Hi,i'm currently working on my application to U-M and this is my response to the prompt. Any suggestions on the content and grammar is greatly appreciated.
"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.
"Difference challenges assumption" - Anne Wilson Schaef
Being a Singaporean male, I was conscripted into National Service (compulsory military service). As there are no exceptions to the enlistment act, all males from every walk of life was conscripted. So, it was not uncommon to find people from the widest variety of backgrounds. During the 2 years, I trained with the rich and the poor alike, lived with people of different races and worked with people with different religious beliefs.
When presented with the mission to attack an objective, my platoon came up with a strategy which took the enemy by surprise and enabled us to take the objective with ease. As everyone viewed the mission in a different light, we had multiple perspectives of the same problem which allowed all angles of the problem to be covered. It was our diversity that allowed us to break the constrains of our thinking to come up with an unconventional solution.
As one's thinking is often influenced by one's life experience, people from various backgrounds will have different views and opinions. Diversity in a community brings new perspectives and challenges the pre-existing assumptions. This broadens the thinking and encourages the generation of fresh ideas. Coming from a heterogenic society, I can add my unique identity to the college and hopefully, in the process, contribute to improving the learning experience. Just as my platoon benefitted from its diversity, I believe I will similarly benefit from the diversity I will encounter at The University of Michigan.
Btw,is a title necessary?
"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.
"Difference challenges assumption" - Anne Wilson Schaef
Being a Singaporean male, I was conscripted into National Service (compulsory military service). As there are no exceptions to the enlistment act, all males from every walk of life was conscripted. So, it was not uncommon to find people from the widest variety of backgrounds. During the 2 years, I trained with the rich and the poor alike, lived with people of different races and worked with people with different religious beliefs.
When presented with the mission to attack an objective, my platoon came up with a strategy which took the enemy by surprise and enabled us to take the objective with ease. As everyone viewed the mission in a different light, we had multiple perspectives of the same problem which allowed all angles of the problem to be covered. It was our diversity that allowed us to break the constrains of our thinking to come up with an unconventional solution.
As one's thinking is often influenced by one's life experience, people from various backgrounds will have different views and opinions. Diversity in a community brings new perspectives and challenges the pre-existing assumptions. This broadens the thinking and encourages the generation of fresh ideas. Coming from a heterogenic society, I can add my unique identity to the college and hopefully, in the process, contribute to improving the learning experience. Just as my platoon benefitted from its diversity, I believe I will similarly benefit from the diversity I will encounter at The University of Michigan.
Btw,is a title necessary?
