Undergraduate / "labeled as a "tattletale." - UC [2]

any criticism or help would be greatly appreciated :)

Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are.

No six year old ever wants to be labeled as a "tattletale." It immediately gives your fellow classmates the right to tease you, isolate you on the playground, and chose you last for kickball. It was the beginning of first grade, and I was a little nervous to be a "big kid" now, away from the comfort of circle time, and snack time. Being in first grade came with responsibilities, like remembering what number hook your backpack hung on, and what desk you sat at each day. I was quick to memorize and retain all of this information, as well as obtaining each thing that was recommended on the supply list so that I wouldn't be the one to get left behind; my organization skills were apparent even at the young age of six. Class leaders needed to be chosen, and I was the first to raise my hand. I liked the responsibilities that came with first grade, and I felt that as class leader, I could manage other people's responsibilities as well. One day, a classmate that I was unfamiliar with came up to me on the playground and asked if he could show me something. Being a first grader, I was unaware of anything perilous that could be going on under the roof of John Muir Elementary School. I agreed, wondering if it might be a new Pokémon card, or perhaps a new Hot Wheels car. I was more than surprised when he pulled out a knife; this was not a small pocketknife, but a large hunting knife. He said he had found it in his garage, something that most likely belonged to his father, but had taken it anyways. He admitted to being unsure about what he was going to do about it and weather he was going to put it back where he found it once he returned home from school. I did not feel threatened by my classmate, but I definitely did not feel good about going to school with someone who possessed a knife. I pondered what my next course of action should be, and decided to take this matter up with two of my closest friends. They both agreed that it was "none of my business" and that I shouldn't be such a tattletale. However, I did not feel the same way. This difference in opinion sparked a feeling of independence, and that feeling brought instant satisfaction. I immediately went to our principal to inform her of this incident and my classmate got suspended from school for bringing the knife. I didn't particularly like the feeling of being a tattletale, but to my surprise, I was not mocked or teased. Instead, I became a role model to my fellow first graders. My principal rewarded me with a pencil that said in swirly, colorful letters "Congrats on being a leader." That pencil spoke to me more than the words engraved on the side of it. Being a leader of not only my classmates, but of my own mind, opinions, and decisions became something that makes me proud to this day. That fateful day in the beginning of first grade has outlined a path of independence and leadership that have both remained important traits that make up the individual I am today.

Undergraduate / "Growing up as an only child" - UC where you come from [5]

UC Essay #1: Describe the world you come from - for example, your family, community or school - and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations

General comments, it is a work in progress, and comments/opinions would be greatly appreciated :)

Growing up as an only child allotted me many advantages; I did not have to share my toys or my parent's attention with any brothers or sisters, nor did I have to compete for attention within my family. I had supportive and loving parents, as well as grandparents, who have always told me I could do anything I set my mind to. This phrase has set in over the years, and the encouragement it holds has never failed to inspire me. My mother is comparable to superwoman in the sense that she can do it all. She is opinionated, a trait that she and I both share, but she is also understanding and accepting of others, a trait that I am still learning from her. My father is a comedian, is his own sense of the word, and one of the most hard-working people I know. He is the first person to proofread all of my essays, and the first person to give me his honest feedback. He has instilled in me a passion for reading and writing, and sustains that passion by introducing me to his favorite authors and books.

I grew up in Martinez, which is a very small community, where I was surrounded by children that lived a similar life to my own. Everyone knew one another, and news traveled to the other side of town faster then you could drive there. In elementary school, my third grade teacher introduced me to the world of chapter books. Here, I found something that took me to another world, a place other than my small town, and the people I had grown up with my whole life. Mrs. Edmonds forever changed my life, and without her, reading, writing, and the English language would not be something I wish to pursue in college. Although my community is an amazing and supportive place to grow up in, most of my peers have one common goal: to move out of Martinez. I am similar to my peers in the fact that I too want to move out of Martinez, but more importantly, I want to move out of Martinez, go to college, and realize my goals. I am grateful for my small town, and for all the things it has given me. Without my mother, I would not aspire to be a well-rounded and caring individual. Without my father, I would not have discovered my passion for books and my passion for writing. Without teachers like Mrs. Edmonds, I would not have developed an appreciation for the English language and the adventure a book can take you on. These people that have surrounded me for my almost 18 years of living not only make up my community, but make up the individual I have grown up to be. They have shaped my passions and my dreams, and they have continually supported my growth as a person. Without these people, I would not be who I am today.

Word Count: 495