Essay Question:

Please give an example of a time when you achieved a goal that was important to you. Minor essay
Against all odds, I qualified for the university ballroom dancing team.

I had only started learning ballroom dancing a year before I was selected to
represent the top U.K. university team in the annual National Championships.
Prior to that, I had absolutely no dance experience, nor was I a natural dancer.
In fact, during the first few weeks of learning how to waltz and jive, I must
have stepped on my partner's feet more times than there were beats in a bar. 

Through the months of enduring disdainful stares and irate remarks every time I
bumped into someone, I gradually learnt to appreciate the music and the dance.
Inspired by the many talented dancers on the team, I was determined to prove to
myself that I could be as good as one of them. I set myself an ambitious goal of
qualifying for the varsity team by the end of the year. 

With only six months to the trials, I used every spare opportunity to practice,
sometimes even squeezing short practice sessions between classes. I did this
every single day, for the whole six months. Because the university did not have
any good dance instructors, I traveled two hours every weekend to London to take
lessons with a private instructor. I also purchased a video camera and convinced
some close friends to record my dancing - a highly effective method of
identifying the many areas for improvement! In addition, I started a workout
routine in the gym to develop ankle strength and stamina. 

Against all odds, I eventually made it the team. I was extremely gratified with
the outcome because I managed to achieve a goal that was seemingly impossible. I
had proven to myself that personal adversity, no matter how difficult, can be
overcome with clear vision, tenacity and perseverance. 

Bolstered with confidence by the accomplishment, I went on to compete outside of
the university circuit. I emerged finalist in the prestigious international
'Champions-of-Tomorrow' competition held in Blackpool, U.K. and represented
Great
Britain in the U.S. - U.K. inter-varsity competition. I recently competed in two
international competitions held in Asia, coming out champion in both events. My
next goal is to represent my home country in the highest level of ballroom
dancing - the annual International World Ballroom Dancing Championships held in
Blackpool, U.K. I also hope to someday find a means to teach ballroom dancing to
those visually impaired at the National Blind Association, just as it has been
possible to teach ballroom dancing to those wheelchair-bound.