Here is a tentative draft of my essay in response to the prompt:
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'm afraid my points may be unclear and the ending could be somewhat stronger. Any edits and tips are appreciated. Thank you!
My world is a fishbowl. The glass is bounded with what my parents have taught me. "Always be humble, and move forward with your head held high," they said. Aside from this, I knew very little. As a child, I had always looked through the glass, at a bigger world. When I grew older, the bowl grew with me. Ever since its slow and steady change I began to realize that there was an ocean out there, waiting for me.
In my youth, I felt as simple as a fish. Mindlessly going with the flow of events, my presence neither added nor subtracted to my surroundings. I merely enjoyed the sceneries. I remember observing that mostly everyone lived in adherence to a status quo, indistinguishable from the rest. Ironically, I was the same. I lived behind a set of glass walls like everyone else, only aware of what was present before me, unable to see or act further than what I know.
Mine was an oriental themed bowl, decorated with cultural tales of adventures, morals, and love. Consequently, I grew up to be extremely idealistic and grimaced at the thought of conformity; I wanted an adventure of my own. Yet, I was so small and there was nowhere to go; aside taking up piano and ballet, my life was in a habitual pattern.
When my parents divorced, the scenery changed. There was no longer a familiar home to return to or a familiar language to speak in. I wasn't scared, but I couldn't deny that I was a little sad. Everything was different. The people, the food, and the culture took some time getting used to, and I had a new family. It was my first taste of change, but the love we had for one another always remained a constant. It took some self sacrifice to keep both families functional as I often traveled back and forth from the States to Japan. I did not mind in the least, I was diadromous fish that enjoyed the migration between the varied waters.
Time went on, and with it came knowledge. My small confinement suddenly turned into a spacious aquarium that was high school. The world of speech and debate, model United Nations, chess, karate, books, and photography suddenly became a permanent aspect of my character. There were moments when the water turned cloudy with uncertainty and self-doubt as I drifted through new crowds and faces. Luckily, the support I received from my family was kept me going through disheartening failures and awkward faux pas. With their help, I happily learned that teamwork and friendship were just as invaluable as knowledge.
Then, the summer of my sophomore year came. I saw the beauty of Europe: the strong personalities in France, the temperamental weather of England, the lush mountains of Switzerland, and the piquant meals of Italy were all something that I never encountered before. The world kept on changing. Like a new born babe taking its breath for the very first time, I needed more. I was no longer content in my little bowl; I wanted to know what was beyond the glass, and resolved to stretch the boundaries until I couldn't see where it began or ended. Though I know that my surroundings will expand naturally in time as it had before, I wanted to use my own power to expand my own horizons since anticipation often found me restless. I desired for a world that was as vast and deep as the ocean, all encompassing with life's various aspects.
My ever-changing world led me to dream of its infinite possibilities. I wanted to travel and truly appreciate all that is offered in life. Witnessing the wonders of nature, meeting new people, seeing our history as mankind, and their architectural accomplishments would be the magical adventure I always sought for. Thus, I aspire to work in the field of international relations, so that I may freely swim without limit, while making a change of my own.
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'm afraid my points may be unclear and the ending could be somewhat stronger. Any edits and tips are appreciated. Thank you!
My world is a fishbowl. The glass is bounded with what my parents have taught me. "Always be humble, and move forward with your head held high," they said. Aside from this, I knew very little. As a child, I had always looked through the glass, at a bigger world. When I grew older, the bowl grew with me. Ever since its slow and steady change I began to realize that there was an ocean out there, waiting for me.
In my youth, I felt as simple as a fish. Mindlessly going with the flow of events, my presence neither added nor subtracted to my surroundings. I merely enjoyed the sceneries. I remember observing that mostly everyone lived in adherence to a status quo, indistinguishable from the rest. Ironically, I was the same. I lived behind a set of glass walls like everyone else, only aware of what was present before me, unable to see or act further than what I know.
Mine was an oriental themed bowl, decorated with cultural tales of adventures, morals, and love. Consequently, I grew up to be extremely idealistic and grimaced at the thought of conformity; I wanted an adventure of my own. Yet, I was so small and there was nowhere to go; aside taking up piano and ballet, my life was in a habitual pattern.
When my parents divorced, the scenery changed. There was no longer a familiar home to return to or a familiar language to speak in. I wasn't scared, but I couldn't deny that I was a little sad. Everything was different. The people, the food, and the culture took some time getting used to, and I had a new family. It was my first taste of change, but the love we had for one another always remained a constant. It took some self sacrifice to keep both families functional as I often traveled back and forth from the States to Japan. I did not mind in the least, I was diadromous fish that enjoyed the migration between the varied waters.
Time went on, and with it came knowledge. My small confinement suddenly turned into a spacious aquarium that was high school. The world of speech and debate, model United Nations, chess, karate, books, and photography suddenly became a permanent aspect of my character. There were moments when the water turned cloudy with uncertainty and self-doubt as I drifted through new crowds and faces. Luckily, the support I received from my family was kept me going through disheartening failures and awkward faux pas. With their help, I happily learned that teamwork and friendship were just as invaluable as knowledge.
Then, the summer of my sophomore year came. I saw the beauty of Europe: the strong personalities in France, the temperamental weather of England, the lush mountains of Switzerland, and the piquant meals of Italy were all something that I never encountered before. The world kept on changing. Like a new born babe taking its breath for the very first time, I needed more. I was no longer content in my little bowl; I wanted to know what was beyond the glass, and resolved to stretch the boundaries until I couldn't see where it began or ended. Though I know that my surroundings will expand naturally in time as it had before, I wanted to use my own power to expand my own horizons since anticipation often found me restless. I desired for a world that was as vast and deep as the ocean, all encompassing with life's various aspects.
My ever-changing world led me to dream of its infinite possibilities. I wanted to travel and truly appreciate all that is offered in life. Witnessing the wonders of nature, meeting new people, seeing our history as mankind, and their architectural accomplishments would be the magical adventure I always sought for. Thus, I aspire to work in the field of international relations, so that I may freely swim without limit, while making a change of my own.