no support in life...

Pre-College Topics High School Life
1

<p>I would really like to go to Harvard. It's my dream.</p>

<p>The problem: I am a sophomore becoming junior and I come from a highly ignorant family. I have four older sisters and one older brother who all still live with my parents and me. I come from a highly pragmatic family, where everyone worships money.</p>

<p>My parents own a Chinese restaurant (my family is Chinese - Pakistani American) and it is basically like a farm. We have it in a lower income area with generally uneducated customers. I am a cook. My sisters, who are cashiers, often hustle for money and fight with the customers over stupid issues.</p>

<p>I come from a highly ignorant, irreligious, racist, ethnocentrist, sexist household and it makes me want to scream. I am never alone... I have no time for self-thought and enlightenment. I believe in God's miracles, but when I speak to the others in my family about them, they mock me, and so my faith becomes harder.</p>

<p>My sisters are all preoccupied with money. All of my sisters want to be dentists or pharmacists because they make a lot of money. But they're struggling in school. I tell them they do poorly in school because they lack the passion for the material they are studying for, and they are only doing it for money. They brutally remonstrate that it is all about money.</p>

<p>Here's where I come in: I tell my dad that I want to go to Harvard. He doesn't think I'm Harvard material. He always reminds me of his financial struggles, and that being a doctor is the best way to go for the money. He tells me I am going to be broke, unsuccessful, with no way to support my kids. He wants me to go to a state school that isn't the smartest, but the fastest and easiest way to get to medical school.</p>

<p>But I love to learn: when I took AP World and US history, I learned all about deep intellectual thinking, like the Transcendentalists, the Enlightenment thinkers, but more than anything, I learned about the obscure souls who rose to eminence as a result of their faith and passion.</p>

<p>I always wanted to transfer my knowledge. And that's why I want to be a teacher. I have about 100 hours tutoring math and reading in school, and I am currently working as Spirituality For Kids worker for leadership building in elementary school students. My heart soars when I see a child reading something of interest... I know its what I want.</p>

<p>The conflict is, I can only go where my sisters, my main transportation devices will allow me to. I have no way of getting to far tutoring places, and therefore no way of doing the things I need to do to get into Harvard. I am always controlled for my actions. I am always mocked. I am always told otherwise. I lack the vitality to stand up against these challenges. And it makes me want to scream.</p>

<p>But, I have support. Not from my family, but from my teachers. From the completely anonymous souls from online communities like AfterHim and CC. I have little holes of light who give me strength and encouragement to help me achieve my dreams. I have friends at school who believe in me, and tell me I can go the distance. And I have the Lord, who comforts me in times of duress and fills my body with the breath of life. I know that with Him, I may shoot for the moon and miss, but may end up at the stars.</p>

2

<p>dude, with a touching essay like this, you can certainly get into harvard. i follow ur last quote there, “Shoot for the moon. If missed, you will still be amongst the stars.” just keep following that, and it will be ok.</p>

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<p>Yeah, delete this from CC before somebody else uses it.</p>

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<p>thanks man.. I know there is hope but I just get so discouraged by family and everything… like 1000+ hours of community service, 2300+ SATs, 5’s on all AP classes, it is like, how the hell am I gonna do it? What if I lack the passion for a better world that is necessary? Time is running out, and I’m getting older. But thanks, I know it is possible. And I still believe it… I am gonna shoot for all this stuff myself.</p>

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<p>“I have no way of getting to far tutoring places, and therefore no way of doing the things I need to do to get into Harvard.”</p>

<p>If you fulfill the admissions requirements that are explicitly stated, you have done what you need to get into Harvard. The adcoms consider every applicant in light of their resources and environment. Yours is unique, and they will know that.</p>

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<p>The last line is something of a cliche, see [moon</a> “even if you miss” - Google Search](<a href=“http://www.google.com/search?q=moon+“even+if+you+miss”&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a]moon”>Google Search), there is even a book with that title.</p>

<p>Better imo to find your own words.</p>

7

<p>He’s not asking for writing advice; he’s sharing his situation! </p>

<p>jtm2292, I’m glad you acknowledge that getting to a top school is somewhat a matter of whether or not you’re born in the right situation – whether or not you’ve got the tools that will be to your advantage. I mean, maybe a fancy tutor would give you an easier ride to high scores and qualifications for competitive schools. But by no means do you have “no way of doing the things [you] need to do to get into Harvard”! Extensive tutoring and test prep are not the only paths to success; they’re just shortcuts. I’m sure that with dedication and hard work, you will get to where you want to be. </p>

<p>(And from a totally jaded, CC-polluted mindset, I can’t help noticing that the things that you choose to be involved in – and not for the sake of colleges but because they’re things that you care about! – do look good on applications.)</p>

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<p>lol, I don’t think this is a college essay (but if it was, it would be pretty good, with a few fixes here and there)</p>

<p>jtm, I’m sorry for your situation, but you sound you like you have a very good head on your shoulders. Don’t give up and don’t listen to what your family may have to say about your future. It is as bright as you, not them, want it to be. Also, Harvard may be an extremely good school, but there are also many schools out there that are just as good. I hope you will look into those and not settle for the state schools, if they are something you don’t want. </p>

<p>You’re right, a life centered on money is not a life at all. I’m glad you are able to see that even though you have to live with your family 24/7. I’m sure you’ll be able to be competitive wherever you apply, even without tutoring and stuff. However, the important thing is that you need to learn how to sell yourself to the admissions committee. If you could write essays that are just as poignant and sincere as what you have posted, then I think you’re heading down the right path. Good luck! :]</p>

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<p>[my</a> dreams - AfterHim.com Forums](<a href=“404 Error”>404 Error)</p>

<p>Couldn’t help myself.</p>

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<p>I was going to say that this sounds like a great college essay topic, but people have beat me to the punch.</p>

<p>You definitely sound like you have the will to keep going. And when you do apply to Harvard, even it’s behind your family’s back, who are they to stop you when you get in with amazing Harvard-like finaid?</p>

11

<p>Thanks, you guys. I wasn’t expecting so much rhetorical criticism!! It was just a sincere journal entry… In fact, the quote “shoot for the moon” I heard about 5 years ago and still remember it today. It is just one of those memorable things.</p>

<p>I just wished that I was in a better situation… not in this metallic box that I am in right now. But I guess this is the challenge of life… to break out of that box to be where you want to be.</p>

<p>Oh and ArtofMind.. its funny that you found that.. I want to listen to different opinions to see other people’s advice.</p>

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<p>There are many schools that would love you; you’re obviously intelligent and hardworking. Don’t let your family or financial situation stop you.</p>

<p>Have you, however, looked at colleges besides Harvard?</p>

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<p>I seriously doubt your sisters would get into medical school with such mindsets.</p>

<p>You can easily become something better than them, and probably make more money than them.</p>

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<p>I actually have! I would love to go to Vanderbilt, Princeton, UPenn or Oxford. I find Southern history and New England intellectualism so mystifying.. And I just want to get away from Miami…</p>

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<p>I doubt that.. even the most prestigious teachers don’t make as much as the crappiest doctors.</p>

<p>But it doesn’t matter, because money has never meant much to me. To me, money is a means to an end, and is a fault of humanity. Nothing more.. You want the feelings money evokes, not the thing itself.</p>

15

<p>I find myself in much the same situation. I’m also a sophomore, going to be a junior. Harvad is also my dream. Everybody is completely unsupportive. </p>

<p>I hope you reach your dream. I think you’ve capitalized on your resources to the best degree possible.</p>

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<p>Many people I know get into great schools without much help. While my mom is not unsupportive, I’m not rich and can’t afford any tutors or anything, besides, I don’t want to.</p>

<p>I do everything on my own, really…
Good luck and I hope that you end up somewhere happy, if not Harvard.</p>

17

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<p>That’s redundant.</p>

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<p>Get in line. Then tell your family that you’ll make more $$ as a doctor with Harvard undergrad.</p>

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<p>This is pure gold.</p>

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<p>This will help you immensely in attaining your dreams.</p>

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<p>The good news: once you’re in Harvard, you can REALLY look down upon them.</p>

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<p>I don’t see how it would be difficult to convince him that going to Harvard would be the best financial choice.</p>

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<p>You sure Harvard is the best route?</p>

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<p>Faith? Check. Passion? Check. Rise to eminence? Nahh.</p>

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<p>I suggest you watch the movie There Will Be Blood</p>

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LOL nice
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<p>aww, hang in there jtm!
Apply to Harvard, don’t let your family stop you from trying. I’ve heard that Harvard has amazing finaid packages if money is a huge concern. However, if you don’t get in, don’t let it crush you (I’m just saying this b/c Harvard is a reach for EVERYONE). You are obviously intelligent, and you are focused on things that really matter. I know it must suck when your family mocks your beliefs and dreams (speaking from experience), but don’t ever let them make you believe that your beliefs and dreams are worthless. Do what you love; it doesn’t matter what anyone else says.
Are there any local churches within walking distance from your home? I think it would be extremely helpful if you could find a supportive network of people to get you through the next few years. Feel free to PM me if you want :]</p>

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<p>Hey. I feel you. I mean, honestly, I can’t relate, but I was certainly touched. I say you follow the one guy’s advice and use it in a college essay, and I mean as an essay for EVERY college you apply to. And don’t change it, or edit it or any of that crap. Seriously, keep it as-is. It’s SO FREAKING INTERESTING and TOUCHING. </p>

<p>But, as for your family, however. I have to say, I’m sure your family means well, even though on paper they sound like total douchebags. If I’m wrong, and they are absolute douches, then, BY ALL MEANS, leave for college, change your major to being a teacher, and if your family cuts you off, give them the finger and work hard to support yourself. </p>

<p>On the other hand, if I’m wrong, and you can’t totally cut them off because they do genuinely care about you, well, first see things from their perspective. Don’t pull all that “I-read-about-the-englightenment-and-I-can-kick-your-arse” personality. Parents/Kids from Asia are often (though not always), backwards, and unsuited for the realities of the land of opportunity. So try explaining it to them. If they don’t get it, then they just can’t. But you can. Then just give an ultimatum - teacher or nothing. PLEASE don’t ruin your life trying to make $$ when you don’t need it. </p>

<p>Hope that helps.</p>