Undergraduate / Followers of Christ; Biola/ process of spiritual growth [2]

I didn't really know how to approach this essay :\ please give me some pointers! Anything is greatly appreciated!

At Biola University, our common foundation is our faith in Christ and becoming transformed into His likeness. In light of this fact, please describe: a) the circumstances surrounding your decision to become a follower of Jesus Christ, using various Bible passages as the framework for your salvation and eternal life in Christ, and b) using specific examples, describe your process of spiritual growth over the past three years.

Like many people who call themselves Christians, but not like many people who call themselves followers of Christ, I was of those who displayed a show of faith and closeness to the Lord when circumstances called for a show of faith. Born on January 20, 1995, I was one of the lucky children to have been born into a family that followed Christ. I followed the typical routine of growing up in Sunday School, and then moving on to attending the adult service. I would attend church every Sunday, attempting to be as holy as possible, memorizing my bible verses, engaging in spiritual conversations with the church leaders, and even working to become apart of the staff. One could say that I was an example of a person letting God live through me. Though it appeared that I was living the "Christian" way of life, I was in fact living two lives, in which the second was completely opposite to what I displayed at church. More than something special that I should have cherished and looked forward to attending, church eventually became something that I dreaded. It was something that was taking up time that I could be spending playing video games or sleeping in.

Entering junior high school, my parents began the long journey through a divorce that would tear me apart. Trying to find out who I was in a completely new school setting, I letting myself slack off while pretending that I was working hard. I would constantly pick fights with my parents over the simplest of things. I began to build up anger in what was happening in my family. I was smart enough to know that it was my fault, but I still needed something, or someone to blame. What I had been taught in church became obsolete as I turned away from God. While still attending church regularly I became what Jesus called the Pharisees,"whitewashed tombs-beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people's bones and all sorts of impurity. Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness." It was easy for me to appear to my friends as Christian with no problems growing with Christ, but on the inside empty and without the holy spirit. As my parents continued through 5 years of fighting in court, I continued to drift away from God, trying my hardest to put on a strong face for my siblings. I worked to keep them together and help them cope with what was going on in our lives. I tried to put on the Christian side of myself that my family and church had watched me grow into, but nothing could bury the fact that the devil had gotten a hold of me, and was not letting go.

For the next few years of my life, I continued down the path without really letting God into my life. It never entered my mind that in the lowest point of my life, I would need him so much. Then one winter, I decided to attend the youth winter retreat. It was based on the theme of repentance and how as Christians we should be able to give up all of the anger and sins that we try to harbor within ourselves, and give it up to God. I thought to myself, "Hey why not, I could go hang out with some friends and enjoy the snow." For the first few days of the retreat, I had a blast. The worship was awesome, the people were fun, and the food was great. The only problem was, my heart wasn't truly there. I was at a youth retreat where I was supposed to be giving my troubles up to God, but here I was doing the complete opposite.

On the last night of retreat after dinner, my youth group sat around in a circle where we took turn talking about what we had learned. As it came my turn, I broke down in tears unable to couldn't contain the hurt that I was living with. Later that night, my youth pastor pulled me aside and with one simple phrase, changed the way I have lived my life. "Whatever happens, it is all of God's big plan" He told me that no matter what happens, I change not what my circumstances are, but how I react to them. Up until that point, I had been angry with what had happened to my family. Something that meant so much to me had been broken apart, and I couldn't help but cast the Lord aside for him allowing it to happen to me. My pastor told me that I needed to trust that the Lord would take care of me. Like said in Matthew 6:26, "Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" I needed to trust that God was in control and even such simple things as the birds in the sky, God was in complete control.

Moving on to high school I was involved in a two party car accident where the people in my car were badly injured. In the urgent care waiting room, I witnessed the most amazing thing when my older cousin, the driver of our car, began to evangelise to a boy sitting across the room. It turned out that he was in a similar position that I had been in, angry and alone in need of Christ. Though my cousin was injured and could very well have just sat there in pain, he choose to channel God through his pain to introduce someone else in need, to Christ. What happened that day was a sign from God that though things may happen, he uses them for good in his bigger picture.

In the last few years of my life, I have been fortunate to experience the bits and pieces of the plan that God has had for me. Instead of living on my own I try to live according to God's word. I have involved myself in Church, engaging in conversations where I try to understand what is being said, rather than trying pretending. At school I am apart of the Christians on Campus club, and am actively playing a role in my small group, working to support not only those in my group, but anyone in need of support "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" said in Jeremiah 29:11. Through my daily life I now live strongly by this message that the Lord had spoken. Whatever we may do, we should not try to see how it will benefit ourselves, but how it will benefit God in his big plan. As I continue to abide by his word, I strive to be a living example of the relationship that we should have, allowing to the Holy Spirit to live within us, shining outward.

Undergraduate / Prompt of UC - Marching Band in my life. [2]

Please help me check for any bumps in my essay or things that I need to smoothen out.

Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution, or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are?

For some, to be behind a music stand in front of ten people as their eyes are glued to you as you sing a piece accompanied by some background music, can be the most terrifying experience in life. These people may never want to experience the same adrenaline rush of fear ever again, quitting the activity. For me, standing in front of not just ten, but thousands of people, brings a thrill through performance, knowing that all eyes are watching as I demonstrate my knowledge and hours of work in the practice for the piece. With marching band, I am embraced with this same thrill, to know that with every note that I play and with every step I take, I am contributing to the overall outcome of our group's performance. To be part of a group where I can grow, learn new things, and be able to give back to the group, brings me pride as well as gratification. My participation has allowed me to grow from a person who had a hard time accepting who I was and what I looked like, into a person who is confident that with the right determination, I can succeed no matter what people tell me.

Becoming apart of the marching band helped me realize that though my family was never going to be the same again, it was possible to have another family; the band. Entering high school, my parents were in the middle of getting a divorce. Being the oldest child, I got caught in the middle not understanding why it was happening. I felt insignificant, being unable to change my situation. I began finding it hard to talk to people insecure thinking that others would tease me for my predicament. With the marching band,I embarked on a journey where I allowed myself to be consumed with the music around me. I worked to focus on my technique, dedicating myself to the ensemble. In marching band, we were taught that every person is essential to the success of the entire group and that it would take everyone working in harmony to create something from confusion. Being in confusion myself, I was brought to the realization that it didn't matter what confusion I was in. I began to realize that my parents' divorce did not matter to how I lived my life, nor would it determine the outcome of who I was. What mattered was that I could express myself through my music and marching. Every practice and performance was a chance for me to show who I wanted to be, allowing me to become a stronger and more stable person. With the marching band I was able to join a new family that would allow me to put all my worries aside.

During my last two years of high school, I applied for the position of trombone section leader. Achieving this position has allowed me to give back to the one thing that helped me to grow into the confident, social person that I am today. I am proud to have been apart of the band that helped mold me, then allow me to give back.

Undergraduate / 'the world of technology' - UC Prompt; Describe the world you come from [3]

I've rewritten this promt 10 times and I finally created something I find decent. Please let me know if there is anything I need to change. Majorly or Minorly. Thanks a bunch! Describe the world you come from - for example, your family, community or school - and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.

"Hurry! We're not going to make it to your sisters performance!" My mom called frantically as I trailed behind her carrying her tripod, camera bag, and my own backpack. When we finally reached the auditorium, skating through the entrance I set up the tripod in one swift motion, mounting the camera on top and pressing the record button, just as the lights began to dim; we had made it. Ever since I was a child there were two major things that shaped who I was, and who I want to be. My family, and through my family, the technology that sustained our lives. Through the events in my life created by my family history and the technological presence that coincided with those events, my passion to delve into the world of computers was formed.

As a child born in the 1990's I have grown up into era where the world of technology has advanced at an ever increasing rate. For as long as I can remember, I have always been fascinated by the way technology functions through the electrical components and software. The way each and every component works together like a gigantic puzzle, and how the puzzle becomes more and more complicated as time goes on, has always fascinated me. Through my family's constant usage of the technology, such as the way my family enjoys recording the moments of our lives for memories, I have always been blessed with the accessibility to the latest updates in the computers and gadgets that my family use. Utilizing these things, I have been allowed to change and explore the different ways a computer can work, and has inspired me to look into the world of computers, and how I can work to become more knowledgeable in the functionality of computers. As opposed to only viewing the world of technology as one of innovation that allows us to play games and go on facebook, I see how the world of technology creates a stronger world, with quicker communication to the loved ones that serve us overseas, or how computers provide a vast database of knowledge that is more and more increasingly accessible to the student and average person; thus sparking my aspirations for further study in the world of computers.

While computers change the world, I want to become more diligent in the functions and changes. Similar to how my family has helped me to become more efficient in seeing how the world of technology can help others, I dream to become a person who can not only learn to understand computers and technology, but aid others in the rapid change of computers.