Undergraduate / 'to kill another man?' - University of Illinois essay [5]

ESSAY #1: In an essay of 300 words or less, please describe how your past circumstances and experiences (such as your upbringing, community, and/or activities) impacted who you are, your future goals, and your choice of major. If you haven't decided on a college or major yet, briefly explain your intentions and aspirations for your first year at Illinois.

What does it take to kill another man? What disconnects a person from society to such an extent that they are completely incapable of feeling the pain they inflict on others? These are questions that have often haunted me in my life. Unfortunately, I don't think that there is a simple answer to these questions. The workings of the human mind cannot be understood through petty generalization. I could, however, tell you about the effects of such violence. This is a topic I know all too well. When I was three months old, my father was shot dead in an act of terrorism by a Sunni extremist. The death and the financial strains that followed have greatly impacted my approach to life. Since then, I have come to have a genuine appreciation for those around me and the opportunities that I have been given. In fact, it has never escaped me that I was very fortunate to be given the choice to come to the states. This awareness has been a motivating factor in all facets of my life. Academically, it has pushed me to maintain my GPA and take AP classes to challenge myself. Socially, I was motivated to give back to my community. I fulfilled this sense of responsibility by volunteering at "Feed my Starving Children" or by helping keep the community clean with Key club. Furthermore, I intend to carry this awareness to college and into the major that I decide. Therefore, going to college undecided is the best option for me. Since, I know my goal but not a way to them. Moreover, I believe in making multi-attribute decisions and this can effectively be done through exposure to different subject areas. College, in my opinion, is a time of self discovery.

I want a powerful ending, but I'm undecided. So I don't know how to end it.