Undergraduate /
I am from Bangladesh/ MIT / Cultural background [2]
My MIT essays for this fall session... I won't be able to apply this year though.. but still check it out and give your feedback..
Please tell us more about your cultural background and identity in the space below (100 word limit). If you need more than 100 words, please use the Optional section on Part 2.
I am from Bangladesh, a country located in the south-eastern region of Asia. I was born and raised in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. The people here live very simple, yet hardworking lives, trying to keep up with the pace of studies and workload. However we still love social gatherings and often have family get-togethers. We enjoy celebrating cultural festivals such as Pohela Boishakh (Bengali New Year), Nabanna and Bashonta Utshab to follow the traditions of our ancestors and also events like Victory Day and International Mother Language Day to remember and honor the history of our country.
(100 words)
We know you lead a busy life, full of activities, many of which are required of you. Tell us about something you do for the pleasure of it. (*)(100 words or fewer)
An artist expresses his emotions through his artwork. His thoughts and personality are reflected on his canvas. I have always enjoyed conveying my ideas into artistic forms such as painting, sketching and making handicrafts. It delights me, even when I am hopelessly glum and in a state of depression. It rejoices my mind and gives me serenity. It truly amazes me how we can create a whole new world by simply using our imagination and combining colors or portrait everything we see, as it is, by using a pencil. Creating artwork is what I do for the pleasure of it.
(100 words)
Although you may not yet know what you want to major in, which department or program at MIT appeals to you and why? (*) (100 words or fewer)
Since my childhood I have been curious about the mechanism of machines, from the aerodynamics of planes, to the simple clockwork mechanism of wind-up toys. This curiosity led me to hobbies of breaking up toy cars and trying to redesign them, attempting to build DC motors, etc. Later when I started to attend my first Science classes in school, I became more and more fascinated by the phenomena of physics. I started to wonder about the mechanics behind everything around me. Throughout the years my interest in mechanics and dynamics has grown, therefore MIT's Mechanical Engineering department appeals to me.
(100 words)
Tell us about the most significant challenge you've faced or something important that didn't go according to plan. How did you manage the situation?(*) (200-250 words)
Life is full of hardship and you have to face obstacles in your way to success. I have faced a lot of challenges in my journey, but this incident was a memorable one. It was in the December of 2011, 2 days before my first stage performance with my band, we found our drummer, Shahriar lying in the hospital bed, fighting for his life. He had got infection in his lungs. This horrifying sight put me into oblivion. "What would we do?" "The tickets had been sold out and posters had been hanged." "If we quit this show, it would mean the end of our band's career." Mixed with these thoughts and the sorrow of my friend's dreadful situation, my brain still rattled for a possible solution. As the founder of the band I had the responsibility of its future. After brainstorming I decided that we would perform at any cost, we would just have to find a new drummer who could replace Shahriar.
Instantly we called all our friends and asked them if they knew any drummer who would play for us. Finally a distant friend confirmed me that he would help us. We had only the day before and the morning before the show to practice, but still we put all our courage together and went to the concert, and finally performed in it with success. This incident thought me that if you have dedication and passion for something, then nothing can stop you from reaching your goals.
(250 words)
Describe the world you come from; for example, your family, clubs, school, community, city, or town. How has that world shaped your dreams and aspirations?(*) (200-250 words)
I lived most of my life with my mother at my grandparents' house. I never saw my father as he died when my mother was pregnant. My grandparents died when I was young so it only was me and my mother alone in this big world. My mother never let me understand our tragic life but when I grew up I started to understanding the cruelty of the world. I understood how hard it was to live in a family without a father, without any guidance, support or protection. Slowly I became more responsible and self-dependant. I supported and helped my mother as much as I could. I even started to earn for my own expenses by tutoring school students at their home. I understand that no one helps the helpless in this world; everyone has to work for themselves. I knew that I had to study hard to get well-established so that I can take responsibility of me and my family. I understood that, to survive in this world I had to work hard and live for myself.
I had the privilege to study in a renowned school. I had gained not only knowledge but a lot of wisdom and inspiration from my teachers. I had lived in a developing country. Therefore we had many limitations in technology. I want to study science so that I can decrease the digital divide and help to fill the gap between the developed and developing world by improvement in technology.
(248 words)
What attribute of your personality are you most proud of, and how has it impacted your life so far? This could be your creativity, effective leadership, sense of humor, integrity, or anything else you'd like to tell us about. (*) (200-250 words)
The attribute of my personality that I like the most is my calm mentality. I was always a quiet boy. I never liked talking more than what was necessary. Some people admired this and some used to think that I was less interactive. When I face a problem, I never panic. I stay calm, restrain my excitement and then with a clear mind think about all the logical solutions. Sometimes I meditate to clear my mind before thinking. Even when I'm angry, I never show my anger. I rather suppress it. I try to consider the factors that led to the situation and then decide my response. Anger never helps us, it rather harms our health. I don't judge someone by their actions. I try to think about the scenario in their perspective first. I ask myself, "What would you do if you were at his/her place?" By this I might find the reasons behind their actions.
When I have to take quick decisions first I think quietly about the consequences of my choices and then decide what is best for the situation. I don't rush into conclusions. Therefore I rarely have to change my mind. I like being adamant. Once I decide something I try to stick to it. So I never have second thoughts.
My calm mentality has helped me take many important decisions and face a lot of difficult challenges.
(233 words)