College Admissions Essay: My Choice

Growing up in a large family and a busy lifestyle as an athlete has shaped me into who I have become today. My life has been about being the best student, athlete, teammate, brother, son, employee and husband I can possibly be. Being involved in various sports with several different teams, going away to school, getting married have all been big parts of life for me some newer than others but all big in their own way. My life has always been about fighting through adversity to achieve a common goal at no matter what the cost getting to the finish line is something that must be achieved no matter the circumstances. Growing up I was always taught to work hard to achieve your goals no matter what it takes quitting is not an option. If you get yourself in to something and commit it’s up to you to finish what you started. Growing up in a big household with four brothers and sisters there was never a dull moment as something was always happening. It was enjoyable to grow up with so many personalities in my house it taught me how to deal with different issues that others face each day, and to always take others into consideration when making decisions. Being the second youngest in the family I saw my older siblings move out and took it upon myself to be the role-model for my youngest sister and show her that if you make smart and rational decisions good things come from doing so.

Ever since I can remember I have had an intense curiosity about the world and the people in it. This is probably due mostly to my parents who read to me nonstop but it has fuelled most of my learning experiences and given me a love of the world and of people, and the understanding of both of those. This love was further developed when I began four years of learning Attic Greek and Latin through a classical education. Then, after yearning to go overseas since I was eight years old and saving for it most of the time since then, I made it to England for six weeks this summer. Here my appetite for understanding is being indulged not just with words and pictures but with real world experiences which I can touch, see, and hear. Now, as I near the end of my stay, I am looking ahead to the rest of high school and I have decided I want to make the most of my junior and

A critical moment during my undergraduate career is when I came to the realization that it is alright for me not to know what to do with my future. I realized that I was doing the right thing by furthering my education so that once I finally did know what career I wanted to pursue I would then have a degree to help me stand out. Once more, Dr. Reed convincing me to pursue a degree in Communication is one of the best pieces of advice I acquired during my undergraduate career, if not ever. I most likely would not have the confidence I currently have in obtaining a degree that I have no idea what I am going to with once I graduate.

I am not the average person coming out from Alief, Texas. I grow up in the gang infested neighborhood that I called home the leawood apartments after living with my father for three years me and my older brother moved in with my mother and little sister in leawood we started by living in a one bedroom apartment. When we moved into the two bedroom apartment I shared a room with my older brother while my sister shared one with my mother.

Trying to decide what to do for the rest of my life is a hassle. I have to consider what I do well, what I enjoy, and how much income I would like to make. No one wants to wake up every morning hating their lives because they have to work long hours doing something they do not enjoy just to earn an income. The more a person loves their job, the better they will be at it and the more they will be willing to go to work. After spending many years being indecisive about my future, I have finally committed to pursue a career in speech pathology at Nicholls State University.

of reference, I realized I needed fraternity. I realized I needed camaraderie. I realized I needed to be a Whiffenpoof.

Maya Angelou once said “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style”. I believe that some people are complacent with mediocrity and therefore do not try to excel to their highest potential. As for me, furthering my future by attending college will help rise above the horizon of being average. I want to put my willing, intellectual, open mindedness, and so much more to good use.

From the very first day of freshmen year in high school, determining what college you will attend is an idea constantly engraved into students’ heads. Teachers apply a constant gentle pressure to motivate students to get good grades, become involved in extracurricular activities, and find an area of interest to assist in selecting a college major down the road. Students endure the four years of high school, some working part-time jobs, to afford weekend entertainment, miscellaneous expenses—such as Whataburger after a Friday night football game, or gasoline for their car. However, the requirement to decide between a career and education is only beginning to become a reality for many. Some students decided to take time off after their high school

I’ve always been the type of person to always plan ahead, to always assess each defining factor, and to always prepare myself for whatever life throws at me. As I type this, I look back and evaluate as well as reflect upon the very occurrences that have led me to where I am today: my family-my parents in particular, as they never made it through to college-so this process is new to everyone within my household, my own failures and successes, my community, and my education have all been vast influences on my character, especially my growth as a young adult. Recently, I’ve been pondering as to what will define me as an individual; what will have the greatest impact on me that will distinguish me from others, and more importantly what will help me apprehend my own goals? Everyone can say that they’re lives being the way they were guided them to the path they ended up on, and I know that is true too, but I feel there’s something more prominent as to why a person chooses to pursue a particular goal, career, or other dealings. This realization arose from my participation in the Regional Program for Excellence, a program that provides students with internships in fields they’re inquiring in before entering college, and my inquisitions regarding the significance as well as the impact on my rapidly changing life.

If someone asked me where I am going to be in ten years, this would be my answer. I will have a great, high-paying job, and beautiful wife and family, and a nice sports car parked in front of my lovely house. When I look into the future, I see myself being successful and happy. Even though I always pictured myself this way, I never worried too much about how I would get there. I feel the Suffolk University can lay the groundwork for making these dreams into reality.

I have learned a great deal both through formal and informal education up to this point and am thrilled to embark on my next stage of development. I really see the college search a lot like music. There are a plethora of options out there, but it is a very personal choice which one is right for you. Some like rock, others like pop, but no matter what genre speaks to you most, the favorite choice speaks to people deeply and inspires them tremendously. When I looked at the campus of New Jersey City University I knew my heart was singing for me to go there. Researching the area, the facilities, the programs, and the demographic was like a perfect symphony all coming together at once.

The success and recognition that the school of Literature, Science, and the Arts has received over many decades has drawn me to the belief that this is the designated school for me. I have always dreamt of becoming a Michigan Wolverine and pursuing a college education in the field of biology and psychology. Given the level of difficulty of being accepted into this program, it has only empowered me to work more vigorously than ever before. There are several unique qualities that attract me to this specific undergraduate college: the various programs and majors it offers and the opportunity to be admitted to a higher-level institute within the university.

My parents have worked too hard for me to ever think about slacking off. Coming from Nigeria, my parents arrived here looking for new opportunities, opportunities that they could not find in Nigeria. Time and time again, my parents would remind me why they came to the United States: to provide a better future for myself and for my brother. My parents valued integrity, as well as self-respect. I was always told that no matter where I am, I must make sure that I am representing myself the way that I would like to be remembered. Growing up, no matter what interests or hobbies I picked up along the way, school had to be my primary priority. Despite getting my work done, getting solid grades, and enrolling in a prestigious university, there was

There have been times in my life where my situation did not go according to plan. Perhaps, if I am honest, the reason for my folly is that I needed decisive planning, in addition to adding prudence in my judgements. There is an old saying that with age comes wisdom, as the years have passed, so has my ability to culture a sincere appreciation for patience, consideration, combined with preparation. Through my trials and tribulations, I have acquired the ability to make better choices and create plans with foresight. Though there can always be a nail in the road, pushing forward regardless of the obstacles ahead, can help develop a sense of perseverance in the face of adversity that we all need at times. I have learned that

Many colleges in the United States (U.S.) take a holistic approach in determining who to accept that will maintain or raise their status as an educational institution. Colleges certainly look at one’s intellectual ability through grades, standardized tests and essays, but one’s involvement within a community, social and economic background, and other social skills are also considered. The socialization throughout one’s life is an important determinant in getting accepted to a college. Applying to a college in the United States from Japan is a unique and uncommon option, but compared to other Japanese students, I had many social factors that intentionally and unintentionally contributed to my college acceptances. At the same time, some aspects—the distinct education and community of Japan—hindered my preparation for American colleges. Although I had limited resources compared to domestic students, numerous social factors, such as the educational experience of my family and myself, the social and cultural capitals exclusive to me, and the social forces of tracking and labeling of a wider community affected my chances of getting into college.