Prompt: Tell us about your academic goals, circumstances that may have had an impact on your academic performance, and, in general, anything else you would like us to know in making an admission decision.
I used to look at the mirror, repeatedly exalting myself, "I am a good person, I am a good person..."
Back then, I was a young adolescent, having too much self-confidence to an extent of egotism. Deep down I was trying to prove I was superior to others. Peer pressure drove me to impress my friends and I bragged about my qualities and achievements, thinking I was the best.
Success was easy at first. However, my grades dropped as the curriculum became more rigorous. I blamed it on laziness. It was a simple excuse to give up when discouraged. This process repeated and in the end my grades dropped badly. I was lost.
Fortunately for me, I had a good friend who pulled me out of this self-induced bubble, Tai Chu-leung. Tai taught me the meaning finding oneself when one is lost. I remember once when I bragged about my grades. He told me, "I just want to be honest. I am irritated by your bragging. Be humble. Remember there is always one mountain taller than another". I was deeply influenced by his words. From that day onward, I started to learn humility; it was Tai taught me to be content with myself, and to be genuinely "me".
I now believe true self-esteem comes from within, from being comfortable with yourself and content with who you are. Overconfidence is not good. I have seen its destructive impact on not only my academic performance, but also on me. I avoided it ever since by listening to constructive criticism and looking at past failures where I did not complete my intended goal. I have learned to be humble, to search on what I can improve and set challenging but achievable goals.
These goals include my wish to become a medical doctor - I acknowledge it is a challenging goal and I require preparation. I believe I can start by studying Biochemistry. I have the interest, I have the motivation, but more importantly, I now have the intellectual humility. I realize the limitations in my perspectives and I believe I can counter this by pursuing Biochemistry as it demands a systematic and objective approach in different angles.
With a new goal, I feel like a new person. As I pass by a mirror, I finally see a real reflection of myself. I may still be inadequate, but I am ready.
Whew! Finally finished my totally remade essay.
Please tell me what you think of it and how I can improve it.
Also, does it answer the prompt? I'm not sure if I should have talked too much about me and my values over academic goals and circumstances.
I used to look at the mirror, repeatedly exalting myself, "I am a good person, I am a good person..."
Back then, I was a young adolescent, having too much self-confidence to an extent of egotism. Deep down I was trying to prove I was superior to others. Peer pressure drove me to impress my friends and I bragged about my qualities and achievements, thinking I was the best.
Success was easy at first. However, my grades dropped as the curriculum became more rigorous. I blamed it on laziness. It was a simple excuse to give up when discouraged. This process repeated and in the end my grades dropped badly. I was lost.
Fortunately for me, I had a good friend who pulled me out of this self-induced bubble, Tai Chu-leung. Tai taught me the meaning finding oneself when one is lost. I remember once when I bragged about my grades. He told me, "I just want to be honest. I am irritated by your bragging. Be humble. Remember there is always one mountain taller than another". I was deeply influenced by his words. From that day onward, I started to learn humility; it was Tai taught me to be content with myself, and to be genuinely "me".
I now believe true self-esteem comes from within, from being comfortable with yourself and content with who you are. Overconfidence is not good. I have seen its destructive impact on not only my academic performance, but also on me. I avoided it ever since by listening to constructive criticism and looking at past failures where I did not complete my intended goal. I have learned to be humble, to search on what I can improve and set challenging but achievable goals.
These goals include my wish to become a medical doctor - I acknowledge it is a challenging goal and I require preparation. I believe I can start by studying Biochemistry. I have the interest, I have the motivation, but more importantly, I now have the intellectual humility. I realize the limitations in my perspectives and I believe I can counter this by pursuing Biochemistry as it demands a systematic and objective approach in different angles.
With a new goal, I feel like a new person. As I pass by a mirror, I finally see a real reflection of myself. I may still be inadequate, but I am ready.
Whew! Finally finished my totally remade essay.
Please tell me what you think of it and how I can improve it.
Also, does it answer the prompt? I'm not sure if I should have talked too much about me and my values over academic goals and circumstances.