<p>Read both and give me ur opinions and anything I should edit.
Also, how many words above 1000 does UC's allow?</p>
<p>Personal Statement 1:</p>
<p>"Describe the world you come from — for example, your family, community or school — and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations."</p>
<p>Growing up, I always felt a little different coming from a mixed-family. Unlike most, I was molded by two cultures originating from opposite ends of the globe. Over time, I realized the uniqueness of my family's experiences were vital to shaping my own dreams and aspirations and provided the elements that I now most cherish and embrace. </p>
<p>Some of my earliest memories included seeing my father at work in his busy pediatric clinic. Whenever I wasn’t playing doctor, I remember completing my homework while sitting alongside my father at his office. I did not appreciate until later that the strong work ethic he instilled was rooted in challenges he personally faced as a child. I recall stories depicting his ascent from a life of poverty living in a migrant farm-working community to ultimately attaining an Ivy League medical education. I developed a heightened sense of cultural identity when hearing my great uncle Felipe Serrano speak in terms such as "si, se puede," or "yes, it can be done" when emphasizing the need to attain a higher education or recounting his work with Cesar Chavez on issues of farmworker rights as an early proponent of the United Farmworkers Union. I became increasingly aware of the richness of my cultural upbringing and credit the virtues of hard work and fortitude in helping me aspire to leaving a similar mark on others.</p>
<pre><code> My childhood was also marked by early lessons of survival as I began to learn of my mother's escape from the ravages of war many years earlier. She grew up in the city of Phnom Penh, Cambodia at the worst possible time. As Pol Pot and his communist Khmer Rouge took over the city, thousands of affluent and educated families were slaughtered when unwilling to support their vision of an agrarian socialist society. My grandfather, an influential physician in the capital, was spared in exchange for providing care to the Khmer Rouge Army during the earliest phase of the war. Realizing their need to escape, the entire family fled to refugee camps in Thailand with the thankful support of American officials as the society they knew began to dissolve. Narrowly escaping against all odds, their personal struggles were eventually detailed in a book titled "Khmer Warrior-A Cambodian Family Survives the Killing Fields," by Robert K. Harmuth which continues to serve as a reminder of their bravery and perseverance in surviving unimaginable obstacles.
I often reflect on the lessons and values these family experiences have had on my own personal development. I feel such stories of personal sacrifice have afforded me opportunities to further aspire in life and trust will enable me to better adapt to the dynamic world in which we live. For that, I am thankful for inheriting such values as hard work, determination and triumph over adversity that will continue to carry me through my own personal journey in life and ultimately assist me in benefiting others in overcoming challenges that life may present.
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<p>Personal statement 2:</p>
<p>"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>It was a dark, gloomy day. I sat down with a bouquet of flowers at the remnants of the crash site as my eyes started to water. The smell of fuel and burnt leaves filled the air and shattered pieces of carbon fiber were everywhere. It was hard to accept I arrived at the site where the life of my childhood hero, Paul Walker, was inexplicably taken.</p>
<pre><code> Paul Walker's legacy had an influence on me beyond my ability to comprehend at the time. As a small child, I was initially drawn by his passion for fast cars and ability to escape from perilous situations chronicled in the infamous "Fast and the Furious" franchise. However, I do believe Paul's passing did more to unravel his popular persona as a risk-taker and revealed a compassionate side not previously portrayed by the media.
As I sorted through news and video postings initially reflective of his remarkable acting career, I was struck by images of Paul in the backdrop of humanitarian efforts he led across devastated regions of the world with his organization known as Reach Out WorldWide. He created this to help victims of natural disasters and I learned he responded to crisis by taking direct action. This inspired me to get involved and share in his passion for helping others in my community. Despite many critics, I was compelled to make a difference by creating my own fund-raising campaign in commemoration of his passing.
I learned of a platform known as "crowdfunding" which I used to create a webpage to raise funds for his remarkable organization ( https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/give-back-to-a-hero-paul-walker ). Initially overwhelmed by the process, I first gained verification with Reach Out WorldWide and succeeded in obtaining a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization employee identification number. Going into this blind, I drafted and revised a fund-raising proposal, identified goals and provided information on Paul's philanthropic contributions to generate interest to this cause. I faced early scrutiny with posts I left on the "Furious 7" movie trailer calling this a "fake" and a "scam." However, I was pleased it generated discussions on Paul Walker's life and contributions. I then began a word-of-mouth campaign while supporting other community-outreach efforts in my area. I was overcome by responses of other philanthropists I met at these events including Mr. Joe Feinburg, Chairman of the Board of a Chicago-based wealth management firm, and Daryl Evans, a former player of the LA Kings, who both encouraged me to continue and provided invaluable advice. Before long, my site was featured on a popular segment of a New York-based online automotive news channel known as "Fast Lane Daily" with a following of nearly a quarter-million subscribers (https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=UUvfjriBh19Ddej0thncagUA&v=eMRdHuMyni0).
As I close on nearing my goal in support of the organization he founded, I am proud to give back to the man who was the initial catalyst that inspired my desire and resolve to help others. Despite a slow start and many setbacks along this passionate journey, I succeeded in rekindling the memory of a man who continues to remain an inspiration and hero to me to this day.
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<p>Oh yea and my campaign that I wrote about on my 2nd essay, it is still going on, it ends tomorrow on the 29th. If you want to help out, it is greatly needed. I really need it, even if all u have is chump change.
Thanks!!! :)</p>