Essay 1: We are interested in learning more about you and the context in which you have grown up, formed your aspirations, and accomplished your academic successes. Please describe the factors and challenges that have most shaped your personal life and aspirations. How have these factors helped you to grow?
Growing up in a large family has given me inherent advantages and disadvantages. Undoubtedly, my academic success was fostered by my parents, who stressed the importance of a strong work ethic and focus on attaining exceptional grades. Meanwhile, there were financial hardships associated with living in a family of six that led to years of us facing expenses we couldn't manage. Also, there was the difficulty of integrating my …show more content…
How did this affect you?
For years I viewed my life as routine: wake up, go to school, come home, do homework, help my parents, go to sleep, and repeat the next day. To me, nothing ever changed except a birthday party here and there, or the occasional wedding. Being the naïve child I was, I took everything for granted, partially believing nothing changes. However, that notion was completely extinguished when my close friend and neighbor, Alfred Asatryan, committed suicide. I was at home doing my homework when I heard the gunshot. Of course, it surprised me. Out of curiosity though, I rushed outside to see what was going on. When we realized what had happened, we called 9-1-1, but by the time the paramedics arrived, it was too late. I was shocked. For the first few days I couldn’t stop thinking about what happened. “Afo”, as I called him, had always been there for me since we became neighbors in 2006. Every chance I had, I would ask him to come over to play basketball or just hang out. I remember how he was there to comfort me after my little brother, Alex, had a seizure at 6 months old. To say the least, I was scared. Having never seen a seizure before, I thought Alex was dying. Fortunately, Afo was there to tell me everything was going to be fine and that nothing would happen to Alex. It was his assurances, not those of my parents, that really calmed
Growing up in a large family has given me inherent advantages and disadvantages. Undoubtedly, my academic success was fostered by my parents, who stressed the importance of a strong work ethic and focus on attaining exceptional grades. Meanwhile, there were financial hardships associated with living in a family of six that led to years of us facing expenses we couldn't manage. Also, there was the difficulty of integrating my …show more content…
How did this affect you?
For years I viewed my life as routine: wake up, go to school, come home, do homework, help my parents, go to sleep, and repeat the next day. To me, nothing ever changed except a birthday party here and there, or the occasional wedding. Being the naïve child I was, I took everything for granted, partially believing nothing changes. However, that notion was completely extinguished when my close friend and neighbor, Alfred Asatryan, committed suicide. I was at home doing my homework when I heard the gunshot. Of course, it surprised me. Out of curiosity though, I rushed outside to see what was going on. When we realized what had happened, we called 9-1-1, but by the time the paramedics arrived, it was too late. I was shocked. For the first few days I couldn’t stop thinking about what happened. “Afo”, as I called him, had always been there for me since we became neighbors in 2006. Every chance I had, I would ask him to come over to play basketball or just hang out. I remember how he was there to comfort me after my little brother, Alex, had a seizure at 6 months old. To say the least, I was scared. Having never seen a seizure before, I thought Alex was dying. Fortunately, Afo was there to tell me everything was going to be fine and that nothing would happen to Alex. It was his assurances, not those of my parents, that really calmed