College Admissions Essay: The Girl Who Changed My Life

Life is a scary and thrilling rollercoaster full of ups and downs, twists, and turns, and tears and fears. Some things can make you scream with joy and pride while other things torrent upon your heart to tear you apart. Life is one of the things many people take for granted instead of living it like there is no tomorrow. Every day, every hour, every minute, and down to every second is precious; because once time rolls on, the moment is gone forever. It will only be a part of history you cannot change. While most opportunities are there every day, there are some that only come once in a lifetime. I was raised from a low-income class family, and conversations revolving how to be successful was a big talk under our roof. I have seen and understand the
struggles of my parents, who tried to raise four kids while working mostly all the time in the unskilled labor industry. I can see the sweat in my Mom’s eyebrows and hair hanging down on her face said she carries too much. I can see the crinkles beneath my Dad’s eyes as he work in the garden after his long work shift. It was an awful and melancholy reminder of how my parents kept on going back to the restaurant, day after day to work ten-hour shifts to put food on the table for us and a roof under our heads. The restaurant was like a prison that they kept on going back. When they get home, it always makes me wonder, “Where have they been all my life?” Many years have passed since Mom and Dad started working all the time. Now a senior in high school, I am hoping my parents would take time off to attend my graduation and graduation party in May. When I walked across the stage on graduation day, I know that I will never feel the same again. I will be officially a college student from that moment and memories of my childhood would play through my mind like snapshots in an album. From perceiving and understanding what my parents have done for me, I grew up to be a responsible, mature young lady. When I was a little girl, i was always curious. I was always a troublemaker, asking questions I should not ask, and experimenting with objects I was prohibited from laying a finger on. Mom and Dad put on their most angriest, cherry red face that I ever seem, scolding me to stop my nonsense. They said that I should be a role model for my siblings. I obstinately replied back that I want to know everything in the world. I was sumptuously stubborn, mean, but curious. I would fight with my siblings to get what they get, and scare them whenever I had a chance to. I like to scream and be loud and annoying. I did not have any real friends in elementary school. All of my “friends” seem to be friends with me for one day, and crush me down the next day. Their mental torture held me back from thinking properly, and I preferred not to speak just because I had a minuscule accent. I was extremely frustrated and depressed to the point that I felt suicidal. My classmates looked down on me as I was an inferior and make fun of me because I was Asian. I was mentally deteriorated and socially impaired. I eat to forget my aching heart and soul. I stop doing homework, and I would cried myself to sleep. Nothing was helping me, not even the soft-spoken voices of my parents. I only wanted to be alone in the darkness where fear swim around me, and can conceal who I am. I dreamed of how it might felt like to be alive with peace and joy. When I went to school the next day, there was a new girl sitting in the classroom.
I try not to say a single word to her or even look at her. However, there was a nagging temptation at the back of my mind: something that tells me I should jump out of my box to talk to her, so I did. Our conversation was short, but we became friends quick. It was a joyful feeling that I have at least one friend now, and because of the friendship, I have reverted back to the person before the depression, but only this time, I grew to be more responsible with high self-esteem. The smile on my face had wiped out my screams and replaced my temper tantrum. The prolonged depression have made me strong, and changed me drastically.
Now, seventeen years into life, I have seen, felt, and experienced many wonders in life, both good and bad. I am clothed with determination, motivation, strength that will steer me toward the right path to success. My life revolves around God Who had created me and blessed me with everything I need: loving parents and siblings who cares, unlimited foods to eat, a big roof under my head, lots of love to share, and a bright future to walk to. Life is truly a blessing, and nothing is more precious than life
itself.