College Admissions Essay

“You're so frail and slight in (the moon’s) silvery light; Our fate is not one we can fight.” (A Cruel Angel’s Thesis) Fate is predetermined by forces beyond human capacity, yet humans attempt to take control of the process through the pressures of society. Society applies a standard of perfection and success to new generation, even if the environment has changed to reflect a new era. As a teenager growing up in California, my life is influenced not from my wishes, but rather those of my environment, as competition is rampant to join the ranks of programmers and engineers. My parents want me to find a career that is ethical, and makes enough money to sustain myself and my future spouse. Although society impacts new generations to follow their

In the Bay Area, students are expected to overload their schedule with the hopes of entering a high ranking college. Society dictates in Silicon Valley that students have to be capable of fulfilling every activity possible as a measure of success. At home, my parents expect me to manage performing well in school, taking care of my grandmother and extended family, as well as a portfolio of projects and extracurricular. All of these are considered the standard load for a Bay Area student, and I am looked down upon for not doing more than what I currently have. Many of my friends or relatives are taking 5 AP or Honor’s courses, while volunteering all of their spare time in various organizations. I have chosen to avoid this route, and instead focus on the route that I am most passionate about. It’s a hard decision, as peer pressure affects every facet of my life, yet I feel that it is immoral for me to devote my time for classes and causes that I have less passion for than others. Recognizing the strenuous process of high school also requires examining life at home and the wishes of

Throughout The Kite Runner, Amir, the main character, has to decide whether to follow in his father’s footsteps and wishes, or to follow his own path. Amir desires to attend college to become a writer, yet his father wants him to become a lawyer or doctor, so he can pay the bills and live comfortably. After a lifetime of following his dad’s wishes, Amir responds, “But I would stand my ground, I decided. I didn’t want to sacrifice for Baba anymore” (Hosseni 142). Through the phrase, I would stand my ground, Amir demonstrates his ambition to live his life in the way that he feels is most productive. Although his father may have known what was best during his childhood, Amir understands his capabilities and his desires better than his father. Parent’s have desires that they wish to imprint on their children, yet it is society that dictates the way we live our