Undergraduate / Painting I did; Brown/ Something I created and it makes me proud [2]

What is something you created that makes you especially proud, and why?

At the recreation center a poster caught my eye. The poster had a painting of a tree with shades of gold and blue in the background. A new watercolor class was being offered. I quickly turned to my parents and asked if I could join. During the class I learned quickly that I was not graced with a born talent. The paints seemed to angrily collide with each other. Each stroke seemed wrong and sadly the end product seemed to be the aftermath of a bloody battle between the paints. Everything I did could not match the initial image in my head. Our last project in the class was opened ended; we could paint whatever we wanted. I had chosen to paint the same picture that convinced me to join the class, the tree. I had finished it but it did not compare to the original, but that was okay. My painting made me remember the original one, the one that gave me so much pleasure at first glance, the one that convinced me to try to recreate that beauty. It inspired me. I still have that painting hung up, even though it not necessarily easy on the eyes. I like to look up to whenever I am in need of some inspiration.

Undergraduate / At Brown I will take all decisions by myself about my studies / Being the architect [3]

Being in a public school system for all my life classes were just handed to me. There really was no choosing, my choose of classes were based on a third party's decision. Then in l high school I was told by my guidance tech to not take an AP course. She told me I should wait until my junior year to challenge myself with that coursework. I agreed thinking there was no other way around it. Later that week I got into a conversation with a teacher about my classes for the next year. When I told him about the predicament he told me that all AP classes are open enrolment and if I wanted to I can take that course, even if my guidance advise me otherwise. From then on I felt completely in control of my education. I have others decide my work for me but not anymore. At Brown I know I will take full advantage of being the architect of my education - I just cannot have it any other way.

Undergraduate / VOICING MY OPINION; Stanford / "What matters to you is the question. I [3]

I have see my father cry once before. He and my mother were in a heated argument over me. The argument has been going on for little over a week now. My two younger sisters were at a birthday party; it was just my parents and I home when the argument sparked again. It was loud and striking, and I here my named repeated numerous times- not my name but "she".

" She has gone too far Tino, she just can't see where she went wrong. And you don't say anything to her! I don't know where she gets these ideas from, where she thinks okay to act like this? I don't what to talk about this anymore" And with that my mom slams the door and walks out.

I come out from hiding and see my dad on the couch. I see tears silently rolling down his face. I curl up next to him and place my head over his chest. I can hear his unsteady breath. Time passes and I remember looking up to his eyes, they were still glazed and sulked but the tears are gone. "Nina, I understand how important your voice is and how you think you and helping but please keep it to yourself." He was referring to my actions in the previous week.

Proposition 8 was heating up in California and I had decided to pick a side, I was against it. I remember voicing my opinion in the car. That was what initially angered my mother. She stated being Catholics meant we follow God's will. That I was being defiant and had to stop immediately. I did- then came Sunday and the family went to church. I decided to accessorize and wear a necklace with a rainbow shell pendant. I had written on it with a large black sharpie that said "No on 8." My mother did not see it till we returned home when my older sister pointed it out.

My mom basically blew-up. Upset that I went against her and try to embarrassed her. When I try to get a word in I was immediately cut off. But my dad wasn't. He stood up for me in his own way, not completely agree with me but enough. So when my dad asked this request on the couch I could not refuse him. My dad's opinions maters the world to me. I'm always looking to him for aid and comfort. My dad has done so much for me and it is as if I have a debt to him I can never pay off.