College Admissions Essay: The Piece That Changed My Life

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. 650 word limit

Current Word Count: 944 (NEED TO DELETE 294 WORDS!!!)

If my life could be described in one word, I would say it’s a puzzle. I was always attracted to the tiny pieces, intrigued by their shapes, challenged by the complexity, and in awe of the final work of art. Nobody finds a puzzle premade and same goes for life. Over time, as I attempted to put life’s puzzle together, I realized that I must understand the previous piece to prepare for the placing of the next one.

I was born in Rawalpindi, Pakistan into a large, middle-class

To better adjust to the new way of life in America, I focused my efforts on learning English. My mom and I would walk two miles to the local library for English classes every afternoon; I would sit at the table with a stack of kindergarten level books trying to form words in English and my mom doing the same. By tirelessly improving my English, I began to advance in my studies and intuitively, by trying to accomplish my own goals, I began to fulfill my parents’ dreams. My dedication and resilience resulted in my acceptance into the advance academic

My family helps me focus my goals, while I help them expand their horizons to the realm of their own possibilities. I focus on making sure my younger siblings don’t feel the burden and try to hold my health, school, and family responsibilities together, one step at a time. Each day is precious because I still have my family’s support and another opportunity to get closer to my dream of attaining higher education. Sometimes, I have to pause for a moment, go away from the puzzle, and then come back to it later with a stronger mind and a different perspective at attempting