Undergraduate /
Columbia Transfer essay, a sense of who you are (international student) [7]
Write an essay that conveys to the reader a sense of who you are. Possible topics may include, but are not limited to, experiences that have shaped your life, the circumstances of your upbringing, your most meaningful intellectual achievement, the way you see the world-the people in it, events great and
small, everyday life-or any personal theme that appeals to your imagination. Please remember that we are concerned not only with the substance of your prose but with your writing style as well. We prefer that you limit yourself to 250-500 words (1-2 pages).
When I was little, my favorite thing to do was jumping over walls, I had always had great keen to what lay beyond those cracked bricks. And I know that whenever I got over the walls, I would enjoy a broader vista. It is not the wall itself that wanting me to conquer, it's simply just the view outside motivates me gets over the walls.
As I grown older, I had begun to build my own viewpoints using the views that I learnt from the school. Although the textbooks had always emphasized its globalism, the views of the propagandas had inevitably mingled the traditional Chinese stereotypes. I hadn't realized my Chinese stereotype until having been to US for exchange for one month. While visiting the museums in the USA, I had realized my Chinese-style arrogance that tucked away in my subconscious. I realized that I had lived in a country that surrounds by walls-from the magnificent and profound Great Wall to an invisible wall tucked in Chinese culture that barriers Chinese people from the outside world.
I began to get over the walls that surrounds in my culture-the wall that barriers me between my own culture and the outside world. I began to learn Japanese language and culture not only due to the influence of anime, but also my intense savor to the revolutionary Meiji Restoration. I began to learn French culture due to my strong keen to French-style design both in architecture and in landscape design. I began to read books about Sweden after I had been addicted in the grim and simple Sweden rock music and Sweden-style design brand like IKEA and H&M.
As I have perceived other cultures from all around the world, I began to view the world in another perspective. Rather than treat other cultures as 'marginal', whom the traditional Chinese culture had maintained from the past, I started to view every culture in their own stance. I started to question the irrational anti-Japanese propaganda in my country, which propaganda used to ignite my frantic and unreasonable anger against Japanese. I started to appreciate the Baroque-style of design, which traditional Chinese culture seldom involved. I started to view Zimbabwe, a country that Chinese press often viewed as poverty, with appreciation due to its ancient Great Zimbabwe National monument. Without prejudice, I began to view every individual culture with respect, viewing that every culture having its own characteristics that are distinct in the world.
After this time, I began to realize that after I expanded my vista, I had a more profound view on surrounding issues. I used to evaluate people using very single standard that tuck away in my subconscious. However, after this time, I began to discover every single merit on each individual. I found judging people is ridiculous, since every single individual has their own distinguishing feature. We should not view others using our own standard which would inevitably penetrate our own prejudice, and would obstruct us from seeing objectively. Whenever I found myself being trapped in the circle of prejudice, I would expand my vista to let myself not limit to a narrow circle. And I began to get over the walls in my life.
i am an international student, so my way of expression in English language may be mistaken, so sorry about that. Please give me criticism and advice on this essay. Thank you.
