Describe the most difficult adversity you have faced, and describe how you dealt with it.
As I entered my first American class in fifth grade, I didn't realize that would be my biggest challenge yet. I had just moved from India to the United States of America. The world I entered was new - the buildings were tall, the streets were clean, and there were computers in class-rooms. This was new to me. People treated me as if I were an odd-ball. I was peculiar. Little things made me the outcast. I was the only girl with long hair with two braids, I wore a bindhi on my forehead, and I would apply baby oil to my hair. I was made fun of for the things I didn't have in common with these new people. The students in my class made faces at me, made fun of my accent, and even tripped me. I was alone in this new world except for my family at home.
Just when I thought I couldn't go to school anymore, a couple of American girls invited me to do projects with them, the teachers helped me ease through the new school, and my family gave me moral support. With the help that I received, I realized I had to become one of the "fittest" for the world only has room for the strong ones. I stood up for my beliefs, my Indian culture in front of those students. When a girl said, "Um...Is that blood on your forehead?" I would reply, "No, it's a bindhi. It's a tradition for Indian women to wear this. In fact, there are some really pretty ones; I can bring you some tomorrow." After several instances such as the last, those same students who made fun of me started to accept me. In fact, they thought Indian culture was cool.
I was different. Living in a new world required transitions. And that's exactly what I did; I transitioned rather than transformed. I have my Indian traditions--that were the most important to me-and adapted to the American ones that I thought were essential. Now, with these two cultures, I live a balanced life.
As I entered my first American class in fifth grade, I didn't realize that would be my biggest challenge yet. I had just moved from India to the United States of America. The world I entered was new - the buildings were tall, the streets were clean, and there were computers in class-rooms. This was new to me. People treated me as if I were an odd-ball. I was peculiar. Little things made me the outcast. I was the only girl with long hair with two braids, I wore a bindhi on my forehead, and I would apply baby oil to my hair. I was made fun of for the things I didn't have in common with these new people. The students in my class made faces at me, made fun of my accent, and even tripped me. I was alone in this new world except for my family at home.
Just when I thought I couldn't go to school anymore, a couple of American girls invited me to do projects with them, the teachers helped me ease through the new school, and my family gave me moral support. With the help that I received, I realized I had to become one of the "fittest" for the world only has room for the strong ones. I stood up for my beliefs, my Indian culture in front of those students. When a girl said, "Um...Is that blood on your forehead?" I would reply, "No, it's a bindhi. It's a tradition for Indian women to wear this. In fact, there are some really pretty ones; I can bring you some tomorrow." After several instances such as the last, those same students who made fun of me started to accept me. In fact, they thought Indian culture was cool.
I was different. Living in a new world required transitions. And that's exactly what I did; I transitioned rather than transformed. I have my Indian traditions--that were the most important to me-and adapted to the American ones that I thought were essential. Now, with these two cultures, I live a balanced life.