<p>Please tell me what you think of my personal statements. I go to a community college, and I am looking to transfer to UCLA, UCI, or UCSB.</p>
<p>Prompt 1
What is your intended major? Discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had in the field such as volunteer work, internships and employment, participation in student organizations and activities and what you have gained from your involvement.</p>
<p>Asian American Studies is my intended major. Choosing this major was a sigh of relief since I never found one that truly grabbed my attention. More importantly, I chose Asian American Studies in order to accept who I am without being ashamed. Growing up, I attended schools with few Asians. I was ashamed of my heritage and never shared anything about my family customs and traditions with my friends. Most kids avoided being seen with their parents simply because their parents were not cool; I, however, feared that people would be reminded of where I came from if they saw me with my family. I had been living a double life for the past eighteen or so years. At home, I was comfortable being around my family, accepting my Chinese ethnicityand enjoying the stories my father told me about his past and his native country, but at school, I wanted nothing to do with my true self. Outside of home, I wanted to blend in with the Hispanics and the Caucasians; doing so made me feel like I was part of the crowd and gave me a sense of acceptance. From my childhood to my early teens, I avoided questions about my race and culture, and instead would insult them as if I had nothing to do with them. As I got older, I became more and more confused as to how I really felt about being Asian. I truly enjoyed Asian and Asian American history and I loved talking about it with my father, being that it was the only thing that made us forget the awkward relationship we shared; still, I found it difficult to decide whether or not I liked being Asian.
In the beginning of my first year of community college, I joined a campus organization called Circle K International. As a member, I volunteered in local service projects with fellow members and had the opportunity to meet many incredible people; however, there was one specific service project that will always remain with me. The arrival of the 626 Night Market in Pasadena, California was a chance for me to learn more about where I came from as well as an opportunity to be proud of being Asian. The event was aimed at creating awareness for and promoting Asian businesses in the San Gabriel Valley, and was an extremely large scale event with a great turnout. Aside from watching Asians and non-Asians explore the different vendors and enjoy countless types of Asian food, I will always remember the conversation I had with the event coordinator, Brian Wong. We shared our experiences with our cultures, and I finally came to the realization that I had absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. Listening to Brian talk about his pride for being Asian and using the night market to promote Asian Awareness, I wanted to do something similar. I was always interested in Asian and Asian American studies, and overcoming my shame and embarrassment allowed me to officially declare it as my major.
I can now say that I am proud to be Asian American. Listening to my fathers stories sparked my interest,and volunteering at the 626 Night Market gave me the confidence and incentive to declare myself an Asian American Studies major. Growing up, I was confused as to how I really felt about my heritage, but at the onset of adulthood, I gained a profound pride in my culture and all that it is. I finally embraced my culture, and I acted upon it. So far, the courses I have taken for the major have been very enlightening, and I cannot wait to take more after I transfer. Having someone ask me why I chose my major would be the best part of my day; it would give me an opportunity to tell them how my perspective of my race and ethnicity over the years has led me to where I am now.</p>
<p>Prompt 2
Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are?</p>
<p>I felt awkward sitting in the same room with my mother and my psychologist. I was describing my potential Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) symptoms to my psychologist, trying not to pay attention to my mother knowing she did not want to be present. After about half an hour of discussing, Dr. Chan finally said, Okay, I think we should get you started on medication right away. I felt a sense of urgency in her voice, as if I needed immediate treatment to save my life. I was not sure what to think at the moment; several questions ran through my head, such as [s]hould I be happy or sad over my diagnosis? and *s it really that bad? Do I really need to start the medication right away? As I left the building, I saw my mother trailing behind, wiping away strange tears that befuddled me.
At the time, I didnt know how meaningful my diagnosis would be, but I was still glad to have consulted a psychologist. Still, I was not sure what to think of the final verdict. Since childhood, my three older sisters had teased me about not being as intelligent as they were and labeled me with ADD; little did they, or I, know that they were actually right. When we got home, my mother relayed Dr. Chans statements to my father, and I figured from his facial expression what he was about to say. During an uncomfortable meal at the dinner table, my father lectured me on how having ADD was just an excuse for someone to do poorly in school, and that as a perfectly normal human being, there was no way that I had it. I had heard many things of similar nature in the past, so I was not too offended. Both my parents were very conservative, and they believed that people should handle their own problems and not seek help from others, as I did with my psychologist. I was lucky to have my mother accompany me, but I knew she didnt get the answer she had expected. Later that night, I figured she was crying because her only son had a learning disability, and she felt that he (I) would never catch up to his sisters. I hid my disability from my friends for a couple months; my familys poorly kept opinions eventually got to me, and my loss of self-esteem prevented me from revealing my condition.
Learning about my disability was important because it gave me incentive to be the best me that I could possibly be. Initially, I went through different phases, such as struggling to accept it, to using it as an excuse for my failures in life, to eventually accepting it as a part of me. I consider my ADD a blessing in disguise. Throughout my life, I had little ambition and few desires; however, being diagnosed gave me motivation that I never had. I started going through life as if I had a chip on my shoulder and something to prove, and I became determined to show everyone, including myself, that I could succeed in everything that I embarked on. Though I am still learning better learning and study habits, I know my effort and determination will help me succeed. Transferring from my community college would be a huge step for me; it would allow me to show my family that even with ADD, I can surpass their expectations and hopefully change their perspectives about my condition.</p>