Undergraduate / georgia tech essay [taking a year off school before attending college] [3]

comments suggestions much appreciated thank you

"If you were to delay going to college by one year, what would you do with that time? And, what would you hope to gain from that experience?"

If I was able to take a year off school before attending college I would choose to spend that time travelling and exploring the far country of China. I would take the time to explore some of the historical landmarks that has instill awe in the hearts of people, I want to visit such landmarks like the Great wall and also visit Beijing's most treasure jewel, ancient china's most revered location known as the forbidden city home to the emperors of china. Also during the course of my travel to this land of mystery I would further improve my linguistic knowledge of Mandarin, china's national language, so that I may better communicate with the china's inhabitants.

What I hope to gain from this experience, aside from the knowledge I hope to gain about this mysterious nation that I know really little about, is a better sense of my own Chinese identity. I moved to America at a young age which gave me little opportunity to learn about my own national heritage aside from what little I've learned from my parents, this experience would open my eyes to a treasure trove of knowledge about the history of my native country. I also hope that this trip would unveil unto me an idea of how much there is to explore and experience in this world. I hope to be overwhelm with ambivalent feelings of insignificance and inspiration, because of the realization of what little knowledge I have about the world about how much there is to learn from that of a classroom. From this realization I hope to be inspired to learn to be inspired to further understand this still mysterious world of ours.

Undergraduate / unc long essay (my math teacher) [3]

Out of the handful of teachers that have influenced me throughout my high school career, I sincerely believe that the sole teacher that has made the greatest impact on my life is my math teacher, David Bell. During my time in his class, Mr. Bell has not only taught me math, but also important values, such as practicing honesty and integrity in one's work. Moreover, Mr. Bell influenced me to pursue my goals and to tackle difficult challenges. In essence, he has grown to be not only my math teacher, but also my friend.

I first met Mr. Bell during my sophomore year, when I enrolled in his Pre-Calculus class. At the time, I saw him as just another simple math teacher, yet as the semester progressed, I began to view Mr. Bell as more than just my teacher. Every time I made an "A" on his test, he would personally recognize my achievement, either through a compliment or by writing a congratulatory card. Mr. Bell consistently delivers a great amount of attention to all his students, not only in math, but in every other aspect of his students' lives. As a matter of fact, it was Mr. Bell who recently began helping me with my online computer science class, as I was the only student in the entire school to enroll in this rigorous course. He knew that it would be a difficult challenge for me to pursue alone, so he personally took time out of his class to help me with certain aspects of the course.

Mr. Bell has been an inspiration to me, as he has inspired me to challenge myself. I clearly remember during the first semester in his classroom, Mr. Bell talked to me after school about a low test grade I had received in his class. His words of encouragement always lifted my spirit and inspired me to strive to do better. Even after I had received a test or project grade that reflected the work I had put into it, Mr. Bell often told me about how much more I could be if only I challenged myself for the better. Because of his encouragement, I pursued my interest in engineering after my junior year by enrolling in a summer engineering camp.

Looking back on the four years of my high school career, because of Mr. Bell, I know that I have become a stronger person--an individual who is not afraid to tackle the challenges life has in store. I know that throughout my years in high school the one person that inspired and encouraged me throughout my high school career was my math teacher and dear friend, Mr. Bell. The lessons he has taught me, such as challenging oneself as well as having pride in one's work, will always go with me. I someday hope to repay Mr. Bell for all the priceless lessons he has taught me throughout the time I had the pleasure of taking his classes."

please comment && suggestions are welcomed