Undergraduate / "Motivated, ambitious and young, I am." - story of my life, UW admissions essay [4]

Tell us a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.

Sitting alone at the back corner of the class, I was always the girl who was disregarded by the rest. It was difficult for me to assimilate with my peers, as I wasn't considered to be equivalent to them. I was 10 years old then, entering fifth grade after four years of studying in a class meant for under-aged children who were a year advanced in syllabus. My mother had told me I was always keen on acquiring knowledge and so she decided to enroll me into grade one as I turned six. Reading came easy to me, next to numbers. However, upon entering grade five, I did not see this bent as a blessing; I saw it as an affliction. Being the new girl, I was never generally accepted by everyone and this got to me. I have always loved making new acquaintances and building friendships; what vibe did I give out that everyone was seemingly evading me? Why were my classmates shunning me aside? I was never conceited nor did any teachers under any circumstances favor me. Being a really sensitive girl, this matter got under my skin and was close to overcoming my self-assurance. Through this experience, I pushed myself in showing my peers that age was not going to be the barrier between them and me. More than they know it, I am just like them. I was there to gain knowledge and so were they. At a young age I learned that prejudices favors no man. I worked twice as hard in class to prove to myself I was entitled to be in that class just as much as they did. I was not doing it for them but for myself. Everyday I had to struggle with the constant taunts that I am only where I am because the teachers favored me and not for my shrewdness. Nonetheless, my self-motivation kept me going; I deserved to be where I was and do what I want for myself regardless of what others think. From then on, I started planning ahead in life, building goals and ambitions for the future, and joining school-exchange programs to expand my horizons. Unexpectedly, this experience has given me my drive. It made me who I am today. I became my own motivator and have pushed myself towards success ever since. The spirit remains in me throughout time and I am glad that I was once the girl in the corner of my fifth grade class. Without that, I might have been content with life and swaying by it with time. Motivated, ambitious and young, I am.

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