Undergraduate / "hanging out with psychiatric patients" - U of I - Supplement [5]

In an essay of 300 words or less, choose one extracurricular activity, work experience or community service project from the list you provided on the application and explain why you initially chose it, why you continued with it, and how you benefited from it.

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Fearing for their children's safety and mentality, Parents warn their children not to associate with the "wrong crowd," but for me, hanging out with psychiatric patients had the exact reverse effect. Initially, I enrolled into the Teen Summer Volunteer Program at Barnes-Jewish Hospital with two reasons: an excuse to get out of the house and away from my parents, and a philanthropic use of my summer to appeal myself to colleges.

First week was absolute horror. I kept my distance from patients and tried not to make eye contact with the doctors. My stereotypical judgment of the mentally-ill from television shows kept me away from establishing a true relationship with the patients. However, warm welcome from both the staff and the patients allowed me to open up and socialize with them. Most of the patients had a valid and explainable reason for their hospitalization: parental abuse, economic strain, peer pressure, and may more. I listened to their "untold" stories and realized I could be part of their family. Day after day, the time spent making necklaces, playing pool, and just talking with the patients felt like I was at home. "Volunteering" did not seem like volunteering to me, it was love.

Although I volunteered for the wrong reasons, this opportunity directed towards my potential career. I gained my love for Psychiatry and learned how to connect with mental patients. The patients' emotional stories and their genuine tears touched my heart and directed me towards my rightful path. While I thought I was being selfless and helpful to others for volunteering, it was me who profited from it.

Scholarship / Student profiler - U of Illinois Supp. (academic interests/goals) [3]

ESSAY #1: In an essay of 300 words or less, please discuss your academic interests and/or professional goals.
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Noticing the frustrated look on my face as I read over all possible majors and minors for college, my mother reassured me. "Everyone has at least one special talent that they excel in," she winks, "I'm sure you'll have your breakthrough." Just thinking that it was unconditional love smothering me, I shrugged off indifferently at her comment and continued to stare blankly at the list.

My biggest worry wasn't filling out the massive paperwork for college admission; it was choosing the right major, the right field, and the right career. Eventually, regurgitating my mother's words, I discovered my "special talent" - I was good at reading people! Some may call it stereotype, but it was so much more than just judging people based on appearance. I would carefully analyze the person's body language, tone, eye contact, and other qualities to formulate a hypothetical personality, which in most cases was true. Thus, I could predict the person's strengths and weaknesses, and foresee the decisions and mistakes they would make. I was able to flaunt my ability in Concepts of Psychology class, where I learned more about psychological profiling in medicine. I would like to analyze patients' movements and speech to diagnose and cure them. By studying medicine, especially concentrating on psychiatry, would fulfill my goal of using my special talent to help others, not to filter out friends. I would love the opportunity to turn my knack for judgment into a professional career.

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Comments, criticisms, edits are all welcome!!
Please feel free to be harsh
This is arounf 260 words so I have a room to wiggle lol

Scholarship / When I Grow Up.. I want to be a doctor - Pittsburgh [3]

"What do you want to be when you grow up?" It is such a typical question, yet it compels children to venture into their innocent minds and let them imagine the world full of possibilities and encouragements. Their responses vary, ranging from superheroes to the President of the United States. But how would the little ones react when they were told, "You are not talented or smart enough. Try again." Their dreams would be shattered into millions of pieces and their hopes would be lost forever. Plummeting confidences would change the way the kids perceive the world. They would brainwash themselves into thinking that the world is a black hole, sucking up the potentialities and ambitions out of them. The children nowadays are told "no" too many times, they do not need to hear it from again from their loved ones. Encouraging the kids unconditionally allows them to choose a goal freely, gives them the hope of achievement, and builds trust within the family.

Meaningless words can changes peoples' lives, even the ones without any intentions. My parents were full of fluff when it came to encouraging their kids. I was a very influential child; I couldn't keep a stable "job" for a day. One day, I would want to become a ninja assassin, and then after watching Teletutbbies, I would want to become a super, cool robot that can feed the world. Of course being an obedient child, I would always ask for my parents' permission first, and every time I received nothing less than a content nod. I would happily daydream about my future, immersed in the glory and fulfillment. At that time though, my dreams were not realistic at all - they all usually consisted of saving the world from an evil dinosaur (horrifying memories from watching Jurassic Park too early). No matter how ridiculously insane my aspirations were, my parents always gave me the support I needed. As I matured, I was very confident in myself, in fact a bit haughty to be honest, and believed I could accomplish anything. Consequently, I enrolled into rigorous classes and advanced college credit courses. I soon realized what I was meant to do after I explored all the options through school.

I transformed my childhood fantasies into a tangible career. Somehow my parents' unconditional encouragements and kind words became a staircase for me to finally reach maturity and grow into an independent woman. After consulting them about my final decision to become a doctor, my parents certainly did not disappoint me, and were glad to hear such a sensible career - they were a bit worried after I told them about becoming a robot. Without their support, I would have never come to realize my calling. Also, talking about my future openly instilled a great deal of trust and respect towards my parents. I could confide my struggles and uncertainties without any discomfort. And now, I can assertively answer the question - I want to be a doctor.

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So the prompt is...
Is it better to be over-encouraging to our youth or not? Why?
yeah,,, and it's due in three days do I would appreciate some FAST HELP

Undergraduate / "Change is good for you" - From an outsider to an insider - Supp [4]

relatively short (250words)
prompt:
Johns Hopkins offers 50 majors across the schools of Arts and Sciences and Engineering. On this application, we ask you to identify one or two that you might like to pursue here. Why did you choose the way you did? If you are undecided, why didn't you choose? (If any past courses or academic experience influenced your decision, you may include them in your essay.)-------------------------------

"Change is good for you," my mom used to say all the time, "it builds character." Every time we stuffed our lifetime belongings into brown boxes and left behind our memories of our house, those words consoled me. My family moved three times, ranging from flying from Korea to Pennsylvania, then finally to St. Louis. At first, I was devastated, crying for weeks, and even hiding our passports. I was being accustomed to being treated like an animal in a cage at a zoo: the curious stares and the mindless pointing. However, the first-hands-on experiences of solitude and alienation allowed me to connect to other students who were struggling with family crisis or peer pressure. Without realizing, I was having one-to-one sessions with "patients." I gave them advice on how to overcome loneliness or how to make better, suitable friends. Seeing my unofficial patients thrive socially and my "appointment list" lengthen daily, I determined that this was my calling. I desired to transform on my "side job" into a real career and professionally share my expertise. I would love to major in Biology, with an emphasis on psychiatry because it is not only my passion, but also my strong point. As a victim of an unstable family environment and constant distancing in school, I was able to provide my friends with appropriate and pragmatic solutions, rather than just a friendly pat on the back or meaningless words of encouragements. Besides, who knows better than the ones with experience?

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any errors/criticisms/comments are appreciated

Undergraduate / Press Play - life with a video player setting (Hopkins Supp) [11]

Here is the PROMPT:
Aside from the academic interests you've already expressed, in what activities do you plan to engage as an undergraduate at Johns Hopkins?
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Press Play

Imagine a life with a video player setting; rewinding back to the most memorable moment or fast-forwarding all the pain and sorrow to skip to the "happily ever after" ending. Wouldn't life be just so much more livable? I too would very much appreciate a mechanical control of my life - pausing and replaying whenever I want. I would manipulate every second of my life so I can play tennis for eternity. I don't mind the aesthetically unattractive pit stains or the good-bye-flip-flops tan lines. What I love about it is the spin under the ball, keeping my emotions under control, and my teammates on the bench. Tennis is like a battery - it keeps me going. During winter when I am "paused" on tennis due to the pitiless weather of St. Louis, I volunteered. Volunteering at the blood drive gave me a different kind of exhilaration. Each donor walking in equaled saving three lives, and I was actually a part of this life cycle. I gained a better knowledge of the value of life at Barnes-Jewish Hospital after dedicating my service for three months. The moment I put on my volunteer sticker, I knew it would be engraved in my life forever. Tennis and volunteering are activities that I won't be able to let adrift after high school. I would love the opportunity to continue to record the remaining tape of my life at Johns Hopkins University to keep serving up aces and put on my sticker of life.

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I have exactly 250words, but I am willing to revise and edit if necessary.
SO PLEASE feel free to dissect and break it apart.
Thank you for your time and effort!All is appreciated!
P.S. I would love to read your essay if you want so post a link or something