katebrown
Oct 15, 2011
Undergraduate / 'to take on a more "American" last name' - University of Michigan Community [7]
Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups defined by (among other things) shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community and your place within it. (Approximately 250 words)
When my maternal great-great-great grandparents immigrated to the United States they were encouraged to take on a more "American" last name. The German name transformed into one more likely to fit the new American family. Contrastingly, when my paternal grandfather arrived in Canada at age 19 the only thing he had was his Dutch last name. No amount of persuading could have made him alter it because it was the only thing connecting him to his family still living in the Netherlands. Now that name is mine. In the same way it connected my grandfather with his family, it now connects me with my community.
I live in a small town outside of Grand Rapids, Michigan. My community is made up of mostly western European descendants and I fit perfectly within that community. We are conservative, religious, and have been, on occasion, overgeneralized as hardworking, stubborn Dutchmen. Both of these generalizations are correct, however and not only are they correct, we are proud of them. I have never shied away from challenging class and I am involved in multiple extra curricular activities while still being able to hold down a job. People may see my community and think we should slow down but we stay busy. When the economy crashed and jobs were lost, that only made volunteer hours rise and when Newsweek called Grand Rapids a "dying city," we rallied and created a lip dub that received over four million views on youtube.
Even though I love my community, I'm excited to leave it and become part of a new one. I hope to become part of the University of Michigan Community where I'll be able to learn the last names of people with very different roots and very different communities than me.
Please help. I feel like this essay is all over the place and doesn't really tie everything together at the end. ANY suggestions would be great! I have some serious writers block!
Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups defined by (among other things) shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community and your place within it. (Approximately 250 words)
When my maternal great-great-great grandparents immigrated to the United States they were encouraged to take on a more "American" last name. The German name transformed into one more likely to fit the new American family. Contrastingly, when my paternal grandfather arrived in Canada at age 19 the only thing he had was his Dutch last name. No amount of persuading could have made him alter it because it was the only thing connecting him to his family still living in the Netherlands. Now that name is mine. In the same way it connected my grandfather with his family, it now connects me with my community.
I live in a small town outside of Grand Rapids, Michigan. My community is made up of mostly western European descendants and I fit perfectly within that community. We are conservative, religious, and have been, on occasion, overgeneralized as hardworking, stubborn Dutchmen. Both of these generalizations are correct, however and not only are they correct, we are proud of them. I have never shied away from challenging class and I am involved in multiple extra curricular activities while still being able to hold down a job. People may see my community and think we should slow down but we stay busy. When the economy crashed and jobs were lost, that only made volunteer hours rise and when Newsweek called Grand Rapids a "dying city," we rallied and created a lip dub that received over four million views on youtube.
Even though I love my community, I'm excited to leave it and become part of a new one. I hope to become part of the University of Michigan Community where I'll be able to learn the last names of people with very different roots and very different communities than me.
Please help. I feel like this essay is all over the place and doesn't really tie everything together at the end. ANY suggestions would be great! I have some serious writers block!