<p>In the summer of 2009, I got to experience a bit of what it must have been like to be Alice in Wonderland. I was given the opportunity to attend a three week summer program for the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and I was excited. At the program I met students from all around the world with perfect grades, perfect SAT scores, perfect IQ scores, and many other perfect things. Suddenly, the feeling of excitement turned into a feeling of being scared and intimidated. However, as each day unfolded, I realized how incredible this experience was actually becoming because of all the great learning opportunities that were waiting for me; I was eager to see everything that this program had to offer. I then finally understood what it was like for Alice when she curiously went down that rabbit hole and opened that golden key to an unfamiliar and interesting world.
The very first thing that I noticed when I arrived at the college was the diversity of the students. The students ranged from different parts of the world each bringing something unique to the program Aside from being intimidated and scared, I couldnt help but to have this exciting feeling slowly growing as I learned more about each of the students. A girl named Anastasia from Jakarta, Indonesia was able to show me how I, too, was a part of this diverse crowd. Hi, Im Anastasia. Is it true that you guys live in shacks on Hawaii?? was the first thing she said to me and I couldnt help but to burst out laughing. She was astounded by the things I had to tell her about my life in Hawaii as a Korean, making me feel as special as the rest of the students at the program. The food we ate, the way we talked, and the things wed do for fun in Hawaii were all new to her, and I was glad to be able to share a new culture to her while learning more about hers as well. Meeting all of the other students from places like New York, Canada, and China made it inevitable for us to gather as a mixture of different cultures, sharing and educating ourselves with a new range of knowledge. I expected to leave the summer program being educated by the teachers; however, it was from the student body that taught me even more about myself and the importance of diversity in in our world.
I have been able to look back at that experience and truly feel like it was a wonderland of my own. When my journey came to an end, I walked away knowing that I had shared the important cultures of Hawaii while gaining a new sense of the other unique ones in the world. I am proud to say that going down the rabbit hole and walking through that door was the best choice I have ever made- and Alices too.</p>
<p>criticize this essay as much as possible please!</p>