College Admissions Essay: I Am A Boring Girl

I am a Boring girl. Not to be confused with uninteresting, dull, or unexciting. By Boring girl, I mean, I was raised in Boring, Oregon, a rural town conveniently placed between Portland and Mount Hood. Growing up on a farm and being raised by an outdoorsmen dad, I learned to appreciate the indigenous flora and fauna nestled within the stunning Oregon landscape. I raised bunnies, ducks, and quail, and at one point raised a pet squirrel named Chippy. Through volunteering and leadership class, I got to know the majority of the students and members in my town and enjoyed discovering the subtle nuances that differentiated our lives and upbringing. Eventually though, all ducklings need to spread their wings and fly, so I spread my tiny wings

However, I did not imagine it to be possible because my mother passed away when my sister and I were little, and my dad was diagnosed with cancer my junior year in high school, so we had no income and an exorbitant amount of medical bills. After discovering one of my scholarships would aid me on my quest to expand my knowledge, professionalism, and competency in another country, I set out on a mission to study abroad. However, I found my major, Communications Disorders and Sciences, has a strict schedule for my classes that will not allow me to study abroad during the school year if I want to stay on track and graduate on time, so studying abroad during the summer is my only option! I had hoped to study abroad the summer after my freshmen year, but my father passed away after a two year long battle with cancer, and I spent the summer grieving and repairing for the upcoming school year. The summer after my sophomore year, I faced a similar challenge when my brother-in-law passed away. My sister had two small children, and one on the way, when her fiancé passed away from his battle with cancer. Again, I spent the summer grieving, and taking care of my sister, her children, and our household. Now, I have my eyes fixed on this upcoming summer, and I found the perfect program to advance my Spanish speaking abilities, discover the rich culture of Oviedo, Spain, and further my cultural