<p>I know this is last minute, but can someone read my personal statement please. I wasn't planning to apply to UC until yesterday. I would really appreciated, thanks. Don't be afraid to criticized. </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.
I grew up in two separate worlds, two different cultures, and two different families. Up to the summer of 2005, I was living in Phnom, Penh, Cambodia with my parents. I lived under the roof of an average income family. My family didn’t have a lot but we had just enough, we had food on our plates, clothes, and education. We were quite fortunate compared to many other Cambodians during the time period. Cambodia was still struggling to recover and leave behind a nightmare that left people with very little, money, a home, and family. Like many Cambodians, my parents also suffered the Khmer Rouge Regime at a very young age; my dad was six years old when Pol Pot took over, he lost 8 of his brothers and sisters. When the regime was finally over, my dad was about 10; it was just he, my grandma, one of his brother, sister, and a nephew. He had to go school, make a living, and takes care of my grandma and cousin, whose parents died during the regime. Despite the many obstacles, my dad was still able to succeed in school becoming a top student, eventually becoming a professor at the top engineering school in Cambodia, and slowly opening his own business. My mom on the other hand was not nearly as lucky as my dad; she wasn’t able to receive a high level of education because of gender inequality in the Cambodian culture. She graduated with a high school diploma with the intention of continuing to university, but she couldn’t because my grandparents didn’t believe education was necessary for females.</p>
<p>Because of these factors, my aunt later adopted me in the summer of 2005, and moved to the United States. My parents begged for my aunt to adopt me, in particularly my mom, she didn’t want to be like her. She wanted me to be better than her and have what she couldn’t have, education. The education system in Cambodia was not strong at the time, so the only way was to send me abroad. Sending me abroad for schooling to a place such as the United States was impossible for them because of the school fees and living expense. So adoption was the solution. </p>
<p>I lived far away from home; I can tell you it wasn’t easy. It felt like I was alone in the world, America wasn’t anything like Cambodia, especially the language. Not being able to speak the language just made everything even more difficult, I couldn’t talk to anyone; I couldn’t figure things out without asking for help. During that time, I felt useless and hopeless. Things got worst when I saw other kids parents waiting for their children afterschool, while I had none. On the way home, they would talk about school, what they’ve learned, and how their day went, while I sat in silent. Everyday after school when I get home, I would sit down with all my cousins and do our homework, except they could do it without help, I couldn’t. At night, I would cry to myself and says the world is unfair; the kids around me didn’t have to go through what I have, they had everything. </p>
<p>Nearly after half a year of whining and crying at night, one night I finally stopped. On that same day, I saw a few students disrespecting teachers in the cafeteria during lunch, while in class, one of my classmate got in trouble for failing his English book report. To most people, it wasn’t a big deal, but it was to me, it made me realized why I was there in the first place. I wasn’t there to be a fool; I was there so I can be better than my mom. I told myself if my dad can handle all those pain in life that was probably 100x more painful, why can’t I? He didn’t sit around crying and waiting for everything to be better, he did something about it; he took action and made it better. I imagined the kids back home on the street sitting there begging, they couldn’t change their life, because they didn’t have what I have, and I just can’t go down the same path as them. That moment I realized life is fair; the kids at school and I both have the same opportunities. My classmate failed his book report, while I passed. If I can beat him, I wasn’t hopeless; I could do something about it. I remember when I would get lazy my parents usually ask me do I want to walk around selling food on the street, I would say no, and they would say nothing in life is free and you have to work for it. From that night onward, I took a different approach in life, I set a goal for myself, I stopped crying, I stopped waiting, I stopped feeling sorry for myself. I started studying hard, I pushed myself to do the same things as the other kids, they study for 3 hours, I would study 5 hours. While they sleep, I would sit against a night-light and read a book. Eventually it all paid off. In 6th grade, I no longer have to take ESL; I got honor rolls all year round, and I was one the top student in math. I even beat my cousins, which I never thought I could’ve done. </p>
<p>As I grew up, I finally learned that pain makes you stronger, and I would never take back any of those days. Those days made me a stronger person. The kids in my class didn’t feel the pain that I had to go through, that pain was my opportunity, and it kept me from quitting. I grew up stronger and braver; I was independent. It taught me anything is possible, but I can’t sit and wait. Growing in two different worlds was eye opening, I saw two different worlds, the fortunate and the less fortunate, and as part of my goal I will go back and make the less fortunate equally as fortunate.</p>