enough. As a result, I decided to set a goal and get the grades I needed to go to college.

My biggest goal is going to college to get a good education and give back to my dad for what he did for me. My dad really did give me an invaluable opportunity that I knew I shouldn't waste. If my dad can defeat the odds and escape from a communist country, live on his own at the age of 18 without any money, and finally get across the country to America, then I can get the grades, go to college and get a good college education if I really work and try hard enough. And I know through past experiences that if I set a goal for myself, I will reach it through hard work and discipline.

My dad taught me the importance of tolerance, hard work, perseverance, and determination. With these very important attributes, I know for certain that I can pursue my goals and aspirations that will help me reach a good career and create a better life for my family and myself.