College Admission Essay
Student’s Name
Institution Affiliations
Date of Submission
Introduction
Since my childhood age, our family has been struggling for every penny. Our family comprises of my father, mother, sister, and I. My father is a graduate from an insignificant seminary, and my mother finished elementary school. Due to my parents’ educational level, our lives are full of difficulties, and we have to go for extra miles to earn living expenses and fees for tuition. My father is the only source of income in our family as our mother is the housewife. I have been attending church educational programs since my elementary age. Fortunately, my parents are devoted to Christians. Being born in a church is the pivot that gives me the hope that my life would not be the same as for my parents. Church has always been the hope of overcoming adversity and hardships when life becomes harsh to me.
At the age of 16 years, we migrated from Korea to America. My uncle made a call to my parents and explained how life in America was marvelous. My parents were convinced and accepted the offer by my undocumented uncle to immigrate to the United States. My parents sold all their property to get money to cover the immigration and settlement expenses in the United States, and we migrated. In America, we depended on money that our dad earned after the payment we brought from Korea was out. Unfortunately, dad suffered from hepatocirrhosis, and later, he got a liver transplant. My dad had two jobs that caused fatigue that later resulted in hepatocirrhosis. Overworking made him too weak to do an activity; hence, the doctor advised him to stay home. The start of his suffering from the disease made our stay in the United States worse as we could not afford even a little penny for a single meal in a day. I was then forced to seek a job to earn living expenses and tuition.
Religious Life
Going to church since when I was young gave me the golden educational opportunity to make sure that my life would be different from my parent’s lives. The church educational programs are essential in growing both spiritually and mentally. If my parents would get the chance to attend the church educational programs during their teenage years, they might have changed their attitude and thought towards making a bright future for our family. In my case, I was used to participating in various educational programs in the church. Unfortunately, at the age of 8 years, I stopped going to church. Reading and contemplating the BibleBible was not my habit again. I lost the habit of reading the text daily because of a lack of parental support who never spend their time in reading the BibleBible. The relocation of our residence to near a small dry cleaners shop also increased the distance to church. It took me more than 15 years to go back to church life.
When I finished high school, I got acceptance from Binghamton University, but I would not join the university due to financial difficulties. I gave up on the degree and started a nail salon business with my mother and sister. My father had suffered from hepatocirrhosis due to fatigue from his two activities, which earned us a living. A year later, he got a liver transplant, and he would not do any work so he would not join us in running the business. My mother, sister, and I opened a small nail salon business to earn a living, but the business did not go on well as we thought. Finally, I developed a panic disorder, and I had to seek a new way of living. On the course of finding the new route, I met Reverend Shinyoung Kim, who introduced me back to the church.
Reverend Shinyoung Kim then started advising and guiding me on the Christian lifestyle. I found the church lifestyle easy, and it was the source of hope for a better life for me. Reverend Shinyoung Kim introduced me to the quiet time program every day. The quiet time was the particular time program where I would read and comprehend the Bible. The soft time lessons were motivating, and I learned that my decision-making was wrong, and there was a need to reform myself wholly.
As I went on with the quiet time program, I came across a movie known as Arrival. I was motivated by the linguist Army Adams, a movie character who had learned the alien language. The limited-time did not set the border for her to learn the foreign language, and it was in the course that she perceived a future. The learning of the alien language moved her to another world. The move by Army Adams motivated me and realized that my way of thinking was limited due to the word I understood. I read different versions of the Bible in Korea and English, and I would only understand short verses after taking a lot of time. As time went on, I started comprehending great content quickly, and I widened my thinking perspective.
Education History
I started elementary school in Korea. I was an honors student in the class, even if I did not study. Besides, I used to attend bible study programs in the church. At the age of 16 years, I went on with my studies in the US. My father had sold all property in Korea to cover the immigration expenses. I completed my high school in the United States, and I got a good GPA that made me qualify for university. Though I had passed well, I applied for a university where I got acceptance from Binghamton University, but I could not join due to a lack of school fees. The lack of school fees was the start of the end of my dream. My wish was to join Hunter College to pursue a degree in nursing, but they did not consider an undocumented student in their program; hence they disqualified my offer, so I gave up on my degree. It took ten years for my parents to get permanent residence sponsored by the church. All these limitations made my education life hell as I was uncertain about my future. A thought came into my mind to give up on a degree and start a nail salon business with my mother and sister.
A time came when my goal to get better education re-emerged after getting the news that Estelle Kim, a church member, had applied for New York University School of Professional Studies, and its request had been accepted. The acceptance by the university motivated me to apply for a sociology course at the university. The advice and guidance of Reverend Shinyoung Kim also played a crucial role in my return to school. She helped me know educational facilities in the United States that had programs for non-traditional students. After some time, they accepted my request to join the university. I joined the New York University School of Professional Studies, where I studied a sociology course. The most critical encouraging proverb I got from the Sociology course was, “The Purpose of education; Being the great Equalizer. The saying motivated me to work harder despite the challenges that I faced as a student. Obtaining the best education is the only way of reforming into an intelligent person full of moral character. The New York University School of Professional studies suited me because it allowed non-traditional students. I would earn fees for my tuition and living expenses as my parents would not afford to pay my school fees.
Further, I came across a YouTube channel known as TED talk. My attention was caught by a speech by Victoria Secret Model known as Cameron Russell, who explains her education life history. I found the address as motivating as she went through the challenges that I also faced. Moreover, I researched her life history, and this was the start of my dream to pursue a degree course again. I studied at the Columbia University School of General Studies, and I applied to join the university and received an acceptance letter from the university. Later on, I joined the Columbia University School of General Studies, which had highly prestigious programs best for non-traditional students.
The Columbia University School of General Studies is ideal because I could work and read simultaneously. Columbia University School of General Studies suitably was best for young people with interest and passion in art, math, and science courses. My love and interest in science make General studies best for me. Earlier failure in my own business also motivated me to study General Studies as I required skills to run a successful business. The GS is also ideal for me because of my desire to translate passion into independent research. I would like to research the opportunities and threats available in the market environment in the United States. I consider myself a non-traditional student because I delayed joining university to pursue a degree and took many here to achieve my educational dream. I also consider myself a non-traditional student than anyone else because I made it to university despite my parents having achieved a superficial education level. My earlier failure in business also makes me a non-traditional student.
Work Experience
Further, I worked in nail salons after my father got a transplant to pay my school fees at college. I also started a nail salon with my mother and sister after first giving up my degree due to lack of fees. I obtained enough working experience that would make me run a successful nail salon business were it not for excessive regulations and laws. Moreover, I have experience in custom brokering that I obtained from working in a small custom broker office as a part-time employee as I went on with my university studies. The work experience has acquitted me with knowledge of running and managing a business successfully in the future. I also got both hard skills and soft skills, such as problem-solving, useful in my daily routine.
Current Situation and Future Plans
I am currently a student at Columbia University School of General Studies, struggling to get a superior education that can open endless opportunities. I do part-time jobs to earn living expenses and raise money for fees. My performance in school is average. I can do better than how I am performing, but balancing work and education is not easy. My goal is to get first-class honors in the university. Lack of fees is a big challenge of completing my studies at the university at the expected time. My parents are also struggling back at home to earn a living from the small nail salon. My father is also in need of help from the little penny I make to get medication. My sister is still at home waiting to join high school at a later date due to a lack of school fees. The current life is full of limitations, which I will overcome by obtaining a better education.
Moreover, I plan to reshape the status quo of my family to a considerable family in society. My wish is to secure an excellent job in the future that is paying well to support my parents and my young sister. I also have plans to start my businesses and run them successfully using the skills I gain from the university.
Besides am planning to start a program for guidance and counseling to the young people who face similar challenges. I would also like to support young people financially to help them get a better education. If I get a chance to be elected in the United States Congress in the future, I will make laws favorable to small businesses such as nail salons. I would also contribute to creating rules that are easier for people to get a permanent residence in the United States. I will also be the source of hope to the desperate and hopeless young people. Lastly, I have plans to build a children’s home to accommodate those children without parents.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I am facing the challenges that have taught me that the complete change of oneself requires excellent efforts. Further, I have learned that perseverance and patience are the tool for success and overcoming adversity or hardships despite all the challenges one faces in life. The problems have also taught me how to remain steadfast in faith and the power of prayers. Clear set goals and staying focused on everything is also vital for the success of a person. The limited-time should not be the barrier of learning new ways of living and language, and every day I should widen the perspective of my thinking through learning new things. Meeting Reverend Shingyoung Kim also taught me that seeking help is the best way of avoiding being desperate and thinking evil when life becomes tough. Lastly, I have learned that superior education can reform a person and offer endless opportunities to an individual. If I am offered the best educational opportunities in the world, moreover I can be surrounded by people who pursue the best way of their lives. My goal is to do a doctorate in the university to be a motivating person to the other desperate and hopeless people in society.