College Admissions Essay: The Butterfly Effect

When someone thinks about their mental life, some may think “I’m perfectly healthy” or “I don’t have mental problems”. Yet, for others, they may think “Yeah I have some mental issues” or “Yeah, I get nervous from time to time”. For me, anxiety has always been a problem of mine. I can’t even begin to describe how many times it has gotten in the way of me trying to enjoy an event, or spending time with family, because my mind is constantly racing. I’ve struggled with anxiety since I was a kid. Not only do I struggle with it, but members of my family do also. I believe that I may have gotten my anxiety from my family but it’s always been something I didn’t talk about.

In December 2014, The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education published “Rethinking the Admission Process.” This article was written by Frank DiMaria, who takes a look at the research of the former president of the University of Wyoming, Robert Sternberg. DiMaria explains Sternberg’s stance against the current admissions process. Sternberg has research that depicts, “GPA, standardized tests, and essays do not successfully measure the true talent of a college applicant.” He believes that the policies need to change. Sternberg offers an alternative to the current process. Sternberg has been a part of a new admissions policy testing students not just on their memorization and analytical skills, but on their creative, practical, and wisdom-based skills as well. Sternberg’s ideas stem from his experience with disadvantaged youth and their ability to adapt and overcome obstacles. Sternberg claims that students who grow up in the upper middle class tend to have an environment which better values the analytical skills that the current tests measure. He argues that, because of this, colleges may not be getting the most creative and adaptable students. He shows that some of these less privileged students are capable of handling a college workload even though they may not have been able to score as high on the SAT or other tests. DiMaria believes that through Sternberg’s Kaleidoscope policy may be a solution. The Kaleidoscope way of admissions administers tests which ask open ended

I was born in Bedford Texas, but I have lived in Round Rock my entire life since I was two years old. I am a person of many different interests that I like to obsess on at various times. I am a young man with Autism, Adhd disorder and asperger's syndrome, all of which I was diagnosed with when I was five years old. For me it has been a challenge growing up with these symptoms and I have had a lot of anxiety, however with support from my peers and parents I have persevered in becoming independent enough to take care of myself. I graduated high school in May of 2010 and I'm currently working two part time jobs.

Has your body ever left your mind so far behind a thick, veil of the spider web you’ve woven, to escape the dreams that have become realities, when in fact, it is merely a dream and not actual fact…

I am a southern bred leader, pursuer, and helper whos mission is to spread peace, love, unity, and respect among many to create a world of cheerfulness and brotherhood. I am Austin William Carricoand this is my story. All my life I have lived in the small town of Crestview and grew up among the wilderness along with its inhabitants. As the town grew exponentially into a vast city, my heart, my mind, and my soul grew with it, learning the ways to help others and slowly turning from a boy to the young man I am today. I now attend Collegiate High School continuing my journey at the ripe age of fifteen, still promoting peace as a mission for others even when I left my former school, Niceville High.

The New International Version Bible states: “Do you give the horse his strength or clothe his neck with a flowing mane? Do you make him leap like a locust, striking terror with his proud snorting? He paws fiercely, rejoicing in his strength, and charges into the fray. He laughs at fear, afraid of nothing: he does not shy away from the sword.” (Job 39:199-22) As I read this excerpt, I realized that one must attack life like a horse charging into battle in order to succeed. My dream is to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. Acceptance to veterinarian school is extremely competitive, thus I have already begun to make preparations for achieving this dream. God has shown me that if I follow his plan for my life he will provide everything I need to succeed.

As a student passionate in mathematics I would spend hours trying to solve complex problems. I knew for sure that I did not want to become a mathematician or an actuarial scientist. It was actually my volunteer experience during my high school that made me envision myself as a future doctor. Since the love for problem solving was intrinsic to my nature, seeing mentally handicapped and diseased individuals made me dwell upon “How the human body functions and above all what causes derangements in this normal functioning?” With my zealousness to help the suffering, the choice felt rationale to

Everyone has to make choices in their life. Some are everyday choices, like what to eat or drink. Others are more critical, like choosing a job. Important decisions take time to comprehend. Like with me, the decision to go to college was the most critical choice in my life and for my future, and I will never regret it. Going to college is important because it helps me find a job, it expands my knowledge, and it is a wonderful experience.

Breathing heavily, a million things run through my mind. I’m dying. I can’t feel my feet. My lungs aren’t taking in oxygen fast enough. However, the finish line and the satisfaction of knowing that I had gotten myself through three miles loom ahead. Clenching my fists, I force myself through the indoor track at JCC. The excitement and pride that I feel when I finally achieve my goal is indescribable.

When life gives you the opportunity to be successful, you take it. So, out of every let down or every time you ever ask yourself, “was it worth it?”…, you say “definitely”, persevere, and continue seeking greatness. When I got that opportunity, I hit the ground running. I was hungry to become successful, hungry to graduate from college, hungry to even hear my dad say, “I’m proud of you”. Maybe I could have taken a different route but hey, growing up in a small town like Mullins SC with a high unemployment rate, don’t get you too far. I couldn’t find myself falling into that statistic. Working temp jobs, wondering how I would pay for college…, it was rough, definitely some humble beginnings. This by no means is a message for sympathy.

I have loved sports my whole life, even at a very young age. I would watch it with my dad, and he would take me to sports games. I loved to play basketball in the backyard when I was little. I have always loved cheering for my favorite sports team. I love watching the Minnesota Vikings and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Two years ago my dad surprised me with Vikings tickets. I was so happy to get to go to a game. Sports has always been a big part of my life. Two years ago, I got a new view of sports when I started umpiring.

Have you ever wanted something so badly, but never knew how to start or even get there? Ha-ha...who am I kidding, we all have. Well that how my story all starts.

“Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation's compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and just plain loving one another.”

Being a Filipino, I grew up in a culture where education is of utmost important. When I entered high school in the Philippines, I was surprisingly surrounded by deep-pocketed students with remarkable talents and intelligence. Not like everybody else, I came from a middle-class broken family but that did not stop me from going to school. Later on, I became friends with some of the popular students in our school, and suddenly, made me part of the top of the food chain. I, then realized, am as good as them, but not better. Thus, I genuinely promised myself that I will do better in college.

If someone asked me where I am going to be in ten years, this would be my answer. I will have a great, high-paying job, and beautiful wife and family, and a nice sports car parked in front of my lovely house. When I look into the future, I see myself being successful and happy. Even though I always pictured myself this way, I never worried too much about how I would get there. I feel the Suffolk University can lay the groundwork for making these dreams into reality.