UC Personal Statement

<p>Hello, I would like some feedback for my personal statement which I wrote for the University of California. The prompt states, "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?" Here is my response to that prompt. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated, thank you!</p>

<p>I was born with both the spirit of a fighter and the brains of someone who desires to be successful academically. I have the desire to one day become a world champion and succeed both inside and outside the ring. In order to do this, my will power must be stronger than the skill which I possess. Unlike the negative aspect of fighters which society portrays, I do not express an interest in fighting others without a legitimate reason, but rather, to prove to others that anything is possible if they are willing to fight for it.
To begin with, I have always kept in mind the idea that success is measured by effort. With that being said, I have shown my success through the effort which I have placed both inside and outside the ring as a fighter. Inside the ring, the hard work and dedication which I put into my training is what allows me to be successful during competitions and bouts. Outside the ring, the determination I possess to obtain a higher education and become a valuable asset to society is what has allowed me to be successful in my academics.
I seek a brighter future where I am able to positively contribute to the world. I seek to become independent, living on my own and not having to depend on anyone. I seek a place where I am free from having to struggle and face the economic hardships of life. I seek to live up to the day where I find myself with a nice car, a nice house, a loving family, and I can say to myself with a feeling of accomplishment, “You did it.” But in order for me to successfully seek and find these things, I must fight for them.
With that being said, boxing has played a major role in my life. This sport has taught me discipline; boxing has taught me that when you set your mind to something and you fight for it, you can accomplish whatever you desire. It has shown me the mindset, or true meaning, of what it is to be a fighter: fighting hard to reach your goals and not giving up until you do so.
Moreover, I believe that if it was not for boxing and the time I put into this sport, I would not be the same person I am today–ambitious and determined to reach my goals. I would not have the mindset that motivates me to strive for success and do my very best. In other words, I would not have the mindset of a fighter. I would not be motivated or ambitious; I would not be determined or disciplined. I simply would have stayed a non-motivated and non-participating high school freshman and would have not become the enthusiastic Senior Vice President that I am today.
Aside from the personal growth which boxing has given me, it has also given me the power to positively captivate the minds of younger people. When children and teens realize that I am a fighter, they are astonished and amazed; therefore, I am able to influence them in a positive way in hopes that someday they will become fighters as well and achieve the mindset of one. Not only children and teens look up to me, but adults also look up to me because they see how I am fighting to reach my goals and how I am determined to reach these goals regardless of how much effort I must put into them. For this, I believe all people can admire me for the fighter that I am.
To make a long story short, becoming a fighter is not an easy task. You must be strong mentally and physically and have a burning desire inside of you that makes you want to accomplish more than what you think you are capable of. In the end, however, it is worth it because I am a fighter and I know for a fact that this has helped shape me into the person that I am today.</p>

<p>You are “telling”, not “showing”</p>

<p>With that being said, I have shown my success through the effort which I have placed both inside and outside the ring as a fighter. Inside the ring, the hard work and dedication which I put into my training is what allows me to be successful during competitions and bouts.</p>

<p>Can you tell an anecdote or story about your boxing that reflects this?</p>

<p>For example, what was it like at your very first boxing match. How did you feel. What happened. Then at your most recent fight…how did you feel? How did you prepare? What happened?
What levels of championships/whatever did you get to?</p>

<p>Then correlate that to how you felt as a freshman and then becoming Senior Vice President</p>

<p>What made you want to take up boxing?</p>

<p>I know these are recommdations and not a essay but this shows the difference between telling and showing.
<a href=“How to write good letters of recommendation | MIT Admissions”>http://mitadmissions.org/apply/prepare/writingrecs&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I hope your realize that by posting your essay publicly anyone using a search engine can find/copy it?</p>

<p>exactly. You not only risk others copying your essay, but risk your own application as it may be flagged as ‘plagiarised’. Being the popular system UC is, I doubt they’d even bother to figure out who was the cheater, and who was cheated. i’d delete this thread if I were you. Hide your essays, hide your wife.</p>

<p>@bopper Thanks for your feedback! I will reflect upon this and rewrite my essay “showing” and not “telling” about this experience. </p>

<p>@mikemac @darren808‌ How do I delete this thread? I’ve searched but I can’t figure out how. </p>

<p>So likewise not sure if this is the right forum. I am preparing my personal statement for universities and am wondering just how personal I should get. I come from a very unstable past of substance abuse and incarceration both personally and within my family. Are there certain things I should be cryptic about or should I just put it all out there? Thoughts…</p>

<p>@academanom‌
I’d say go for it. Spill out your past to accentuate any ‘change’ or ‘transition’ that’s led your life onto a new path.
To make your past seem like past, of course, you’d have to back up how you’ve changed, what you’ve done to change, and what you’ve learned/realized/ got from that transition. That, in my opinion has a potential to be a great, compelling PERSONAL statement.</p>