<p>Dear EVERYONE!!!
Thanks alot for your insightful comments!!! I am an international applicant from Canada. My intended major is International studies or East asian studies. In one of the essay questions i have encountered, it asks me what has shaped my life most, I am still in a dilemma to choose from the following options which i want your opinion on...</p>
<p>1) My mother's death when I was 12 as a result of Lung Cancer
2) My international Exposure: I have studied in UK (2 yrs), Singapore(4 yrs), Beijing(1 yr), Australia(2 yrs), Korea(2 yrs), Vancouver(1 yrs), Hong Kong (5 yrs), Victoria(1 yr), and Ontario(1 yr)
3) One of my volunteer experiences: I volunteered in a program to help out the reconstruction of an orphange in an extremely poverty stricken area.
4) Winning the national championship in Waterpolo in 2001 (HIGH SCH NATIONALS)</p>
<p>If i use 1), i can talk about how independent I am, but i don't think i can go on for >500 words but i m sure i can earn some sympathy points</p>
<p>If i choose 2), I can talk about my internaional background and my independence, and i m sure that schs like Harvard will appreciate</p>
<p>for 3), I can talk about how this touched me and motivated me... I mean I know Admission officials like to hear motivational stuff...</p>
<p>and for 4), I know this is such a strong point BUT IT OCCURED FREAKING 6 YRS ago and my friends told me not to write on this... </p>
<p>So which options do you think i should use?</p>