Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Personal Statement
My personal battle against knee injuries was my first major encounter with the field of biomedical engineering. I constantly questioned my doctors about everything from how the MRI worked to the mode of action of drugs I was given. I also discovered that one could be a physician and still be involved in the areas of engineering and biological research. The interest I developed in the field of bioengineering has continued to grow since then, but it was not until I took neurobiology at Harvard University summer school that my plan to pursue a degree in medicine was confirmed. I not only learned the basics of the nervous system, but also the practical applications of this knowledge and how scientists are using the nervous system's extraordinary power to solve medical mysteries and fight disease. The most interesting aspect of the course was the section about neurotransmitters and how modification of the release, absorption, and re-uptake of neurotransmitters can produce such widespread and drastic results in the body. The opportunity to immerse myself in solving problems found in the complex world of the nervous system by utilizing engineering and design techniques would be ideal for me. Problems associated with the knee joint still interest me as well and I would love to have the opportunity to facilitate improvements in the treatment of those who have had to endure the pain of knee injuries. A career as a physician along with training in bioengineering would give me the opportunity to help others to overcome painful injuries and return to an active life.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Extra Adversity
I learned a lot in tenth grade but the most important lessons were not taught in my classes. The knowledge I gained was an understanding of my ability to overcome the challenges found in life. My classes were interesting and challenging and I looked forward to a great year of academics and sports now that I had recovered from two knee operations. Unfortunately, my life took a sudden and distressing turn when financial problems struck our family. My father lost his job due to the bankruptcy of his employer. My parents warned me that we might need to move to another state where my father could find work. It was difficult to concentrate on school when I was worried about moving and future college tuition. I worried about my father who was concerned about providing for us. He felt depressed over the loss of his job. This was only the second time that I had seen my father cry; the first was when my older brother drowned. As the oldest surviving child, I gladly took the responsibility for helping to care for my disabled younger sister and my asthmatic younger brother as their medical conditions required the presence of a responsible party. As the emotional burden I carried took its toll, I thought about my parents and their resiliency even after the death of their first child. They persevered despite their pain. They did not neglect their other children. I realized that it was my responsibility to overcome my distress and get back on track with school. I knew that I was strong enough to take back control of my life. With a positive attitude and a conviction that I could succeed, I found that my grades began to rise. My time management skills improved as I sought to study, play sports, help my family as much as possible and continue to volunteer in the community. I even found that my positive attitude and belief that I would succeed helped my father renew his faith in his own ability. This translated into a more optimistic approach to his job search. The adverse circumstances I experienced may have threatened to ruin my dreams, but I did not allow them to take control permanently. Despite the stress of my family situation, I learned to take responsibility for my own success and I mastered the art of multitasking and effective time management. My lessons were well learned. This past summer I was told by one of my university professors that I demonstrated an obvious capacity for organization, self-management, and discipline. My junior year grades also reflected my resolve to overcome my distress and succeed academically. It is my hope that the future will be relatively uneventful for my family so that I may focus my energies on my academics. Even if that is not the case, I am confident that I can overcome any obstacles that I encounter. I am a stronger person now and the lessons I have learned will guide me through the events that I may encounter in the future.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Personal Statement
My grandfather spent his childhood studying the Torah in secret, lost an eye
fighting in a battle where both sides were wrong, and spent his adult life
dreading a knock at the door from a member of the KGB. While the other children
at the nursing home were listening to life stories with bored expressions and
vacant smiles, I was being taught the meaning of courage from a noble man wasting
away from prostate cancer. I have blocked out the painful memories of a
late-night phone call and the hospital bed that my grandfather never left.
Instead, my memories center around how he always gave me chocolates from a
never-ending supply and sat me on his knee to tell me about a world I would never
fully understand.
Religious persecution in the USSR never stopped my devout grandfather from
sneaking out at the age of five to study Torah; at his age I was learning
hopscotch and how to ice-skate. My mother fondly recounts a childhood spent
listening to Jewish songs on the radio and knowing that each knock on the door
could be police officers sent to take her parents to jail. My worst transgression
against the law consisted of shoplifting a pack of gum when I was six. Our worlds
were so different that I am amazed we shared anything as ordinary as a family
bond.
I grew up firm in the belief that I had the right to read and listen to anything
I pleased. Everything my grandfather told me seemed so alien that I doubted it at
first, the way a small child doubts that the detergent under the sink is really
harmful if swallowed. It was not until I was older and read about the subject
that I truly fathomed the circumstances in which my grandfather lived.
All my life I have been striving not to disappoint his memory. I do not feel
that I have succeeded yet, but I hope that someday I will. He was an amazing man
and I must repay the debt that I owe him for teaching me the right way to live,
by the strength of my convictions and no one else's. Right now I can only offer a
small token in remembrance; I put a lighted menorah in the window every Hanukkah,
partly because it looks good there and partly because I can. As I watch the
flames dance to the inaudible beat of the world, I imagine my grandfather in the
room with me, sharing in the beauty of the flicker of the fire on the windowpane.
In Judaism, a flame represents the eternal spirit and the accomplishment of a
holy mission by setting an example. Whenever I light the menorah, I think of my
grandfather and everything he taught me through his illustrious example. He may
not have had a peaceful life, but at least he will be honored with the
immortality I grant him by retaining his lessons and passing them onto the
grandchildren that I shall have someday.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
What is your favorite activity?
Stars exploded in front of my eyes as I was being choked mercilessly. I fought back with all my might to break out of my assailant's hold with everything I had been taught, but progress was impossible without air in my lungs. Just before I succumbed to the darkness blurring the edges of my vision I heard my opponent say, "twenty four, twenty five" and then suddenly the pressure was off my neck and I was able to suck in delicious sips of cool air. This was my first introduction to Judo, receiving advice and experience from someone who had competed in Judo in the Olympics. The focus of martial arts is the blending of mind and body into a single entity. The process of learning Karate, Jujutsu, and Judo hones concentration and self-control, skills I have then applied to all other facets of my life. The sports are soothing; focusing on a match pushes all unpleasant thoughts from my mind while the physical exertion is the most effective stress-reliever I have found. I started martial arts because I wanted to participate in an athletic activity mainly comprised of thinking and strategy where my lack of inherent athletic ability would not be a deterrent from excelling; I stayed with it because it gave me the confidence and focus to pursue other ventures I had weaknesses in.
