B. Short Response (Required)
Maximum length: 300 words
Our families and communities often define us and our individual worlds. Community might refer to your cultural group, extended family, religious group, neighborhood or school, sports team or club, co-workers, etc. Describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of the University of Washington.
I've been an ambassador of the East and West world since I was a kid. I attribute my early success to my stubborn parents who both insisted that their culture and the values that accompany it is the better one. My father is a third generation Asian-american who experienced the stereotypical american childhood consisted of outdoor activities and learning through experience. My mother, on the other hand, is Taiwanese who grew up with her parents holding a stick behind her while she studied, as well as deep superstitions like the number four being bad luck. As a result, I had a bi-cultural experience growing up, receiving gifts on Christmas, red envelopes on Chinese New Year, and a big fat meal on both Thanksgiving and the Moon festival. At home I watched news on the dynamics between countries in Southeast Asian and K-drama; while at school, I took classes on U.S. history and learned to analyze and write effectively in English.
While some people spend years studying the rules of translation, I'm a natural pro as I've translated between my parents, switching from English to Chinese in split seconds, for more than ten years. My understanding of both my parents' cultures has allowed me to bring them closer, like the time I had to explain to my dad why his gift to my mom, a watch, is inappropriate because it sounded like he was giving her "ending"- death, or the numerous times I had to explain my dad's satirical american-humor to my mom.
I believe my blended background, my understanding of U.S. and Chinese culture, as well as fluency in both English and Chinese, can add to the diversity of the University of Washington, not as an individual, but in my ability to deepen people's understanding of a different culture. Just as I had diversified and deepened my parent's perspective, I too, can be an ambassador between U.S. students and international students at the University of Washington.
Maximum length: 300 words
Our families and communities often define us and our individual worlds. Community might refer to your cultural group, extended family, religious group, neighborhood or school, sports team or club, co-workers, etc. Describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of the University of Washington.
I am a product of this world
I've been an ambassador of the East and West world since I was a kid. I attribute my early success to my stubborn parents who both insisted that their culture and the values that accompany it is the better one. My father is a third generation Asian-american who experienced the stereotypical american childhood consisted of outdoor activities and learning through experience. My mother, on the other hand, is Taiwanese who grew up with her parents holding a stick behind her while she studied, as well as deep superstitions like the number four being bad luck. As a result, I had a bi-cultural experience growing up, receiving gifts on Christmas, red envelopes on Chinese New Year, and a big fat meal on both Thanksgiving and the Moon festival. At home I watched news on the dynamics between countries in Southeast Asian and K-drama; while at school, I took classes on U.S. history and learned to analyze and write effectively in English.
While some people spend years studying the rules of translation, I'm a natural pro as I've translated between my parents, switching from English to Chinese in split seconds, for more than ten years. My understanding of both my parents' cultures has allowed me to bring them closer, like the time I had to explain to my dad why his gift to my mom, a watch, is inappropriate because it sounded like he was giving her "ending"- death, or the numerous times I had to explain my dad's satirical american-humor to my mom.
I believe my blended background, my understanding of U.S. and Chinese culture, as well as fluency in both English and Chinese, can add to the diversity of the University of Washington, not as an individual, but in my ability to deepen people's understanding of a different culture. Just as I had diversified and deepened my parent's perspective, I too, can be an ambassador between U.S. students and international students at the University of Washington.