Undergraduate / 'interests and related experiences influenced the major' CORNELL ESSAY - SUPPLEMENT [4]

Hey you guys ! This is so incredibly urgent because this essay is actually due in a couple of hours. I would deeply appreciate any help I can get with anything I need to alter or brush up on or any of your view in general. Please be harsh ! Also, I really don't think the ending is that great so any suggestions will be highly welcome ! Thank-you for your time in advance !! (:

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences:
How have your interests and related experiences influenced the major you have selected in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences?

As humans we crave interaction. But how can our relationships with our fellow human beings blossom if we are, not only in both our physical and mental best but are socially, culturally and economically aware of the world around us?

In winter 2010 approximately 2000 students from around the Middle East and Asia flowed into Qatar Academy for the annual Qatar Model United Nations in winter'10. To me, QMUN was an unforgettable first glimpse of the world of diplomats (albeit role-played) investigating international issues. Perhaps it was the realization that we set down our beliefs to represent those different from our own, but as I sat there listening to the delegate of the UK address member states about eradicating feminization of poverty and transplant tourism, I felt an electrifying sense of acceptance that I was part of a world-wide community bound by a passion for sovereign equality, bridging the gap between social classes, developing symbiotic relations between nations and working together to diminish disease, poverty and illiteracy in the world. The fact that my peers and I devoted hours of research to obtain policies for the issues at hand illustrated that the future generation, my generation, fully understood that behind the façade of language, cultural barriers, national conflicts and tensions we are all the same.

In addition to my love of politics I have, for as long as I can remember, been fascinated by the life sciences. How can one adore two things that are believed to be on opposite ends of the spectrum? I do. Due to having lived in the same city for the majority of my upbringing and having a mother who worked at the local medical center my initial interests were naturally and inevitably tailored towards a career in medicine. My mother and her colleagues' dedication to their professions and their hard work made me curious as to what medicine has to offer and predictably growing up, I spent hours at the center listening in to any snippets of information I could analyse; persuasively arguing my way into witnessing Transesophageal and adenosine/sestamibi stress echocardiograms among other things.

I grew up wanting to be a doctor, then changed course and wanted to be a politician. Up until summer'12 I struggled to accept that in order to purse one of my dreams I would have to forgo the other; then I learnt about the Human Biology, Health and Society major offered at Cornell University. Granted I will not graduate as either a doctor or a politician but I will graduate as someone better: someone who understands that our health problems are not just mental or physical; someone who really wants to make a difference in the world and is now armed with the vital education required for one to do just that. From out-reach programs that will enable gathering first-hand what is truly affecting citizens to the world class research programs offering platforms to mentally engage like never before: this is the major for me.

Undergraduate / Daughter. Sister. Friend. Cousin. Granddaughter... RELATIONSHIPS; STANFORD/ WHAT MATTERS [2]

You guys, I have a 2000 character limit and currently I am waaaay pass that limit at 2417. I'd deeply appreciate any help in areas that might need slimming or don't really put my point acroos. Thank-you all so much in advance !

What matters to you, and why?

Daughter. Sister. Friend. Cousin. Granddaughter. Teacher. Student. Confidant. We grow up being defined with labels, and even though stereotyping is an unwelcome cliché, those labels define me. As humans we crave interaction with each other; the relationships we form with our fellow human beings either make us or break us and as such relationships are pivotal in life.

On top of a crystal mantelpiece in our living room bookshelf sits a glass bowl filled with colourful paper. Annually, on the 31st of December, all 5 of my immediate family members, sit around our living room table and empty the bowl's content. Inside lay our hopes, dreams and aspirations for the passing year- our resolutions written in our distinct handwritings. The room fills with laughter and the occasional tear as we reflect on how much the last 12 months have changed us. Trek back 2 hours earlier. I am at my best friend's house ringing the New Year early. We raise our mocktails in toast celebrating our accomplishments and each other but most importantly, celebrating that no matter what life threw at us making us stumble and fall the last 365 days, we managed to get right back up.

My family, blood related or not, have influenced me irrevocably. My mother is a person who will never cease to amaze me. With her intelligence, unique sense of humour, resilience and determination I have learned that it is imperative to understand that yes, we only live on Earth once, but if you do it right once is enough. My father instilled in me compassion, humility, principles and drive: qualities I believe will be invaluable in my commitment to medicine. The remaining relatives have an array of quirks- from being vivacious and versatile to being organized and assertive; assets that I have inevitably picked up from too many hours shared in the same room.

The last 3 labels define who I am to anyone I have ever met: from teaching my neighbour's daughter how to ride a bicycle, learning about the method by which Mycobacterium tuberculosis affects the cell-mediated response or listening to a friend expose her years of receiving racism. Once you strip down our exterior differences, our varying passions the relationships we form are our indestructible constants. From the local postman who brings the occasional parcel of joy, to the cashier at the supermarket who hands you your groceries, to the charismatic emcee at your last Christmas party: we are all related and that is what matters most to me.

Undergraduate / Stanford Essays- Intellectual vitality + Roommate note [4]

Hey you guys ! I'm applying to Stanford and I know this is so very late but I would deeply appreciate if you guys can give my essays a read and point out any blunders or any room for improvement ! Thank-you in advance :D

Stanford students possess an intellectual vitality. Reflect on an idea or experience that has been important to your intellectual development.

"Does the delegate yield the floor back to the chair?". "The delegate of the UK wishes to yield the floor to the delegate of Vietnam". "That is in order, does the delegate of Vietnam accept the floor?" "Yes".

Almost 2000 students from around the Middle East and Asia streamed into Qatar Academy for the annual Qatar Model United Nations in the winter of 2010. Surrounded by pupils who'd attended more than 5 conferences, I sat waiting for the opening ceremony to commence in a nervous haze hoping that my debating skills, or lack thereof, wouldn't be too detectable. To me QMUN was an unforgettable first glimpse of the world of deliberating, meliorating and diplomats (albeit role-played) investigating international issues.

Perhaps it was the realization that we set down our beliefs and values to represent those of nations different from our own, but as I sat there listening to the delegate of the UK address member states in the Economic and Social committee about the need to eradicate feminization of poverty and transplant tourism, I suddenly felt an electrifying sense of belonging. It was incredible to accept that I too was part of a larger world-wide community bound by a passion for sovereign equality, bridging the gap between social classes, developing symbiotic relations between nations and working together to diminish disease, poverty and illiteracy in the world. The fact that my peers and I willingly devoted a plethora of research hours to obtain policy statements for the issues at hand illustrated that the future generation, my generation, fully understood that behind the façade of language and cultural barriers, the façade of national conflicts and tensions we are all the same. We share the same need to be recognized and appreciated; we share the values of rights and freedom; we share the same passion to live and to inspire. For 4 days we lived to see and to learn- from ourselves and each other; transcending our personal tensions to meliorate over shared interests and strike a balance between national welfare and international gain. The skills I gained from leadership to compassion have proven invaluable. I was inspired that united, we really can make a difference.

Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate - and us - know you better.

Dear Future roommate-
I am Ghaydah, that's pronounced 'Gy-dah'. I know, could my parents have picked a harder name to pronounce? Fortunately for them I have a unique personality to match. Here's why:

1) Growing up all I wanted to be was:
a) A ballerina
b) A Politician
c) A Doctor
d) All of the above
2) For my best friend's 17th birthday, a couple of my friends and I wrote up a series of love letters and instructions claiming to be Edward Cullen(yes the sparkly one) for an array of teachers to present to her only for later set her up on a wild Harry Potter themed goose hunt

3) I spend entire days at the Library reading and re-reading books (I've read my favorite book- 'The Gift' thrice) by my favorite authors.
4) In the Spring of 2012 instead of spending a week at a luxurious hotel in Italy, skiing with my classmates, I traveled to Colombo Sri Lanka and worked at Sarvodaya Orphanage in conjugation with Sarvodaya Suwasetha Nutrition center for malnourished children

5) Following a Toastmasters meeting, I gate-crashed (albeit one of the guests invited me) a Pakistani wedding only to be the single non-Indian sub-continent citizen present

6) In 6th grade, I persuasively debated my way into witnessing my grandmother have a Transesophageal echocardiogram and a adenosine/sestamibi stress echocardiogram
7) I've spent entire evenings discussing the socio-economic ramifications and cross currents of the game cricket and the word 'retard'
8) Spent 5 minutes of chemistry lab calculating how many generations of a family will live within Carbon's half-life (72 if you were wondering)

Note:I'm still working on the last one but I posted it up here for any criticism of whether the list it too boring or idk...