Undergraduate / Cornell Supplement- My love of politics [3]

Please critique... i kinda suck at grammar, so dont be afriad to tear it up!

College of Arts and Sciences:
Describe your intellectual interests, their evolution, and what makes them exciting to you. Tell us how you will utilize the academic programs in the College of Arts and Sciences to further explore your interests, intended major, or field of study.

It wasn't until my sophomore year, when I first met Mr.Bellis, that I first discovered my love for history and politics. Before that, I would often get caught off guard with that question that I so much despised, "Pablo, what do you plan on doing when you grow up". Having no idea what I wanted to be, I quickly said doctor, as I only knew that my future career had to do something with helping people.

Even though my mom tries to provide me and my brother with the best of things, we still live in the very poor and dangerous community of Pomona. Living in Pomona, I know firsthand what poverty, hunger and drugs can do to someone and I am often confronted with those issues every day. Thus, I tried my best to help those around me by volunteering at the Bethel Church Food Bank in Pomona. It was always gratifying seeing people's faces light up with joy, as I handed them their box of food, enough to feed a small family for a week.

It was Mr.Bellis though, someone who I truly respect as a mentor and friend, who helped me combine my love for Government and helping others into my future career of a Politician. During my sophomore year, I took World History with Mr.Bellis and I often found myself enraptured by his amazing speeches and lectures on politics and the globalization of our culture and economies. I am now taking AP Government with Mr.Bellis and I am fascinated at how huge and convoluted our government is. One aspect of our government that interests me is how our Founding Fathers were able to plan out every facet of this nation so well that it is still running strong after 300 years. Even though Mr.Bellis and I may disagree on some topics, he has taught me to be more open-minded and think more objectively on issues, two qualities that are indispensable to a politician trying to satisfy all his different constituents.

Even though my heart sits with government, I have other interests like literature and philosophy. The College or Arts and Sciences' focus on a liberal arts curriculum will provide me with the opportunity to foster my intellectually curiosity. As a future politician, I do not just want to be adept in the area of political science; I also want to be able to understand how the constituents that I am representing think. Thus, having a major in government and minor in the interdisciplinary program of cognitive science would provide me with a broad foundation of knowledge needed to be an efficient politician. Hopefully, if given the chance to attend Cornell, maybe one day I can find a Cornell professor that will influence as much as Mr.Bellis has.

Undergraduate / Academic and social communities in the University of Pennsylvania [11]

This is my Penn essay... im not sure if i really answered the prompt correctly... so can you guys help review. Please

Benjamin Franklin established the Union Fire Company, the Library Company of Philadelphia, the American Philosophical Society, Pennsylvania Hospital, and, of course, the charity school that evolved into the University of Pennsylvania. As they served the larger community of Philadelphia, each institution in turn formed its own community.

Which of the academic communities and social communities that now comprise the University of Pennsylvania is most interesting to you and how will you contribute to them and to the larger Penn community? (do not exceed one page)

It's actually quite ironic how I discovered the University of Pennsylvania. This past October, I was on a trip to visit another college near the Philly area when I first heard about the University of Pennsylvania. My curiosity took a hold of me, as I digressed from my main plans to go explore this ivy institution that I had never heard of. As soon as I stepped on the campus, I fell in love with UPenn; the ivy covered walls, the beautiful gothic architecture, the archaic buildings, the majestic Locust Walk, the lively and spirited atmosphere all made UPenn the most aesthetically pleasing university I had ever laid eyes on. On the airplane ride back to Los Angeles, I was left contemplating not the university I was supposed to visit, but the university that seemed like destiny had taken me to, UPenn.

At UPenn, the endless list of majors and minors will provide me with limitless opportunities to explore my intellectual curiosity. Currently, my heart sits with political science. However, I love the fact that UPenn has a strong focus on interdisciplinary learning, which will give me the opportunity to explore my other interests. Being a very active individual, health and fitness is very important to me. Thus, the joint minor in Nutrition offered by the School of Nursing and the School of Arts and Sciences would definitely be something I would be interested in.

Being a Hispanic student, I was attracted to the Latino Coalition because of its mission towards diversity and Latino awareness. Today, Latinos are unrepresented in universities, which is partly due to the small amount of resources and opportunities available to inner city Latino students like me. With the Latino Coalition, I will be able to celebrate our rich heritage and raise awareness towards Latinos on campus. I was also excited to know that La Casa Latina hosts a Mentorship Pathways Program, which helps other first year Latino students develop a clear path to success through mentorships. If given the chance to attend UPenn, I would one day love to mentor other Latino students on how to have a successful experience at UPenn.

Being an avid rock climber, I was elated to find out that UPenn has a climbing wall in Pottruck and its own climbing club. Rock climbing is like a mental release for me; I love that exhilarating feeling, the adrenaline rushing through my veins as I hang seventy feet above ground, hesitant to make the next move. The Penn climbing club regularly takes climbing trips outdoors to Bucks County, so I will still have the opportunity to pursue my passion of rock climbing. Even if I choose not to climb outdoors, I will still have Pottruck or Go Vertical, one of the largest climbing gyms in the East Coast, to satisfy my climbing needs. Not only that, but I will be amongst a community of climbers that shares my love for this sport. With the help of the Penn climbing club, I can help unite the climbing community at UPenn and help foster interest in climbing from other students at this institution.

Above all else, what makes the University of Pennsylvania unique is the diversity behind it. The diversity behind UPenn and Philadelphia makes this institution one of the most culturally rich places in the country. I love meeting new people, tasting new food and experiencing new cultures and going to school in the melting pot that is Philly would give me ample opportunities to do so. As a Latino student, I hope to add a new perspective to the mix that will only enrich the already diverse environment at UPenn.

As cliché as it may sound, UPenn is perfect for me.

Undergraduate / UC Prompt#1 I am a success [2]

Prompt #1

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.

As I sat in my dusty and cluttered room, struggling to finish my work, my mom walked in trying to make sense of the mess of papers on the floor. The look of exasperation and frustration on my face quickly gave it away, as she saw the mental fatigue in my eyes. She broke the silence when she picked me up and tightly put her arms around me; her motherly affection was all I needed to push me through that last assignment. However, it was not a hug of sadness, but one of proudness and motivation. In times like these, knowing that my mom was proud of me was the only thing keeping me awake through those long hours of work.

My mom lived half of her life in a small and desolate town in Mexico, where she diligently worked day and night on the farm. Like every child, my mom had big dreams and aspirations, but she had to quit school to get a job, and even then, she struggled to earn money for the most basic necessities. It was these stories that reminded me of why I was so ambitious. The one thing that pushes me to persevere is that I should be taking advantage of all the resources available that my mom did not have. My mom came to this country with nothing in her pockets, searching for the opportunities and freedom that this country offers. Now, it is up to me to make use of those opportunities and I believe I have, as I have excelled in school and nearly exhausted my school's AP curriculum.

As hope for a life less like my moms, I strive to be a first generation college student and break the statistic that surrounds my predominately Hispanic community. My school district has a twenty five percent drop out rate, and those who do not drop out, go straight into the workforce. However, I want to be the first to break the chain of failure. As pompous as it sounds, I am not afraid of saying I want to be number one. I strive to be the best, not just doing my best. I will not be satisfied with just graduating or going to a community college; I want to go to the best universities that this country has to offer, much like those in the UC system.

Even though I live in a dangerous community where drugs and violence are pervasive, this has not been detrimental to my education; in fact, it has actually been beneficial because I want to be that underdog that proves the world wrong. I may be poor. I may not come from one of the safest neighborhoods. However, I will not let that hold me back and I will be a success.

Undergraduate / ROCK CLIMBING, a talent and sport ; Personal Experience / Common App [5]

Can anyone please critique my essay!!!

Prompt #2
Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this experience makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are?

"Pablo, you have a small crimp hold to the right of your head!" shouts Jose, while belaying me. I try to comprehend what he is saying, but it is hard when you are dangling seventy feet above the ground, while hanging on to the limestone. Sweating profusely, I reach into my chalk bag and rub the powdery mixture between my rugged hands to create more friction. The amalgam of limestone and chalk creates an intoxicating smell. Looking up at the perilous obstacle ahead of me, I see the tiny crimp on the mountain wall. Fatigued and exasperated, I lunge at the crimp and barely manage to catch it with my fingertips.

This talent and sport, which I am most proud of and represents me the most is rock climbing. It is truly hard trying to describe to someone who knows little about me, my fervent passion for rock climbing and how even after a year of discovering this sport, I still find it exhilarating reaching the top of a seventy foot ledge.

In a mere time period of one year, rock climbing has changed me, physically and emotionally. When I look at pictures of myself from over a year ago, I am often even embarrassed to look at them because I do not even recognize who I was. The pictures, however, do serve a purpose because they are remnants of my past and represent how much rock climbing has changed me as a person. As I look at my old pictures, I see a chubby and reclusive young man, who was reluctant to speak in public. However, rock climbing, in a way, has symbolized my rebirth as a person. I have since lost thirty five pounds, which has made me a much more confident person. I feel stronger, leaner, more amiable and everywhere I go, I walk with a sense of confidence and self-respect. Whenever obstacles stand in my path to success, I have learned to persevere over them, just like I do when rock climbing. At times, it has been hard trying to find time for rock climbing, but this sport has taught me time management because I have learned to balance my passion and responsibilities as a student. One of the biggest changes I feel I have made is that I now enjoy speaking in public because it gives me a sense of empowerment.

One memorable climbing experience was my first time climbing outdoors in Joshua Tree National Park. Joshua Tree has some of the most beautiful rock formations imaginable and the adrenaline rush one gets when climbing them is indescribable. When I reached the top of one of my climbs, I was drenched in sweat and full of bruises, but that was all overshadowed by the sense of accomplishment I felt. I do not usually climb outdoors, but those few times I have remind me of why I wish to continue in college.

All the sweat, hard work, and arduous training I have invested in rock climbing shows how passionate I am about this sport, but also represents the transformation I have made into a more confident person, a transformation I hope to continue in college.