Undergraduate / Growing up in Africa can be both a challenge and a blessing. College Admission Essay [4]

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. (250-650)

Growing up in Africa can be both a challenge and a blessing. Africa is not how it is portrayed via media, but it can be restraining in its own way too when it comes to education. Being born and raised in a small eastern African country, Eritrea, I did not get the chance to grow up with the American traditions and education. Everything is different back home starting with having 60 people in one class. In elementary school, I remember having to compete with students because everyone was trying to be number 1. The education system in Eritrea is set up European style, high schools and middle schools have large classes with one teacher, and after school you have the opportunity to visit the teacher personally for office hours.

I remember being told we were able to go to the computer lab on Thursdays second period every week. That was a big step for us since we were in 5th grade and the computers are for the big kids. We did not go to the same classes everyday like you would do in United States elementary and high schools. You go to certain classes once or twice a week, but classes like math, English, science, and geography, are taken every day. Having the chance to use computers was a big deal mainly because we never get the chance to use that kind of technology at school or at home for that matter. Outside of school, you would go to a computer place and pay for how many hours you want to be at a computer. At the end of that class session, we all talked about what we did and how we felt mature. The excitement every kid had made the teachers laugh but I still remember it till this day.

Coming to America changed how I perceive things. Back home everyone is fighting for the few opportunities that we have but in USA people are not using the unlimited resources they are presented with. People in America don't realize how privileged they are. Americans see it as if the options they have are supposed to be there for them. I am aware that OSU has a lot of resources and programs for its students and some might not know how to use them or even acknowledge them. "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." - Thomas A. Edison, I know what it's like to not have certain opportunities so with that I will be able to use OSU resources not only for myself but also to help other people realize what kind of opportunities they have.