Describe examples of your leadership experience in which you significantly influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time. Consider responsibilities to initiatives taken in or out of school.
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- I am the vice-president of my school’s International club, and earlier this year we had a meeting for planning all of our yearly events. At the meeting, everyone had different ideas about what we should do, and it was really difficult to balance the suggestions of more than twenty different people. Clearly, not everyone was going to be happy, and I was worried about meeting everyone’s needs. To be diplomatic, I decided to give everyone a chance to state their ideas, and then we chose the best idea by voting. Not everyone’s suggestions were used, but everyone got to feel that they were part of the process by voting on which events we would ultimately do.
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Describe any special interests and how you developed knowledge in these areas. Give examples of your creativity – the ability to see alternatives; take diverse perspectives; come up with many, varied or original ideas; or willingness to try new things.
- When I was ten years old, I decided to go to Australia. I attended an academy with various international students, where I became friends with students who were from all over the world. This experience made me want to learn more about the world, and a few years later I decided to study in China. I went to a boarding school where I studied Chinese and learned about the real lives of the Chinese people. After studying Chinese for three years, I decided to come to the United States, where I have studied through high school. Because I have moved to a lot of new places, I have always had to acclimate to new environments, which has pushed me to grow. I love exploring new cultures, and making new friends!
Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to address this challenge. Include whether you turned to anyone in facing the challenge, the role the person played, and what you learned about yourself.
- My sister and I studied in China from when I was thirteen and she twelve, until I was sixteen and she fifteen. There was no one else there to take care of us, so as the older sibling I was responsible for us both. I was her father, mother and sister. Because she was so young to be leaving our parents for years, she had a hard time adapting to the new surroundings, and I had to help her mentally and physically. It was very tough for me to do all this at only thirteen years old; it was a foreign place for me too. However, because my sister needed me, I became stronger. My sister taught me by needing me. Though the experience I learned that I can be strong when I need to be, and I also learned that nothing is impossible, if I try.
Explain what you have done to make your community a better place to live. Give examples of specific projects in which you have been involved over time..
- This summer I joined an organization to help elders. I went to a nursing home to do volunteer work, where I met several old men and women. I had conversations with them to make them feel happy and less lonely. I served meals and cleaned their rooms. To be perfectly honest, I did not enjoy all of this while I was doing it, but after the work was over I felt that I had done something good. One of the old women told me that she was glad that I was there because she did not have anyone to talk to. She said that she was so lonely. I felt sorry for her situation, and I learned that what might be a little thing to me is not always a little thing to someone else, and that I can make a difference.