Undergraduate / Cars / transportation - Work Hard-Edit my Paper (Apply Texas) [5]

Prompt: Describe a circumstance, obstacle or conflict in your life, and the skills and resources you used to resolve it. Did it change you? If so, how?

Essay B (Required)

Like most boys, I liked to play with toy cars when I was little. As my interest in cars have grown in both age and knowledge, I have learned to appreciate the mathematical aesthetics and ingenuity that go into the production of a car. I find that learning about how a car can harness the power of over a thousand horses is extremely intriguing.

I was only 13 years old when I asked if I could drive my dad's car. I felt like all of that practice with the steering wheel at the arcade was sufficient in preparing me for a real car. I spent so much time comparing the horsepower, torque, and other features of so many different cars that I would tell my friends at school even though most of them didn't understand what I was talking about. When I turned 15 I was so excited because that meant I was old enough to start working towards a permit. I begged and begged my parents to take me to driving school, however, they were reluctant and told me to wait another year. This led me to become skeptical of my parents' ambiguous decision making. "All my friends have their permits", I would contest. Then one day I sat down with my parents and had a serious talk. My parents told me that they understood how I coveted the thought of owning my own car, but they simply could not afford one.

When they told me about business slowing down at their gas station, I understood why my parents had picked up on a prudent attitude with money. All of a sudden, not being able to drive became less of a dilemma when I realized the magnitude of the actual problem: the stress parents have been enduring. To alleviate my parents stress, I decided to look for my first job so that I could at least pay for my own food, clothes, and other necessities. I worked at Kumon Learning center during my freshman year of high school. I was juggling between a job, competitive soccer, high school soccer, volunteering, and rigorous classes. I had no time to spend with friends and the workload really took a toll on me, especially since it was my first year of highschool; I hadn't been used to having so many responsibilities at once. My parents told me that they wouldn't be disappointed in me if I let go of my tutoring job and that they would rather have me be more focused on schoolwork. Although I was hesitant in leaving Kumon, I ultimately agreed with what my parents had advised me to do.

Although I had more time to focus on school and had less things to worry about, I felt just as stressed as I did before. I knew that my parents were still struggling and that it wasn't getting any better for them. I quickly learned that I had to let some things go and become more independent if I wanted to help them. After my freshman year, my competitive soccer team had been promoted to division 1. It is one of my proudest accomplishments, however I had to quit playing soccer to save money. Soon my dad had to let go of his only employee because it was beginning to be financially difficult to have one around, and now he and my mom are the only people working at our gas station. They work, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, and 16 hours a day, divided between them. I help my dad at his store whenever I can by doing some of the physical work like making bags of ice, throwing away hundred pound trash bags, and restocking heavy packs of merchandise. My parents and I worked hard to keep our little business going throughout my high school career.

Towards the end of Junior year I wanted a car for reliable transportation for a potential job. The desire of driving a car was now derived from more pragmatic perspective rather than a luxurious one as I got older and as my responsibilities grew. However, on April 25, 2015, a devastating earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 struck my parents' homeland of Nepal. The earthquake further added a financial burden on top of the emotional one on my parents. My dad used the whatever money he had saved up for my car to pay for a new house to be built for my grandparents. I didn't let that stop me from getting a job.

After some job hunting and applying, I got hired at a movie theater and another tutoring center. Usually I had my mom take me to work, but if I couldn't get her to take me I would ask my uncle or some of my friends to take me. I do not have my own transportation on demand, so I have to be on top of not only my schedule, but others' as well. I have made the most out of my summer by spending my free time working and getting even more involved with the community, both in which are still benefitting me immensely. I am collecting money to make buying a car a less daunting task for my dad, and being an officer of a volunteering organization means I can spread awareness about the earthquake and get people to help support the relief effort. The opportunity to do something to mollify the situation in my parent's country inspired me to starting a fundraiser to help Nepal.

Although I am currently still making my way towards a car, working for something as basic as transportation has taught me how to be a more responsible individual. Setting priorities and managing time became easier as I practiced with my schoolwork and job and now because of it, I am better prepared my future at Texas A&M. I am thankful for what I have and I am glad with how my parents raised me and because I know that some people out there have it tougher than I do, and much of my respect goes out to these people.