I did not know it at the time, but the sight of red nail polish would engrain memories in me that would last a lifetime. Revlon Red #680 was a staple in my grandmother’s drawer and no matter what, she had at least two in case one were to dry up. October 11th, 1999 would be the last time I would see Revlon Red on my grandmothers nails and now see it as a smudge on the now dull white walls next to the coffee pot that steamed up at 6am every morning. My grandparents lived with me my whole life, they were always twenty steps down the stairs with the door open. The day my grandmother died of sudden death in the kitchen down those same when I was just four years old, shaped me into the person I am today and gave me the drive to want to continue on to law school. The morning of her death, sirens and ambulance barging into the home and hearing my mother cry from downstairs, still haunt me to this day. I was unaware of what was going on and my father was telling me to just stay in bed, trying to diminish the trauma I was about to reap. There lay my grandmother lifeless, with my mother breathing into her mouth holding her red nail painted fingers. My grandmother …show more content…
Interacting with peers of different backgrounds and upbringings through various clubs or volunteer work, helped validate that helping people with their misfortune is what I need to do. It is the drive behind my passion that helps me make the Dean’s List every semester and land multiple internships to excel my career. Being determined and academically focused pushed me be able to handle a high GPA, participation in clubs, serve on executive board of a nationally ranked sorority and be in an honors society. I am motivated to achieve my goals and work hard through adversity, making sure a piece of my grandmother is with me by wearing Revlon Red
I come from a magnet school that is blessed to have a large number of extremely bright students that are very dedicated to their studies, a must because of the difficult curriculum involved. The community is a very strong one with many of the students going on to do great things, which has given me the inspiration to believe that I can do whatever I want in life, as I see others who are well on their way. Within this community, I have been able to form strong bonds with other students who have similar interests and ambitions. We are able to push each other to learn new things and, through a mix of competition and collaboration, are able to truly progress in many ways, pursuing excellence in both our scholastic and extracurricular endeavors. I believe this has made me a better person, inspiring me to take on a more demanding schedule and to help others when they struggle, because they help me as well. These friendships have also encouraged me to dream big, as others around me are doing, inspiring me to apply to highly selective schools and believing that I will do something to
She shook her head, gently lifting another brush from her small glass bottle of the worn, wooden items. After a short dip in the black paint once more, she continues to outline the aged woman’s face. She remembered that she kept many
I got back to my house and my dad took my bag. He said listen very carefully and know that it’s okay to cry. I said alright and that’s when I felt like I had died inside. When I say it hit me like a bullet I mean it actually felt like someone had shot me. It was more painful than when I broke my ankle. I stood there refusing to believe that she was dead. All the time I had to fight that thought was 10 minutes. By that time I was at my grandparents house and was greeted by crying relatives.
On February 2nd,2011, my father passed away. It was 3 pm on a Wednesday. My mom, my grandma, my bother and my aunt were all out in our garage talking. My father was in his hospital bed resting. I was giving our dog a bath. My grandma told my mother that she had a headache and asked for Advil. My mother said she needed to check on my dad anyway and went to get her some Advil out of their bedroom. She put her hand on my father 's chest and there was no heartbeat. My mother started screaming. We all ran to see what was wrong to find my mother with her head on my father 's chest. She was crying saying “there is no heartbeat” over and over again. I couldn 't even cry. I was in so much shock and I needed to be strong for my poor mother. I think my brother knew that he needed to do the same for my mother and I. He looked at me, went over to my mother and pulled her away from his body. He said “That isn 't him anymore, mom. He doesn 't have to suffer
I have spent much of my college career working with people who need a hand up instead of working on namable honors. I enjoy volunteering, taking on difficult tasks and schedules, and being involved behind the scenes of good things. My largest interest is learning and I dedicate most of my time to it. I attend every training, seminar, and presentation I can because I believe that knowledge is power. I am preparing to be well-rounded, well prepared, well educated, and professional in my field. I have faced challenges that could have stopped me from ever coming this far in my education and in my life plans, but I have pushed myself past anything life has thrown at me. I have gone far above and beyond what was required of me to just get by,
In particular, my family faced a financial hardship in 2012 when my dad was let go from his job due to cut backs in his office. This valley eventually became a hill, but it took time, almost 4 years. My dad had to relocate to various states over the course of four years to find work in his field, whether it was two hours or ten plus hours away. His determination to do whatever was necessary to provide for his family, gave me a greater appreciation for overcoming life’s obstacles. It is because of these values I was taught growing up that I have been able to push through and succeed. My family values, work ethic, and personal experiences have allowed me as an individual to reach out to others and teach them such responsibilities. Through pageantry I have enjoyed working with ladies of all ages, ethnicities, and cultures to develop the best them they can be. From interview coaching to teaching them to walk with confidence no matter the situation, reaching out to others on various occasions is routed deep within me and has help shape me into the person I am today, along with my family. Becoming a responsible employee at the age of 17, I have learned that all things are possible when you stay focused, work hard, and push yourself beyond the limits to accomplish goals in
What I know now is in sharp contrast to what I would have said a couple years ago if someone by chance had asked me “what motivated me, to excel both academically and professionally”. I would have attempted to answer their question, of course out of courtesy, but for the most part, I would have been dumbfounded. Dumbfounded, not because I had a lack of ambition but because I had not found myself. My grandmother had indeed told me that “You are something special”, but after all don’t plenty of relatives tell that to kids? At first glance this may seem quite deranged, one might ask how you could live with yourself for over seventeen years
I believe I exemplify the determination needed to succeed as well as influence others into success as a student and contributor to the educational community at the University of California. Whether that determination is expressed in the classroom or different realms of life, I feel as though I motivate and bring the best out of people. By buying into other students lives and aiding them in times of emotional despair or academic strife, it enhances the outcome of our educational community and the wellbeing of students. Although it can’t be expressed in class setting, being able to put others satisfaction over my own has proved to be worth it in every situation. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Glorification by others brings about positive
I see all my family members dressed in black. I wipe the tears with my sleeve. I look around to find people I haven't seen for years and years living miles and miles away from me. I look around. There's granny. Standing there. Looking sharp as can be. A handful of tissues ready to mourn someone else's death. Granny is alive. Who died? There's a big picture, leaning against a casket. A picture of me. Underneath reading, Brooke Elizabeth Peterson. My name. My picture. My casket. My death. I could feel a hand grabbing around my heart. Beads of water started falling down my cheek, one after another. I fall to the ground. The cellar, the fire. It killed me. Now lying in the casket I so selfishly hoped someone else was in. The world quickly turned into a blur, as well as the sounds, the tastes the smells, everything was gone. The last few emotions pounded against me as I slowly lost the feeling of feeling. The world around me went from colors to black. This was it. The four was three. I was one slowly becoming zero. So now
I remember the exact night, being woken by my mother, grandmother, and great uncle, only to be told that my father has died in the hospital post-dialysis from cardiac arrest. Arriving to his literal death bed, I shook hands with the turning point of my life, the introduction to the further years of being lost.
The first time I was affected by death was in 1973, this was when my stepfather died. The morning he fell out of bed onto the floor. My house was very dark and gloomy, although it was 3am in the morning. A huge thump upon the floor was heard, it sounded more like a cannoning being fired. My mother let out a loud scream when she called my father’s name. My siblings and I all came storming into the bedroom. My dad had a stroke.
As an honor student at West Hills High School in Santee, California I have high expectations and prestigious aspirations to strive for in the near future. I was raised in a suburban home by my two parents who are currently together after 28 years of marriage and are both entrepreneurs who own their own separate companies. My parents set the standard high for me to succeed and perform well in life; I feel I have lived up to their expectations. I have learned how to recuperate from failure and loss, and how to practice healthy life habits. Although, the transition from childhood to maturation was difficult; I never felt alone. I did have to overcome many obstacles that I felt I had to endure individually. The most significant strain in my life
Saturday, April 5th, 2014 at 7:30 was when I discovered my mom, dead. Most horrifying image ever; her cold, lifeless body just lying on the floor. She had been there for some time; she was so cold and blue. She had an imprint of the crack in the hard floor accost her face. My Mom had sleep apnea. Doctor told her to use a machine for it, but it’s so loud and uncomfortable for her; so she never used it. That day began like every other day; it was the Friday morning last day of school before spring break. Exited for spring break. We planned to go down to California to visit our grandparents. My brothers and sisters and I all woke up at 6. Got our clothes packed and things we all wanted to bring. It was around 7:20 when I went upstairs to check and see if she was up and ready to leave in 30 minutes.
Many individuals visit nail salons to get manicures done by a professional nail artist, while others design their nails in the comfort of their own homes. The only thing they have in mind when they are painting their nails is how beautiful they are going to look like after they are done. They don’t think of the consequences of using nail polish has on their health. They don’t know that nail polish is toxic and can damage their health, and possibly even kill them. According to scientific studies, excessively applying nail polish has adverse effects on human health, due to the chemicals and toxins that are contained in nail polish mixtures.
As a non-traditional student, I have a plethora of experiences that have led me toward the path I am pursing today. I took a sabbatical after high school, opting to spend the next few years traveling the country on a mission to find my true self. Throughout my journey I learned more about life than I had ever anticipated. I was not only forced to expose the true depths of myself, but I also experienced the very essence of mankind. Seeing what the land had to offer conjured a level of personal strength that I never knew I was capable of. As I learned more about myself, and about the world, I became remarkably aware of my morality, my beliefs and values, and ultimately discovered my purpose. Stemming from an innate yearning to help those who are unable to help themselves, working with children in need became a non-negotiable requirement of my future career path.