Freshman Essay: Please submit a 400-500 word essay. It is strongly recommended that you compose the essay in a word processor and then paste it into the text box or you can type directly in the text box. When you are finished save your work.
In the space provided, please write a concise narrative in which you describe a meaningful event, experience or accomplishment in your life and how it will affect your college experience or your contribution to the UF campus community. You may want to reflect on your ideas about student responsibility, academic integrity, campus citizenship or a call to service.
Everyone has an idol in their life, someone they look up to for guidance. For me, that idol is my mother, who has taught so much in the last 18 years of my life. She is the one that has guided me, because as a divorced mother she has struggled to get myself and my two younger siblings the best education. I learned what can be gained from making the right decisions, because you have no other choices when you are on your own. She has taught me to be responsible for my own actions, because she will not always be there to save me. She has also taught how to be a man of integrity. Without her, I cannot imagine myself staying on the path of success.
I have learned through my mother that determination and patience are some of the greatest qualities to have in life. She has shown me this through some of the similar pains we shared, such as when she divorced my father. When I was younger my mother and father always fought, because of molestation and financial issues that occurred during the time they lived together. After a nearly dying under my father's watch, I explained to my mother the molestation issues that had been happening, she did not take longer than a moment to solve the problem. She separated from my father and moved us into a new home, will was determined to sacrifice whatever she needed to protect myself and my siblings. Through this experience, my father can also be seen as a teacher, being an example of a man with no integrity.
The only incentive for reaching success, was the experience felt from failure. Whenever I failed, I didn't get a pat on the back or the phrase, "Oh, just try harder next time." What I got was the greatest weapon any parent can use, tough love. Whether it be the, "No more fun, until you do better" punishment, or the next worst thing being, the disappointment of a parent. After feeling the pain of failure, you learn an important lesson. It's the painful door that can lead to success. With this notion in mind, I learned more and more about myself. I learned that when I needed to get better at something such as, learning a new subject or new maneuver in a sport, all I needed practice it. Through practice, it was continuous trial and error that allowed me to become better at whatever I needed to do. Whether it be a sport, new subject, or something unrelated school or extracurricular activities, that continuous practice will increase my efficiency.
With the events I have experience throughout my life, I began to find much in this world that interested me. I found that building gadgets, repairing appliances and furniture in my home allowed me to see how these things worked. When I played sports such as swimming or throwing events in track and field I always looked for ways to become more efficient. Through these events, I have decided that it is my goal to become to earn my degree in Mechanical engineering and assist in making our world efficient as possible. The engineering program at the University of Florida is what has drawn me in most, making it my top choice. Even though I play sports and am in other extracurricular activities, I continue to work hard to keep my grades up. I am determined to create a successful future for this world making me an outstanding contribution to campus.
She has also taught me how to be a man of integrity.
After nearly dying under my father's watch
She separated from my father and moved us into a new home, and was determined to sacrifice whatever she needed to protect my siblings and me.
something such as learning a new subject or new maneuver in a sport, (no commas needed after such as)
My goal is to earn my degree in Mechanical engineering and assist in making our world as efficient as possible.
Even though I play sports and am in other extracurricular activities, I continue to work hard to keep my grades up. Reading this sentence, I feel like extracurriculars and sports are more important to you than grades.
