Undergraduate / 'This summer strengthened family relationships' - Princeton [3]

Please tell us how you have spent the last two summers (or vacations between school years), including any jobs you have held, if not already detailed on the Common Application.

The first few raindrops lightly touch the ground with a "plop!" With additional plops here and there, the raindrops begin to fall like mischievous incessant sprites. The fresh scent of the rain is reinvorating as each drop seems to cleanse and nurture the earth. It is the same with the summers of '10 and '11 as they provided nourishment and rejuvenation and their wheels of time began to spin faster.

The rain drizzling introduces the summer of '10. I carefully chop the rotund beet as my grandmother slowly stirs the borscht soup with its reddish hue of love for the last time. Two wonderful years of sagacious guidance and the Kazakh cultural culinary and linguistic exposure have come to end as my guardians, grandparents, returned to their missionary work in Kazakhstan. We take our last road trip down to Los Angeles together where we spend two weeks with our relatives, cherishing the conversations and memories. Here, I feel reinvigorated as three days of worship and fellowship takes place in my cousin's church retreat.

"I'm sorry for..." This summer strengthened family relationships while my siblings and I lived alone after my grandparents' leave. My brothers and I had unresolved issues with each other and through every argument, fight, and apology, we learned to be patient with one another and listen to each other's voice.

The rain pouring introduces the summer of '11. Father Time swiftly turns the wheels so that each hour feels like a second. Scurrying up and down the stairs, I read, translate, and scan documents for my recently immigrated father. This is the first summer that I lived with my father after my mother's death. This summer is also the first time I socially interacted with my friends outside of school as I had sleepovers and went to the mall.

Taking our annual family road trip down to Los Angeles, I spend two weeks with our relatives once more. Here, my weary body is replenished as my aunt pampers me with delicious multiethnic food, a Chinese full body massage, and hilarious family stories. I catch up with my female cousin and once again go to her church retreat.

The summers of '10 and '11 were a time of change and development, a time of obtaining responsibilities and building relationships. As raindrops begin to fall faster from a drizzle to a pour, time also seemed to go faster. As raindrops provided nourishment and rejuvenation, these summers provided them as well as start of a new beginning, such as living with a father.

Undergraduate / "Trust in the Lord with all your heart" - Princeton essay [4]

Using a favorite quotation from an essay or book you have read in the last three years as a starting point, tell us about an event or experience that helped you define one of your values or changed how you approach the world. Please write the quotation at the beginning of your essay.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5-6, Bible).

Night has never felt so long or so dark. Closing the blinds, I turn away from the night, even as the moon peers in with her gentle rays. Opening the large suitcase before me, I place the last remaining jeans.

A silent scream of despair and helplessness echoes in my head as I begin packing my younger brothers' clothes. For the first time, I am trapped. I cannot weasel my through this and persuade my guardian, Eunice, to retract her threat of sending my four siblings and me to the orphanage in this dead of the night.

"You devil children!" I wince as I hear Eunice's voice in the kitchen. Every time she verbally abuses us, it hurts me and lowers my self-esteem for Eunice has been my guardian for two years and, as a twelve year old without a mother, I wanted to think of her as a mother figure.

In my lassitude, I kowtow before the intangible God and fervently cry out to him. "God, you said, "Ask and it will be given," so please help us! I don't want to go to the orphanage. Please..." With my hands pressed together, I continue to pray until exhaustion takes over me, and I wait silently. I try to be patient and trust in God while my heart beats at an incredible pace and my teeth chatters.

About an hour later, Eunice tells us to write a letter of apology to her for our troubles. After we hand in our apologies, she tells us to go to bed as she begins reading them. The storm has finally cleared, and I fall asleep while I say my prayer of thanks.

Through my experiences, I now see the world as it is: unrighteous. The injustice of the world, that the good and the innocent should suffer, has become more and more apparent to me. Yet, I learned to trust in God for although the secular world will always be iniquitous and unjust, but it cannot defeat me as God is my succor and protector.

Undergraduate / Stanford Supplement: Intellectual Development "Look over these packets" [7]

Stanford students possess an intellectual vitality. Reflect on an idea or experience that has been important to your intellectual development

"Look over these packets. Chapter one test is in two weeks." With a thud, the heavy packet of papers falls onto my desk, and I immediately scan over the words. "What is 'nadar'? And what are conjugations?' With my anxiety level going off the roof, I try to take a deep breath as, and cover my flushed cheeks with cold hands. 'Hmmm, maybe I should've taken French instead of Spanish!' The thought leaves my mind in a second because I realize that Spanish would be beneficial and interesting to learn, especially as I live in California. 'Who knows, perhaps someday, I can understand those Mexican soap operas!'

Thus began my adventure to conquer this new language, as I attacked Spanish with the incantations of memorization. I could not depend on my mentor to guide me in this battle for her methods of teaching constantly confused me. Yet, my independence was a blessing in disguise for I learned the most effective ways to learn. I would write the words in Korean to practice my pronunciation and repeat the definitions of words until I memorized them. I also realized that my brain demanded to understand the mechanisms, such as the explanation for the wrong conjugation and importance of accents, before it processed any information. I realized that comprehension and the speech were fundamental as well as I undertook higher levels of Spanish. During my first listening comprehension tests, I was stumped on the meaning of a single word that the essence of the dialogue was lost to me. It was the same with speaking as I stumbled upon a word or a verb tense that I forgot my train of thought. Yet, these problems were part of the inconspicuous joy in learning a new language and every failure was a step closer to proficiency.

Learning a new language is a challenge, but it is a challenge I am glad to have taken. Learning Spanish has not only allowed me to communicate with some of my friends in their native language but it has allowed me to fully discover my learning mentality and techniques.

Undergraduate / 'Sorrow, anger, and doubt' - Stanford Essay: What matters to you and why? [3]

"Dear Daddy, I feel really good waking up today. Thank you for everything. Watching Samuel sleeping soundly on his bed makes me smile..." Unbeknownst to my brothers, I recently began a diary to talk to God. Some people can easily hear God's voice and some can feel His presence. I am still slowly developing a relationship with Him and discerning His voice.

Sorrow, anger, and doubt are part of my Christian journey as I persevere through the narrow road covered with dried tears over a loss of a loved one, far away cries of disbelief over the betrayal by a trusted guardian, and transient obstacles that tempts me to take the easier, wider road of the world where the truth is distorted and God seems nonexistent. Yet, through my narrow path, I can see God's succor and guidance in my life in every situation. For example, God reunited me with my brothers, and brought us to live with our loving grandparents in northern California, away from our manipulative guardian. 'Why did I not see it before?' I ask myself. I look into my relationship with Him, one that I now realize is lacking in many components, and understand that I have been pushing Him away in anger and sorrow over tribulations like my mother's death. Yet, even though I pushed Him aside, He continued to reach out to me, offering reprieve and guidance for my lost and weary soul. Time and time again, I reject him, trying to single handedly solve my own problems and turmoil. Finally, in my exhaustion, I give in and return to Him like the prodigal son. This time, I not only want to maintain my relationship with Him, but fully develop it by knowing Him and experiencing His power and glory.

Many people try to conceal their weaknesses and peccadilloes in fear of human judgment and their own frailty. Must we always look strong as we carry our hefty burdens? I choose to leave my burdens at the cross for although I am weak, God is strong, and I can do what truly matters at the moment: developing my relationship with Him.

Undergraduate / CommonApp Short Answer: "Best tutor in the world" [4]

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

As I check her math answers, Cristina hands me a sheet of paper. Curious, I look and read the words "Best tutor in the world" above a picture of Cristina. As I read those words, a huge smile forms from my lips.

Parents of children with ADHD often provide their children additional instructional aid, which was how Cristina and I met. At first, I was unsure which teaching methods to use, but learning of our mutual passion for art, I began to use visual and hands-on learning techniques like multiplication with teddy bears in bags and subtraction by eating real candies. I also applied positive reinforcements of praises and prizes that encouraged her to enjoy learning. Through our long two year tutoring relationship as mentor and student, Cristina became more focused in her studies.

This is my most fulfilling experience and lesson: to teach a disabled child that she is not disabled, that she can achieve anything she desires to do, by teaching her through sundry methods I've learned.

Undergraduate / "Hakuna matata, what a wonderful phrase!" - Stanford Roommate Supplement Essay [8]

Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate - and us - know you better.

"Hakuna matata, what a wonderful phrase!" If I start singing randomly, please don't mind. After all, my sweet mezzo-soprano voice will uplift the weary and calm the restless. Not really, of course, but if it does, everyone should drop those pills and join a choir!

Roomie, I hope you don't mind how quirky I am. Instead of being eccentric, I like to think of myself as kaleidoscopic as everyone sees sundry sides of me. My vitality might be a little overwhelming as my artistic side likes to take over and color the black and white world with vibrant shades of blue for tranquility, red for passion, and yellow for righteous vision. While I may seem vivacious to you, I may be shy and building up the courage to talk to the guy sitting next to me. You may see me listening carefully and offering you a shoulder as you tearfully tell me about your breakup this week, and the next day, frankly criticizing your painting. I may walk into Best Buy asking the sales associate about the RAM memory and processor of a new laptop model and leave the store with a Kindle that I bought on a whim. I may stubbornly not hand you that notebook whilst in an argument and apologize to you later with a hug. Wow, God created such complex human beings!

I am Christine, the Korean girl with "oriental bangs"-as my older brother calls them-and coffee colored hair who stealthily walks in the room with one mission objective: brighten up your day! I am the older sister with four male siblings who wears the pants in the house whenever that cute skirt comes off. As you deduced, I am a Christian, but will not force my religion on you as I respect your beliefs. I am an adventurer who would like to set sail to the Red Sea and perhaps see Phrixus on the golden ram.

I hope to see you soon as we both ride on that wondrous wave of academia with the sea of multivariable calculus to our right and Plato and Aristotle to our left, ready to excite our intellectual acumen and take a step closer in ameliorating the world.

Undergraduate / Stanford Supplement: Intellectual Development [3]

Stanford students possess an intellectual vitality. Reflect on an idea or experience that has been important to your intellectual development.
Please give me some feedback! :)

It was one of those sluggish days where I surfed through the web, endeavoring to find anything of merit. Then, there is was! "A posse ad esse." -from possibility to actuality. In four little words, this proverb grasped the essence of my trite and simple philosophy, "If you try hard, you'll succeed in anything."

I do not have the intellectual acumen as some of the erudite, brilliant minds such as Stephen Hawking nor do I have the artistic and musical prowess as van Gogh and Yo-Yo Ma. As my former guardian, Eunice, told me once, "Christine, you're ninety-nine percent effort and one percent genius," my forte is in diligence and a strong work ethic. Yet, in my stubborn propensity, I tried to prove her wrong by paradoxically striving to become the "best and the brightest," earning the neat little column of A's in my report card, practicing cello for two hours, and drawing every day.

In my journey to become the ninety-nine percent "genius", I gained a penchant for reading and attempting to solve problems on my own. It also helped that electronic games and television were restricted in Eunice's home. I delved into books, where I freely explored the King Solomon's mines and the Mississippi River with the ruddy faced Tom Sawyer. In seventh grade mathematics, I fought against my adversaries, the algebraic problems, with their minions of quadratic formula and graphs. I would not yield to any sort of succor because I knew I could solve the problem somehow and somewhere and if not now, perhaps in the afternoon after I had some animal crackers.

Along the way, I unconsciously realized that I had achieved my objective and more. Although I am not a virtuoso, I am an intelligent, young woman who perseveres and endeavors through any challenge. I may struggle with predicting molecular shapes and financial difficulties, but I gained a penchant for learning and the aptitude to succeed. Likewise, through perseverance, I can bring all of my aspirations from a possibility to actuality.

Undergraduate / 'Transitioning into a young adult' - Common APP [3]

Should I use this as my Common APP? (I'm doing topic of choice)

Adolescence opens the inconspicuous door of introspection through which one's vicissitudes are no longer merely memories of tribulations and mirth, but also fundamental experiences that forge one's identity. Through my mother's death, guardian's manipulation, and grandfather's guidance, I matured into a strong, young woman who aspires to ameliorate the lives of people in impoverished nations as a teacher and medic.

I vaguely remember that morose funeral ten years ago when some men lowered the ebony coffin that carried my mother's lifeless body, and I carried the stoic charade, encasing my emotions whilst throwing flowers onto the coffin like a game. That night, the pillow carried more than a single devastated and angry tear, the catharsis and emotional turmoil over the loss of a loved one. Through the subsequent years, this experience strengthened me as I undertook maternal responsibilities and realized that, even without a mother, I could grow into an accomplished, erudite woman and use my experiences to expand my narrow perspective to understand to the very mundane tribulations of others. I no longer dwelled on the past that only diminishes my morale, but viewed my vicissitude in a positive light that taught perseverance through distressing circumstances and gratitude for blessings of education, health, and family.

As my uncle elucidated my guardian's extortion of money from my father, the realization of Eunice's manipulation sank into me. Eunice, my trusted guardian, would convince my four male siblings and me that my father's actions were ludicrous, manipulating our emotions and distorting our image of him. Thus, I carried a misconstrued, insidious perspective of adults. Then, my subsequent guardian, my grandfather who is a missionary, taught me to live veraciously and that although people can be perfidious, we must forgive them for humans are imperfect. Through his sagacious guidance, my perspective changed positively, and I learned not to be negatively influenced by the secular world, but to positively influence others with my life.

The crippled, cadaverous man with sunken eyes held the comforting hands of the nun. Below the picture, I read the name "Mother Theresa". After reading her biography in fourth grade, I was inspired by her dedication to destitute people. I aspire to ameliorate the lives of people in impoverished nations likewise only as a teacher and medic for I want to share my blessings of education and health that will be of asset to these people who receive little or lack education and medical treatment. I believe that I can relate to these people who had experienced loss or felt betrayed, and be inspiring teacher and a suitable mother figure to the children.

Transitioning into a young adult, I struggled without a mother, but this unfortunate circumstance, as well as my other vicissitudes, strengthened me to become a compassionate, erudite, persevering woman and veered my aspirations toward ameliorating the lives of people in impoverished nations, especially by desiring to become a teacher and medic. For some, this might sound far-fetched and absurd, but as humans, our experiences constitute our identities and aspirations. If I identify my aspirations and pursue it, I will accomplish what was once a dream "A posse ad esse"- from possibility to actuality.

Undergraduate / Stanford Supplement Essay [4]

Please comment! I'm new here, and I'd really appreciate your feedback! Thank you! :)

Stanford students possess an intellectual vitality. Reflect on an idea or experience that has been important to your intellectual development.

Beep-! As the school bell rings, a sense of relief immerses me. Yet, the transient reprieve is quickly expunged by dread, as I remember the colossal mountain of work waiting at home. "See ya!" I say to my best friend, Cynthia. I run to the bus, just before it is about to leave.

'Homework, check. Ah! I have to do a Bible chapter, read and write a summary, write...' Seeing the incessant quotidian work before me, I begin writing in a perfunctory manner.

Certainly, my ordinary day as an eleven year old was unconventional and unorthodox. I longed to be like the other girls, playing with their friends and having fun. Yet, with my former guardian Eunice, I lived a methodical life of efficiency and mindless work with limited freedom. Strict rules forbade any contact with my relatives and the use of any electronic or communications device.

As Eunice did not provide sound justification for the farcical amount of work and would exercise corporal punishment for not adhering to her laws, I became perplexed. I harbored radical thoughts against the Korean and Christian mindset of "obeying one's elders." While the work may provide a strong work ethic, one does not learn the material as one completes it for the sake of completion. Should not one look at the given workload? It was life with Eunice that I began to question the validity of one's actions.

How was a child supposed to have fun? I delved into books, where I freely explored the King Solomon's mines and the Mississippi River. I was Lyra who conjured a unique daemon, a silver haired sagacious wolf that protected her from any harm. I watched as Gulliver woke up in Lilliput bound by ropes and surrounded by miniscule people. The sundry stories were the portal to adventures in my ennui and mirth in my sorrow.

While life with Eunice was abominable, it not only instilled my love of reading and learning, work ethic, and the necessity for inquiry, but also my intellectual acumen and independence, crucial attributes to my identity.