<p>This is the common app prompt: A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you. </p>
<p>This is my essay I wrote today: </p>
<pre><code>The smell of chicken tenders and French fries diffused through the hallways as students made their exodus from their classes. The grumbling of my classmates stomachs penetrated my ear as they charged past me in a hurried manner. Lunch had begun. I quickly made my way to the lunchroom and ran like a maniac to the nearest microwave to secure my spot. A wide grin stretched across my face as I unzipped my book bag, revealing a plastic container filled with my mothers lovely cooking. She had prepared some traditional Chinese cuisine whose aroma my nose quickly favored over the scent of school lunch. After I finished microwaving, I sat down to commence my favorite activity of the day: eating!
Not long after I began indulging myself, my friend Kathyrn, a Chinese-American girl, came to sit and have lunch with me. She began pulling out items from her lunchbox when suddenly, she stopped. Her eyes slowly angled themselves at my lunch as my eyes slowly angled themselves at her. Kathyrn, you okay there?, I inquired. Huh? Yeah Im fine! I was just curious about your food; it looks delicious!.
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<p>Wait, have you never had this type of food before?, I replied with my own curiosity.
I have, but not that particular one. My family doesnt usually eat Chinese food.
Her words left me astonished. What other things associated with Chinese culture is she not familiar with?, I wondered. To find out more about her, I invited her over to have dinner with my family after school. During that evening, the main topic was Chinese culture, as initiated by me. As we ate my mothers home-cooked Chinese dinner, Kathyrn revealed to us that she really didnt know much about her roots. I discovered that her parents majorly spoke English, and that her family didnt practice many of the Chinese traditions that were of utmost importance to my parents. Even though she only lived about ten minutes away from me, we lived vastly different lives despite us sharing an ethnic commonality. It made me realize how fortunate I was to have grown up in a family where I was taught about my Chinese heritage.
As time progressed, Kathyrn and I became the best of friends. Throughout the school year, I continued to help her understand more about her roots and other aspects of Chinese culture: Lion dances, the annual moon cake festival, and the language. Sharing my heritage while learning about others has become one of my passions. I am positive that my unique individuality, as well as my openness to learn about other peoples cultures will allow me to build great relationships, and overcome cultural barriers throughout college. </p>
<p>I know its not very good, but if you could leave some comments about it, or give me some tips/ fix any errors you find; , any help would be very appreciated! Thanks :)</p>