College Essay

My parents are both very business oriented, which makes them very outgoing. I on the other hand, am very shy and keep to myself. In order to overcome my shyness, my father decided I should continue my studies abroad in the United States. Considering the difficulty and pressure in China, I agreed with my father and decided to come study in America. 

     In 2011, I attended Lake Mary Prep School for my junior year. This was my first experience traveling abroad alone. I experienced a variety of emotions including excitement, anxiety, and stress, but also a great deal of joy. To my surprise, I was able to understand my school work and able to keep up with my classes without the use of a translator. I was proud of myself for accomplishing this because it is hard work for a new international student.

      While I am excited that I have overcome my fear of traveling alone and studying in a foreign country, I still have difficulty speaking with people and stepping out of my comfort zone of being shy.

  After one year of studying, I was chosen to participate in a Meritas summer camp held at Oxford University because of my good grades. I was one of only three international students selected by LMP to participate in this program. I was extremely honored and surprised have been chosen.

   I am truly enjoying my experience at LMP. I am a straight A student; I am a member of the basketball team, bowling club, math club, and the leader of global society. However, even with my accomplishment and activity involvement I am still very bashful and have difficulty in engaging others in conversation. However, I’m getting better at it by talking to new people that in the past, I would not have interacted with.

   While studying in Oxford for two weeks, I was finally able to overcome my fear, making it one of the best experiences of my life. Two weeks may seem like a short period of time, but its impact will last a lifetime. The friendships I formed in Oxford have given me the confidence to become more outgoing, allowing me to move beyond my bashfulness. I continue to carry that confidence as I meet and speak different people. As a result, my interactions with others are not limited to just “hi” and “bye”.  I discovered a whole new side of myself that I never knew existed. In only two weeks, I traveled to a new place, made new friends, and discovered a new me.

   Though this experience, I have changed my perspective and approach to life. I no longer hope to go unnoticed. I embrace every opportunity to build relationships and make great memories.

   I expect my final year of high school to be the best and look forward to what this year has to offer.