I’m applying for a foreign relations program, and one of the essay prompts is to write about a character trait, a talent, a quirk, or a combination of those that will contribute to the program.
I want to write about how my parents try their best to teach tolerance to me and my siblings after facing discrimination in America, but I also want to point out that they themselves dislike the Japanese because they occupied their homeland in World War II, maybe say something about how my dad’s dad/grandfather was a colonel in the Army there and their sense of pride to their homeland. I’ll also try and incorporate how I joined debate and an art club to learn how to express myself better and connect individuals to others.
I want to get the point across that I learned a lot from them despite their flaws (hypocrisy seems too charged, and they don’t have anything against any individuals - just criticizing Japanese culture) since they have their faults, and by participating in the program I am applying to, I will contribute by bringing an understanding of other cultures and the bias against them by others individuals/cultures. I plan on emphasizing how I learned from this to try and keep it in the realm of a ‘character trait’.
Is this too dark? I can’t come up with anything else.
All help appreciated!
If the prompt is asking about you and how your talent/quirk/trait will add to their program, what is criticizing your parents’ hypocrisy adding? Elaborate on your character trait of tolerance instead of turning it into a narrative of how you learned from hypocrisy.
I’m sorry if I didn’t make that clear enough @elliebham . My main point is to show that I’m tolerant, but I’m worried that criticizing my parents will reflect on me poorly. Not to mention I’m not quite sure if saying I’m tolerant will add much given that this is the whole point of the program I am applying to.
It sounds fine but focus on what you have learned rather than your parents. Don’t necessarily focus on the hypocrisy of your parents but write a little bit about why they might have the views they do and then write about why the perspective you have is different. Or just don’t include what your parents think at all. You only have so many words
@shawnspencer , do you think tolerance as my personality trait is fine when it seems to me that the focus of the program is on promoting international relations, and to an extent, tolerance of other cultures? It would technically do me no good to make me more appreciative of other cultures if I already do so.
If that is the trait that you choose to emphasize, then yeah just go for it. It’s up to you which trait you want to highlight anyway. As you will probably soon discover when you enter college, there is much more to learn than just tolerance of other cultures. After taking quite a few international relations courses myself, I can testify to that.
Not entirely sure where but your username seems familiar and I’m almost certain we have interacted before
Yes, @shawnspencer , I think you’ve posted on one (or more) of my other threads on here. I distinctly remember you solely from the guy holding up a pineapple in your profile picture. Again, I’m just worried I won’t be admitted because it seems like I already have learned the whole purpose of the program, although I haven’t studied the language they are going to teach us.
If you are studying international relations, at least at my school, there is so much that goes into it. At my school it is one of the most demanding of majors. There is the study of foreign governments and cultures, but also of economics, international security, international organizations, public policy, history, and much more. The whole program is more than just tolerance of other cultures, although that is probably a trait most people come in with or pick up along the way. You likely won’t be rejected for that reason alone. However if it worries you feel free to switch to another topic if you desire
Alright, thanks! I looked up some info on the program and thought that was a major focus for the program, but I guess there really is more to it.