Forest fires routinely rip the land apart, violently destroying the cluttered mess of trees, bushes and foliage that burden the earth, leaving behind a scorched landscape desolate yet rich with potential for new growth. In much the same way, my life was changed. My forest fire came in the form of faulty wiring and a leaky propane tank, which sparked a flame that engulfed my entire home and nearly my mother, leaving my family homeless for a time. This was a defining moment in my life, one that changed some of the largest aspects of my life, and gave me an idea of what I wanted my personal identity to be. At the time, my house fire took so much from me that it seemed impossible that I would actually gain anything from the experience; but as a scorched landscape quickly grows back stronger than ever, I quickly became aware of the new perspective the experience had given me. My academic, social and family life had all drastically changed and I learned more from my fire than I ever could have thought.
What shocked me the most after my house fire was the overwhelming support that my family and I received from the surrounding community. Clothes were donated, frozen meals were made and beds from complete strangers were offered. I had never experienced this kind of blind support before, and to me, this was a
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But after coming so close to an experience that could’ve ended in my own funeral, I found a new passion in my academic life. Education became something to cherish in my life, an indulgence that I felt driven to pull as much information as possible from. School work gradually shifted from monotonous, repetitive lectures to intriguing and stimulation lessons. I am incredibly happy that I was able to find true passion in my school work, and I am excited to have the chance to bring my passion to the University of