Undergraduate / biomechanics concentration - Johns Hopkins supplemental [8]

Prompt: Johns Hopkins offers 49 majors across the schools of Arts and Sciences and Engineering. on this supplement, we ask you to identify one or two that you might like to pursue here. Why did you choose the way you did? If you are undecided, why didn't you choose?

My brother died when I was in tenth grade.

No, legally, I cannot say that I ever had a brother. Technically, I was always an only child - a product of China's "one child" policy. Technically, on the Common Application, and on any other official form, I must leave all the "sibling" spots blank. Technically, the one I just referred to as a brother was not even a human being - he was a cat named Tiger.

Forget technicalities.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, 1984 Nobel Laureate, once said, "You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them." Under this definition, I certainly gained a new brother that fateful day in sixth grade, when my mother's friend dropped off a white and orange shorthair at our door.

Tiger would quickly grow from pet to brother and friend. His presence beside me every night helped rid me of my lifelong fear of the dark; his residence on my physics book (always just the physics book!) made me laugh instead of stress as I did my nightly homework. Tiger was always there for me, never-judgmental, and always ready to offer an enthusiastic, friendly headbutt.

Thus, it seemed only natural for me to reaffirm my vow of becoming a veterinarian when Tiger died an early death during the winter break of my sophomore year. After learning the joy of having a brother to take care of and be taken care by, how could I not wish the same joy for everyone else? After learning the pain of losing that brother, how could I wish the same pain for anyone else?

As a bioengineering student at Johns Hopkins University, either with a BME major or a biomechanics concentration, I can begin my journey towards eliminating that pain. Either of the two paths would be perfect for me; I would be combining my goal of improving animal health with my strong interest in physics and engineering. With Johns Hopkins University's world class research facilities and its heavy emphasis on undergraduates, I will, even as a freshman, be able to work with professors in labs. I could help design new, non-invasive tools and techniques to replace surgery, I could perhaps combine the rapidly growing field of nanotechnology with veterinary science. Much of the attention in bioengineering is placed on human health, and for good reason, but I could be the one to champion animal health as well. I think that, if I can somehow save just one little child's beloved brother or sister, any challenge I have faced, and any expense I have paid, will have been worthwhile.

I would great appreciate any critiques and input. Did I focus too much on the background story? Too little? Was the essay too boring? *Any* comments would be appreciated! (Word count: 435)