What Matters to Me and Why (USC Personal Statement) - Admission/Application Essay Example

Successful people usually have a source of inspiration that not only shapes their dream, but also helps them turn them into reality. When it comes to my career, I draw quite a lot of inspiration from my mother. Her will and desires are very important to me. This has not always been so. I used to be careless in my behavior towards her once, but an incident changed this and now I’m striving to fulfill her dream for me, which is to obtain a decent education, for purpose of which I seek admission in this esteemed university.

My friends arranged a two days holiday when I was in sixth grade. I had been camping with my parents before, but this trip was a bit different. For one thing, it was quite far off from my home; secondly it was not being supervised by any adult and thirdly the retreat we had chosen was located in a hilly area, where transportation was scarce. Naturally, I wanted to go with my friends but my mother had an objection to my going there. She was so worried that I might get hurt or some harm may come to me.

However, I insisted on going and argued with her day after day on the same issue, until she allowed me to go. When I was leaving home for this retreat, I saw tears in my mother’s eyes but I acted like I didn’t see them and just said a quick goodbye and left. On reaching the site I realized that it wasn’t really a very good idea, I felt uneasy about my mom. As things turned out, I had a severe viral flue attack and had to stay in bed due to high fever. There was no medical facility nearby, and since we had hitch hiked our way to the retreat, there were no readily available means of transport for me to go back home.

One of my friends managed to contact my mother on phone and told her all that had happened. My mother took the day off from work arranged transport for all of us and came to take me with her. She took me straight to the hospital where I was given medical care and afterwards, my mother took great care of me at home during my illness. I was expecting that my mother would shout at me then, or be angry; but she was just sad and worried for me. She did not mention my rude behavior with her. She did not say anything about what had happened at all.

She just gave me nice meals, talked to me about different things, tried to distract me from the pain which the fever was causing and told me stories and incidents from my childhood. I felt ashamed. I had disobeyed her and had gone upon my own insistence, yet she was so forgiving. Not only she came and took me away in the hour of need, but she was also decent enough not to mention my hurtful behavior. I apologized to her one day after this. I told her how sorry I was on my behavior and I also told her how much I loved her.

Ever since then, I follow what she says; I have thankfully never gone against her will again. My mother is the best person in my world who cares the most for me. I also care for her and try to bring comfort to her by all possible means. My mother matters to me the most and I’d do anything for her. Even now, when we live apart, she is so caring and gets worried if I do not respond to her messages every day. It is one of my mother’s utmost desire to see me educated and well qualified, not only a person with a degree, but also a person with knowledge, gaining which I believe is the real purpose of education.

I was a non serious student during my early years of education and I wasn’t too much into studies. But I made a commitment that very day to my mother that I’ll strive for education until the day I live. I’m proud that I’ve been able to fulfill this commitment until now. I hope and pray that I’ll continue to gain knowledge, and will come out of university as a learned man who is willing to spread the light of knowledge; which is why I seek admission in this prestigious university.