Undergraduate / 'No problem refusing drugs' (significant experience) Common App [3]

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

I live in San Jose and when I moved here in sixth grade, I could feel a warm, educational,
and safe learning envivornment. I was oblivious to the corruption around me. I was a naïve
middle schooler not suspecting that the people around me use or have been exposed to drugs.
But as I grew up I started noticing things. I noticed many students coming to school with blood
shot eyes and a sway in their step. I noticed kids bringing brownies and other baked goods that
those kids normally would not bother baking. I realized then that my school was full of drug
addicts and alcaholics. Originally I have witnessed some students smoking openly in the park
but there never were many students. Now I see that a vast majority of students use or have
been offered drugs. I have been recently offered drugs such as beer and chewing tobbaco, but
unlike many curious highschoolers, I was quick to refuse. Because of my lack of experience with
drugs, I had no interest in trying them. These offers to do drugs and my refusal to do them
showed me that it was good that I had grown up not exposed and oblivious to drugs. This led to
my lack of inerest in drugs and I realize that drugs will not be an issue in the future. If I am able
to refuse drugs as a highschooler, when I am at the peak of my curiosity, I will definatly not
have a problem refusing drugs when I am older and more responsible.

Undergraduate / 'I started quizzing' - This is my extracurricular statement [3]

Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences in the space below (1000 character maximum).

I started quizzing during my sophomore year. Anyone in middle school or high school is eligible for the quiz team. When I started, I fell behind during the first two months because of SAT's. This put me at a disadvantage, and I was clearly a handicap to my team. Kids in sixth grade were doing far better than me because I was not able to catch up. I did not let this bother me, and the next year I was able to prioritize and I was prepared for every quiz. I brought my team through the district division and the regional division. I myself moved up to the national division and won first place team. Now, all the younger kids look up to me not only as a great quizzer, but also a persevering man.