<p>Hi im currently a senior from New Jersey applying to Rutgers New Brunswick early action. I have the common app done except for the essay. If someone can skim through this essay and give any criticism, id be very thankful.</p>
<p>The diversity and multicultural aspects of Rutgers University represent the pinnacle of a society that chooses to treasure and embrace each other’s differences. As a Korean American growing up in various parts of the world, I know that my experiences with the world, both traumatizing and enlightening, will help create a school where diversity is looked highly upon and racism no longer exists. My contribution to the multiculturalism of Rutgers consists of my experiences in foreign countries, lessons in acceptance of other cultures and races, and implementation of other cultures with my own to create a diverse person.
Early adolescence in Mexico was a time when I was searching for concrete identification. It was also a time when I was exposed to a handful of cultures and races. In fact, it was so diverse that I was not sure who I really was as a person. I wanted to believe that I was a true Korean because of my pride and my family. However, I also, questioned that belief because I lived in Mexico and spoke Spanish as a primary language. It seemed that the longer I lived in Mexico, the more I lost of my Asian heritage. Sooner or later, my parents sent me to a Korean school on the weekends. I felt connected with the kids because of similarities in culture but they also helped me discover the joys of being multicultural. It seemed that the kids in the school were not as fluent in Spanish and became incredibly interested in wrestling and soccer. However, they also made sure to keep me up to date with the latest Korean anime and the best candies that contained the most sugars. Without even realizing it, I became a multicultural six year old who brought joy to different sorts of people by sharing different cultures with others.
Being young and ignorant is a very easy thing to do. It is a time where a child believes that he or she is right about everything just because it was what they were taught. However, being ignorant also almost cost me one of my closest friends. In the United States I was forced to grow up in a country where diversity runs rampant and beliefs can range from Judaism to Scientology. Living in Mexico and attending a Korean school taught me certain values such as doing well in school and believing in Jesus Christ. However, sometimes those values were not present in certain groups of people and I became astonished. I remember in 1st grade I met a kid named Billy. I was not sure how the topic came along but he revealed to me that he did not believe in Jesus Christ and I became disturbed. I would like to say that I got over it after a few days but not believing in a holy figure was something that made me almost cry. However, I learned that whatever he believed was something that I did not have to right to judge nor should I really worry about. I learned to accept his beliefs and in a way became united as truly close friends.
After elementary school, I truly began to develop as an interesting or diverse human being. I threw away the days where certain religions were right while others were wrong and began to create the days where tolerance was all around and different viewpoints on one subject was acceptable. In particular, I remember the 7th grade when my class was discussing the civil war. Although most people would agree with the Yankees cause because it was a war that freed slaves, I tried to at least defend the Confederates for fighting back because unfortunately, slavery was what ran their economy. I felt that making that argument made me understand the Southern view of the civil war and maybe see why the United States was flawed.
Rutgers University is a place of diversity and multiculturalism. As a student, I will strive to drive people to accept other cultures while embracing their own. Diversity is rich in quantity all over the campuses present in Rutgers and it is something that cannot be wasted. As a student of Rutgers University, I will become even more of an acceptor of other cultures and religions while also sharing my knowledge in being exposed to many different ones at once.</p>