Kenny H
Nov 28, 2011
Kenny H
Nov 26, 2011
Undergraduate / 'Zyzz' -UC Essay 2 [6]
Thoughts and feedback please!
Prompt: 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?
About two years ago I started working out at the local gym, and since then I have been religiously going back four or five times a week to train. I have always been intrigued by the human physique, as I admired such bodybuilding icons as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Aziz Shavershian and Pham Woodbridge. At first aesthetics was my primary aspiration, mostly because prior to joining the gym I was a small, scrawny kid, and I wanted to transform my image so that I could gain more respect from my peers. Frankly, I just wanted to look good.
Immediately after a couple of weeks into my training I saw and felt dramatic results; my arms were a little bigger, I could lift heavy objects around that I otherwise couldn't have moved before, and my legs didn't give out after basketball practice. This newfound strength gave me a huge motivational boost. Every time I went to the gym I would push myself to pump out a couple more repetitions of an exercise than I had done in my last visit. Ironically, while my body would be in pain for a day or two, my mind felt rejuvenated afterwards. I grew to love the soreness after a good day's workout, knowing that the more destroyed my muscles felt, the faster they were going to recover and build up.
However, after a couple more months into the process I found myself face to face with the dreaded "wall" that almost all athletes are familiar with. My muscles felt like they had stopped growing, and I was stuck using the same weights over and over again without improvement. I didn't know what to do. Luckily for me, my buddy helped me fix what I was doing wrong after I informed him of my situation. He showed me his workout routine, which was continually changing and extremely demanding to the body, and I've been training extra hard ever since.
From that first week that I began my bodily endeavors till now, my passion for weight lifting has continued to remain strong. Although I am far from reaching the physical levels of Zyzz or Pham, I am confident that I have the discipline and determination to one day achieve it. In the beginning I thought of working out as just something I needed to do in order to gain muscle, but now I have come to value weight lifting more than just for the physical gains; it's the feeling of accomplishment and self-worth after each session that I truly find satisfaction in. Through body building I have found that dedication and persistence is crucial to success, and that the most important aspect of conquering a goal is self-fulfillment. That, to me, is the greatest reward.
Thoughts and feedback please!
Prompt: 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?
About two years ago I started working out at the local gym, and since then I have been religiously going back four or five times a week to train. I have always been intrigued by the human physique, as I admired such bodybuilding icons as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Aziz Shavershian and Pham Woodbridge. At first aesthetics was my primary aspiration, mostly because prior to joining the gym I was a small, scrawny kid, and I wanted to transform my image so that I could gain more respect from my peers. Frankly, I just wanted to look good.
Immediately after a couple of weeks into my training I saw and felt dramatic results; my arms were a little bigger, I could lift heavy objects around that I otherwise couldn't have moved before, and my legs didn't give out after basketball practice. This newfound strength gave me a huge motivational boost. Every time I went to the gym I would push myself to pump out a couple more repetitions of an exercise than I had done in my last visit. Ironically, while my body would be in pain for a day or two, my mind felt rejuvenated afterwards. I grew to love the soreness after a good day's workout, knowing that the more destroyed my muscles felt, the faster they were going to recover and build up.
However, after a couple more months into the process I found myself face to face with the dreaded "wall" that almost all athletes are familiar with. My muscles felt like they had stopped growing, and I was stuck using the same weights over and over again without improvement. I didn't know what to do. Luckily for me, my buddy helped me fix what I was doing wrong after I informed him of my situation. He showed me his workout routine, which was continually changing and extremely demanding to the body, and I've been training extra hard ever since.
From that first week that I began my bodily endeavors till now, my passion for weight lifting has continued to remain strong. Although I am far from reaching the physical levels of Zyzz or Pham, I am confident that I have the discipline and determination to one day achieve it. In the beginning I thought of working out as just something I needed to do in order to gain muscle, but now I have come to value weight lifting more than just for the physical gains; it's the feeling of accomplishment and self-worth after each session that I truly find satisfaction in. Through body building I have found that dedication and persistence is crucial to success, and that the most important aspect of conquering a goal is self-fulfillment. That, to me, is the greatest reward.
Kenny H
Nov 23, 2011
Undergraduate / 'Ruby Hills' -UC Essay 1 [2]
Prompt: 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.
Thoughts and feedback, especially on fluidity, whether or not i should omit some parts (551 words), and just if it makes sense or not, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Growing up in the quaint suburbs of Livermore, just outside of the Bay Area, I was blessed by having the opportunity to live in a pleasant community with nice schools, parks, and people. I remember when I was younger my friends and I would go trick-or-treating in a very affluent gated community called Ruby Hills every Halloween. The houses were massive and magnificent; the sheer size and grandeur of each one stunned me every time I visited Ruby Hills. Numerous Ferraris, Audis, and Lamborghinis were parked in the streets and driveways. It was these early exposures to success in a tangible form that made me reflect on what I, myself, needed to do to be successful in life. The motivation came easy enough, I just had to look at my parents.
I have many outstanding memories of my childhood, but the ones that resonates the strongest are the memories of my dad coming home very late after a hard day's work. He would work twelve-hour days, Monday to Saturday, and some days I would already be asleep by the time he got home. I understood that he needed to work extra hard in order to provide for our family, and I grew to value and appreciate his dedication, persistence and work ethic. However, I disliked how he was consumed by his long hours and commitment to work, and that it didn't leave him enough time to spend with his family. My dad's perseverance was essential to maintaining our quality of life, but his limited education hindered him from providing for us in a more efficient manner. Already at the age of seven I knew that this wasn't the lifestyle I wanted. I knew that in order to be truly successful, I would have to not only achieve monetary success but also be able to fully enjoy it with my loved ones.
My mom, on the other hand, had a very different agenda. I was always at the top of her list when it came to priorities. She would pick me up after school everyday and take me to my piano lessons and weekend Chinese school. When I was sick at school she would leave work to pick me up and nurse me back to health. Her work schedule revolved around me. My mother had all this time to tend to our personal needs, and at the same time she earned more money than my dad earned after his overtime pay. I know that this is due to my mom's bachelor's degree as opposed to my dad's lack of college education.
After witnessing the merits and struggles that my parents were dealt with, I have continued to strive to excel in academics, knowing that a higher education is the gateway to a higher quality of living. From my father I have learned that perseverance and a strong sense of responsibility is vital to financial stability, and from my mother I have learned to cherish and enjoy the things in life that make me happy. I have found that I need to manage a combination of these attributes that my parents portrayed. This knowledge, coupled with visions of one day attaining a house as grand as one of Ruby Hills, was how the idea of true success has been sculpted in my mind.
Prompt: 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.
Thoughts and feedback, especially on fluidity, whether or not i should omit some parts (551 words), and just if it makes sense or not, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Growing up in the quaint suburbs of Livermore, just outside of the Bay Area, I was blessed by having the opportunity to live in a pleasant community with nice schools, parks, and people. I remember when I was younger my friends and I would go trick-or-treating in a very affluent gated community called Ruby Hills every Halloween. The houses were massive and magnificent; the sheer size and grandeur of each one stunned me every time I visited Ruby Hills. Numerous Ferraris, Audis, and Lamborghinis were parked in the streets and driveways. It was these early exposures to success in a tangible form that made me reflect on what I, myself, needed to do to be successful in life. The motivation came easy enough, I just had to look at my parents.
I have many outstanding memories of my childhood, but the ones that resonates the strongest are the memories of my dad coming home very late after a hard day's work. He would work twelve-hour days, Monday to Saturday, and some days I would already be asleep by the time he got home. I understood that he needed to work extra hard in order to provide for our family, and I grew to value and appreciate his dedication, persistence and work ethic. However, I disliked how he was consumed by his long hours and commitment to work, and that it didn't leave him enough time to spend with his family. My dad's perseverance was essential to maintaining our quality of life, but his limited education hindered him from providing for us in a more efficient manner. Already at the age of seven I knew that this wasn't the lifestyle I wanted. I knew that in order to be truly successful, I would have to not only achieve monetary success but also be able to fully enjoy it with my loved ones.
My mom, on the other hand, had a very different agenda. I was always at the top of her list when it came to priorities. She would pick me up after school everyday and take me to my piano lessons and weekend Chinese school. When I was sick at school she would leave work to pick me up and nurse me back to health. Her work schedule revolved around me. My mother had all this time to tend to our personal needs, and at the same time she earned more money than my dad earned after his overtime pay. I know that this is due to my mom's bachelor's degree as opposed to my dad's lack of college education.
After witnessing the merits and struggles that my parents were dealt with, I have continued to strive to excel in academics, knowing that a higher education is the gateway to a higher quality of living. From my father I have learned that perseverance and a strong sense of responsibility is vital to financial stability, and from my mother I have learned to cherish and enjoy the things in life that make me happy. I have found that I need to manage a combination of these attributes that my parents portrayed. This knowledge, coupled with visions of one day attaining a house as grand as one of Ruby Hills, was how the idea of true success has been sculpted in my mind.
Kenny H
Nov 22, 2011
Undergraduate / 'The Power of Music' - UC 1 [2]
Wow this is great, very personal and intimate, and you portray both your internal struggles and big turn-around very nicely. This essay really hit hard and i want to congratulate you on both your essay and your triumphs in life. The only suggestion i can think of giving you is that the bold words won't be bold when you copy them onto notepad and submit them in your application, but really i don't think that'll be a problem. Other than that though, great job!
Wow this is great, very personal and intimate, and you portray both your internal struggles and big turn-around very nicely. This essay really hit hard and i want to congratulate you on both your essay and your triumphs in life. The only suggestion i can think of giving you is that the bold words won't be bold when you copy them onto notepad and submit them in your application, but really i don't think that'll be a problem. Other than that though, great job!