College admission essay guidance and best practices

Tu poi insegnare me inglese? How could this utterly simple sentence from an innocent 8-year-old become for me an affirmation of life's avocation? I often ask myself. "Can you teach me English?" my little cousin asked me on a recent trip in Italy. To this point in my life, I had been seeking direction and focus. I realized now that I really loved children and always have wanted to teach. My cousin's question put my whole life in perspective. Out of the mouths of babes. Indeed!

This essay, as part my college admission application, will, I hope, convince you that I am ready to undertake the rigors of academia to achieve my life's goal -- to obtain a degree and become a teacher. I bring to the "table," life's experiences -- strength during the loss of loved ones, persistence despite academic ups and downs, and overcoming the lack of motivation. I also bring my accomplishments -- of industriousness, dedication and determination, and the experience leading to an academic diploma, in addition to work experience.

It is amazing that despite performing well at studies how difficult it is to find oneself. All through high school, I deferred the decision of finding something I liked to do when I got to college. I naturally assumed that I would discover what I wanted to do there. In hindsight, I ought to have looked deep down inside me. For the answers were already there.

Starting college and maintaining a B+ average proved not to be a problem. Yet there was something missing. College was disappointing. I did not discover my career ambitions. But I persisted. I took prescribed courses; and, initially I did well. But then fate intervened. In my second year of college, my grandmother passed away. The loss of a close person created a void that I did not expect. Soon, my mother came down with an illness that lasted a half-year. In hindsight, I do not want to blame my lack of motivation on circumstances. But they contributed in no small part to my lack of motivation. Over the duration of my college sophomore year, my grades dropped by a letter. Life in school got overwhelming. Despite my grades, I completed a two-year diploma in Fashion Management from George Brown College. I did not graduate under the best of circumstances; but I did not quit. I recognize an important facet of my character -- I do not quit.

Still endeavoring to find myself, I began to work. Yet the need to be academically accomplished still burned in me. I began taking college courses to improve myself. The biggest test of my abilities happened recently. As part of my job, I was required to single-handedly design a Dental Catalog with a deadline of three months. This assignment was not difficult if it had not been for the additional academic course-work. Many times, I questioned my decision-making: taking on too much. I worked on the catalog for 12-15 hours (or more) a day and worked on homework into late hours of the night or at meals. I persisted. I did fairly well in the courses (given the lack of time) and turned in a beautiful catalog one day in advance. I learned a lot about my character. I realize that I love being challenged and can rise to the occasion.