Admissions Essay: Ban Ki-Moon

I traveled New York City alone during this fall break. A lot of things in NYC fascinated me such as fabulous shopping Centers, busy New Yokers on Wall Street, delicious food, meaningful historical places, and a spectacular view from the Empire State Building. However, there was one place that I had to go. It was United Nations. There was a person that I desperately wanted to see, Ban Ki-Moon, the eighth and current Secretary-General of the United Nations. Ban is a very strong and ethical leader and helped me to set my dream to help others.

Ban Ki-Moon is the second Asian, also the first Korean who became the Secretary-General of the United Nations. My father sent me the book that Ban wrote when I was having the hardest time in America. Last year was my hardest year In the States. My grades didn’t reach my expectation, I felt like no one cared about me, and was sick often. All I
wanted to do was just to go back home where my family was. However, Ban’s story encouraged me and made me stronger to face the challenges and actually overcome them. Ban could be the ‘global president’ because he was passionate since he was young and dedicated to achieve his goal. It reminded me of my goal and how much I wanted to make it happen. His stories taught me that the life is like a hurdle race. The small and big challenges or hurdles that we jump over are the steps to be closer to the finish line. And, of course, we might fall down or, worse, injure ourselves. However, we can continue and run strong with passion in our hearts.

Being strong is very important but it is not the only element that Ban taught me. He was strong on the inside and gentle on the outside. As a diplomat, he could succeed because of his great leadership and excellent moral. When a group faces a crisis, the leader has the responsibility to gather everyone’s mind and make difficult choices. In a sinking boat, can anyone survive when everyone screams and wants to save himself first? A good leader needs to be strong and needs to know to sacrifice at the same time. Being strong doesn’t mean being pushy or demanding, rather respecting others. Warm and soft charisma earns the most respect. A great leader might get jealousy or envy from others. However, with a real heart for others can turn the jealous to respect. Ban said “The biggest wisdom of my life is kindness.” It is hard to earn respect as a leader being nice and don’t come across as a softy but it will be possible with strong standard set in your heart.

The biggest influence that Ban gave me is his heart for others.
From his years as a diplomat in Korea, he was well-known to be modesty and humble. I believe that he became the Secretary-General of the United Nations to gain power and fame. It is a job to solve tensions between nations, environmental issues, orphan issues and so on, but get blamed easily. A person can not easily give up their power and have a heart to work to help others. My dream is to make a cure for eczema. In many countries, eczema, an extreme skin disease, is spread due to the environmental issues and it is found on a youth often times. I was one of the unfortunate ones. It is a horrible and deadly disease coming from my experience and doesn’t have a cure of a definite cause. Even though I’m almost cured, my heart breaks for the little children who have to go through it. A lab worker for a disease that is very obscure and newly known could be a very challenging job and it is possible to be poorly paid. However, it would be very rewarding to help the suffering children to be cured and become normal happy
kids.

In this world, there are a lot of people who are great famous. However, Ban Ki-Moon influenced me mostly because of his strong but soft leadership and heart that cares others. It was very disappointing that I didn’t have the once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet Ban Ki-Moon and tell him myself how much I respect him and influenced my life. After discovering the cure for eczema, it will be honored to thank him for being my motivation in front of him