Dealing with Adversity - Essay Example

As a validated and proven leader, I was recognized through various academic and civic awards.

Knowledge or creativity in a field: Describe any of your special interests and how you have developed knowledge in these areas. Give examples of your creativity: the ability to see alternatives; take diverse perspectives; come up with many, varied, or original ideas; or willingness to try new things.

Being physically active is a very important commitment in my life. The various sports that I actively participated in over the years are football, basketball, soccer, track, and baseball. Among the special activities, I do for fun in the summer are hiking, wakeboarding, and water skiing; as well as snowboarding and skiing in the winter.  I enjoy playing the piano and drums and I play the trumpet in band and quad toms in the parades. Further, I work in our family apple orchard, especially at harvest time in the fall maintaining and driving equipment. Among these, a family trip to Stehekin in our boat is a cherished thing to do.

Dealing with adversity: Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to address this challenge. Include whether you turned to anyone in facing that challenge, the role that person played, and what you learned about yourself.

The challenging experience of having to go through a series of surgeries due to spinal curvature was the most memorable. I had to go through two major surgeries, a brain, and spine surgery to address the chronic dilemma. My greatest fear then aside from recovering from all the pain is the thought that I could no longer participate in any strenuous physical activities because I could become paralyzed if too much pressure was exerted inside my head. The doctor could not explain why I was still able to walk. The support from family, friends, and spiritual strength due to my immense faith in God helped me through these adversities.

Community service: Explain what you have done to make your community a better place to live. Give examples of specific projects in which you have been involved over time.

I acknowledge that my purpose in life is to serve God in everything I do.  In 2010, I raised money for one of my church’s mission trips to Ensenada, Mexico to be used for installing tiles on the floor and putting a new roof on their schoolhouse building. As part of the church volunteers, we carried out many Vacation Bible Schools at different orphanages, and we spent individual time with severely handicapped kids at the Gabriel House daily. At this time I am in the process of raising additional funds to go on this year’s Mexico trip as a way to manifest God’s love for others.

Handling systemic challenges: Describe your experiences facing or witnessing discrimination. Tell us how you responded and what you learned from those experiences and how they prepared you to contribute to the WSU community.

The diverse experiences that led to interact and communicate with people from various ethnic, racial, and cultural backgrounds have confirmed that still, various forms of discrimination exist in contemporary societies. Despite society’s conviction for equal rights and justice to all, I recognized that the nature of inequality in social and income groups continues to impact the way people live and afford basic necessities in life. Through facing challenges in health and physical capacities, I learned to be more sensitive to the feelings, emotions, needs, and demands of others. Thereby, I am committed to sharing my knowledge, abilities, and skills for the betterment of the WSU community.

Goals/task commitment: Articulate the goals you have established for yourself and your efforts to accomplish them. Give at least one specific example that demonstrates your work ethic/diligence.

One of the many goals I have for myself is graduating from high school and attending a four-year university. Currently, I am interested in pursuing a degree that involves math, as I plan to graduate with 30 units of college math credits. I hope to graduate next year with honors to increase my chances for scholarships. After college, I plan to get a rewarding job or start a business of my own that is enjoyable, challenging, and profitable to support my family and others in need. When I start any endeavor, whether, for work or leisure, I exert all efforts to ensure that the defined goals are appropriately and effectively attained.