Undergraduate / BU supp: Why are you interested in BU and 3 words to describe you best [10]

In five or six sentences, tell us how you first became interested in BU and what steps you have taken to learn more about us.

BU's quaint and picturesque campus along Charles River left me a deep impression when I vacationed at Boston two years ago. It spurred me to visit BU's school website to learn more about the school where I found out that BU has so much to offer: an all-rounded education, a vibrant student life and a wide exposure to the arts and culture. I also visited online forums to learn what current students had to say about their experience at BU to gain insights like the experience of living on campus and what classes and professors are like. All these confirmed my decision to apply to BU and now, two years down the road, I would love to stroll along Charles River, not as a tourist but as a student of BU.

Essay #1: In an essay of no more than 500 words, please select three words that describe you best and tell us how you will use these qualities/characteristics to contribute fully to the BU community.

When I was a little girl, I watched "Beauty and the Beast" more than a dozen times because I absolutely adored Belle. She was smart, sophisticated and studious and I saw her as the type of girl I wanted to be when I grew up. But as I grew older, I realized that Disney portrayed her as someone who was too perfect to be realistic. It made me see that being me was more important than striving to be like a fictional character. I am not like Belle but instead, the acronym U.V.T---Unique, Vivacious and Tenacious would better describe me.

E.E Cummings once said, "It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are." This was one of the quotes my parents wrote on my 13th birthday card, the age where I entered my adolescence. I guess part of them hope them I would move on from Disney princesses to discovering who I really wanted to be. Through the years, I slowly gained the courage to be unique and simply be myself. I speak English, Chinese and French, play the piano, adore watching "oldies" movies and reading chic-lit books. This is me. I want to study Finance at BU School of Management as I aspire to be a business leader with the ability to influence society and set up a non-profit organisation in future. I know it might sound too idealistic. But I dare to be different, dare to dream and I believe I can contribute to the diversity at BU.

"You have such a vivacious personality." This is a phrase that I commonly hear from those around me. My lively disposition often brings much laughter to friends and family alike and I believe that at BU, I can inject the same energy and enthusiasm in others, both in and beyond the classroom. At BU, I plan to join the Asian Student Union and other extracurricular activities that will give me the opportunity to interact with people from diverse backgrounds. In whatever activities that I participate, I want to bring out the passion in others and spur them on to do their best.

I always strive to be tenacious when met with an obstacle or difficulty. "To always have tenacity" is a phrase that I constantly say to myself. It has reminded me to keep moving forward and never giving up even when all seems bleak. My dad was diagnosed with the eye disease, Glaucoma just last year and being tenacious taught me never to give up hope but to stand together with him to fight this disease. The spirit of always having tenacity is something that I wish to share with the BU community. I want to motivate others to never give up and to always believe in themselves.

I know I am definitely not Belle but I'm proud to be myself-unique, vivacious and tenacious. I have so much to contribute to BU and I know I can make BU proud that I was a student.