prompt: We often hear the phrase 'the good life'. In fact, the University of Florida's common course required of all undergraduate students is titled "What is the Good Life?". The concept of 'the good life' can be interpreted in many different ways depending upon the experiences, values and aspirations of each individual.
In a concise narrative, describe your notion of 'the good life'. How will your undergraduate experience at the University of Florida prepare you to live 'the good life'?
Essay: (Begin) For thirteen years, I knew my parents only through their voice over the phone. For thirteen years, I had no memory of my parents except the two strange but familiar faces on the marriage photographs that hang in my room. For thirteen years, I felt like an incomplete girl who always afraid of people asking where are my parents. For thirteen years, my definition of a good life was simply having parents who can live with me. However, this vision of good life changed as I moved to America to join my parents. I remember the day I came out Kennedy airport, I was confused, shocked, and feared to see two strangers ran to me. I did not recognize them were my parents at first. Sadly, after knowing they are my parents who talk to me on the phone every day, I suddenly felt ashamed, embarrassed because of the way they look. That was my first impression of my parents after all those thirteen years of absence - their out fashion clothes, shoes, their funny hairstyle, the woman's sallow face, her sunken eyes and the heavy dark circle around her eyes, and the huge, terrifying scar on the man's left arm. I could not believe the two young, loving faces on the photograph have aged this much. I remember I could not understood why they want to leave their family to seek a life like that.It was not until I started to help at my parent's restaurant, working side by side with my parents and seeing how they commit to a job they don't like, I finally became understood their definition of good life: a dream of providing better education and better environment for their children. It was then I had a clear vision of my good life: a life fulfill not only excitement in the job, but also my dreams of financial security and good relationship with others. It is a life that I can have a job that I like so I can enjoy what I am doing every day; it is a life that I can have time to hang out with my friends, take my family out to have a nice dinner, and sometimes just relax on the couch to watch TV with my family.
University of Florida is not only a stepping-stone to set myself up for professional success, but also a place that fulfilled with new experiences, novel ideas, and diverse people. With its diverse population and 700 student organizations, University of Florida is a means to broaden my outlook and further redefine my interest. I see my life in University of Florida as countless opportunities where I want to make best out of it. (End)
