<p>this is my response to the 1st essay prompt for the UC's. PLease offer any criticism you can!</p>
<p>thanks so much </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>There has never been more concern for the environment than during my generation. With advents such as rising carbon dioxide levels, global warming, decreasing supplies of fresh water, and depleting ozone levels, the environment of our world has never been more at jeopardy. Since this world will be the one that my generation will live and nurture our own families in, it is my greatest aspiration that I would one day achieve the education in order to contribute to saving and protecting the environment as well as to create a safe and healthy environment in which my generation can leave its impact on history. </p>
<p>Ever since I was a child, my environment has played a crucial role in my life. Growing up in the smoggy suburbs of Los Angeles, my brother and I developed asthma before we were five. I can still remember how even an evening family trip to the neighborhood park after dinner would leave my brother and me wheezing after a couple turns on the slide. It wasnt surprising then, when I sometimes mentioned that I wished just to be able to dribble a soccer ball down to the other goal while breathing freely. As I grew up over the next couple years, I passively watched as the world around me slowly changed, from the dirtying ocean water at the summer beaches, to the increasing smog I observed enveloping the city as I stood on a snowy mountain during winter. I was just a child then, but inside I had already resolved to create a better place for people to live in. </p>
<p>It wasnt until I was older and more accomplished that I began to take a step towards my dream and reached out towards my environment. In high school, I spent much of my time familiarizing myself with science programs that would help me achieve my ambition. By my sophomore year, I had already taken all the chemistry courses my school had to offer me. I participated in academic clubs such Science Olympiad and Science Bowl throughout high school so that I could build a stronger background in environmental science. Other clubs like Science Club and Interact provided me with real-life opportunities to protect and save my environment in my community, such as trips to the Upper Newport Back bay natural estuary. Here I participated in cleaning up trash brought in by the tide that was endangering the protected wildlife. During the summer after junior year at a CSUF program, I researched about environmental and atmospheric chemistry topics such as ozone depletion, water pollution, and the detrimental effects of chlorofluorocarbons for hundreds of hours before writing a research paper concerning the role of primary methylamines on slowing the production of secondary organic aerosols, which were harmful to the atmosphere. My senior biology class teacher, who sensed my great interest and potential in environmental science, introduced me to the Water Innovation Now Contest, conducted by the Urban Water Research Center at UCI and the Orange County Department of Education in pursuit of an innovative water conservation solution. Although all these activities took up a great amount of my effort and time, it was worth knowing that I was slowly realizing my dream, that I had begun my goal in creating a better environment for the future.</p>
<p>Now that I am preparing for the next stage in my life, I am excited for the new opportunities and challenges that I will face as I advance my dream to the next level. With the help of a higher education, I hope that I can contribute more towards saving and protecting the world of my future. My world so far has done much to shape my dream, and I look forward to doing more to create the best environment for the next generation to succeed in.</p>