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Subject:SuccessfulPrincetonApplicantThroughallofmyaccomplishmentsanddisappointments,IhavealwaysbeenespeciallyproudofthededicationandfervorIpossessformypersonalbeliefsandvalues.Unfortunately,ithasoftenbeendifficultformetoremainoutwardlyfirmandconfidentinatownwheremostpeoplethinkalikeandrejectexceptions.WheneverIhaveexpressedmypositionasapro-lifeadvocate,peershavebadgered,accused,andridiculedmeforsimplybelievinginsomethingthattheyscorn.Despiteallthepressure,Ineverwaiveredfrommybelief,yetIbecamefrustratedandbegantolosethecouragetopubliclyexpressmyopiniononthiscontroversialtopic.Togainsomeinsightandreassuranceformyself,IattendedtheNewJerseyRighttoLifeConventioninthespringof1995.Thisexperienceupliftedmeandofferedgreatinspirationandenlightenment.AttheconventionIreceivedanoverwhelmingamountofsupportandencouragementfromwonderfulpeoplewhoadvocatetheveryprinciplesIbelievein.ThisconventionwassoinspiringthatthenextdayinschoolIwasabletorelatemyexperiencetooneofmybiggestopponentsonthesubject.Also,theabundantinformationavailableattheconventionenabledmetodefendmypositiononabortionmoreeffectively.Attendingthisconventionaccomplishedtwothings.Itprovedmycommitmenttomybelief,inthatItooktheinitiativetostrengthenandsupportmyopinion,refusingtogiveuporloseheart.Unlikemanyothers,IwaseagerandwillingtogainnewknowledgesoImaysuccessfullypromotemybelieftoothers.Inaddition,thisconventioninvigoratedmyconfidencetostandupforwhatIbelieveinandtaughtmetoneverlosethecourageofmyconvictions**********************Subject:SuccesfulCornellApplicantTellusaboutopinionhaveyouhadtodefend.Howhasthisaffectedyourbeliefsystem?IchuckletomyselfeverytimeIthinkaboutthis.Iamperceivedasamild-mannered,intelligentindividualuntilImentionthatIaminvolvedinriflery.Itisinterestingtowatchsomeone’sexpressionchange.ItisasifIinstantaneouslygrewapairofhornsandasharpsetofclaws.Believemethisgetsworst;IamamemberoftheNRA.ItrytotellthesefolksthatIbelongtotheNRAtofiremyrifle.OhmyGod!Youfirerealguns?withrealbullets?!?theyremarkwithaperplexedlookontheirface.Besideshavinghornsandclaws,Inowpossessatailandleatherywings.Thisishowitbeganfiveyearsago.Ihadplayedonasoccerteamforseveralyears.AsIgrewolderIbeganhavingdifficultyplayingsoccerbecauseofshortnessofbreath.Iwasdiagnosedashavingmildasthmawhichendedmysoccercareerandeliminatedmyparticipationinmostphysicalsports.Shortlyafterward,duringaBoyScoutsummercamp,Iparticipatedinrifleryattheirshootingrange.ThiswasthefirsttimeIhadevertouchedafirearm.Tomyamazement,Iwonthecamp’sfirstplaceawardformarksmanship.IwasmorethaneagerwhenafriendofmineaskedmeifIwouldliketojoinashootingclub.MyparentswerewarywhenIaskedtojointherifleclub.Mymotherfearedguns,butmyfatherfelttherewasnoproblemwithtryingthissport.Gratefully,hegavemetheopportunitytotryriflemarksmanship,despitesecretlyhopingthatIwouldquit.Bothofmyparentswereafraidofwhatpeoplewouldthinkabouttheirson’sinvolvementwithguns.Likemyparentsamajorityofpeoplebelievethatallfirearmsaredangeroustooursociety.Alltheyrememberarethehystericalnewsreleasesofstreetviolenceandinjuredchildren.IamoftenaskedhowmanydeerI’veshot.Frankly,IcouldneverbringmyselftoinjureanotherlivingcreatureandneitherwouldmostofthecompetitorsIhavemet.Yet,Ikeepfindingmyselfdefendingthesportfromallofthemisconceptionsthatsurroundit.MostpeoplehavedevelopedanegativeimpressionofthesportandIhavefoundthattheseprejudicesaredifficult,ifnotimpossible,torectify.Becauseofthisconflict,Ihavebecomeanopenmindedindividual.Iexpressmyopinionswithoutreservation,andIhavelearnedtoacceptopinionsandviewpointscontrarytomyown.IdonotintendtoalterwhatIenjoybecauseoftheignoranceoffriendsandacquaintances.IfpeoplehaveanegativeviewofmesimplybecauseofthesportIamactivein,thentheymustbesosuperficialthattheycannotseethepersonwhoIreallyam.Iamnolongerapprehensiveofbeingperceivedasaguntoting,triggerhappyfanatic,eventhoughIstillendeavortoeducatemyfriendsandrelativesonthebeautyofthissport.***********************************Subject:EastAsianStudiesIt’snotoftenthatakidgrowingupinsmall-townNewMexicostrikesupapassionforChinesecivilization.Nevertheless,myinterestindifferentculturesflourishedduringmychildhoodandadolescenceinNewMexico.ThebeautyandbreathtakinglysceniclandscapeofthisstateisenrichedwiththepronouncedculturaldiversitybroughtaboutbyPueblo,HopiandNavajonationsandalargeHispanicpopulationthatrepresentscloseto50%ofstate.WhenIwasinkindergartenIattendedabilingualschoolinLemitar,asmalltowninsouthernNewMexico.MostofthechildrenatthisschoolwereHispanic.Thisallowedmeataveryearlyagetoexperiencealanguageandculturedifferentfrommine.Myfatherhasalwayshadakeeninterestinpeoplefromothercountriesandculturalbackgrounds.Asalibrarian,myfatherhasalwaysencouragedmetoreadnotonlyWesternPhilosophy,butEasternPhilosophyaswell.Inaddition,heinspiredmetoseelifefromadifferentperspective.Toalargeextent,andbymostdefinitions,Ihavealwaysbeenanon-traditionalandunconventionalstudent.IwenttoahighschoolwithacurriculumthatwasaschallengingformeasanycourseIhavetakenincollege.Thishighschoolwasuniquebecausewestudiedeverythingfromtheori