1.- Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.
I have to shorten it into 500 or less words. Please give constructive comments.
The Best Summer Competition
One way in which I have learned about myself, people and part of the outside world is by taking risks. To step into the unknown not in a reckless way, but in an intellectual way has given excitement to my life. My passion about taking risks began two years ago when I failed in a competition for a scholarship to study the international baccalaureate abroad in one of the United World Colleges. I felt extremely bad with myself because I had pushed myself hard and it seemed that everything had been in vain.
As a recollection, while I was participating in the competition and awaiting the results, I also heard about a course that involved diversity of cultures and had first taken place in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato a year before and was called Integrando a MĂ©xico. I was invited to participate in the newcoming course and I filled out the application regardless the coming consequences. It was in summer and previous days to the beginning of the course, I began to hesitate - I neither know anybody nor exactly what made me feel slightly scared. However, I did not want to give up and carried on. I did it because I knew one day I was going to take care of myself and if I wanted to study abroad, this experience would help me mature and become more responsible of myself.
I went to the course. It was the first time, I spent one month away from home in a different state living together with forty young people that I did not know, from different parts of the country, different backgrounds and moreover, thirteen from abroad. Relevant events within a month happened. It was the first time, I made community service. It was the first time, I really got interested in the political organization and decisions in my country. I became interested in many countries, their culture and their way of living. I got involved in debates in which finding a positive solution to the issues discussed was what mattered. The experience was so enriching...I was not only learning in a different manner but making connections with people and growing up as well.
I was able to understand that having a different language is not as strong barrier as prejudice is in order to achieve efficient communication. I understand that people needs to be aware that they live in a society and it is their responsibility to know and involved in their community to live better. Society becomes sustainable when all people work in team.
I hold this experience dearly in my heart because I lived moments which I had not taken the risk to participate; they would have not become part of me. After this, I concluded that first I have to overcome many fears, understand better society and me to be capable of studying abroad. Today I know I did not lose the scholarship in vain because, otherwise, I would have never lived the best summer I have ever lived in my teenage years.