Undergraduate / "My height, my background" - tell us about yourself [4]

We honor the many different forms of diversity in our community. Your perspective is valuable because it comes from your life experiences, family background, and culture. Please tell us about yourself and what you believe is the best way to share your perspective. Also, what do you hope to learn from the experiences of others?

My height!, definitely is the conspicuous thing you observe at your first glance at me.5 Feet 2 inches made me the one of the smallest among my mates. Could it be my pair of lenses or the constant smile on my face that makes the first glance insufficient that you just want another?

Wait a second, you have not known me if you have no idea of my background. I am the first child of a family of six called the Nwogus which comprises of two parents, three boys and a girl. Originating from a country, Nigeria, with a diverse culture which lays emphasis on respect and family, the number in the family varies, we could be six today but thirteen the next day for extended family members are welcome at any time. Knowledge of our customs could not be lost when uncles and grand parents are eager to remind us with their stories. They are reservoirs of experiences to learn from. Stories about some Nwogus that achieved success through hard work, others who tarnished the image of the Nwogus through vices and their misfortune.

Growing up as the first child had its ups and downs. I was expected never to make a mistake for I had others ready to emulate every move. I recall the day I received my West African senior secondary school certificate examination (WASSCE) result which was one of the best in the country. My mother turned to my siblings and said "your brother has set the pace follow him and overtake him."

I had learnt from my family that the best way to share your perspective is to lay a perfect example for others to follow.learn ing from the mistakes of others is not the the best method of learning but emulating their achievements is the thing.

It has to be about 250 words and i dont seem to get any part of the essay irrelevant.please help me.

Undergraduate / how have you prepared yourself to enter an academic environment like Bowdoin's? [5]

Bowdoin is a liberal arts college that thrives on intellectual discourse in and out of the classroom. Students, faculty, and staff all participate in the exchange of ideas in an atmosphere characterized by high achievement and a sense of balance. The Admissions Committee is eager to learn more about you and your school community. Reflecting on your own educational experiences, how have you prepared yourself to enter an academic environment like Bowdoin's? (Suggested length: 250-500 words.)

"Udo, stop overworking yourself" Zilk said to me as I studied through the night to complete a project. I smiled at him, packed my books and retired to bed.

My high school was a gifted academy which admitted just a few outstanding students from all over the country. This made studying a habit which I could not get enough of. Studies, researches were all needed to stand the challenge from other brilliant minds. I was really grateful to have a friend like Zilk who could show me other sides of learning aside studying. Zilk and I were roommates and best of friends although it was a rough start. At first, it seemed as if we were from different worlds. Zilk having a northern origin spoke with an accent that made communication a problem as he had to repeat some of his sentences before I could comprehend. Zilk's definition of fun was playing his guitar aloud which irritated me. Several weeks of living together made us realize our similarities. We both enjoyed playing chess, watching football and keeping our surroundings clean. Living with Zilk made me realize that diversity is no barrier to peaceful coexistence and productive living. Living with Zilk had increased my desire for a diverse community.

"Krrrrriiiiiii" the sound of my alarm made me jump out of bed to prepare for another day in the Academy. After my morning rituals, I would hastily go to the school clinic to assist the nurses then to the dining hall, have a quick breakfast before moving to class to attend lectures. When the day's lectures are over, discussing with other course mates or consulting a teacher for more explanations, sharing prospects, cultures and ideas are productive ways to spend time. The Academy's Library, a place of quietude, was the perfect spot to brainstorm an idea or do some quiet study. In the library, one looses track of time. Only the beep of my watch rescued me and made me realize how time had passed. I had almost missed watching the Fedacadians (my high School team) play. "Udo, where have you been, I have been looking all over for you. It is time for the match. Let's go!" Zilk said excitedly as I stepped out of the library.

After a day well spent, Zilk and I went back to the room and fell into our beds. "Zilk, what could be more fun than watching twenty human beings chasing a round object with the only aim of placing it in the net?" I asked Zilk. "Playing my guitar aloud" he replied as we shared a laugh. Shutting my eyes, I slept off to rejuvenate myself to prepare for yet another day in the Academy.

My high school experiences have prepared me to invigorate the Bowdoin atmosphere of high achievement and sense of balance. Bowdoin is the perfect fit to develop my appreciation for diversity where I would be exposed to people with different colors but with a common goal.

Undergraduate / DESCRIBE A SITUATION WHERE YOU HAD TO WORK OR CLOSELY ASSOCIATE WITH SOMEONE [4]

DESCRIBE A SITUATION WHERE YOU HAD TO WORK OR CLOSELY ASSOCIATE WITH SOMEONE FROM A CULTURE VERY DIFFERENT FROM YOUR OWN. WHAT CHALLENGES DID YOU FACE AND HOW DID YOU RESOLVE THEM?

5 feet 9 inches,V faced, brown eyes, black hair, slender body and a little sense of humor was a complete description of Zilkiflu Umar.Zilk was dark-skinned, I was light-skinned. Fura de nunu, a northern dish was his favorite dish which he ate in a way that disgusted me. My country, Nigeria, is one with a diverse culture with over two hundred and fifty ethnic groups. Several cultures were similar but those of the north and east were two extremes which was a major difference between zilk and i. He originated from the north while I originated from the east.

Unfortunately, by 11th grade, we were both assigned to the same room and I thought "how could I cope?" this proximity made me realize more disparities between us, his mother tongue, Hausa, a northern language altered his English leaving it with an accent. This made communication a problem for he had to repeat his sentences slowly before I could comprehend. After several weeks of coexistence, I came to the conclusion that we were definitely from different worlds.

The young Farmers" club was to present a project which had to be done in pairs. I began to suspect some unseen forces when zilk and i were paired despite our protests. With barely forty-eight hours to the presentation,i approached him and had a chat with him.it was a rough start but we eventually agreed to set aside our differences and aim for a common goal, success. Those hours of working together brought out our similarities. He enjoyed reading, helping junior students or classmates with their assignments and loved humanitarian services, all of which I loved.

After the project, we became like a matchstick and a matchbox, we were needed together to produce light which was evident in other activities. Such activities included heading the Red Cross team in the school's Inter-house Sport competition, donating drugs and a DVD Player to our high school clinic and so many others. My encounter and relationship with zilk made me realize that diversity is not a barrier to peaceful coexistence and productive living