Now for the third time, as part of my English homework, I will be talking about college essay topic number three. The question is "Tell us about a conversation you’ve had that changed your perspective or was otherwise meaningful to you." by the University of Stanford.
I think the conversation that changes my perspective on my life is the one I had with my Dad a couple of years ago.It was the time when I was having an important exam coming up. This exam in my country is suppose to evaluate all of my abilities and skills in both academic and physical. It is one of the most important examination that all schools and universities in my country will look at and will have a significant impact on their decision to accept me.
I was just a kid back then; I thought that study hard and be a nerd is not cool (like most of all children think). I did not pay attention in my class, I did not prepare for any tests or final exams, and I got into many fights with my friends. Back then, I lived with my Mom; my Dad lived in another place because of his work, which resulted in him not knowing anything much about my personal life. However, after my carelessness toward education and social was told by my Mom to my Dad, he took me and my Mom out for a dinner on my birthday, which is what he usually did, come to see me and my Mom only a couple of times in a year. My birthday was only a few weeks away from the exam.
After a nice dinner at a Chinese restaurant, he began to talk to me about all the things that I did and about my carelessness. He asked me questions that I did not understand the point of it, such as, what did I expect to gain from my actions and didn't I feel guilty toward my Mom, whom has been protecting me from all the bad consequences of my actions. My mind was blanked; I did not know why my Dad was saying these things to me but I could not answer either. Toward the end of the conversation and arguments, my Dad said a sentence that has changed my point of view forever. He said, "Do you want be "cool" like those people you see on the side of the streets, or do you want to be "cool" like those people that drives Porsche and Ducati?" I was stunned by this sentence. I have never thought about these things before; all the confusions from his previous questions and conversation have come together and began to make sense for me. Then my Dad went on saying that it was my choice to choose the kind of "cool" I wanted to be. It is my choice to choose what kind of a person I want to be, the cool that have nothing in his life other than friends whom are as empty as himself, or the cool that have everything he needs along with caring family and the means and abilities to support them. He did not speak much after that sentence; I think it was because that he knew that his words are very effective to me through my guilty face. After we have arrived back at my house, my Dad, somehow, knew that I have changed my self perspective completely and that I wanted to become the "cool that drives Porsche and Ducati." He, then, told me what he has been trying to tell me in the beginning. He said that the way to become that "cool", for now, was to study hard. Along the path of study, I will gain, not only knowledge, but self responsibility and care towards things that I love.
I changed after that day. I began to realize that being "cool" alone was not a good thing, it has to be "cool" along with self responsibility and care. I got a pretty good score on the exam, which my Dad was very happy with the score. After that day, I have become more responsible toward my life and aware of consequences of my actions toward all the people that I love. Right now, even thought, I do not own any car or bike yet, I am beginning to see the days that I ride those bikes clearer.
W - 738
I think the conversation that changes my perspective on my life is the one I had with my Dad a couple of years ago.It was the time when I was having an important exam coming up. This exam in my country is suppose to evaluate all of my abilities and skills in both academic and physical. It is one of the most important examination that all schools and universities in my country will look at and will have a significant impact on their decision to accept me.
I was just a kid back then; I thought that study hard and be a nerd is not cool (like most of all children think). I did not pay attention in my class, I did not prepare for any tests or final exams, and I got into many fights with my friends. Back then, I lived with my Mom; my Dad lived in another place because of his work, which resulted in him not knowing anything much about my personal life. However, after my carelessness toward education and social was told by my Mom to my Dad, he took me and my Mom out for a dinner on my birthday, which is what he usually did, come to see me and my Mom only a couple of times in a year. My birthday was only a few weeks away from the exam.
After a nice dinner at a Chinese restaurant, he began to talk to me about all the things that I did and about my carelessness. He asked me questions that I did not understand the point of it, such as, what did I expect to gain from my actions and didn't I feel guilty toward my Mom, whom has been protecting me from all the bad consequences of my actions. My mind was blanked; I did not know why my Dad was saying these things to me but I could not answer either. Toward the end of the conversation and arguments, my Dad said a sentence that has changed my point of view forever. He said, "Do you want be "cool" like those people you see on the side of the streets, or do you want to be "cool" like those people that drives Porsche and Ducati?" I was stunned by this sentence. I have never thought about these things before; all the confusions from his previous questions and conversation have come together and began to make sense for me. Then my Dad went on saying that it was my choice to choose the kind of "cool" I wanted to be. It is my choice to choose what kind of a person I want to be, the cool that have nothing in his life other than friends whom are as empty as himself, or the cool that have everything he needs along with caring family and the means and abilities to support them. He did not speak much after that sentence; I think it was because that he knew that his words are very effective to me through my guilty face. After we have arrived back at my house, my Dad, somehow, knew that I have changed my self perspective completely and that I wanted to become the "cool that drives Porsche and Ducati." He, then, told me what he has been trying to tell me in the beginning. He said that the way to become that "cool", for now, was to study hard. Along the path of study, I will gain, not only knowledge, but self responsibility and care towards things that I love.
I changed after that day. I began to realize that being "cool" alone was not a good thing, it has to be "cool" along with self responsibility and care. I got a pretty good score on the exam, which my Dad was very happy with the score. After that day, I have become more responsible toward my life and aware of consequences of my actions toward all the people that I love. Right now, even thought, I do not own any car or bike yet, I am beginning to see the days that I ride those bikes clearer.
W - 738
I can really see this seriousness in you. You always try your best and you care about improving. You have improved a tremendous amount since your 9th grade year. This has some real possibilities as an essay, but downplay the desire for the "hot" car a bit as you will seem shallow, and the rest of the piece is not.
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