Entry form into United World College - Essay Example

Life in Singapore is a different world altogether. I realized the shocking difference during my visits to India. A visit to the banks of Varanasi opened my eyes to the world and its sufferings. To see a dead body lying unattended, to watch a corpse burning and to see poverty-stricken children begging for food was a gruesome sight. Another extreme was the life in cities of Europe. This striking dissimilarities created a turmoil within me. Introspection made me realize that there was something or someone above all this, some power, which controlled the world.

In my quest to discover how societies evolved and mankind developed, I would like to visit Peru’s Canal, one of the seats of modern civilization. I am adventurous by nature and history being my strongest interest, I would love to skydive someday or go on a wild trek through the forests of the Amazon.As a child I often used to reflect on the war horror stories and it always made me sad. I could feel the agony of the children who tested HIV positive, I could sense the insecurity that the mentally challenged face day after day.

It was disturbing to see small street children having to work for their daily bread when they should be going to school. I used to wonder if there was anyway that the world could share a common goal – to erase poverty and sufferings, if there was anyway that I could contribute my time and talent towards achieving this goal. I wanted to do something different that would make me stand out from the rest, but I did not exactly know how to go about it, what avenues to explore to fulfill my dreams.

I had read a lot and knew the power that words and love has. I had heard of Vasudeva Kutumbakam, an Indian phrase which literally means the world is one family. This phrase made a deep impression on my mind so much so that I started praying to God to really make the world one big family, to awaken the consciousness of those constantly at war. I started praying for world peace. My longing for world peace has ignited a burning desire into me to participate in an anti-war march someday, my own little way to make a difference.

In my pursuit for a college for higher studies, I came across United World College and was immediately attracted for two reasons – one – students from more than 80 different nations study at the college at any given time. Secondly, community service plays a central role in all the colleges. I instantly made up my mind that this was the place for me. I was particularly drawn to Mahindra United World College of India as the vision that this college shares, is what has influenced my life – vasudeva kutumbakam.

I realized that India being a land of diversities still stands as one united family. I have the firm conviction that just as India is one family amidst diversities, it is also possible to unite the people of the world and bring them together, make them feel a part of one big family. This might seem a little too innocent and juvenile but the fact is that differences and disparities are all creations of the mind. These can easily be eliminated. All it requires is determination and definite mission.