College Prompts

UDUB Washington

A. Discuss how your family’s experience or cultural history enriched you or presented you with opportunities or challenges in pursuing your educational goals

B. Tell us a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.

Prompt for University of Oregon

 The UO is interested in learning more about you. Write an essay (500 words maximum) that shares information that we cannot find elsewhere on your application. Any topic you choose is welcome. Some ideas you might consider include your future ambitions and goals, a special talent or unusual interest that sets you apart from your peers, or a significant experience that influenced your life. 

University of Southern California-

Describe the world you come from-- for example, your family, community or school-- and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.

Coming of Age graphic draft

Coming of Age Final

I did the normal schedule that I did every day. I would get ready for school, my mom would drop me off in the front around 7:30 am and I would walk into the big front doors. I would walk down the big crowded hallway that seems like it would never end to meet my friends. Walking over to the circle of girls that I have grown up with, hearing them talk about yesterdays game and how we won. Joining in on the conversation, I congratulated everyone that played and we kept talking until the bell rang and made us go our separate ways, until we would meet up again at lunch. Then, when the day was over I would wait in the front of the school waiting to get picked up.  

I saw my moms mini van pull into the round about that leads to my school, so i grabbed my bag and started walking to her car. I open the back sliding door and jump in waving bye to my friends. When I shut the door and my mom tells me the news that would change the rest of my life. She says “ Jessie, since your dad is in the military we have to move every four years and last year we were very lucky that he was able to get an extension but this year we have to move.” I was very quite taking in everything I just learned. I finally responded back and asked how long until we move and where to. She told me we have five months until we leave and that we were moving to Hawaii. When we pulled into our drive way I got out of the car and raced inside. Once inside, I quickly rushed into my room to text my friends the news. Hawaii? How could I be moving? Let alone moving across the Pacific. I sit on my bed and thought of all of my friends that I was going to lose and the family I was going to move away from. 

How was I going to do this? I always depended on my friends and now that I am moving what was I supposed to do? They were going to be too busy starting school and living their lives, not going to have time for me and my problems. I was going to have to be more dependent on myself and not on others. I was used to sharing everything with my friends back home but now I was going to handle all of my problems by myself. I was going to have to grow up and solve my own problems, without the help of my friends. It was going to be a huge change from my school now to the school in Hawaii. I was going to have to suck it up and be a big girl and take care of things on my own without the help of other people.

It’s the last day here in Washington and I have to do the hardest thing. I have to say goodbye to all of my friends and family. We drive to the softball fields where all of my friends are playing the last game of the season. I slowly walk over to the field they are playing at and sit there watching them play. When the game is over they see me and rush over. None of us talk all we do is hug each other really tight and not let go. No one wants to say anything afraid that we would cry if we tried to to. I finally break the silence and say “I’ll never forget you guys.” my voice breaking halfway through. My sobs finally come out choking me, not allowing me to say anything else. But we didn’t need to talk, everything we needed to say was said through our hug. When my mom comes over and tells me that we have to leave in five minutes we all start to cry harder and our hug gets tighter not wanting to let go, not wanting to say goodbye. We finally stop hugging and say the words we have been trying to avoid, goodbye. They walk me to my car, waving as we drive away.

We drive to the airport where my aunt and cousin are waiting to say goodbye. My mom and aunt have lived near each other since they were little. We arrive at the airport and unload our bags. We hug our family really tight saying goodbye and that we will see them soon. My mom and aunt hug one more time and we load our bags onto the luggage belt. This was it. Once we cross through the security line it would be official, we were leaving. As I crossed through the sensor I kept thinking what if my friends forget me? What if they get to busy to text me? But I realized that if my mom can move away from her sister, I can do this move as well. My book wasn't ending, a new chapter was just starting. I was growing up and living my own life making my own decisions without the help of other people.

Blog revision

The changes I made to my blog was my background and my header. I made my background blue/green because I really like that color. For my header I made a collage of my friends and I that have helped me with a lot of things. I put them there to match my quote "I wouldn't have life if it weren't for my friends" explaining to people that my friends have helped shape who I am today. I organized my blog by putting my work listed on the side to make it easier to find instead of scrolling through the whole thing.

Coming of Age: Rough Draft

I did the normal schedule that I did every day. I would get ready for school, my mom would drop me off in the front around 7:30 am and I would walk into the big front doors. I would walk down the big crowded hallway that seems like it would never end to meet my friends. Walking over to the circle of girls that I have grown up with, hearing them talk about yesterdays game and how we won. Joining in on the conversation, I congratulated everyone that played and we kept talking until the bell rang and made us go our separate ways, until we would meet up again at lunch. Then, when the day was over I would wait in the front of the school waiting to get picked up.  

I saw my moms mini van pull into the round about that leads to my school, so I grabbed my bag and started walking to her car. I open the sliding door and jumped in waving bye to my friends. When I shut the door, my mom tells me the news that would change the rest of my life. She says “ Jessie, since your dad is in the military we have to move every four years and last year we were very lucky that he was able to get an extension but this year we have to move.” I was very quite taking in everything I just learned. I finally responded back and asked how long until we move and where to. She told me we have five months until we leave and that we were moving to Hawaii. When we pulled into our drive way I got out of the car and raced inside. Once inside, I quickly rushed into my room to text my friends the news. Hawaii? How could I be moving? Let alone moving across the Pacific. I sat on my bed and thought of all of my friends that I was going to lose and the family I was going to move away from. 

One month before we move the movers start to come and collect our things. I sat on the swing in our front yard watching them take away everything making this move seem even closer. I kept wishing I would wake up from this nightmare and the movers would be gone and all of my things would be back inside. I close my eyes replaying all of the good times I had here in Washington. I see my brother, cousin and I having snowball fights in winter, my family going to mine and my brothers sporting games, seeing all of the sleep overs and birthday parties I had. A tear silently slips down my face and falls to the ground. I quickly wipe my face and run inside to find that my house was empty. I check every room and every room is empty. I go to my room last hoping my stuff will still be in there. I turn the corner and walk into my room and see the movers carrying out the last box, leaving my room empty. My room looks so small now without all of the pictures of my friends and I hanging on the wall, without my bed sitting in the corner.

It’s the last day here in Washington and I have to do the hardest thing. I have to say goodbye to all of my friends and family. We drive to the softball fields where all of my friends are playing the last game of the season. I slowly walk over to the field they are playing at and sit there watching them play. When the game is over they see me and rush over. None of us talk all we do is hug each other really tight and not let go. No one wants to say anything afraid that we would cry if we tried to to. I finally break the silence and say “I’ll never forget you guys.” my voice breaking halfway through. My sobs finally come out choking me, not allowing me to say anything else. But we didn’t need to talk, everything we needed to say was said through our hug. When my mom comes over and tells me that we have to leave in five minutes we all start to cry harder and our hug gets tighter not wanting to let go, not wanting to say goodbye. We finally stop hugging and say the words we have been trying to avoid, goodbye. They walk me to my car, waving as we drive away.

We drive to the airport where my aunt and cousin are waiting to say goodbye. My mom and aunt have lived near each other since they were little. We arrive at the airport and unload our bags. We hug our family really tight saying goodbye and that we will see them soon. My mom and aunt hug one more time and we load our bags onto the luggage belt. This was it. Once we cross through the security line it would be official, we were leaving. As I crossed through the sensor I kept thinking what if my friends forget me? What if they get to busy to text me? But I realized that if my mom can move away from her sister, I can do this move as well. My book wasn't ending, a new chapter was just beginning.

Group Position Statements

Group Position Statements:

Visitors and locals that go hiking and swimming are to blame for the hiking and swimming accidents because most people are careless and unaware of their surroundings, and are ignorant to the safety signs already put up.

The location is to blame for the accidents that happen due to the lack of the sings not being put up, natural conditions that make the spot dangerous, and the lack of safety railings and blockage of hazardous spots.

The government and land owners is to blame for the cause of injuries on hikes and swims due to the lack if funding for sings to be put up, the lack of knowledge on dangerous hikes and the lack of safety precautions.

Mini essay: 

There are many dangerous hiking spots that are popular to locals and tourists in Hawaii. Many reports of incidents that happen at these sites are being called into debate on who's to blame. People visiting Hawaii should be able to go on popular hikes without being afraid of getting hurt. The government and land owners should be responsible for the injuries of the hikers and swimmers because they should have warnings signs if the site has any hazardous spots or a gate to keep people out. 

The government and land owners are failing to provide signs warning people of the dangers of the place. In the article is states that "Witnesses said that David Potts, 44, of San Anslemo, Calif., was dancing around the blowhole when a large wave struck him behind and knocked him into the hole." When a place has a giant hole it should be gated off because you do not know when a wave comes shooting out. There was only one warning sign in the parking lot, which only said walk at your own risk. In the same article "41 year-old Kevin Oakley of San Valley, Calif., drowned at Maui's Pools of Oheo after rescuing his 7 year-old son, who was swept away by a strong current." There were no signs warning the family of the strong currents of the beach. The government and land owners need to warn its guests of the dangers they may face upon entering the site. 

With lack of safety precautions and the lack of signs, the government and land owners are causing popular hiking and swimming spots to become dangerous. With just a couple of signs warning people of the dangers it can help keep visitors safe and aware. Also putting up some railings or gates preventing people from going to far can save lives. Hawaii wants to protect its visitors, not hurt them. The government and land owners need to start protecting its visitors from any harm the land might cause.