I would really appreciate if this could be reviewed before tomorrow since I am leaving town tomorrow and would like to get some last minute input on my essays before I submit them! :)
Prompt #1: Describe the world you come from - for example, your family, community or school - and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.
I am not dead, but I've experienced being in my own coffin.
During my sophomore year, my church youth group went on a retreat as a spiritual refreshment. One of the activities began with lying on the ground with our eyes closed. We were to imagine ourselves lying in our coffins. Then several speakers began to narrate as our family and friends would at our funeral. A tear trickled down my cheek as my life's perspective completely altered. I thought of everyone in my life who had sacrificed so much for me long before knowing of my existence. In sense, from below, I looked above to my world to see my grandparents who had immigrated to the United States at a young age with full hopes and dreams for their future ancestors. I also saw the image of my father picking along Oxnard's strawberry fields in the blazing sun's heat. I saw my young mother, who had set aside her education after high school and prioritized me as her first born.
Although many considered this to be a frivolous activity, I believed this to be an eye-opening event - not to mention the very emotional person I am. However, my tears were not of sadness, but produced from pure joy and gratitude. I was proud and happy that my grandparents and parents had withstood the many hardships that had rose before them.
I know that my ancestors accomplishments do not define me, but it has definitely shaped my world and myself. Without doubt, it's a great relief to know that I am alive; for, then I would not be capable of fulfilling my aspirations to help the lives of others through a career in nursing. My grandparents and parents contributed to my world, now it is my turn to contribute to theirs.
Prompt #2: Personal Statement 2
Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud, and how does it relate to the person you are?
There I was, directly in front of the soccer net with a wide open shot, yet everything inside me refused to shoot at the given moment. I have a tendency of waiting for the perfect moment. The fault within this bad habit was that the so-called perfect moment I awaited never arrives.
I nervously, yet excitedly, stepped off my mom's car as she dropped me off at my first soccer practice. I made my way to the enormous oak tree, at which all the ten-year-old girls were gathered around, and I introduced myself. Considering that I was extremely shy at this age, this simple attempt to seek acceptance was more difficult as all the girls responded unfriendly. I tried to not let this first impression hinder the rest of my try-outs. After three days of trying out, the coach had evaluated me and declared to my dad whether I had made the team. Little did my dad know that they were a highly-ranked competitive team - obviously unfitting for a soccer fledgling like me. He was told that I had not been up to the level of the team. My dad delivered this straightforwardly: "The coach said you weren't good enough." I tried to think of what I had done wrong, and I concluded I held back. The fear of screwing up and not doing things right had engulfed me. My naivete of waiting for the perfect moment to try my best got the best of me. My first glimpse into the real world was one of rejection.
As my dad drove me home from practice that day, he closed his phone after an engaged conversation with a Spanish-speaking man. He turned to me and said he had found for me a team about which he had a good feeling for. Seven years after playing with this team, I confirm my dad's gut feeling that night. I am forever thankful that this team accepted me, because it was there in which where I learned significant life lessons and met my lifelong friends.
Beyond the soccer field and on, a perpetual thought in which always seemed to linger around my mind would be the fear of doing something wrong. I was one to overthink everything and predict each possibility of any situation. Although my passion for excellence often led me to create greatness, this quest for perfectionism became an obsession. Therefore, my obsession with being perfect caused me to hold back and not live in the moment.
The perfect pass, perfect shot, perfect play, perfect me. None of this existed; therefore, it was difficult to accept the inevitability of an occasional failure. After countless hours of practice and drives to tournaments around the state I began to realize that the moment I awaited was in my control. The solution to my problem was to not quit being a perfectionist, but being conscious of my personal growth efforts and simply do. As simple as this may seem now, it was extremely difficult to accept that in order to reach success I had to taste failure.
Today, I can confidently say I have come a long way since my first practice. Throughout my journey, I have discovered the greater meaning behind my passion. My love for soccer was aroused from my love for the people in my soccer community. Each whom opened my eyes to something beyond soccer. Playing side by side with some of my closest friends sparked in me the desire to push my limits and enjoy it all at once.
Something my parents repeatedly said was that my attitude for soccer was much like my attitude I would have going through life. This may seem a little far-fetched to some, but to soccer-crazed parents like mine, this was entirely true. Quite frankly, I absolutely believe this. My perseverance and passion I exemplify towards soccer are the same traits in which I will apply throughout life. I am cognizant that I lost time before realizing the drawback in holding back, but now I simply give my best effort in whatever I do.
After all, my perfect moments are not given; they are created.
