Common App Prompt:
-A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you
-Topic of your choice
(I am not sure which topic this essay applies to)
The "other people" as my father calls them, no doubt his family's side, have always said that his children were failures. His mother hinted that I was useless because once I grow up and get married, the family last name will disappear. I am, as they call it, incomparable to the sons that my father's brothers have. I admit I have faults and what they say have, to some extent, truth. But, my life is shaped based on my parents' teachings and that is what shaped me yet did not create me. On a Sunday morning, my father asked "are we good parents? Have we done our job?" I smiled and said "you have given me beyond life." I gazed into the sky, closed my eyes, smiled, and said "gong ping."
My father's brother said that I was a misanthropic person and it was my mother's fault that I had no friends, no fashion sense, and bad grades. Every time they said this, my father will fight with my mother and arguments will ensue. I resolved to work harder to push my academic grades so that I will accomplish what my parents wanted. I admit striving for the grades was not as easy as I thought. I thought sticking my head in a book and locking up in my room would accomplish those grades yet, my desired grades did not appear on the report cards. I would sometimes cry and wonder if it was foolish to strive in my AP Language and Composition class which I found the hardest. Yet, I found comfort in the music I played on the piano and flute.
Whenever I felt life was impossible, I would find solace in my joy. For when I sat next to the piano or held up the flute, I could feel my emotions coursing through the instrument and reverberate around the room until, they will disappear. Sometimes the piano or flute will not completely absorb my sadness. I would sit in my room and watch the sunset, letting its light shine endlessly upon me. Watching it will force me to realize that just like the sun will never fade in a billion years, so will my heart. Even if the sun was setting, it was taking a brief respite for a new day. The promising hope that everyday offers is life, a new start. Only when I let go of the light will I ever stop to strive. Thus, I seek out my teachers to help me understand whether it is a simple math question that I had the answer but did not know how I got it or advice on writing. What I strive, is beyond the answer; I strive for the reason.
I have now conquered my academic grades but, I was missing something. I was missing contact with my peers and the world around me. I have always been timid and that was what prevented me from meeting new people. So I volunteered in the American Red Cross to help out people and collect food for shelters. There was a necessity to respect people who did not want to donate and how to work with the other volunteers. I also worked in the Manhasset Public Library in which I helped inspire young children to read and aid the librarians. I also opened up in my school every year. I would never volunteer to speak in class in 9th or 10th grade but in 11th, the challenging classes made me aware of the necessity to work together with other students. This made me aware of the peer pressure between cliques. Students would be pressured into smoking, drinking, or taking drugs. But, I resolved to make friends who will not judge me based on my actions, looks, or opinions. What I am is what people will have to see me. Nobody can force me to change for their own enjoyment. I don't want acceptance; I want what people see who I am and in respect, I will not judge anybody anyway differently. The respect in how people will see me is how I will respectfully see them.
I have proven to my family, dulled the chaos coming from my father's family. But is this the apex? No. I have merely overcame an obstacle and now must battle my way through the dense forest. But one thing I will never forget is "gong ping." My father's family was mistaken in judging me and I will not carry out his mistake. Just as the sun will never die, my courage will take me beyond.
Thank you for taking the time.
-A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you
-Topic of your choice
(I am not sure which topic this essay applies to)
The "other people" as my father calls them, no doubt his family's side, have always said that his children were failures. His mother hinted that I was useless because once I grow up and get married, the family last name will disappear. I am, as they call it, incomparable to the sons that my father's brothers have. I admit I have faults and what they say have, to some extent, truth. But, my life is shaped based on my parents' teachings and that is what shaped me yet did not create me. On a Sunday morning, my father asked "are we good parents? Have we done our job?" I smiled and said "you have given me beyond life." I gazed into the sky, closed my eyes, smiled, and said "gong ping."
My father's brother said that I was a misanthropic person and it was my mother's fault that I had no friends, no fashion sense, and bad grades. Every time they said this, my father will fight with my mother and arguments will ensue. I resolved to work harder to push my academic grades so that I will accomplish what my parents wanted. I admit striving for the grades was not as easy as I thought. I thought sticking my head in a book and locking up in my room would accomplish those grades yet, my desired grades did not appear on the report cards. I would sometimes cry and wonder if it was foolish to strive in my AP Language and Composition class which I found the hardest. Yet, I found comfort in the music I played on the piano and flute.
Whenever I felt life was impossible, I would find solace in my joy. For when I sat next to the piano or held up the flute, I could feel my emotions coursing through the instrument and reverberate around the room until, they will disappear. Sometimes the piano or flute will not completely absorb my sadness. I would sit in my room and watch the sunset, letting its light shine endlessly upon me. Watching it will force me to realize that just like the sun will never fade in a billion years, so will my heart. Even if the sun was setting, it was taking a brief respite for a new day. The promising hope that everyday offers is life, a new start. Only when I let go of the light will I ever stop to strive. Thus, I seek out my teachers to help me understand whether it is a simple math question that I had the answer but did not know how I got it or advice on writing. What I strive, is beyond the answer; I strive for the reason.
I have now conquered my academic grades but, I was missing something. I was missing contact with my peers and the world around me. I have always been timid and that was what prevented me from meeting new people. So I volunteered in the American Red Cross to help out people and collect food for shelters. There was a necessity to respect people who did not want to donate and how to work with the other volunteers. I also worked in the Manhasset Public Library in which I helped inspire young children to read and aid the librarians. I also opened up in my school every year. I would never volunteer to speak in class in 9th or 10th grade but in 11th, the challenging classes made me aware of the necessity to work together with other students. This made me aware of the peer pressure between cliques. Students would be pressured into smoking, drinking, or taking drugs. But, I resolved to make friends who will not judge me based on my actions, looks, or opinions. What I am is what people will have to see me. Nobody can force me to change for their own enjoyment. I don't want acceptance; I want what people see who I am and in respect, I will not judge anybody anyway differently. The respect in how people will see me is how I will respectfully see them.
I have proven to my family, dulled the chaos coming from my father's family. But is this the apex? No. I have merely overcame an obstacle and now must battle my way through the dense forest. But one thing I will never forget is "gong ping." My father's family was mistaken in judging me and I will not carry out his mistake. Just as the sun will never die, my courage will take me beyond.
Thank you for taking the time.
