UC Personal Statement

Prompt #1

I come from a young, cold, tough, yet supportive world. Tragedy, violence, and struggling has plagued the world I come from. My education has always been my number one priority, but many things have occurred which have taken my attention away, but these struggles I have gone through have pushed me to look towards a better future.

From a young age, my family has been unstable. At the age of four my grandmother died and the house we were living in had to be sold and we nearly went homeless as a result. My father lost connection with my uncles. We eventually lucked out because luckily our real estater’s mother had a house up for rent in North Berkeley. We immediately took this opportunity and made a deal to stay there for three to four months while my father looked for a more permanent place to live in. The times in Berkeley were tough for everyone. My father was forced to get two jobs in order to make ends meet. My sisters continued to go to school in San Francisco while juggling part jobs. My mother stayed at home taking care of me, but I was not doing that well myself. The house was infested with termites and as a result I developed a horrible rash. Although I do not remember much details about our time in Berkeley, I decided to explore this chapter in my history. When I learned more from what happened form my mother I began to realize that my sisters became successful not because things were given to them or a red carpet was pulled out for them to walk on. No, they got to be who they are today by working their butts off and perceiving through the many curve balls and fast balls life had thrown at them. I realized that in order for myself to become something in this world I would have to struggle and fight. Every little mistake I made, I just had to leave behind and forget so I could move on. I learned and developed a strong determination and will to want to learn and beat my sisters and become successful in this difficult world.

For years after that event my life was on a smooth road. My family was re stabilizing itself and I took my education extremely serious. I was an A student, but all that changed when the summer before eighth grade came around. It was the night that forever changed my life and molded me into the person who I am today. I was laying in bed with my parents watching TV when my sister, Sandra, came into the the room to tell my parents that my sister, Sulay, was laying in bed crying, not responding to her. My father ran into their room and attempted to calm her down, but to no avail she continued to scream and cry hysterically. My sister, the strong one who never showed her emotions was having a mental breakdown in front of my eyes and I was powerless and I could not do nothing. The police and ambulance arrived and she was taken away from me. I was not allowed to leave the house because I was too young, but I was not too young, I perfectly understood the jeopardy in which my sister. She was going to die and I never had the chance to say I love you. This event left scars implanted in my mind till this very day. I have never been the same jubilant, excited child that I was since. My eyes were open to the real world, and to the horrific fact that any time I could lose those who I loved the most. From that point on I learned to expect the worse from life and I developed a low self-esteem. From eighth to ninth grade my grades dropped considerably. I went from getting a 4.0 to getting a 2.83. I thought I was done and that I would never be able to pick myself up, but then I remembered what happened that faithful night and I made a stand that I would focus on my education and stay strong its the least I could do to make my family happy. I learned to become more independent and since that event I have grown as a student, a son, and as a man. The once protective shell which I lived in has been broken and I am now living in the real world. which at times can be difficult but its is for the best.

Prompt #2

I believe that the reason I have been able to succeed in school has been my perseverance. I have always had a tendency to not give up, sure I am lazy, but I never give up on anything. I work hard and hard until I get the job done. This characteristic truly makes me proud because thanks to perseverance I have been able to get through the many struggles I have been through. To me perseverance is the will and strength to get past a whole lot crap and get to where you want to be.
I am also a very determined person. Even though I am a procrastinator and tend to let things at the last moment. I still get them done. I have the determination to even finish the most difficult tasks. For example, last year we had multiple essays to write and every time I left it for the last moment, but I was still determined to finish them, I did in fact finish. I would usually receive a solid grade on them.
I am extremely proud of these two characteristic they have propelled me through school and life. Without perseverance I would just give up on my hopes and dreams. Without determination I would not be able to get anything done and thous I would not have the opportunity to be writing this. Determination and perseverance not only define me as a student, but as a person as well
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