So these are my UCF essays:
1. If there has been some obstacle or "bump in the road," in your academic or personal life, please explain the circumstances.
"Your grandma isn't doing very well," was all that could come out of my father's lips. With sullen eyes, my father examined every inch of my face, seeing if it would give away any hint of the grief violently crushing my heart. It wasn't too long ago that my grandma was her animated self, chit-chatting away with the storied I heard on numerous occasions. "She's coming to stay with us for about a month, while the doctor takes some tests." I wouldn't have mind of course, I loved my grandma with all my heart but my first AP exam and my finals were all crammed in this month. With an effort to appear strong, I simply nodded, afraid of my voice cracking even if I tried to pronounce 1 word.
During the course of that month, I saw my grandmother wither away. Her weakness was apparent when I kissed her hollow cheeks and hugged her shallow figure good night. It was difficult to focus on studying when my grandma's soft whimpers were heard through the thin walls; they were piercing to my ears and heart. Even so, I managed to hold everything together. I passed the AP exam and got A's on my finals. Though my grandmother lost her battle to cancer, I remained strong. I loved her with all my heart, and the process was hard, but I found comfort with supportive relatives and friends.
2. How has your family history, culture or environment influenced who you are?
I'm called a "half-y"; a fusion of the West and the East. For this reason, I have a unique set of influences that make me who I am. From an early age, I was exposed to both sides of my heritage. I spent long summers in Japan where I got to visit relatives (from my mom's side) while the rest of the seasons were spent back home in Miami, Florida, finishing off school and hanging out with friends. Because of such diverse customs in my life, I developed an interest for all cultures and societies. A passion for understanding different cultures has led me to pursue a career in History.
My passion drew from the curiosity I held for the different traditions between my mother and father's heritage. I was puzzled as to how a simple change in location could make someone talk differently, act differently, and even dress differently. For example, I couldn't believe Japan didn't celebrate Halloween or Easter. I was shocked when my friends in Japan had no idea what Easter egg hunts or trick-or-treating was. By establishing a career in History, I could delve into mysteries of societies and never stop learning about all the different cultures around the world. Therefore, obtain a cosmopolitan mind set. This would better me as a person, because I could appreciate different cultures on an understanding level.
