Undergraduate / My struggle with teamwork and leadership [5]

Please provide a Personal Statement regarding how your academic achievements, personal interests, and life experiences have helped prepare you to succeed academically and to be an active member of the UC community. Be sure your response addresses each of the three components. (Please limit your response to approximately 250 words).

Some people have a natural ability to lead. I'm definitely not one of those people. When a teacher would assign group projects I was always the kid that sat off to the side and watched the others. Not because I couldn't do the work but because I was uncomfortable working with people.

During my freshman year I realized that I needed strong interpersonal skills in order to succeed in the real world. The solution found me before I even knew it. The summer before my sophomore year I got a job at Kings Island. My first day was terrifying. I was completely out of my comfort zone, interacting with hundreds of people I've never met before. By the end of the day I was completely drained. Not because of the physical aspect of the job but because of the mental and social strain it put on me.

It wasn't long before I began to notice a huge improvement in my interpersonal skills. When participating in group projects I no longer sat off to the side but actually began taking leadership positions. My grades and relationships with teachers also improved because I was no longer afraid to have one-on-one conversations with my teachers. I even felt more at ease when making speeches and presentations to large audiences.

This is just one of the many obstacles I've had to overcome in my life and I believe it has better prepared me to become an active member of the UC community.

****Comments on how to improve my essay would be greatly appreciated****