<p>Rutgers requires that you provide a short essay that is your original work. Please reflect on what you consider to be an important personal experience related to your talents, interests, or commitments. Using this experience, please tell us what you learned about yourself. How will this experience prepare you for success at Rutgers?</p>
<pre><code> Most children inherit the same hair color or acquire the same peculiar habits as their parents, but I have come to realize the most important characteristic I inherited are the hopes, goals, and dreams of my immigrant parents. Since moving to the United States twenty-five years ago, my mother and father have established a successful family restaurant, reside in a nice suburban home, and live with the satisfaction that I will receive an education and live out a fairy tale called the American Dream in a country filled with opportunity. In my early childhood, my parents taught me the importance of a strong work ethic and drilled into me the importance of education and the prospect it provides, which they did not have in China. What some immigrant parents do not understand sometimes is life outside the classroom is just as important as a child's education. In my early childhood and pre-teenage year, I dreaded working at the restaurant. The business and hard work, however, provided me opportunities and funds to support my endeavors outside of the classroom, such as the opportunity to develop a love for music.
Ever since fourth grade, I have had the distinct honor of playing an instrument in the Pennsbury high school instrumental program. Educationally, music is truly the only extracurricular activity that teaches students about history, math, and the science involved in producing sound. As a flautist and saxophonist, music has opened a world of opportunities while further discovering my purpose in society and maturation as an adult. Music is a directly correlated with an individual’s character. The commitment, perseverance, and ability music teaches helps express oneself beyond ink on the page. The very commitment music has taught each Pennsbury student has created an international reputation, landing me in venues such as Argentina, Disneyland California, and the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia.
The most important aspect of music is its capability to unite people from all walks of life and opportunity to create lifelong friendships. Music is the fabric of our society. Music in society is truly one of the few entities that create bonds among people who are both easy and difficult to work with. At Rutgers, the ability to work and cooperate in a group setting is critical when a diverse university such as Rutgers relies so much on the social and intellectual interaction. Music provides the necessary imagination, creative thinking, and intellectual curiosity to foster a positive attitude towards trying new endeavors at college, a new chapter in one’s life. Playing music in school, you are a representative of your community, school, family, and most importantly yourself. The same responsibility and discipline, which music has taught me, guides me to serve society by giving back to the community which has given me so much.
Music has instilled in me a sensitivity to see differences and be more accepting.. The obstacles as a first generation American and extra responsibilities in my life has ingrained in me the necessary work ethic, patience, respect, and perseverance needed at Rutgers. I aspire to give back to the community which has given so much opportunity to my family and me. Consequently, my undergraduate experience would go beyond the scope of medicine, which includes teacher, healer, and friend of the community. Every college has its unique melodies and harmonies that make a school a prospective student's number-one hit. As one of the first members of my family who would attend college, pursuing a career that I am passionate about and having a love for helping others will make being a Pharmacy a lot more meaningful. A higher education at The University of Rhode island is an opportunity to help me help others.
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