Hi, here's my essay for Williams College. I need lots of help because english isn't my first or second language. Please critique and helpe me cut it down to 300 words. Thanks :)
Prompt: Imagine looking through a window at any environment that is particularly significant to you. Reflect on the scene, paying close attention to the relation between what you are seeing and why it is meaningful to you. Please limit your statement to 300 words.
It is a gorgeous day to be playing outside in the park; the sky is clear and blue, the wind blows gently across the park, and the sun shines its warm rays upon the ground. A little Chinese girl gets off the swings; she skips over to her grandmother and says brightly, "Grandma lets go home." The little girl holds her grandmother's hand tightly, and together they walk along the sinuous path of the park towards their house. Somewhere along the way, as though out of the blue, rocks start to fly in their direction. The little girl looks in the general direction of the rock's path and sees a group of teenage boys doubling over with laughter. Although slightly annoyed, the little girl shrugged, the rocks are small and harmless, no big deal. The little girl tugged on her grandma's hand and they continue to walk. "HEY! HEY YOU F****** CHINK! Can't you SEE we're throwing rocks at you?" The little girl turns around and stares in shock. She sees the boy hold his fingers to his eyes and stretch them sideways as he stresses on the word "see".
The rest of the scene is insignificant, how my grandmother and I eventually made it home left no impression on my mind. The only image that imprinted deeply into my head was of the smirking boy making slanted eyes and mocking my ethnicity. This was my first exposure to racism and bigotry, and the only thought that ran through my mind over and over was, "How can this boy I don't even know be so rude towards me simply because I'm Chinese?"
Years later, reflecting upon that scene, I realized that the boys' racist comments were a direct result of ignorance and fear. The boys couldn't comprehend why we looked differently, dressed differently, and acted differently. They probably never came into personal contact with a Chinese person and didn't understand Chinese culture. As a result, they only viewed us as strange beings they couldn't understand, and they feared us because of it. This scene made me see first-hand how racism stems from fear of the different and the unknown. I realize that in order to eliminate racism in the world, we have to understand each others cultural customs and learn to appreciate diversity. I have become a person who is eager to share her culture and traditions with others. I have tried to promote the understanding of Chinese culture by teaching a Chinese Language&Culture class and participating in a Chinese folkdance group. Through my efforts to promote Chinese culture, I have also become more receptive of other cultural customs as well. Throughout the years, I have learned about many different cultures, from the Hindi culture to the Ethiopian culture.
It is funny how one scene from my childhood, one deeply hurtful comment spurred on my desire to eliminate racism and prejudice through sharing of and understanding of cultural values. I believe we, as humans, are capable of tolerance, acceptance, and love. If each person can take just five minutes a day to explain an aspect of his/her culture to another, if each person can respond to a bigot comment with reason rather than more bigotry, we can rid of hatred and racism from planet earth.
Prompt: Imagine looking through a window at any environment that is particularly significant to you. Reflect on the scene, paying close attention to the relation between what you are seeing and why it is meaningful to you. Please limit your statement to 300 words.
It is a gorgeous day to be playing outside in the park; the sky is clear and blue, the wind blows gently across the park, and the sun shines its warm rays upon the ground. A little Chinese girl gets off the swings; she skips over to her grandmother and says brightly, "Grandma lets go home." The little girl holds her grandmother's hand tightly, and together they walk along the sinuous path of the park towards their house. Somewhere along the way, as though out of the blue, rocks start to fly in their direction. The little girl looks in the general direction of the rock's path and sees a group of teenage boys doubling over with laughter. Although slightly annoyed, the little girl shrugged, the rocks are small and harmless, no big deal. The little girl tugged on her grandma's hand and they continue to walk. "HEY! HEY YOU F****** CHINK! Can't you SEE we're throwing rocks at you?" The little girl turns around and stares in shock. She sees the boy hold his fingers to his eyes and stretch them sideways as he stresses on the word "see".
The rest of the scene is insignificant, how my grandmother and I eventually made it home left no impression on my mind. The only image that imprinted deeply into my head was of the smirking boy making slanted eyes and mocking my ethnicity. This was my first exposure to racism and bigotry, and the only thought that ran through my mind over and over was, "How can this boy I don't even know be so rude towards me simply because I'm Chinese?"
Years later, reflecting upon that scene, I realized that the boys' racist comments were a direct result of ignorance and fear. The boys couldn't comprehend why we looked differently, dressed differently, and acted differently. They probably never came into personal contact with a Chinese person and didn't understand Chinese culture. As a result, they only viewed us as strange beings they couldn't understand, and they feared us because of it. This scene made me see first-hand how racism stems from fear of the different and the unknown. I realize that in order to eliminate racism in the world, we have to understand each others cultural customs and learn to appreciate diversity. I have become a person who is eager to share her culture and traditions with others. I have tried to promote the understanding of Chinese culture by teaching a Chinese Language&Culture class and participating in a Chinese folkdance group. Through my efforts to promote Chinese culture, I have also become more receptive of other cultural customs as well. Throughout the years, I have learned about many different cultures, from the Hindi culture to the Ethiopian culture.
It is funny how one scene from my childhood, one deeply hurtful comment spurred on my desire to eliminate racism and prejudice through sharing of and understanding of cultural values. I believe we, as humans, are capable of tolerance, acceptance, and love. If each person can take just five minutes a day to explain an aspect of his/her culture to another, if each person can respond to a bigot comment with reason rather than more bigotry, we can rid of hatred and racism from planet earth.
