Undergraduate / "Leaves to spread the seeds" - Common App Essay [4]

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

It is a chilly autumn and as I have been brainstorming what to write about, I have been staring at it the whole time. Outside my window stands a large tree whose leaves have changed color and as I hear the wind howl, I see the leaves fall. I am no different than one of these leaves. The past 18 years of my life coincide with the life cycle of the tree leaf right outside my window.

Just like a leaf relies on a tree, I relied early in life on the the support of my family. My family has given me all the nutrition to let me grow, both physically, mentally, and intellectually. I come from a very diverse and devout family. My father's mother is an immigrant from the Philippines and she has taught me of her culture and ultimately has instilled in me the tolerance on people different from myself in looks and in actions. My family has also exposed me to a religious and devout lifestyle. I attended a Catholic school until 9th grade. My experiences there have taught me the value of generosity and honesty and love. We often had fundraisers to help those in need, one of which that I particularly remember is making paper mâché goats that were auctioned off to buy goats for the Dominican Republic. At the time it seemed miniscule that a goat would provide much, but I learned just how much one goat could help those in need. My family has always been around to support me and have provided me with all I've needed to develop a strong moral conscious of tolerance, love, honesty, and generosity, but, just as the leaves, I cannot rely on them for everything.

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PLEASE, any help or criticism is welcome, I've been dying to get this done on time.