Undergraduate / Essay on academic interests - Kimchi, Kiwi, and Made in China :) [7]

A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you.

When I was five years old, I left my familiar world of Kimchi, Choco Pie, and Korean candy to be thrown into a world of unpredictable happenings. Since then, my life has been a continuous cycle of moving and adjusting. Such abrupt changes in environment brought confusion and fear, but the wealth of experience I gained through these travels has molded me into a flexible and stronger person.

My first destination was New Zealand, the land of sheep, cows, and white people. Here I was exposed to a very free and wild culture compared to Korea's rigid societal values. While children my age in Korea were already memorizing the multiplication tables, I was busy playing on the trampoline and enjoying delightful dairy products. I loved the kiwi fruit, developed a "Kiwi" accent, and was soon enough called a "Kiwi". When I thought I had found my place in this foreign land, it was time to move on- to the mysterious land of China.

China was very different from our previous settlement. The people were rude, and the streets were dirty and crowded. It was a shock when I first encountered the infamous Chinese bathroom: no doors, no toilet seat, only a mere hole in the ground. Unlike in New Zealand, it took a while before I became accustomed to the ways of this foreign land. I must admit that I initially felt superior to these people of rudimentary manners. It was only when I tried to appreciate their culture that I started to understand them. Without knowing it, I became so assimilated in Chinese society that I found myself behaving like them- I soon ate, talked, and looked like a Chinese.

Clad in my "Made in China" clothes, I moved to Thailand in hopes of receiving a well rounded education. The Thai people were quiet, polite, and respectful. One of the things I hear the most here is, "Jai yen," a Thai phrase meaning "calm down." This has been a challenge for a Korean like me, as my culture emphasizes "Bali, bali", or "hurry, hurry." Although the Korean side of me constantly wants to shout "Faster," I am trying to become accustomed to the slow and calm nature of the Thai people.

Being exposed to such diverse cultures has undeniably allowed me to see a wider view of the world. I have made countless mistakes because of my ignorance of others' values, but they gave me opportunities to grow and learn. As a prospective college student, I am excited to have the chance to share my imperfect yet meaningful experiences that challenged me to see beyond my narrow set of codes. I can proudly tell my colleagues that my life as a wandering youth was definitely worth leaving my delicious Korean snacks.

Undergraduate / 'orphanage for HIV positive children' - Extracurricular short essay for Common App [3]

Please mainly check on grammar and clarity of thought. Thank you all very much :)

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

Going to Agape Home, an orphanage for HIV positive children, has truly been a blessing in my life. At Agape Home, each student like me is assigned a child, and the pair becomes 'buddies'. When I first met my buddy, Nim, she was very reserved. When students and I arrived at Agape on a song thaew (Thai share taxi), the children normally ran towards us in excitement. In contrast, Nim stayed behind watching from a distance, and I had to walk towards her first. These past three years, I have tried to be patient with Nim, by realizing that it takes time for someone who has already been denied to open her heart again. In doing so, I could see Nim slowly letting me into her world. Now she freely makes silly jokes, gives me enthusiastic hugs, and sometimes lies on my legs while I fiddle with her hair. To be honest, my original intention of going to Agape was to add an extra activity that could enhance my resume, but now I go eagerly because I know that someone special is waiting for me. I have loved going to Agape and building a personal relationship with a broken hearted girl, and I long to participate in any such community service programs as a college student as well.