Undergraduate / "My parents" - my academic background [6]

The world I come From

Coming from an average background were they had to earn everything themselves, my parents have always pushed me towards academic success. They have always emphasized on the need for focus, hard work and determination.

Before starting my secondary education, my parents gave me various classes of speeches. They advised me not to waste the opportunity I had because they did not have the luxury of going to a high classed school when they were much younger. They believed that I had academic potential and if I was able to effectively utilize my opportunities, I would be catapulted to unimaginable heights.

Still just in my junior year in high school, I viewed their continuous advices as overzealous and extravagant. My junior was full of academic excellence. I was able to attain eleven distinctions in my NECO examinations (a national examination taking by students in year 9). My parents were proud of me but didn't give me any form of preferential treatment. Instead they advised not to relent in my efforts.

I received praise from my teachers for my academic performance. It was then I realized that it wasn't my parents receiving the praise, it was me. Though, my parents kept pushing me towards excellence, I realized that they were hardly going to be praised for my performance.

My senior year began and I became very diligent and serious in my academics. I wrote my final exams and was able to achieve all credits in my exams. During my valedictory service, I received awards for my academic performance. I noticed that everyone including my parents was clapping for me. My parents never received any award for my performance; the awards were all presented to me.

My parents' initial extravagant advices have now become my guide towards academic success. Most of the decisions I make today are greatly influenced by my parents. I no longer view my parents only as people who merely care for me but also as two parallel forces gradually leading me to my ultimate success. Their discerning advices laid the foundation of my academic background.

Writing Feedback / The Time Machine - if i had the opportunity to do something again, what would it be. [3]

The Time Machine

Everyone wishes to have a time machine which can be used to correct a past occurrence. Though I finished at the top percentile of my class, I would have also loved to be given awards of excellence in my various subjects. If I could go back in time, I would have worked harder to achieve awards in my subjects.

During my senior year, I was given epistles of advice from my parents. They told me that all my work would reflect during my valedictory service, but my myopic vision prevented me from seeing what was ahead. I was the kind of student who didn't require excessive reading to excel in my test. Instead of reading, I would rather play soccer or find a way to distract myself. My inability to read extensively depleted my academic excellence which I failed to realize early. I was satisfied with my current academic performance but others believed that I could do way better. I misplaced my priority and lost concentration during lectures because of various distraction. My inability to read extensively and my loss of concentration during lectures depleted played a major role in my lowered academic performance.

It was my final year in school and my parents became very concerned about my lack of seriousness. I realized that I needed to become focused because I knew that I would not be granted a second chance. This realization made me encouraged me to improve my reading ability which was necessary for my success. Though I realized my mistakes late, I was able to attain all credits in my final exam.

My family came for my valedictory service to witness me being honored with awards for excellence in subjects, but I knew that they were going to be disappointed. My name was called and I received various awards but none included excellence in subjects done. Everyone expected more from me but I had failed to meet up with their expectations.

Though I know that there is no such thing as a time machine and it is impossible to change what I have done, I have realized that making amendments is plausible. I have become a more focused person: one who is aware of his priorities in life. I am positive that if I am accepted into Purdue University, I will have no regrets.

Undergraduate / "The discerning words of My Parents" - a person who has made impact in your life [3]

The discerning words of My Parents

I have always viewed my parents as a single person, a force driving me towards academic success. Saying that my parents have had an impact on my life is merely an understatement of the things they have done for me. My parents influenced my decisions throughout my secondary education.

Before starting my secondary education, my parents gave me various classes of speeches. They advised me not to waste the opportunity I had because they did not have the luxury of going to a high classed school when they were much younger. They believed that I had academic potential and if I was able to effectively utilize my opportunities, I would be catapulted to unimaginable heights.

Still just in my junior year in high school, I viewed their continuous advices as overzealous and extravagant. My junior was full of academic excellence. I was able to attain eleven distinctions in my NECO examinations (a national examination taking by students in year 9). My parents were proud of me but didn't give me any form of preferential treatment. Instead they advised not to relent in my efforts. I was disappointed because I expected some material form of appreciation from my parents but didn't get any. I began to think that my parents would never be motivated by anything I do.

I later started my senior year and I slowly began to do things that they had warned me not to do. I misplaced my priorities and lost sight of that which was important. As a result, there was a drop in my academic grades and became slightly unserious. This was the period of my life when I started experiencing difficulties because I failed to heed to my parents' words. My life continued this way until the day my parents came to visit me at school. I told my parents about my unsatisfying academic grades and other problems I had been experiencing. My parents yet again granted me their words of wisdom. They told me that whatever I did then would determine my future.

I willingly heeded to their advice which led to positive changes in my life. I wrote my final exams and attained credits in all my subjects. Once again, my parents were proud but didn't expect any appraisal from them. This was because it was them who deserved to be praised. Without their guidance, I wouldn't have gotten good grades in my final exam.

My parents' initial extravagant advices have now become my guide. Most of the decisions I make today are greatly influenced by my parents. I no longer view my parents only as people who merely care for me but also as two parallel forces gradually leading me to my ultimate success.

Undergraduate / The league of Extraordinary Teenage Leaders, a significant experience, achievement [3]

The league of Extraordinary Teenage Leaders

'1, 2, 3...' they all said. I can still hear the voices of those who like me had the qualities of leadership inherent in them. This is just a glimpse of my prolific yet very rare experience at the Global Youth Leaders Conference.

Soon after being chosen as a prefect of my high school, I was selected among many to attend the Global Youth Leaders Conference which was a twelve day activity. I was very displeased when I got to know that the conference was going to interfere with my summer holiday. After the school session came to an end, I started preparing for the conference because I had no idea of the people I was going meet there.

I with my father departed for the United States from Nigeria. I had barely spent a day with my dad when I had to leave him for the conference. Leaving him made me realize that self-dependence was the first problem I had to overcome at the conference. I arrived at the venue for the conference and was blissful to see a few of my high school friends.

After completing the identification process, I was directed to a large hall. We were numerous in that hall and we soon realized that we had to mingle with each other. This was mandatory for us fully enjoy the conference. I was amazed to see people set aside their racial differences and fully accept each others culture. After, I decided to search for my room but soon got the shock of my life. I found in my room, two scholars who were nothing like I had imagined my roommates to be. My roommates were older than me with 3 years and it was then I realized that I was the youngest in the conference. I laid down on the bed to sleep but kept thinking of the fact that I was the youngest in the conference. I knew it was going to be demanding for me to get along with my roommates.

With time I developed a bit of determination and was not going to give up. I was assigned to the 'Brazil' group and soon attended the group meeting. I looked at the faces of those in my group, knowing that these were the people I was going to be around with most of the time. We were given multiple tasks which we wouldn't have achieved if we didn't work as a unit. These tasks ranged from political simulations to artistic presentations.

So many problems developed within my group as a result of trying to accomplish our goals. People had contrary opinions and methodologies towards tackling our tasks. These problems did not only arise within my group but also developed among different country groups. During the simulation, we all spent hours arguing with each other that we forgot the main aim of the simulation. It was only when we considered others opinions that we were able to come to an accurate resolve. This taught me that a leader has to consider problems from different perspective, putting others opinions into consideration. I also discovered that a leader has to be a team player: someone who cooperates with those around him regardless of the situation.

We were left alone to roam around in the streets of New York to purchase food which was suitable to us. We were given maps to guide us but occasionally my friends and I got lost. During these situations, my friends trusted me to lead them back to the buses. I knew that if I was to prove myself as a leader, betraying their trust was not an option. I was ready to take on this responsibility and most often lead my friends out of such sticky situations.

The 12 days had come to an end and the earlier feeling of displeasure had turned to a feeling of delight. I had acquired a vast majority of knowledge in such a short period. Cornell University not only creates an environment for articulate learning but also provides an environment that will help broaden my leadership skills. When accepted into Cornell University, I will not only bring academic excellence and sporting brilliance but also effective leadership.