Simiopolis
Dec 29, 2008
Undergraduate / 'the person I envisioned' - UT Austin-Someone who has impacted your life. [3]
Thank you for your suggestions! =)
Do you think you can take a look at my second essay? Thanks in advance!
Personal Essay 2
Choose an issue of importance to you-the issue could be personal, school related, local, political, or international in scope-and write an essay in which you explain the significance of that issue to yourself, your family, your community, or your generation.
There is but one place that I think of when it comes to family issues-a place where many gather in hopes of winning. It is a place where noisy clicks from clashing coins and upbeat tones from winning slots come together in harmony. It is a place where money is made and lost. It is the casino.
My family may appear quite like an average family on the surface-the elderly, yet happy grandparents, the loving aunts and uncles along with their overly hyper and loud kids. It is a known fact among all of us, however, that our family has been plagued with an undying disease: habitual gambling. It is the main source of our financial arguments, among several other topics. For me, however, it is not only a matter of finance, but of a childhood lost in nothing but arguments between my parents as well.
The most prominent memories of my childhood consist of harsh voices and tears mainly between my parents, save the typical recollection of first experiences and other various moments. I had grown up to those two things without knowing the reason and wondering why they had to fight constantly. As I grew older, my mother slowly revealed the truth to me, one piece at a time. It wasn't long before the puzzle came together: my parents' marriage was slowly crumbling to pieces thanks to gambling. My father had consistently taken all the money that he could get a hold of and simply threw it all away at the poker table. I may have been young, but even then, I had already realized the magnitude of the problem although there was nothing that could be done.
It wasn't long before they had finally divorced. The effect was not sudden, but rather, it took place over time; slowly, my father began to disappear from my life. Eventually, images of him within my mind are just the about the closest I can get to him. As such, I never knew what it was like to have a true father.
Gambling was the source of my parents' problem. It tore them apart and rendered me fatherless for a period of time. It has done this to numerous others as well, including my uncles and aunts. I never understood the benefits of gambling. How is spending money on an addicting game of improbable chance logical? What does make sense to me, however, is that gambling is no different than drinking or drugs: once you are hooked, you can't go back.
Gambling is an issue that has affected me in many ways. It stripped me of a father and gave me nothing but a sad, stressed mother who must work twice as hard to care for me. It damaged my family physically and emotionally, resulting in disagreements which may lead to more splits and sadness. Gambling is horrible. It is demoralizing. It is deteriorating. But it is a simultaneously encouraging reminder of what I, as a person, should not be. I see, clearly, the side effects of addiction and temptation. With all of this in mind, I will be aware of the path I am taking and the consequences, whether good or bad, that may follow. Whenever I am pushed towards wrongdoings, I will reconsider because I know that what I do can easily ruin me, just like how gambling has affected my family.
Thank you for your suggestions! =)
Do you think you can take a look at my second essay? Thanks in advance!
Personal Essay 2
Choose an issue of importance to you-the issue could be personal, school related, local, political, or international in scope-and write an essay in which you explain the significance of that issue to yourself, your family, your community, or your generation.
There is but one place that I think of when it comes to family issues-a place where many gather in hopes of winning. It is a place where noisy clicks from clashing coins and upbeat tones from winning slots come together in harmony. It is a place where money is made and lost. It is the casino.
My family may appear quite like an average family on the surface-the elderly, yet happy grandparents, the loving aunts and uncles along with their overly hyper and loud kids. It is a known fact among all of us, however, that our family has been plagued with an undying disease: habitual gambling. It is the main source of our financial arguments, among several other topics. For me, however, it is not only a matter of finance, but of a childhood lost in nothing but arguments between my parents as well.
The most prominent memories of my childhood consist of harsh voices and tears mainly between my parents, save the typical recollection of first experiences and other various moments. I had grown up to those two things without knowing the reason and wondering why they had to fight constantly. As I grew older, my mother slowly revealed the truth to me, one piece at a time. It wasn't long before the puzzle came together: my parents' marriage was slowly crumbling to pieces thanks to gambling. My father had consistently taken all the money that he could get a hold of and simply threw it all away at the poker table. I may have been young, but even then, I had already realized the magnitude of the problem although there was nothing that could be done.
It wasn't long before they had finally divorced. The effect was not sudden, but rather, it took place over time; slowly, my father began to disappear from my life. Eventually, images of him within my mind are just the about the closest I can get to him. As such, I never knew what it was like to have a true father.
Gambling was the source of my parents' problem. It tore them apart and rendered me fatherless for a period of time. It has done this to numerous others as well, including my uncles and aunts. I never understood the benefits of gambling. How is spending money on an addicting game of improbable chance logical? What does make sense to me, however, is that gambling is no different than drinking or drugs: once you are hooked, you can't go back.
Gambling is an issue that has affected me in many ways. It stripped me of a father and gave me nothing but a sad, stressed mother who must work twice as hard to care for me. It damaged my family physically and emotionally, resulting in disagreements which may lead to more splits and sadness. Gambling is horrible. It is demoralizing. It is deteriorating. But it is a simultaneously encouraging reminder of what I, as a person, should not be. I see, clearly, the side effects of addiction and temptation. With all of this in mind, I will be aware of the path I am taking and the consequences, whether good or bad, that may follow. Whenever I am pushed towards wrongdoings, I will reconsider because I know that what I do can easily ruin me, just like how gambling has affected my family.