Discuss how your family's experience or cultural history enriched you or presented you with opportunities or challenges in pursuing your educational goals.
My father was born and raised in Lakeland, Florida, and his whole family before him came from that area. My mother, however, was born in Cuba, and her family immigrated to the United States when she was six. So on one hand, I have a very traditional "American" family background, and on the other, a traditional Hispanic background. Being raised in both cultures gives me the unique ability to be a part of two worlds, but also to stand back and observe one from a distance if I so choose. I was raised speaking Spanish and English. When I speak Spanish (and when others speak Spanish to me), I drift closer to the Cuban in me, and often find myself making critical observations about the American side of me; whereas when I speak English, the opposite is true, and I find myself observing things about my Cuban heritage that might not be so apparent from the Spanish-speaking side.
These two cultures are vastly different in many ways, and the presence of both within me has challenged me to pursue my educational goals and aspirations in light of my view of the world around me. People find motivation in a variety of things. My motivation is found largely in the story of my parents. After they met, my dad became enrolled at the Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi (my birthplace) and eventually moved to Knoxville, Tennessee to start a college campus ministry called Reformed University Fellowship (RUF), which provides students with both spiritual and academic mentors, as well as an entire community of people to support each other in these two ways. That program has since spread to colleges throughout the country (including the University of Washington), and continues to be a thriving, engaging community in Knoxville.
When I was six, my dad and the rest of us (by then I had two younger siblings, Victoria and Lucas) moved to San Francisco to plant a church. We didn't know a soul, and my parents didn't know of any schools. My dad began hosting Bible studies at our small two-bedroom flat, which eventually moved to a small chapel, and finally where the church meets today, at a large community facility called the Russian Center. Since that fateful day in February 1997, the day of our first church service, the church has grown to around 900 people, making City Church one of the largest in a city where less than one percent of the population attends a church service at any time of the year. I believe this to be God's work through us, but I also look with pride to the extraordinary courage and dedication my parents possessed when they moved to an entirely unknown place to start something that was considered by many to be impossible.
I am a person of faith, but I think anyone can be inspired by this story of perseverance over immense odds. It certainly inspires me to make the most of my education, as well as tackle whatever the future holds head-on. I'm excited to leave home--though I will certainly miss my family very much--in order to pursue my career goals (whatever they may become) and to explore this mysterious, delightful, promising world that we live in.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
UC Prompt 1 (revised)
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.
My father was born and raised in Lakeland, Florida, and his whole family before him came from that area. My mother, on the other hand, was born in Cuba, and her family immigrated to the United States when she was six. So on one hand, I have a very traditional "American" family background (for lack of a better description), and on the other, a traditional Hispanic background. Being raised in both cultures gives me the unique ability to be a part of two worlds, but also to stand back and observe one from a distance if I so choose. I was raised speaking Spanish and English. When I speak Spanish (and when others speak Spanish to me), I drift closer to the Cuban in me, and often find myself making critical observations about the American side of me; whereas when I speak English, the opposite is true, and I find myself observing things about my Cuban heritage that might not be so apparent from the Spanish-speaking side.
These two cultures are vastly different in many ways, and the presence of both within me has challenged me to pursue my goals and aspirations in light of my view of the world around me. I can appreciate the fact that certain problems have more than one answer; that there are always two sides to a story; that the view from the East is different but no less accurate than the view from the West. It's always been a challenge for me to gather data from all perspectives (and certainly, some perspectives are more appealing to me than others), but I've always tried to tackle life's questions by the horns and search tirelessly, from all directions possible, for the truth in things.
I believe that there are a certain set of answers to certain problems. In giving my friends advice, my goal is always to take both sides of the situation into consideration, and to offer solutions that are both practical and attainable. Hailing from two cultures, however, I realize that the closest I come to most of these answers can be nothing more than varying shades of grey, because there are simply too many perspectives, too many experiences, and too many cultures to derive a single common answer. Certainly, I can come close to the truth by reading and understanding what great intellectuals and philosophers have observed in the past, but ultimately, my opinions will always be in some way subjective, biased, and tied up in complicated knots of preconception.
I have always aspired to be a person of understanding--one who considers as many angles on any given situation as possible in order to understand it more fully and comprehensively. I want to be in a profession that allows me to not only expand my talents and take advantage of my gifts, but to also share my viewpoints and learn from the viewpoints of others based on their own personal experiences in the areas of ethics, social justice, politics, religion, etc. I always enjoy exposure to new ideas, which is why I so admire the more expressive individuals of the world: the artists, the musicians, the writers, and the philosophers. I want to come up with new solutions for old problems by examining aspects of them that may be easy to ignore, as well as make the changes necessary in my ideas in order to keep them relevant and fresh and exciting. I admire those who acknowledge that they don't have ultimate knowledge, that they very well could be (and often are) wrong, and that they themselves are constantly in a learning process. Ironically, it has been my experience that those who are most prepared to see the faults in their thinking are usually those who prove to be the most effective in finding solutions to today's tough questions.
My father was born and raised in Lakeland, Florida, and his whole family before him came from that area. My mother, on the other hand, was born in Cuba, and her family immigrated to the United States when she was six. So on one hand, I have a very traditional "American" family background (for lack of a better description), and on the other, a traditional Hispanic background. Being raised in both cultures gives me the unique ability to be a part of two worlds, but also to stand back and observe one from a distance if I so choose. I was raised speaking Spanish and English. When I speak Spanish (and when others speak Spanish to me), I drift closer to the Cuban in me, and often find myself making critical observations about the American side of me; whereas when I speak English, the opposite is true, and I find myself observing things about my Cuban heritage that might not be so apparent from the Spanish-speaking side.
These two cultures are vastly different in many ways, and the presence of both within me has challenged me to pursue my goals and aspirations in light of my view of the world around me. I can appreciate the fact that certain problems have more than one answer; that there are always two sides to a story; that the view from the East is different but no less accurate than the view from the West. It's always been a challenge for me to gather data from all perspectives (and certainly, some perspectives are more appealing to me than others), but I've always tried to tackle life's questions by the horns and search tirelessly, from all directions possible, for the truth in things.
I believe that there are a certain set of answers to certain problems. In giving my friends advice, my goal is always to take both sides of the situation into consideration, and to offer solutions that are both practical and attainable. Hailing from two cultures, however, I realize that the closest I come to most of these answers can be nothing more than varying shades of grey, because there are simply too many perspectives, too many experiences, and too many cultures to derive a single common answer. Certainly, I can come close to the truth by reading and understanding what great intellectuals and philosophers have observed in the past, but ultimately, my opinions will always be in some way subjective, biased, and tied up in complicated knots of preconception.
I have always aspired to be a person of understanding--one who considers as many angles on any given situation as possible in order to understand it more fully and comprehensively. I want to be in a profession that allows me to not only expand my talents and take advantage of my gifts, but to also share my viewpoints and learn from the viewpoints of others based on their own personal experiences in the areas of ethics, social justice, politics, religion, etc. I always enjoy exposure to new ideas, which is why I so admire the more expressive individuals of the world: the artists, the musicians, the writers, and the philosophers. I want to come up with new solutions for old problems by examining aspects of them that may be easy to ignore, as well as make the changes necessary in my ideas in order to keep them relevant and fresh and exciting. I admire those who acknowledge that they don't have ultimate knowledge, that they very well could be (and often are) wrong, and that they themselves are constantly in a learning process. Ironically, it has been my experience that those who are most prepared to see the faults in their thinking are usually those who prove to be the most effective in finding solutions to today's tough questions.
UC Prompt 2 (revised)
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?
Perhaps the accomplishment I am most proud of is my that of my musicianship. Music has always deeply affected me. My mother, to get me to stop crying as a baby (and I cried a lot), would play a tape with children's songs. It was often the only method that worked. Even when the same tape played over and over again, I wouldn't care. Music has never ceased to fascinate me--the way one song can bring together a multitude of people with different backgrounds and experiences; the way certain melodies and words can penetrate every barrier, even to my very heart and soul; the way some songs can make me completely re-examine everything I believe about myself and the world around me up to that point.
My parents recognized my passion for music early on, and began paying for private violin lessons when I was six. I wasn't always thrilled at the prospect of playing the Violin. Practicing was always hard for me (as it is for everyone), and at times I felt ready to quit. I would have quit, in fact, if it weren't for my parents who refused to let me. Now that I'm older and have developed my skills, I'm extremely grateful for their persistence in the face of my stubbornness.
Over the years, I have expanded my repertoire and experience as a musician by playing in several orchestral and chamber music events. For three consecutive years, I played as a violist in the ACSI Honors Symphony, an annual event that brings together select musicians from high schools all over the state of California. For the latter two years, I served as principal violist. I've also contributed as a critical asset to my school's musical ensemble, and have performed as a guest in the St. Ignatius College Preparatory Orchestra. Earlier on, I played the violin and the viola intermittently for the West Portal Lutheran School Orchestra in middle school (grades 4 and 5). I've also played in several string quartets, in recitals with other violinists, and as a soloist in other smaller chamber music venues. Playing with other musicians always exposes me to varying styles, and gives me a newfound appreciation for the diversity of sounds and techniques that each individual brings to the table. There are few things more satisfying to me than being able to play with a diverse group of musicians to create a beautiful, soulful, unique expression of the human spirit. I definitely plan to continue my participation in chamber groups, as well as contribute to the University's music program throughout my college experience and, hopefully, for the rest of my life.
Playing the violin has given me an outlet of expression. I have learned to maintain a disciplined practice schedule, and have observed my gradual growth over the years as I continue to study and practice. Learning this instrument has taught me to persevere when things get hard, even when I can't see the final outcome. It has made me appreciate music even more--the precision it takes to make even a single note to sound beautiful as well as the complex mechanics involved in playing any instrument well. Music has a way of connecting with me, and with all human beings. Having the ability to enhance this connection with my own playing is truly a wonderful privilege.
Perhaps the accomplishment I am most proud of is my that of my musicianship. Music has always deeply affected me. My mother, to get me to stop crying as a baby (and I cried a lot), would play a tape with children's songs. It was often the only method that worked. Even when the same tape played over and over again, I wouldn't care. Music has never ceased to fascinate me--the way one song can bring together a multitude of people with different backgrounds and experiences; the way certain melodies and words can penetrate every barrier, even to my very heart and soul; the way some songs can make me completely re-examine everything I believe about myself and the world around me up to that point.
My parents recognized my passion for music early on, and began paying for private violin lessons when I was six. I wasn't always thrilled at the prospect of playing the Violin. Practicing was always hard for me (as it is for everyone), and at times I felt ready to quit. I would have quit, in fact, if it weren't for my parents who refused to let me. Now that I'm older and have developed my skills, I'm extremely grateful for their persistence in the face of my stubbornness.
Over the years, I have expanded my repertoire and experience as a musician by playing in several orchestral and chamber music events. For three consecutive years, I played as a violist in the ACSI Honors Symphony, an annual event that brings together select musicians from high schools all over the state of California. For the latter two years, I served as principal violist. I've also contributed as a critical asset to my school's musical ensemble, and have performed as a guest in the St. Ignatius College Preparatory Orchestra. Earlier on, I played the violin and the viola intermittently for the West Portal Lutheran School Orchestra in middle school (grades 4 and 5). I've also played in several string quartets, in recitals with other violinists, and as a soloist in other smaller chamber music venues. Playing with other musicians always exposes me to varying styles, and gives me a newfound appreciation for the diversity of sounds and techniques that each individual brings to the table. There are few things more satisfying to me than being able to play with a diverse group of musicians to create a beautiful, soulful, unique expression of the human spirit. I definitely plan to continue my participation in chamber groups, as well as contribute to the University's music program throughout my college experience and, hopefully, for the rest of my life.
Playing the violin has given me an outlet of expression. I have learned to maintain a disciplined practice schedule, and have observed my gradual growth over the years as I continue to study and practice. Learning this instrument has taught me to persevere when things get hard, even when I can't see the final outcome. It has made me appreciate music even more--the precision it takes to make even a single note to sound beautiful as well as the complex mechanics involved in playing any instrument well. Music has a way of connecting with me, and with all human beings. Having the ability to enhance this connection with my own playing is truly a wonderful privilege.
Monday, November 12, 2007
UC Prompt 2
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?
Perhaps the accomplishment I am most proud of is my that of my musicianship. Music has always deeply affected me. My mother, to get me to stop crying as a baby (and I cried a lot), would play a tape with children's songs, and I would immediately calm down. Even when the same tape played over and over again, I wouldn't care. Music has never ceased to fascinate me--the way one song can bring together a multitude of people with different backgrounds and experiences; the way certain melodies and words can penetrate every barrier, to the very heart and soul of a person; the way some songs can make a person completely re-examine everything they believe about themselves up to that point. Music is a powerful instrument. It makes babies stop crying, it lulls even the most obstreperous to sleep, and it unites cultures from all over the world.
The sound of stringed instruments is unique. A coarse, metallic string is brushed against rough strands of horse hair. Such rough elements, when the pressure and friction are just right, produce one of the most beautiful sounds in the world. It is a sound of intense longing, one that literally screams out from the instrument, one that, if played with too much pressure, begins creaking and hissing in agony, and if played too softly, produces only whistle-like wisps of sound. This delicate balance, I believe, is reflective of human nature. With too much pressure, we croak and screech in pain; whereas, when we treat matters too lightly, the result is an empty, windy sound that is easily produced and soon forgotten. But when we understand ourselves rightly, we see an intense, impassioned longing; one that is infinitely beautiful, but infinitely mysterious.
My parents recognized my passion for music early on, and began paying for private violin lessons when I was six. I wasn't always thrilled at the prospect of playing the Violin. Practicing was always hard for me (as it is for everyone), and at times I felt ready to quit. I would have quit, in fact, if it weren't for my parents who refused to let me. Now that I'm older and have developed my skills, I'm extremely grateful for their persistence in the face of my stubbornness.
Playing the violin has given me an outlet of expression. I have learned to maintain a disciplined practice schedule, and have seen my growth over the years as I continue to study and practice. Learning this instrument has taught me to persevere when things get hard, even when I can't see the final outcome. It has made me appreciate music even more--the precision it takes to make even a single note to sound beautiful as well as the complex mechanics involved in playing any instrument well. Music has a way of connecting with me, and with all human beings. Having the ability to enhance this connection with my own playing is truly a wonderful privilege.
Perhaps the accomplishment I am most proud of is my that of my musicianship. Music has always deeply affected me. My mother, to get me to stop crying as a baby (and I cried a lot), would play a tape with children's songs, and I would immediately calm down. Even when the same tape played over and over again, I wouldn't care. Music has never ceased to fascinate me--the way one song can bring together a multitude of people with different backgrounds and experiences; the way certain melodies and words can penetrate every barrier, to the very heart and soul of a person; the way some songs can make a person completely re-examine everything they believe about themselves up to that point. Music is a powerful instrument. It makes babies stop crying, it lulls even the most obstreperous to sleep, and it unites cultures from all over the world.
The sound of stringed instruments is unique. A coarse, metallic string is brushed against rough strands of horse hair. Such rough elements, when the pressure and friction are just right, produce one of the most beautiful sounds in the world. It is a sound of intense longing, one that literally screams out from the instrument, one that, if played with too much pressure, begins creaking and hissing in agony, and if played too softly, produces only whistle-like wisps of sound. This delicate balance, I believe, is reflective of human nature. With too much pressure, we croak and screech in pain; whereas, when we treat matters too lightly, the result is an empty, windy sound that is easily produced and soon forgotten. But when we understand ourselves rightly, we see an intense, impassioned longing; one that is infinitely beautiful, but infinitely mysterious.
My parents recognized my passion for music early on, and began paying for private violin lessons when I was six. I wasn't always thrilled at the prospect of playing the Violin. Practicing was always hard for me (as it is for everyone), and at times I felt ready to quit. I would have quit, in fact, if it weren't for my parents who refused to let me. Now that I'm older and have developed my skills, I'm extremely grateful for their persistence in the face of my stubbornness.
Playing the violin has given me an outlet of expression. I have learned to maintain a disciplined practice schedule, and have seen my growth over the years as I continue to study and practice. Learning this instrument has taught me to persevere when things get hard, even when I can't see the final outcome. It has made me appreciate music even more--the precision it takes to make even a single note to sound beautiful as well as the complex mechanics involved in playing any instrument well. Music has a way of connecting with me, and with all human beings. Having the ability to enhance this connection with my own playing is truly a wonderful privilege.
UC Prompt 1
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.
My father was born and raised in Lakeland, Florida, and his whole family before him came from that area. My mother, on the other hand, was born in Cuba, and her family immigrated to the United States when she was six. So on one hand, I have a very traditional "American" family background (for lack of a better description), and on the other, a traditional Hispanic background. Being raised in both cultures gives me the unique ability to be a part of two worlds, but also to stand back and observe one from a distance if I so choose. I was raised speaking Spanish and English. When I speak Spanish (and when others speak Spanish to me), I drift closer to the Cuban in me, and often find myself making critical observations about the American side of me; whereas when I speak English, the opposite is true, and I find myself observing things about my Cuban heritage that might not be so apparent from the Spanish-speaking side.
These two cultures are vastly different in many ways, and the presence of both within me has shaped my view of the world around me. I can appreciate the fact that certain problems have more than one answer; that there are always two sides to a story; that the view from the East is different but no less accurate than the view from the West. I've never liked to associate myself with societies and clubs, nor have I ever strongly advocated a single political party or candidate.
I believe in truth. I believe that there are a certain set of answers to certain problems. Some answers may be more complex than others, and most are probably unattainable by human reasoning. But there can be no doubt that, like mathematics, the problems and inconsistencies we experience in life have an explanation. Hailing from two cultures, however, I realize that the closest we come to most of these answers can be nothing more than varying shades of grey, because there are simply too many perspectives, too many experiences, and too many cultures to derive a single common answer. Certainly, we can come close, and religion attempts to do just that. But ultimately, our opinions are subjective, biased, and tied up in complicated knots of preconception.
I, therefore, aspire to be a person of understanding, one who considers as many angles on any given situation as possible in order to understand it more fully and comprehensively. I love learning, because learning exposes me to more ideas, and ideas are the primary expressway that leads us to understanding. I always crave fresh insights, which is why I so admire the artistically-inclined of the world: the artists, the musicians, the writers, and the philosophers. And most importantly, I admire those who acknowledge that they don't have ultimate knowledge, that they very well could be (and often are) wrong, and that they themselves are constantly in a learning process. Ironically, it is most often those who are most prepared to see the faults in their thinking that produce the most reliable sources of wisdom.
My father was born and raised in Lakeland, Florida, and his whole family before him came from that area. My mother, on the other hand, was born in Cuba, and her family immigrated to the United States when she was six. So on one hand, I have a very traditional "American" family background (for lack of a better description), and on the other, a traditional Hispanic background. Being raised in both cultures gives me the unique ability to be a part of two worlds, but also to stand back and observe one from a distance if I so choose. I was raised speaking Spanish and English. When I speak Spanish (and when others speak Spanish to me), I drift closer to the Cuban in me, and often find myself making critical observations about the American side of me; whereas when I speak English, the opposite is true, and I find myself observing things about my Cuban heritage that might not be so apparent from the Spanish-speaking side.
These two cultures are vastly different in many ways, and the presence of both within me has shaped my view of the world around me. I can appreciate the fact that certain problems have more than one answer; that there are always two sides to a story; that the view from the East is different but no less accurate than the view from the West. I've never liked to associate myself with societies and clubs, nor have I ever strongly advocated a single political party or candidate.
I believe in truth. I believe that there are a certain set of answers to certain problems. Some answers may be more complex than others, and most are probably unattainable by human reasoning. But there can be no doubt that, like mathematics, the problems and inconsistencies we experience in life have an explanation. Hailing from two cultures, however, I realize that the closest we come to most of these answers can be nothing more than varying shades of grey, because there are simply too many perspectives, too many experiences, and too many cultures to derive a single common answer. Certainly, we can come close, and religion attempts to do just that. But ultimately, our opinions are subjective, biased, and tied up in complicated knots of preconception.
I, therefore, aspire to be a person of understanding, one who considers as many angles on any given situation as possible in order to understand it more fully and comprehensively. I love learning, because learning exposes me to more ideas, and ideas are the primary expressway that leads us to understanding. I always crave fresh insights, which is why I so admire the artistically-inclined of the world: the artists, the musicians, the writers, and the philosophers. And most importantly, I admire those who acknowledge that they don't have ultimate knowledge, that they very well could be (and often are) wrong, and that they themselves are constantly in a learning process. Ironically, it is most often those who are most prepared to see the faults in their thinking that produce the most reliable sources of wisdom.
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