<p>This is probably my final copy, Because i'll have to turn my Essay in by end of November 17th.
Like before the asterisk starts each paragraph.
~sentences that are in between tildes (~) are the ones i'm not sure if i should put. Please tell me if i should or not~</p>
<pre><code>*At about 7 P.M. July 24, 2001 in the Greensboro airport, I took my first step in the new country. My parents said that moving to the United States was through the guidance of God. Like the Puritans of Mayflower and other immigrants during the colonial time, my family is in the history of immigration. Currently my family lives in a small but growing town called Kernersville. Like most immigrants, I have faced hardships. Whether the hardships were academic or work related, I did not give up, but worked to overcome them.
*Two weeks after my arrival in the new country, I enrolled in an elementary school named Sedge Garden as a fifth-grader. Taking both ESL class and normal language art class, I was able to do my own homework without help in about six months. On the fifth grade EOG test, I was able to get a high math score and was assigned to advanced classes in middle school. Although I was supposed to be placed into the advanced mathematics class only, I was placed in the advanced language arts class because there was a two-teacher per team system in that middle school. The advanced language arts class was difficult, but I gave my earnest effort and achieved A’s and B’s in that class. After that, I have gotten straight A’s since seventh grade. Even if I am placed in a difficult situation, I will not give up and will do all I can to achieve an outstanding result.
*Before I came in to this new country, I participated in many extracurricular activities. I took violin, tae-kwon-do, hap-ki-do, and swimming lessons for few years. This was possible because of high population density. The country was so tightly packed that everything was within walking distance, or within shuttle bus distance. When I moved to the new country, other than occasional home practices my extracurricular activities stopped because of the process of adjusting, low population density, and lack of transportation. Also my parents rather wanted me to experience extracurricular activities with the family, rather than sending me off to take lessons. I did manage to continue my violin lessons in school. I became a member of all-county orchestra during my seventh and eighth grade years. The orchestra classes taught me how to cooperate with other members in order to reach a common goal, to provide a great performance to the audience. ~I hope that I can further practice above lesson by doing scientific researches and mathematic problem solving projects with others in the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics.~
*About a year ago we moved from a small apartment to a fifty year old house. Consequently, the repair work took most of my extracurricular time, including the summer. The major repair works were fixing the heating system which had a burner that leaked harmful gases from its burning chamber, replacing the water heater, and improving the plumbing. In addition to the repairs, my dad and I decided to build a garage out of the 40 to 50 feet tall trees in the backyard. Using our newly-bought sawmill, we made lumber out of the trees. During the work, there have been a lot of problems. Some of them were moving heavy trees, fixing engines, and reinforcing sawmill frames. My dad and I did not give up because of these problems; instead we worked to overcome them. We made a crane using the bike rack to move the trees, disassembled and fixed engines, and used steel L-bars to reinforce the sawmill frames. Through these activities I learned that planning is very important. Also, I learned and practiced solving the unexpected problems with the resources at hand. ~I hope that I can practice and develop above lessons during the challenging courses in NCSSM, to prepare myself for the real world.~
*During the rest of my extracurricular time, I went to retreats and my church’s youth group camping trip. During the camping trip I ran a four-hour race, cliff jumped, and rappelled down a 90-feet tall cliff. Although I was scared at first, I did not let that stop me. I trusted in God and accomplished the activities. Above all, during the four days camping, I had great time fellowshipping, and helping out the other youth in need. One time when we were kayaking, I helped other youth whose kayaks had flipped over. I paddled one kid to the shore and flipped over my self in order to get one kid back on the kayak, which caused me to tow my kayak 100 feet to the shore. Helping other youth may have been tiring but it was a great blessing.
*My dream was formed during my early years. My father encouraged me and worked with me to build remote control cars and tanks. He also encouraged me to work with computers. These encouragements and activities formed my dream to become a scientist who invents robots. In my years in United States learning a new language, I forgot about my dream until my parents told me of North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics two years ago. Now my dream of becoming a scientist who invents automata has returned. Specifically, I want to major in robotics and computer science, because I want to make not just the mechanical parts, but the artificial intelligence also. I have asked God if this dream will become my vision. My parents, who are deeply faithful, told me that the beginning and the end is in God’s hands, and that we have to do our best and leave the rest to God.
*As I read the Bible and grow spiritually, I have come to see that scientists do not create or invent, they just discover what God has given to them. Even Alfred Bernhard Nobel’s dynamite and Albert Einstein’s theory that led to nuclear power were just a discovery of God’s work.
*However, people have used these discoveries granted by God in malicious ways. People have used the dynamite for personal gains and in the process killed many people and even themselves. Also, countries have and are using the nuclear power as a weapon for their own gains. These acts are what compel me to use my God-given abilities, knowledge and wisdom, to glorify God. Glorifying God includes loving others, because loving others as Jesus has loved me is one of the great commandments of God.
*I am a seed with a dream. I do not know what kind of fruit I will produce, but I will pursue the God-given wisdom and knowledge and use them to glorify God. I hope that the challenging but outstanding teaching programs in NCSSM will accelerate my learning of the God-given wisdom and knowledge to achieve my goal.
*In the past I could not participate in many activities that contributed to the community because I did not have transportation. Although I lacked “feet,” I participated in nursing home ministries and in AMEC tutoring. I was able to participate in monthly nursing home ministry, because my church was within walking distance of my new house. My church members and I go to a local nursing home and worship God with the elderly. After the ministry we gather in our church and discuss the blessings we received from this ministry. I also decided to tutor the other students in mathematics every Tuesday and Thursday before school. In these contributions, I find my self being blessed more than I bless the other members in the community.
*I also think that the reason that this country, formed of immigrants, has become so successful is that the people had the determination to develop and have contributed to each other out of love. I saw an example of this at the open house of the NCSSM. There were hundreds of juniors and seniors who decided to spend their Saturday to help the future members get around the school. Like the model juniors and seniors, I will participate in activities and clubs that will bless the members of the NCSSM community. During the beginning of the year in the community, I will mostly be blessed by others rather than blessing others. However, I will strive to contribute to the members of North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics physically, mentally and spiritually. In the process I hope that I become more gregarious and not shy as I have been.
*My mom said, “If you have done your best, but still face great difficulties, don’t give up, its just a part of God’s plan to teach you to use you in His grand plan”. If I do my best but still face difficulty in the challenging courses of NCSSM, I will not give up but work to stretch my limit and develop myself. No matter what I face in the future, I will do my best to become a scientist of the God-given Love, wisdom and knowledge, who glorifies God.
*I hope that I am allowed to develop my wisdom, knowledge, skills, and the heart of contribution in the NCSSM community in order to prepare my self for the pursuit of my goal in the real world.
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<p>Thank you again!!</p>