College Admissions Essay: Turning Point In My Life

Life normally doesn’t go the way you plan when you’re young. When I was little, I figured that when I was at the age of graduation I would be totally prepared to go off my own. As I sit and think about the topic of how my life is going, several thoughts pour into my mind. First, I think of how lucky I am. The past two years could’ve changed my life because of bad health. Through weeks and months of hospitals stays and hours spent in the doctor’s office and in the emergency room, I’ve come out lucky and I have almost returned to good health. Second, I think of those friends who I thought would be there for my whole life that are no longer a part of my life. I also look to the people who I never thought would be there by my side and realize

How many times in life have you struggled but got through a difficult time? That is called perseverance. The definition of perseverance is “Steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.” Synonyms are persistence and determination. It originated from the latin word perseverare. Right now the world has been filled with natural disasters, from hurricanes to wildfires. Everyone that this affected has been forced to persevere through it because there is not much that they have the ability to do besides staying strong. In all of the nonfiction literature we have read there were many different examples of perseverance from many different people. I decided to choose three. For my first example Melba Pattillo Beals from “Warriors Don’t Cry”. There is numerous examples of the Little Rock 9 and her doing something despite difficulty. For the second example of perseverance I chose Maya Angelou. Through her life there were countless times that she was faced adversity and still achieved success. My third example is Earl Simmons (DMX) from the book “E.A.R.L”. He went through a tough time at almost all time growing up and he never gave up and achieved success. Perseverance creates success; therefore, when you stick through something you can accomplish what you want.

My desire to accomplish many things in life, despite setbacks, propels me through many obstacles. For me, perseverance is the catalyst to success. My experiences within the healthcare system and academic setting have trained me to be persistent and dedicated; it has primed me to become a fighter, and advocate in the pharmacy profession, for those who might not have the resolve.

I believe the turning point of my life began with the separation of my parents. I had always imagined myself living in my native homeland of the Dominican Republic. Yet, my life would drastically change as a consequence of my parents divorce. A few weeks after my parent’s divorce, my mother and I arrived undocumented in Boston, Massachusetts. Thus, at the age of fourteen, I found myself in a new country with few family and friends. The following chapter of my life would require me to not only make sacrifices but also become more independent. The meaning and value for me becoming independent at a young age was twofold: (1) I was able to help my mother financially and (2) I learned the meaning of hard work and perseverance. I recognize that my tangible core values cannot be measured by test scores—though I have done well academically—but by my desire and perseverance to become a successful Latina.

I grew up in one of the wealthiest families in Minnesota and I was constantly reminded by the many family get togethers that were held at one of my uncle’s houses. You see, in my family the term wealth does not have the same definition as that of the one in the dictionary. Instead of riches and an abundance of money, I was born into a massive and united family that has supported each other throughout each others lives’. In truth, my family has been through extremely tough times financially, especially so in this last year with the loss of our main source of income, my mother’s job. With a roofing, seasonal working father and a year full of rain, there wasn’t much money to be spared for anything other than the essentials and even then those

“Be strong, banish fear and doubt, and remember the lord is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9 New International Version). Next month on September 28th, will be my 30th birthday, another milestone will be met. As I look forward to celebrate this milestone, I have also taken the time to reflect on who I am today. Throughout the years, I have experienced many obstacles that have influenced me into becoming the person I am currently. Moving to Columbia, South Carolina had great, if not the greatest, influence on me.

Perseverance is something you can not teach a child, instead it is developed throughout their life, throughout my

From the very first moment I sat on the piano bench and touched the black-and-white keys, I instantly felt in my heart that my future would be irretrievably bonded to this magical instrument.

Martin Luther King once said “If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, whatever you do, never stop moving”. When I first read this quote I wasn't able to comprehend it's meaning, after all I was in the third grade. One thing was clear, my admiration for his courage and tenacity to stand tall in the face of fear. That admiration transcended into my own life when I faced the departure of my father, the reality of the poverty my family lived in and my dark history with concussions.

I was born and raised in Kerala, India, son of an arranged married couple with Indian ancestry. I am the eldest son with one little brother. Because I am the eldest child in the family I have to be little responsible and a good role model for my brother, and my younger cousins. Last four years of my life was like a magic to me. I would say those for the toughest time period I had to face. Some times I wish, “can this all be a dream and go back to my 5th grade year”. I don’t know, fifth grade till my eighth grade was the best years of my life. I could still remember visiting my cousins and family every week, visiting friends, playing cricket, family dinners, and so on. Four years ago, I moved to America. I still remember the exact date-April 18,

I have always believed that most of the time the cruelest people are the ones who have endured the most pain. I have also always believed there is no reason it has to be that way. There is so much to be said for a person who has received so much pain and hurt from the world, and yet gives back nothing but love and happiness. That is the person I aspire to be, and that I believe everyone else should aspire to be also.

There was not a specific moment I became me, it was more of a gradual thing. After many years of growing up I realize who I am. I know I am honest, strong, and sometimes I take things too literal. I know that I am still growing up and I have not completely became who I will be, but this is me now.

Nelson Mandela once said, “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.” Moments in our life shape who we become; our character, our thinking, who we are and who we want to be. How we live our life is so much more than going through the motions, it is about how we change other’s lives and how other’s change our life. I have been fortunate enough to grow up with astonishing people who have changed who I am and I have also had so many opportunities that have shaped who I am today.

My most difficult moment would have to be when I lost my best friend. It taught me fear, anger, and sadness. It taught me that anything I will ever come to know and love will soon some day die. Yes it is sad, isn’t it? It all started December 7th, 2007. For my golden birthday, I got this beautiful cockatiel bird. It was yellow with grey and white feathers and it even had some feathers sticking up on his head. It had red cheeks, a beautiful little whistle, and little cute feet that made him walk like a grandpa. I named it Marvo. Yes, I know, it is a silly name, but ever since I could talk, I remember asking for a pet. When I finally got Marvo, I was one of the most happiest people alive. I remember I would always play with him when I got home. I don’t remember how old he was, but I do remember when he was a baby, he would eat baby bird food. He was the one person I loved the most. I treasured and cared for him more than most people care for their pets. I would pick up all his messes when I would not even pick up mine. He taught me responsibility and what it was like to raise someone. It was not a perfect job, but it was a good job. I remember training him, when he had to go to the bathroom to fly to his cage. I also remember when one time he went to the bathroom with my mom, he hid and my mom got in the shower. He had to go to the bathroom so he went on the real toilet, I was so proud of him. He was the best, he would like my mom more thought, he would follow her

gorgeous and from the moment I set my eyes on her I fell in love with