Hello
I m planning to send this essay to NYU, Cornell, UC etc
Since im not a native english speaker.. there might be some grammar mistakes... :)
im worried that my essay is not that.. touching.. or is it?
Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you. (mine is 520 words)
"If we could sell our experiences for what they cost us," the saying goes, "we'd all be millionaires." In my life, there is one unforgettable experience that I consider truly priceless. When I was in 7th grade, I flew from Korea to Australia as part of a two-month student exchange program. Prior to this I had never traveled abroad. In fact, I had little interest in the world outside of Korea and had lived a sheltered life. That created some naive assumptions on my part. For example, I had watched a number of foreign movies where cowboys kill aboriginals or enslave black people and from that I deduced that Caucasians are unfriendly and cruel. As a result I was wary of them.
In Australia, the school I attended was predominantly white. Actually, I was the only Asian in the class. I worried that the students may mistreat me. The first day, as I entered the classroom, I tried to be calm and quietly took a seat in the corner so that no one would notice me. I had no sooner sat down when one of the students, Thandi, tossed a rubber eraser on my desk. The racism has started already I thought. However I would quickly learn how wrong I was.
The student waved at me and said, "Hi." The object she tossed had simply been a way to get my attention. Later that day, the teacher and the other students greeted me enthusiastically. Each day afterward, my classmates talked to me and in my limited English, I did my best to answer. They included me in their sports games and invited me to hang out with them after school. Moreover, all the teachers and even the principal talked to us as friends. The principal even cooked barbeques for the students. You would never see that happen in Korea. My prejudices quickly began to fade.
The ultimate turning point for me however, occurred on my birthday. When I walked into class that day I realized the lights were turned off. Moments later, my classmates shouted, "Surprise!" and began singing "Happy Birthday." Sparklers burst aflame, and someone carried a special birthday cake they had made for me. I was deeply moved. I remember I tried to hold back my teachers but was not able to when all the students from the school said bye at the last day of school.
That two-month stay in Australia, totally transformed my thinking about "foreigners." I realized how terribly wrong and prejudicial I had been about others. My Australian experience had been so positive that I now had a burning desire to see more of the world and interact with other nationalities and cultures. It wasn't long before my family decided to grant that desire and we moved to Canada to continue my education. During the past three years I have learned English and developed wonderful friendships. I have grown as a person in my understanding of other cultures and have learned how to embrace them. I may be a Korean by birth but I now feel I am really a citizen of the world.
I m planning to send this essay to NYU, Cornell, UC etc
Since im not a native english speaker.. there might be some grammar mistakes... :)
im worried that my essay is not that.. touching.. or is it?
Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you. (mine is 520 words)
"If we could sell our experiences for what they cost us," the saying goes, "we'd all be millionaires." In my life, there is one unforgettable experience that I consider truly priceless. When I was in 7th grade, I flew from Korea to Australia as part of a two-month student exchange program. Prior to this I had never traveled abroad. In fact, I had little interest in the world outside of Korea and had lived a sheltered life. That created some naive assumptions on my part. For example, I had watched a number of foreign movies where cowboys kill aboriginals or enslave black people and from that I deduced that Caucasians are unfriendly and cruel. As a result I was wary of them.
In Australia, the school I attended was predominantly white. Actually, I was the only Asian in the class. I worried that the students may mistreat me. The first day, as I entered the classroom, I tried to be calm and quietly took a seat in the corner so that no one would notice me. I had no sooner sat down when one of the students, Thandi, tossed a rubber eraser on my desk. The racism has started already I thought. However I would quickly learn how wrong I was.
The student waved at me and said, "Hi." The object she tossed had simply been a way to get my attention. Later that day, the teacher and the other students greeted me enthusiastically. Each day afterward, my classmates talked to me and in my limited English, I did my best to answer. They included me in their sports games and invited me to hang out with them after school. Moreover, all the teachers and even the principal talked to us as friends. The principal even cooked barbeques for the students. You would never see that happen in Korea. My prejudices quickly began to fade.
The ultimate turning point for me however, occurred on my birthday. When I walked into class that day I realized the lights were turned off. Moments later, my classmates shouted, "Surprise!" and began singing "Happy Birthday." Sparklers burst aflame, and someone carried a special birthday cake they had made for me. I was deeply moved. I remember I tried to hold back my teachers but was not able to when all the students from the school said bye at the last day of school.
That two-month stay in Australia, totally transformed my thinking about "foreigners." I realized how terribly wrong and prejudicial I had been about others. My Australian experience had been so positive that I now had a burning desire to see more of the world and interact with other nationalities and cultures. It wasn't long before my family decided to grant that desire and we moved to Canada to continue my education. During the past three years I have learned English and developed wonderful friendships. I have grown as a person in my understanding of other cultures and have learned how to embrace them. I may be a Korean by birth but I now feel I am really a citizen of the world.