Prompt: A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you.
Please let me know what you think of my essay. I'm applying to Columbia ED, by the way
"I have AIDS, help me out. Please..."
These words were uttered to me by a beggar with dilated eyes looking to pay for his prescription at the local pharmacy. He was young and nontheatening, so I offered him a cup of coffee and a listening ear. Limping along, Nestor followed me to a coffee shop. Tales of death, loneliness, heroin addiction and despair soon followed. It seemed unfathomable that such a young boy, only two years older than I at the time, had experienced such a lifetime of hardships. He lifted his jeans, revealing the reason for his limp: an infected, fetid leg caused by his constant injection of heroin.
Try as I may, I am unable to forget this ghastly image; Nestor's physical and emotional pain was tangible. His light-green eyes evoked nothing more than sadness. A strange uneasiness ensued after my encounter with Nestor. The devastating sight that I beheld first hand that day served as a catalyst for change in my life. Something had to be done; like Nestor's festering infection, my newly found passion for aiding unfortunate people continued to blossom.
A year later, while still engaged in volunteerism, I was enveloped by a sense of restlessness. My previous volunteering, while valuable, did not have the impact I had hoped. The only way to satisfy this burning desire to aid the homeless was to take a post-graduate year. College had to wait. I decided that my life in Puerto Rico would not be complete unless I gave aid to people suffering in the streets. With Nestor's gloomy glare still in my mind, I contacted Iniciativa Comunitaria ("Community Initiative"), a well-respected, nonprofit organization that shares my goal of giving life necessities to those who have none as well as helping drug addicts get sober.
Though I never saw Nestor again, his memory remains in my mind as I follow my quest of improving the lives of Puerto Ricans in the streets. Soon after, I eagerly began handing out plates of hot rice and beans to beggars through the Iniciativa Comunitaria. Among these beggars was Rafael, a frail middle-aged man.
I sat next to him and, though he was apprehensive at first, we began talking. I saw Nestor's sad glance within his eyes; I learned that this man, Rafael, had lived in the streets for nearly ten years after having lost all contact with his family due to his debilitating heroin and cocaine addictions. Rafael wanted to end his drug problem. Recalling the extensive rehabilitation program offered by Iniciativa Comunitaria, I assured him that help was within his grasp.
In the intervening weeks, I befriended Rafael and learned about his great love for his daughter. Nonetheless, he was still reluctant to get sober. I couldn't give up on him. I looked at Rafael's dark eyes, and I let him know that his daughter desperately needed her father back. A lone tear ran down his cheek. However embarrassed he may have been, Rafael smiled. I had finally motivated him to change his life for the better.
Months later, I was reunited with Rafael, a now rehabilitated, sober man ready to start his life anew. He had finally gotten in contact with his estranged family. Seeing the success obtained by Rafael, I could only think back to Nestor and hope that he too conquered his addictions.
Though Rafael's success gave me hope for Nestor, I'm not naïve. Most drug addicted beggars are unlike Rafael: they don't free themselves of the debilitating prison that is addiction. However, Rafael's fate gives me hope that I can help others rid themselves of addiction. I've already touched one person's life, so my gap year has already been a success, yet I can't help but wonder how many others I will be able to help. I will continue to work with Iniciativa Comunitaria until I reach college, and once there I hope to join an organization committed to helping the homeless and the drug addicted or perhaps start my own organization dedicated helping those like Rafael and Nestor - people who want our assitance, but may not know that a helping hand is well within reach.
Please let me know what you think of my essay. I'm applying to Columbia ED, by the way
"I have AIDS, help me out. Please..."
These words were uttered to me by a beggar with dilated eyes looking to pay for his prescription at the local pharmacy. He was young and nontheatening, so I offered him a cup of coffee and a listening ear. Limping along, Nestor followed me to a coffee shop. Tales of death, loneliness, heroin addiction and despair soon followed. It seemed unfathomable that such a young boy, only two years older than I at the time, had experienced such a lifetime of hardships. He lifted his jeans, revealing the reason for his limp: an infected, fetid leg caused by his constant injection of heroin.
Try as I may, I am unable to forget this ghastly image; Nestor's physical and emotional pain was tangible. His light-green eyes evoked nothing more than sadness. A strange uneasiness ensued after my encounter with Nestor. The devastating sight that I beheld first hand that day served as a catalyst for change in my life. Something had to be done; like Nestor's festering infection, my newly found passion for aiding unfortunate people continued to blossom.
A year later, while still engaged in volunteerism, I was enveloped by a sense of restlessness. My previous volunteering, while valuable, did not have the impact I had hoped. The only way to satisfy this burning desire to aid the homeless was to take a post-graduate year. College had to wait. I decided that my life in Puerto Rico would not be complete unless I gave aid to people suffering in the streets. With Nestor's gloomy glare still in my mind, I contacted Iniciativa Comunitaria ("Community Initiative"), a well-respected, nonprofit organization that shares my goal of giving life necessities to those who have none as well as helping drug addicts get sober.
Though I never saw Nestor again, his memory remains in my mind as I follow my quest of improving the lives of Puerto Ricans in the streets. Soon after, I eagerly began handing out plates of hot rice and beans to beggars through the Iniciativa Comunitaria. Among these beggars was Rafael, a frail middle-aged man.
I sat next to him and, though he was apprehensive at first, we began talking. I saw Nestor's sad glance within his eyes; I learned that this man, Rafael, had lived in the streets for nearly ten years after having lost all contact with his family due to his debilitating heroin and cocaine addictions. Rafael wanted to end his drug problem. Recalling the extensive rehabilitation program offered by Iniciativa Comunitaria, I assured him that help was within his grasp.
In the intervening weeks, I befriended Rafael and learned about his great love for his daughter. Nonetheless, he was still reluctant to get sober. I couldn't give up on him. I looked at Rafael's dark eyes, and I let him know that his daughter desperately needed her father back. A lone tear ran down his cheek. However embarrassed he may have been, Rafael smiled. I had finally motivated him to change his life for the better.
Months later, I was reunited with Rafael, a now rehabilitated, sober man ready to start his life anew. He had finally gotten in contact with his estranged family. Seeing the success obtained by Rafael, I could only think back to Nestor and hope that he too conquered his addictions.
Though Rafael's success gave me hope for Nestor, I'm not naïve. Most drug addicted beggars are unlike Rafael: they don't free themselves of the debilitating prison that is addiction. However, Rafael's fate gives me hope that I can help others rid themselves of addiction. I've already touched one person's life, so my gap year has already been a success, yet I can't help but wonder how many others I will be able to help. I will continue to work with Iniciativa Comunitaria until I reach college, and once there I hope to join an organization committed to helping the homeless and the drug addicted or perhaps start my own organization dedicated helping those like Rafael and Nestor - people who want our assitance, but may not know that a helping hand is well within reach.