Undergraduate / "Sneak Out and Explore" - Common App Essay [3]

This is my UC Essay but I'm wondering if I can use this for my CommonApp essay too... I know I'd have to change it up a bit so if you have any suggestions as to what to expand on I'd REALLY appreciate it!

Prompt would be: Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.

But if it doesn't answer this prompt at all then it would need to be Topic of Your Choice.

THANK YOU!

It was our last night in Ruei-Fang, Taiwan. Out of the blue, one of my fellow volunteer teachers asked, "Do you guys want to go explore the town?"

I looked at her, confused. "You mean, sneak out? Isn't that dangerous?"

She laughed, "Of course not. We have three people- more than enough for this adventure!"

Naturally, I was against the idea. Not only was it dangerous to go out into the city unsupervised and unfamiliar with our surroundings, but it was also past our curfew. Our supervisor was bound to catch us.

"Well, what do you think?" my friend asked again, expectantly. My conscience told me it was a bad idea. It was risky and the trouble we could get in should have been enough reason to stay inside. But even though my instincts yearned to play it safe, a voice in the back of my mind echoed, "It's your last night here." Realizing that I may never have this opportunity again, I reluctantly agreed with the proposal. In unanimous agreement, the three of us hurried out our dorm, onto the main street, and towards the bright city lights.

That night was the most memorable experience I've had in my life thus far. Whether it was the adrenaline of breaking the rules or the mere freedom of the night, I was glad I made the decision to step away from the dorm that I had been confined in for two weeks. With no set destination, the three of us strolled freely along the Taipei railroad tracks, wandered through the hills of the rural community, and rested on the side of the Keelung River. During the three short hours of freedom, I was in awe of the nature contained in the small town. The endless rolling hills were covered in mossy dark green trees and the croaking frogs of the nearby swamp formed a melodious chorus that left me speechless simply because I had never seen or heard such raw beauty before in my life. The simplicity of nature that had been concealed from me for so long made my last night at Ruei-Fang truly breathtaking. With all worries and paranoia aside, I was able to experience the peacefulness and beauty of the Taiwan countryside.

Never had I felt so much freedom. Having grown up sheltered, I never questioned the rules or restrictions set upon me. However, that night, my decision to step out of the small dorm and explore the undiscovered areas of my temporary home opened my eyes to the limitless experiences possible. Looking back, I realize that as I learn and grow I need to have more nights like that night at Ruei-Fang. Sometimes, I need to take risks; I need to explore. I need to make myself vulnerable to the potential dangers in life because it allows me to see and experience the world on an entirely different level. Even though we were caught that night, I know that my imagination and creativity were forever let loose and my perspective of reality was forever changed.

Also, do titles for essays matter for the CommonApp?

Undergraduate / "Christianity and Religion" experience/concept that intellectually excites you... [2]

Describe an experience that you have had or a concept you have learned about that intellectually excites you. When answering this question, you may want to consider some of the following questions: Why does this topic excite you? How does it impact the way you or others experience the world? What questions do you continue to ponder about it?

Growing up in a Christian family, it was a daily ritual to pray before every meal and account all occurrences to God with faith. Since the day I was born, I have attended church every Sunday with my family of six. My parents were strong believers and I followed, simply accepting what I was taught as the truth. Growing up in the church, I felt I knew Christianity inside and out.

Three years ago, I entered high school with the mentality that I knew it all. Though my peers were anxious, I began high school thinking I had everything set for me, confident in who I was and what I stood for. But unexpectedly, my faith and values growing up were challenged upon my entering high school.

Church had always been such a significant part of my life. My closest friends were always from church and they were the ones I would tell everything to; to me, they were my most reliable source of advice as we shared the same moral values. Sheltered by the guidance of my parents, I never encountered different religions until I reached high school. The friends I made opened my eyes to an entirely new world. One example includes when a Jewish friend of mine introduced me to his faith and beliefs. I remember being immediately intrigued by the differences in rituals and constantly asking questions whenever the opportunity arose.

Continuing through my sophomore year, I began opening my eyes to the various views of the world. I became interested by the different interpretations people had of religious ideas such as the Bible. From Arminianism to Calvinism, these different opinions brought me to challenge my leaders seeking answers and evidence for what they taught. I searched outside sources for a second judgment regarding other religions as well. My curiosity reached the point where I would stay up late researching Mormonism and Buddhism looking into their origins. I talked to many people, Christian and non-Christian, about why they believed what they did. In this journey of curiosity, doubt and uncertainty, I still found my original commitment as a Christian most sound. Confident in my beliefs, I began to take on leadership roles in my school's Christian Club as well as in my church's youth group.

To this day, I have remained steadfast. My new-found attitude towards life has allowed me to pursue my dreams with an open mind to the diversity of this world. It has brought me to a full understanding of other religions without such a jaded and protected mentality many young Christians today have. Though some may not see this as an "intellectual" impact, I feel religion is something anyone can take part in as long as they have the curiosity to search for the answers. For myself, I see Christianity and the Bible as a neverending opportunity for knowledge that challenges me beyond anything public school has offered me. My greatest hope is to study religions of all kinds in college to further my knowledge of what I have found to be the most significant aspect in my life-living a life for God.

I'm wondering if it addresses the prompt, I've had to manipulate it a bit to adjust it to different prompts so I may have mixed up somethings. I tend to read over the tense mistakes too.

Also, is this too controversial? I do not want to come off as close-minded or ignorant or anything like that since I know religion can be a controversial topic. It's all opinion, but I was hoping to emphasize the "intellectual" part more than the religious beliefs aspect of it.

Any questions/comments are welcome! Thank you for your time!

Undergraduate / "Taiwanese and Americans" - Common App: "...what you would bring to the diversity..." [4]

Prompt: A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you.

"Alright, Class C! Time to play a game!" I yelled out in Mandarin as my fourth and fifth graders piled to the doorway, eager to step out into the warm afternoon sun. This would be my second week as an English teacher at Ruei-Gan Elementary School of Taipei County, Taiwan.

As the students lined up outside, they seemed almost ready for an adventure. They looked at me with their beaming faces, excited to be out in the fresh air of the Taiwan countryside. I explained to them their reward for having been so obedient in class was one period of outside play. I had three games planned, praying to God they would be enough to kill the hour-long period. I introduced what I thought was the least exciting game first: Rock, Paper, Scissors, Follow. The students were to partner up, play Rock, Paper, Scissors, and follow the winner of each round. From my teaching experience in America, I figured the game would last about five minutes before the children would start whining for a new activity.

I let them loose and before I knew it, the students were already laughing hysterically at one another. For some reason, the concept of playing Rock, Paper, Scissors alone was extremely amusing to them. I stood with my assistant wondering what part of Rock, Paper, Scissors was so amusing. When I thought about why exactly I found this sight so unusual, I remembered when I played this same game with my students in America. It would take them a few minutes before they would walk off to their phones and iPods. In Taiwan, things were much different.

After completing the teaching log for that day, I returned to my dorm, still pondering the drastic difference between the children in America and the children in Taiwan. Then, I came to a conclusion. Seeing the fourth and fifth-graders so easily amused in Taiwan, I realized how distinct the cultures of Taiwanese and Americans truly are. The kids in Taiwan are so independent of media and seek other forms of entertainment; whereas, in America, the kids are incredibly dependent on technology, so much so it has become their "lives."

It occurred to me that the diversity of culture has invaluable benefits. Humans often look through a culture-colored lens, and when they see something through a different lens, they realize they can have a richer life experience. I learned that seeing things from a single point of view hinders true vision of reality regarding the different kinds of people that exist in this world. Similarly, in entering a new environment, I intend to uphold my individuality while also remaining open to the traditions of others. Witnessing the difference among cultures has also sparked my interest in studying international relations, specifically involving Asia. I have experienced the blessings of diversity and with that, I hope to pursue a career dealing with the interaction of multiple cultures as I have seen what great benefit can come to all backgrounds.

Any comments/corrections are welcome! Thank you for your time!