College Admissions Essay: How My Family Changed My Life

All little sisters look up to their big brothers, and I was no exception to the rule. I remember watching my brother Brandon, cheering him on at his high school football games, golf matches, and basketball tournaments. I was only six or seven at the time, so of course I wanted to be just like him. I proudly yelled his name in the bleachers, dressed in his big cotton sweatshirts. My little eyes saw Brandon as a superhero out there, on the courts, fields, and everywhere I saw him. I have forever held that notion in my mind, ultimately holding him on a high pedestal. Even though I regarded him as my utmost favorite human on earth, something happened that changed me and him.

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls, and looks like work." - Thomas Edison. An opportunity can change your life, but your attitude towards the opportunity will determine whether it will make your life better. I believe you should take the opportunity when you see it.

Growing up, I never had the warm pleasures of bedtime stories; instead, I would hear about the unimaginable impoverishment my parents faced in their childhood. The immediate reality of poverty obscured their investment in their brighter futures; both were forced both to sell lottery tickets on the streets or trade vegetables for portions of meat: just to help sustain their families. Looking back at those nights, I can only be grateful. As one of the first in my family to attend college, I am piloting a new future, one where I hope to lift not only my family out of their struggles but also the community that has always supported me and global communities today.

Even though my father never went to college, I have always wanted to go. I knew I wanted to be better and do more than my deadbeat dad did. My father always told me “you are a smart girl”, and to him anything below a C grade wise was utterly unacceptable, well for everyone besides my brother who could never manage more than a D. The amount of punishment he had to endure for that I didn’t want to imagine how much it hurt. I remember the pit in my stomach every time report cards were sent out even though I knew I did well, but the better grades I got the easier it became to keep them up. I thank my father for his strict parenting when it came to education because I know now if I didn’t have rules like that I don’t think I would be where I am now, and better off than him.

History is my academic passion -- specifically the archeological and genealogical bases of individuals and families. But setting aside bones, genetics, and all that fun evidence, I also love to study the more anecdotal past and present situation of a family: where they've lived, what they've done, and how they've done it. Studying my own family, i've found that neither of my parents, or my soon to be step-dad has obtained a degree, and with my older brother choosing the armed forces route, I'm left to navigate on my own and chart new territory for my family -- I will be the first to get a college degree. Hopefully my choice will influence my younger sibling to also pursue her goals. I believe by making this decision, to be the first to

As the eldest sibling, I had no choice but to become a leader. At first, bearing total responsibility seemed to be an enormous undertaking at such a young age. Oftentimes, I wished for an older sibling to take my place and carry that burden instead. However, that responsibility honored me with values and skills I wasn't able to recognize until years later. Still a child myself, at eleven years old, I was babysitting babies less than one year old. Changing diapers, administering medicine, and preparing food came naturally to me, as I had been helping and leading others all of my life. Having responsibility no longer felt like a burden, but a gift. Leading others is now what comes most naturally to me, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I cannot say that growing up in the family I am in hasn't been difficult for me, because it has. However, to say that it is something I'd like to change if I could, I also cannot say. The turbulence and commotion I have experienced has sculpted my character. Had I not grown up the way I did, I would not be as tenacious and ambitious as I am today. Through the struggles I've faced and whom I've faced them with, I have not let them define me, and I have even grown more because of them.

Many people made no big deal of me, I have never been the one to stick out to people. My family has big expectations of me. My education is worth nothing to close family members I have never been so baffled at how people can be cold hearted towards their own blood. I was put on lower expectations than those of my younger cousin, because I was not born here did not mean I was not bright. Showing what I am capable of will show those I can be someone in life. For me a scholarship is more than just money it will show those near me what I can be capable of accomplishing. It will show others not from hear that they as any other person from here can accomplish a dream they have to provide for your family, to show others that nothing will stop you

My Mom, Dad, and younger brother survived. If it's not medicine, my family would not have lived.

The connotations associated with living in the south include the idea that family is everything. My family influences a lot of the decisions I make, and through my family I am able to learn a lot about myself. I am given an abundance of opportunities with respect to my family. For example, if it weren’t for my grandparents, I may never have traveled to Colorado and learned what it’s like to be an employee. I owe a lot to my grandparents, especially since they hired me to work in their shop every summer since I was nine. These are the types of special opportunities others don’t have. Opportunities that I cherish each and every day. On my father’s side of the family is where I gain all of my musical knowledge. With a father and a Grandfather

Children, at a very young age, are taught to contemplate about their own future. What do we aspire to be when we grow up? What sport do we want to play? What college will we attend after high school graduation? It is not until we reach the adolescent phase or maybe even adulthood that we stop to think about what difference we can make in other people lives and what impact will we have on the future of others. At least that is how it happened for me. My parents, specifically my father, pressured me about what my grades were like in school, what career path I would choose, what type of significant other would I attract and many other things except the most important part of humanity: what difference will I make in the world?

I care for my younger siblings, often driving them to lessons, and help my parents with the chores. My dedication to these commitments reflects my love and admiration for my family members. Since I am the eldest child, I have the opportunity to see my two younger siblings grow and develop. I watch my 10-year-old sister surmount new spelling words and learn algebra. I watch her become smarter and cleverer at a faster pace than me. I watch my 14-year-old brother learn the ropes of high school and practice the piano for hours until he is able to perfect his music. My younger siblings teach me that there is no limit to passion. My parents teach me valuable lessons too. My parents are physicians and have worked hard to reach where they are now. As well-educated as they are, they have not stopped learning and push themselves into challenging environments. My family motivates me to pursue my dreams and always keep

Have you ever felt like you’re family is counting on you with something valuable? That’s how I feel every morning as I get up to go to school. I have been told by my parents that they want me to become someone with a better future. Having all the pressure that you don’t want to let your family down is tremendous because it gets you to think that if you let your family down you’ll feel like a total failure. I have decided to myself that I’m going to do anything in my power to make my family happy and proud, but at times, there’s obstacles that bring you down and make you forget about your goal.

Relationships are something that we all yearn for as humans. However there are instances where they are hard to keep. I grew up in Lynchburg Virginia and I had few people I considered friends. I wasn’t a very social person and liked to keep to myself over being in the company of others. I was always the person that my friends went to when they needed someone to listen to them.

Not only do I support my parents, but I also support my younger cousins and brother. As an eldest brother and cousin, I feel I must be a good example for the young ones. There are numerous methods of showing my cousins and brother support. One main way is by providing advice on making the right choices. For example my brother had a problem at school with one of his classmates. As a mature and responsible older brother, I advised him to use the non-violent approach. I told him to go discuss the problem and try to resolve it peacefully. My brother then asked me why he shouldn’t fight his classmate. I explained how violence is the answer to anything. I advised him to first talk to his classmate in a professional manner. If then things get out of hand, I told him to let the teacher know the situation. In the end, my brother didn’t need to get the teacher involved. In fact, their conflict was resolved by talking through with each other. I also am very supportive of my little cousins. One way I help them out is by tutoring them once in a while. They come over to my house and I assist them with their school work. Not only I help my cousins with their homework, but I also support them recreationally. I play various sports and activities with them. As their older cousin/brother, I feel I should be a good role model to follow.