Help me improve my essays.
One will be enough.
Thanks in advance.
Academic Preparation.
After a long one-hour wait to get my schedule for my senior year, I finally reached the front of the line. Just as I grabbed my schedule, my friend took it away from me. Four AP classes?! A college class?! Hugo, this is your year to relax, not to take hard classes. I looked at him with a strange look, wondering why he was surprised. I have been like this for my entire time at Clairemont High School. I like the challenge that the harder classes offer. I also like the opportunity for college credit through the AP program. I figure why not pay eighty dollars for a test and end up saving thousands of dollars? By taking advantage of the educational opportunities provided in high school, I very well might save thousands of dollars in college tuitions. I took the opportunity to take many classes that interest me. Two such subjects were math and French. Each year I made sure I was taking a math class, a French class, and a science class. I figured might as well take classes that interest me. By taking a hard class schedule through out high school, I am making sure Im ready for college classes.
Potential to Contribute.
Through-out high school, I found myself to be an unlikely leader in the Latino community at school. Although Im naturally a quiet person, my accomplishments through school have earned me this leadership role. As I walk around campus, I always find people who seek my help in a particular subject. Sometimes I ask why they come to me, and they respond by saying that Im a nice guy who would not hesitate to help a person in need, so they come to me whenever they need help. Since people view me as a leader in the Latino community, I take that time to stress how important college is; how important it is for their future. I take my time to talk to fellow students who are thinking about dropping out of school. I tell them that they will be making a lot more money if they just go to a local community college. Although Im not always successful, it makes me feel better inside knowing that I tried. And this kind of leadership, among other things, is what I want to contribute to the University of California.
Open-Ended.
I always thought that my uncle Martin would always be there for me, always wanting to talk about our favorite sport, soccer. Our dream was to go to a World Cup. But one late cloudy afternoon, those dreams were shattered. I was expecting to have a normal afternoon like every day, but it was not.
<pre><code>As I came into the house, I saw my parents with tears in their eyes. I asked what was wrong, which my father replied with, I have very bad news .your uncle has been diagnosed with spinal cancer. Concerned, I asked if there was anything we could do to help him. Hospital says they will put him in chemotherapy, but do not expect him to last long.
I quickly realized what a big uphill battle my uncle faced. I knew of the emotional burden and the financial burden my family will now face.
</code></pre>
I learned a lot from my uncle. He was a hard-working man that spend most of his time fixing electronics at his home. He would work until past midnight, and wake up early in the morning to begin again. Why did he do this? So his family could have some money to live on. He was a generous man, always sharing whatever extra money he had with his brothers and sisters who were facing financial difficulties. The hard labor that I saw him perform during his long hour sessions made me realize that I have to make something of myself in life, go to college, get a good job, so I would not have to live my life paycheck to paycheck.
My uncle knew this also. He would stress this fact to me and all of my cousins, stay in school, go to college, and maybe you wont end up like me, working hard just to get by in life. When one of my older cousins decided to drop out of college, my uncle was the first one to talk to him about it. When my cousin came up with the issue of money to pay for college, my uncle promised him to help him out with his fees. The result, my cousin is now about to graduate from college, with a good paying job already waiting for him.
My dad called me into his room one day, and had a long conversation with me about my allowance, stating that he would need to cut it in order to pay for the hospital bills. I whole-heartily agreed with him. In that moment, I decided to take up a job at the ripe age of fourteen. I worked with my uncle who was a carpenter. I worked hard just like my uncle did before his illness. I realized what it was to work long hours for minimal pay. And just like my uncle had been generous, I was too. I gave half of my paycheck to my uncles family, who were depending on our generosity for money.
One sunny afternoon after school, I arrived home just to find everybody leaving in a hurry. I knew what it was; I tried my best to hide my tears from my little sister who was still confused about the ordeal. On April 21, at 2:37 pm, my uncle passed away.
Although he might not be here, his words still echo in my mind. Stay in school, go to college, and maybe you wont end up like me, working hard just to get by in life.