Undergraduate / Growing up in Poland and then after 17 years applying to the US colleges - Tufts Supplement Essay #2 [4]

Describe the environment in which you were raised-your family, home, neighborhood or community-and how it influenced the person you are today

Growing up in Poland, I never imagined that 17 years later I would be applying to colleges in the U.S. My Polish ethnicity is certainly the most influential factor on the person I am today. During the time I lived there, family life was very significant along with my Catholic faith. Every weekend I was at my grandparents' house or going to church with the whole family. My tight knit family taught me the importance of being close to family throughout life.

Ironically, when I was six years old, my parents chose to move to the U.S. in hope of a better future for me. Although I only see my grandparents once every two years now, instead of every weekend, I remember every piece of life advice they have said to me. The experience of moving to the U.S. taught me how tough life can be. The last goodbyes at the airport made me question why such a sad experience had to fall upon me. As I transitioned into the life of an "American" I quickly realized I wasn't going to accomplish anything without giving it my best.

Learning the English language became my first obstacle. I became aware that in order to reach my goals I had to take every obstacle one step at a time. The constant work I had to put in into learning English paved the way for how I approached future obstacles.

Either give it your all, or don't give it anything.