Undergraduate / "people should "stick with their own kind" - University of Michigan essay [26]

[A] "We know that diversity makes us a better university - better for learning, for teaching, and for conducting research."(U-M President Mary Sue Coleman)

Share an experience through which you have gained respect for intellectual, social, or cultural differences. Comment on how your personal experiences and achievements would contribute to the diversity of the University of Michigan.

^^^^ prompt!!!

read away and critique please. cant exceed 250 words this is 233.
ESSAY!!! :)
no title yet!

It is a common myth that people should "stick with their own kind" because once people "experiment" they will find different cultures do not mix. My parents defied that myth when they married. Of both African-American and Hispanic descent I have experienced mixed cultures.

The myth has some validity because my mom told me one of the reasons for my parents divorce was the conflict of cultures; they were too different. Only eight years old at the time, I thought they looked the same; they had the same color skin. I thought they were both only black (African-American). Later however, my older sister made me see differently; we were in a supermarket when she told me my dad was Hispanic. I told her "No he's not. He's black, he has dark skin." She laughed and told me that just because he looked a little different didn't mean she was wrong. She explained to me his parents were Cuban immigrants and had Cuban ancestry which in return makes me half Cuban, half black.

After my sister opened my mind to this idea of ethnicities, I went to school and understood my friends a little bit more. I saw them differently, knowing they all came from diverse backgrounds, and different countries. I appreciated the richness of their cultures now that I saw past just black and white.

These experiences will allow me to contribute not only a bi-ethnic individual to the diversity of the University of Michigan, but also someone who appreciates everyone's cultures. ...

the ... is b.c. i have no clue how to continue. im totally lost.
any ideas.

Undergraduate / 'I would never do another pageant' - univer. of michigan--setback youve faced ESSAY [9]

A] Describe a setback that you have faced.How
did you resolve it? How did the outcome affect
you? If something similar happened in the
future, how would you react?

if you dont mind, please give me some feedback.
its a rough draft and i havent completely worked out all the grammar mistakes but i think its okay.
help?

----->title suggestions? (only if there rlyyyyy good. i usu like to come up with my own ) <-----
thanks again!!

My friends think I'm going to be Miss America someday. It's probably because every year since the age of six I've dedicated my time to pageantsïthey're my thing. They've brought my family closer together since we're able to travel together, broken me out of my shy girl cocoon, helping me blossom into a social butterfly, and given me a love for them I can barely put into words. Also the friends and people I've met along the wayïpriceless.

But despite the benefits, throughout the years I haven't always won. In fact, it started to seem as if my losses were outweighing my wins. I was constantly a runner-up. As a result, one year I questioned my love for pageants, maybe they weren't for me.

It felt strange to question my love for something I had been doing for so long; I even got that funny feeling in the pit of my stomach. Since it didn't feel right, that year I competed again. I figured the feeling would pass. The feeling was deepened as I remained a runner-up.

Disappointed yet angry I told my mom and sister I would never do another pageant. They told me I was being selfish since pageants have become a family event, something we anticipate every year. My sister than told me, I didn't deserve to win that year anyway since I didn't perform my best. I didn't understand.

To help me understand she ordered the DVD from that year's pageant. After watching it that's when it came to me. A setback is defined as anything that delays progress. It came to me that over the years, my setback wasïmyself. After watching phases of competition I saw that I stumbled either on my speech, or in my dress, not the best thing for a potential queen. The winner however, was focused and flawless. Now that I saw my problem, I was definitely going back.

That next year I came back even stronger. That next year I had a positive yet competitive attitude. That next year I didn't stumble. That next year I won. The victory was sweeter than ever. I was crazy to ever utter those words: I would never do another pageant. Pageants are my passion, which means every loss that I have is an opportunity to learn from and every win is the result of dedication, motivation, and belief that a winner never quits and a quitter never wins.

Undergraduate / "My Own Dr. 90210" - common app essay [7]

this is the essay i wanna use for my common appp (or one of them)
please tell me what you think and some grammar corrections.
thanks!

Prompt: Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.

My Own Dr. 90210

I remember like it was yesterday, although this October would make it year eight. It seemed like any other morning: wake up, shower, brush teeth, but then the phone rang. I saw my dad's name on the caller ID so I answered, thinking it was strange for him to call this early in the morning; he had never done this before. Even at the age of nine I knew something was wrong. He asked to speak to my mom. As it turned out my dad called to ask her advice on a little accident he had. As he made his way to take his shower the handle fell off and my dad, being the handy man he is attempting to fix it, burned his hands in the process since the water was piping hot.

Since my parents are divorced I used to see my dad every other weekend, but he was hospitalized for eighteen days from this accident-which left him with third degree burns. Even after coming home, my dad was still unable to have me over for months since there was a lawsuit involved and the bathroom had to be repaired. This was disturbing because I missed him. Realizing a reconstructive surgeon performed his skin graphs, this was the beginning of my interest in a career path in cosmetic surgery.

Years later I started to watch the television show Dr. 90210. It's a sneak peak into my future career but sometimes it gets a little scary. When I tell friends, family, or strangers even that I want to be a doctor someday their eyes stretch to about twice their normal size and, I hear that common reply of "Doctor? That's a lot more years in school you know." Their comments make my dreams seem so faraway, absurd even. With comments like these I can't help but get a little nervous and wonder if that's what I really want to do.

One morning I was watching Good Morning America when I saw an episode that would keep plastic surgery in the centerfolds of my thoughts. I saw a woman who's named the best female plastic surgeon. She also resides in my home state of New York and is one of only three female cosmetic surgeons in New York. This woman was talking about a new product she's invented to improve the way you look which in turn will improve your self-esteem.

The show didn't last forever, but I was so intrigued that after I decided to do my own research on her. I went to my trusted friend Google. I learned that she was the first female surgeon to have earned combined doctorate degrees in dental and medical from Harvard Medical School. Smart, and gifted along with impressive firsts, I found a woman who's influenced me. From setting up her practice here in New York, to raising the confidence of men and women through her book Change Your Looks, Change Your Life; she's done everything I aspire to do.

Through all of this I was impacted so much I thought more people should know about her. I wanted to tell others that I hope to be just like her someday and that my dreams weren't so absurd. My idea of doing this was through speeches. I've even gotten into character, and dressed up in a white doctor lab jacket along with a stethoscope. I've won first and second place for these speeches as I've sincerely told crowds of people how she's impacted me and the cosmetic world.

My role model, and my heroine, shes proved that while my journey towards performing liposuction will be long, it certainly is possible. Dr. Michelle Copeland inspires me every nip and tuck of the way.