Attending College Essay

For someone whose first language is not English, a political refugee, and who grew up in a refugee camp for most of his life, I have been privileged to be allowed to come to the U.S. the most developed country in the world. I now have the opportunity to reclaim my identity, earn a decent living and pursue my dream of becoming an engineer. In 1991, when I was four and half years old and living in Bhutan, my family and I became victims of the government’s ethnic cleansing policy. Our political and economic identities were confiscated and we were forced into exile for the next 21 years.

Attending Vassar College has always been a firm academic dream of mine, which dates back to a field trip in the second grade. During my visit, I was thoroughly captivated by the vivid scenery and dynamic life style exemplified by this prestigious institution. From the intricate architecture to the artistic displays, there wasn’t a single aspect that failed to mesmerize my eight year old self. Now that I have embraced my decision to pursue liberal arts, it is time to make this dream of mine a reality.

I have waited eight years to be with my father again. I was ten years old when he had to leave. He figured his salary was not sufficient to support our needs. Like any other father, he wanted to be able to provide for his family and give us a decent life. Living in the Philippines, where poverty is a common predicament, moving to a more developed country became the norm for many fathers. He had no other choice but to take the risk and leave us behind as he left in search for work in Hawaii. Growing up, I would ask my father why he had to leave us behind. Why couldn’t he just stay and be with us? I never really got the answer until I was able to experience the opportunities offered in the United States. After eight long years, my father was finally able to take my brother and I here to the United States. However, in this joyful moment, I know we are about to face another obstacle. We had to be away from my mother. I don’t know how long I would be away from her. But, life has to go on. Great opportunities are more accessible here, in the United States and I know I have to make the most out of it.

A lot of people, especially in China, see getting into a famous college as a significant accomplishment. They plan carefully and they do anything they can to get into the best college, thinking their lives will be gilded ever since. But when doing this, most people lose themselves. They just try to do what ever the colleges might like to pack up a beautiful coat, forgetting to find out who they really are.

Due to the economic instability, it was extremely difficult for my father to find another job. So, he decided to take a huge risk and invest in a family business of stationery materials. The long hours and stress weighed down my father, and greatly affected my family. Consequently, I had to work even harder to ensure the security of our family income. While my friends were sleeping, I would wake up at six in the morning to open and set up the shop. Also, since my family couldn’t afford basic transportation, I had to walk to and from school daily. After returning from school, I would work at the shop while attempting to finish schoolwork until closing. While my peers were enjoying their childhood, I was being crushed by the responsibilities of my demanding family business and my overwhelming heap of schoolwork. However, facing such adversity gave me a strong sense of perseverance and diligence that I will always cherish, respect, and retain. I was fortunate enough to immigrate to the United States and start my life over. Even though moving to a completely new country at the

Since I started community college I’ve heard several dozen cases of people changing their major, changing their transfer college, or just changing their mind. I’m not likely to do any of that, I choose to use my time in high school deciding what I wanted to do and so far I am sticking to it without a doubt in my mind. I chose to go to community college, earn my Associate's in Business Administration, and transfer to James Madison University in the fall of 2018, graduate in 2020 with my Bachelor’s. I intend to get my Master’s either right after my Bachelor’s or within a few years of my career. I hope to have a job leaving JMU, my first accounting job of my career. I decided to major in accounting for a plethora of reasons, but not what most people expect.

My parents think of themselves as primarily self-sufficient. Because of this, we live on the peak of a hill in the middle of nowhere, far away from the hustle and bustle of our old home in the city. Although this is their ideal life, they realized that it may prevent me from expanding my own horizons. They have always encouraged me to follow my interests, even when it meant moving away from home at sixteen to go to college. Throughout my entire childhood, they have done everything in their power to ensure that I am prepared for the future. I believe that my parents have crafted me into a well-rounded individual by proving to me that any person can define their own version of success.

Maya Angelou once said “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style”. I believe that some people are complacent with mediocrity and therefore do not try to excel to their highest potential. As for me, furthering my future by attending college will help rise above the horizon of being average. I want to put my willing, intellectual, open mindedness, and so much more to good use.

When grabbing my assignments off of the printer in the office for high school, something always seems to catch my eye. The bright streetlight shining through the window reflecting off mounted frames with very important pieces of paper inside. I stand there and lean out of the way of the light beaming into the room to read each line. I have done this with my parent’s degrees ever since I was little. I always knew they were important and that someday, I too would have them. Now, I realize how these pieces of paper are much more than a degree; they are hard work, sacrifice and opportunities.

Growing up, parents are your biggest fans and worst critics. My parents have loved me unconditionally and have tried to give me the world. As their child I tried to give them what they wanted in return. I keep my good grades and excel in athletics. I’ll also be the first person in my family to go to college.There’s a point in your life when you realize that you can’t give them the perfect child. Yes I’ve made mistakes and done things that I shouldn't have. I understand the anger, the hurt, and the disappointment that I’ve caused throughout my upbringing. In the end, some parents are more critical than others, and I got the short straw. Making your kid feel like they’re the reason you’ll leave one day kills. This most recent disappointment might be

Welcome to the “playground of unregulated freedom” (Delbanco, 19) that is college. These institutions all have a purpose in forming an individual. Some take their years in college to discover who they are, to gain independence, or to simply complete their degree. My personal experience thus far during my collegiate career has been to focus on following my passion. I have taken my love of athletics, and interest in the human body as a way to motivate myself through school with the end goal of receiving a doctoral degree. Given that my first year of college was full of hardships that caused questions as to whether an education was truly worthwhile, I am here as a sophomore stepping out of my comfort zone daily to pursue my passion.

After I graduate, I hope to attend a college with medical engineering based programs. The only reason I possess this dream is because I have a little cousin who had to have below his right knee amputated when he was just 3-4 months old. To this day he can walk and run and he is not any different from anyone else, which is why I want to help people just like him. To fulfill my dream I plan on trying to get a scholarship from University Of Iowa because they not only have a great school and good classes to take, but so I can be close to home as well. The skills I will need are working with math and science. I need to focus on and learn how to build a good eye for design, communication and team working skills, and how to be able to have a

In 2004, my family emigrated to America from Pakistan. Our lives in Pakistan were better than most. We lived in a huge condo and my father owned a plant nursery which earned him enough money to support us. However, my parents wanted their kids to have a better future and become something great one day. This wasn’t really possible in Pakistan; the education system wasn’t great and it wasn’t safe either. Because of this, we emigrated to America so my siblings and I could achieve the American dream through proper education. Little did I know that my life would drastically change.

Recently, Yale University announced that it would be removing former Vice President John C. Calhoun name from one of their residential colleges. While we know now that slavery was immoral and ultimately abolished, Calhoun, an 1804 Yale graduate was a committed slavery supporter. The university will remained the said residential college after Navy Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper who was a pioneering computer scientist.

Dear Mother and Father I find what I am doing in the new land easy and fulfilling. This is what I would write back to my parents if it were true and if we were even allowed to send mail back home. Why do I bother thinking these things to myself, it does not help to ease my regret in the slightest. From my superiors I am told that it is right for