THE QUESTION MARKS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HYPHENS, but they didn't show up on the preview for some reason...
MY CALLING
"And when you're successful enough, you'll start your own clinic in Bangladesh." "And help all the poor people!" I replied enthusiastically to my mother. I was five then, aspired to become a doctor, eager to change the world through medicine. Little did I know that it was my mother's dream as well.
For years, my parents have encouraged me to study medicine and to pursue a career in health as a physician or surgeon, and I consented. Why not? I had nothing better in mind, and my parents were overjoyed; I was their ideal son - at the time being. It wasn't until my sophomore year in high school that my interests began to differ from that of my parents'. During my spring term, I was required to take "Technical Drawing" as a core technology class. As the lessons progressed, I became very interested in the class - I was skilled at it, too. During my Junior year, I took its supplementary course, "Advanced CAD", to promote my interest and am now currently taking "Architecture" in my Senior year. As a Junior, I began making plans on studying around the area of my interests; I knew what I planned to study on - somewhere along the lines of civil engineering. The only problem was getting my parents' approval.
As I had thought, my parents didn't see eye to eye on this idea; they - mostly my mother - were still deeply determined to make their eldest son a doctor. For months my mother persisted on trying to change my mind. Finally, I chose to ask her, "Why? Why do you want me to be a doctor?" She replied that it was her dream to study medicine. Intrigued, I listened. "How old am I?" Thirty-six, I guessed. "Thirty-five. I was nineteen when I was pregnant with you. I was nineteen when I came here, to America, in hopes that you, Fahim, would have a better future."
Nineteen? I had never realized how young my mother was when she immigrated to the United States gave birth to me - only two years older than my current age. At the age of nineteen, my mother left everything - her friends, her family, her mother - for my sake. To make things worse, my mother had to cease her studies because she was on the verge of conceiving a child. "Just try it. See if you like studying medicine. You'll never know unless you try." I wasn't sure what I would do.
Johns Hopkins had always been a preference of mine, but it wasn't until its Summer Pre-College Program that I realized that the university was the right choice for me. During the program, a current student at Hopkins stated, "I've gone through four majors already. I'm not sure if I'm going to sticky by this one either." The comment was received as humorous to the audience, but it caught my attention. The freedom to change your major - and then change it again - without any serious consequences; I need that. There was an account of a man at JHU who was majoring in Mathematics, and yet was preparing for his MCAT as well, as a Premed.
I've decided to remain undecided for my major for the present time. As a Johns Hopkins student, I will be able to take classes that satisfy the interests of both my parents and myself, without having any hassle in taking such varied classes. In doing so, I'll be able to keep my options open, and find my true calling. Whether I decide to study in civil engineering or medicine, only time can tell.
Alright guys, please be as critical as possible in regards to my essay. I'm not very articulate when it comes to writing, so please give your best suggestions in how I can improve on my essay. Is the why I transitioned JHU into the essay alright? Negative and positive comments are both welcome, so long as it helps =]
Also, is my title alright? I'm not very creative when it comes to titles either.
MY CALLING
"And when you're successful enough, you'll start your own clinic in Bangladesh." "And help all the poor people!" I replied enthusiastically to my mother. I was five then, aspired to become a doctor, eager to change the world through medicine. Little did I know that it was my mother's dream as well.
For years, my parents have encouraged me to study medicine and to pursue a career in health as a physician or surgeon, and I consented. Why not? I had nothing better in mind, and my parents were overjoyed; I was their ideal son - at the time being. It wasn't until my sophomore year in high school that my interests began to differ from that of my parents'. During my spring term, I was required to take "Technical Drawing" as a core technology class. As the lessons progressed, I became very interested in the class - I was skilled at it, too. During my Junior year, I took its supplementary course, "Advanced CAD", to promote my interest and am now currently taking "Architecture" in my Senior year. As a Junior, I began making plans on studying around the area of my interests; I knew what I planned to study on - somewhere along the lines of civil engineering. The only problem was getting my parents' approval.
As I had thought, my parents didn't see eye to eye on this idea; they - mostly my mother - were still deeply determined to make their eldest son a doctor. For months my mother persisted on trying to change my mind. Finally, I chose to ask her, "Why? Why do you want me to be a doctor?" She replied that it was her dream to study medicine. Intrigued, I listened. "How old am I?" Thirty-six, I guessed. "Thirty-five. I was nineteen when I was pregnant with you. I was nineteen when I came here, to America, in hopes that you, Fahim, would have a better future."
Nineteen? I had never realized how young my mother was when she immigrated to the United States gave birth to me - only two years older than my current age. At the age of nineteen, my mother left everything - her friends, her family, her mother - for my sake. To make things worse, my mother had to cease her studies because she was on the verge of conceiving a child. "Just try it. See if you like studying medicine. You'll never know unless you try." I wasn't sure what I would do.
Johns Hopkins had always been a preference of mine, but it wasn't until its Summer Pre-College Program that I realized that the university was the right choice for me. During the program, a current student at Hopkins stated, "I've gone through four majors already. I'm not sure if I'm going to sticky by this one either." The comment was received as humorous to the audience, but it caught my attention. The freedom to change your major - and then change it again - without any serious consequences; I need that. There was an account of a man at JHU who was majoring in Mathematics, and yet was preparing for his MCAT as well, as a Premed.
I've decided to remain undecided for my major for the present time. As a Johns Hopkins student, I will be able to take classes that satisfy the interests of both my parents and myself, without having any hassle in taking such varied classes. In doing so, I'll be able to keep my options open, and find my true calling. Whether I decide to study in civil engineering or medicine, only time can tell.
Alright guys, please be as critical as possible in regards to my essay. I'm not very articulate when it comes to writing, so please give your best suggestions in how I can improve on my essay. Is the why I transitioned JHU into the essay alright? Negative and positive comments are both welcome, so long as it helps =]
Also, is my title alright? I'm not very creative when it comes to titles either.
Do You Need