十指有長短
This is my autobiography for an application for 2026 NTU's Undergraduate Admissions, the text will be translated into Mandarin Chinese afterwards so I believe this version's grammatical faults can be taken with a grain of salt!
In posting this, I'm seeking advice on:
+Is the length suitable?
+ Any issues with the structure? Is it leaning towards a more general 'statement of purpose' kind of essay?
+ In general, any and all tips to optimize it?
Thank you so much :>
_____________________________________
In my first encounter with the Chinese proverb "十指有長短" (ten fingers will all have different lengths), I was struck with its simplicity and truth. To me, it doesn't stand for imperfection, but instead for the beauty found in difference. It reminded me of the diverse streets of Ho Chi Minh City where I was born, of my views, and of the contrasts that shaped how I grew up and taught me to see diversity as a source of strength. And in a way, it is what encompasses all that I've lived, as well as what I believe is to come.
My father works in finance, from whom I inherited my appreciation for structure; he has always emphasized how big leaps are a result of small decisions made consistently. My mother, on the other hand, is an artist at heart: noticing details and encouraging me to look beyond the obvious. Last but not least, my brother is also somebody who has deeply influenced me, being on the autism spectrum. Helping to care for him gave me a sense of responsibility from an early age and showed me that love often requires patience and adaptability. While his way of communicating is different, his presence in my life has been one of my greatest teachers: he taught me that true understanding comes not from imposing one's own view, but from learning to see through another's eyes. Where my father championed the logical and analytical, my mother pushed for creativity and a dynamic mind, and my younger brother showed me how these both interact. Growing up in this environment, I realized that the most effective outcomes come when different perspectives are not only acknowledged but also valued. This realization later became the foundation of how I see teamwork, leadership, and global exchange.
Languages deepened this understanding. I was fascinated by the way Chinese characters carry history within their strokes, and I was drawn to English for its universality. Language, for me, became more than a tool, it was a bridge that allowed me to connect with experiences unlike my own. This passion led me to not only embark on a path of majoring in English in high school, but also later beginning tutoring children aged six to twelve in a small English study group. Each child brought a different learning style and personality to the classroom, thus I quickly learned that teaching requires flexibility. Later, when I mentored younger members of my debate and public speaking club, I found the same truth in another form: what matters is not telling people what to do, but listening, encouraging, and adapting. These experiences taught me that teaching is less about authority and more about collaboration. This experience mirrors what I believe international business requires: understanding your audience, recognizing their needs, and adjusting your approach to build trust and achieve results.
My passion for collaboration found another outlet in debate and Model United Nations. As president of my school's debate club, I organized city-level competitions, coordinated with organizations for sponsorships, and worked with my peers to prepare our teams. These responsibilities pushed me to develop leadership skills that extend beyond academics. Debate sharpened my ability to think critically and persuasively, while MUN highlighted how complex problems rarely have single solutions. In both, I learned that progress comes from negotiation, compromise, and seeing issues from multiple perspectives. I realized that the skills I was developing- listening, negotiating, building consensus -were not confined to competitions but reflected the same principles I had been practicing at home, with my brother, and in my tutoring sessions.
Success comes not from imposing one model ubiquitously, but from recognizing diversity as an advantage. Looking back, the proverb "十指有長短" continues to resonate with me, and my experiences tutoring, mentoring, and leading all but reinforced this belief. It describes my family, my education, and my leadership experiences. More importantly, it has become the lens through which I view the world of business: not as a competition where differences divide us, but as a network where diversity is the foundation of strength. Like how each finger has its own length yet contributes to the same hand, every culture, every market, and every individual has a role to play in creating value together. That is the spirit I hope to carry forward in my studies and beyond.
This is my autobiography for an application for 2026 NTU's Undergraduate Admissions, the text will be translated into Mandarin Chinese afterwards so I believe this version's grammatical faults can be taken with a grain of salt!
In posting this, I'm seeking advice on:
+Is the length suitable?
+ Any issues with the structure? Is it leaning towards a more general 'statement of purpose' kind of essay?
+ In general, any and all tips to optimize it?
Thank you so much :>
_____________________________________
In my first encounter with the Chinese proverb "十指有長短" (ten fingers will all have different lengths), I was struck with its simplicity and truth. To me, it doesn't stand for imperfection, but instead for the beauty found in difference. It reminded me of the diverse streets of Ho Chi Minh City where I was born, of my views, and of the contrasts that shaped how I grew up and taught me to see diversity as a source of strength. And in a way, it is what encompasses all that I've lived, as well as what I believe is to come.
My father works in finance, from whom I inherited my appreciation for structure; he has always emphasized how big leaps are a result of small decisions made consistently. My mother, on the other hand, is an artist at heart: noticing details and encouraging me to look beyond the obvious. Last but not least, my brother is also somebody who has deeply influenced me, being on the autism spectrum. Helping to care for him gave me a sense of responsibility from an early age and showed me that love often requires patience and adaptability. While his way of communicating is different, his presence in my life has been one of my greatest teachers: he taught me that true understanding comes not from imposing one's own view, but from learning to see through another's eyes. Where my father championed the logical and analytical, my mother pushed for creativity and a dynamic mind, and my younger brother showed me how these both interact. Growing up in this environment, I realized that the most effective outcomes come when different perspectives are not only acknowledged but also valued. This realization later became the foundation of how I see teamwork, leadership, and global exchange.
Languages deepened this understanding. I was fascinated by the way Chinese characters carry history within their strokes, and I was drawn to English for its universality. Language, for me, became more than a tool, it was a bridge that allowed me to connect with experiences unlike my own. This passion led me to not only embark on a path of majoring in English in high school, but also later beginning tutoring children aged six to twelve in a small English study group. Each child brought a different learning style and personality to the classroom, thus I quickly learned that teaching requires flexibility. Later, when I mentored younger members of my debate and public speaking club, I found the same truth in another form: what matters is not telling people what to do, but listening, encouraging, and adapting. These experiences taught me that teaching is less about authority and more about collaboration. This experience mirrors what I believe international business requires: understanding your audience, recognizing their needs, and adjusting your approach to build trust and achieve results.
My passion for collaboration found another outlet in debate and Model United Nations. As president of my school's debate club, I organized city-level competitions, coordinated with organizations for sponsorships, and worked with my peers to prepare our teams. These responsibilities pushed me to develop leadership skills that extend beyond academics. Debate sharpened my ability to think critically and persuasively, while MUN highlighted how complex problems rarely have single solutions. In both, I learned that progress comes from negotiation, compromise, and seeing issues from multiple perspectives. I realized that the skills I was developing- listening, negotiating, building consensus -were not confined to competitions but reflected the same principles I had been practicing at home, with my brother, and in my tutoring sessions.
Success comes not from imposing one model ubiquitously, but from recognizing diversity as an advantage. Looking back, the proverb "十指有長短" continues to resonate with me, and my experiences tutoring, mentoring, and leading all but reinforced this belief. It describes my family, my education, and my leadership experiences. More importantly, it has become the lens through which I view the world of business: not as a competition where differences divide us, but as a network where diversity is the foundation of strength. Like how each finger has its own length yet contributes to the same hand, every culture, every market, and every individual has a role to play in creating value together. That is the spirit I hope to carry forward in my studies and beyond.
