Sample Essay 1

I started tenth grade three years ago after my family moved to the United States from Mexico. I had to face the problems of not knowing the language or how the education system worked. I felt alone. Everything was different from my country. I could not express myself with the people around me. Often I felt frustrated. Many people told me that graduating would be hard for me because I did not know the language and was just starting to learn English.

Instead of being upset about this comment, it motivated me to study hard and to get good grades. My goal then was to graduate from high school with good grades and on time with the rest of the students my age. My counselor gave me credit for my transcript I brought from Mexico. She told me if I finished the requirements for graduation, I could graduate with other students my age.

Finally I did it. I graduated from high school on time. I was fifth place in my class and so happy to receive my diploma with high honors.

My family had a large part in my achievements in high school and continues to be a source of motivation in my achievements in college. I am the youngest in the family and the first one to graduate from high school and to attend college. My sister quit school and got married at an early age. This was another thing that motivates me to continue my education through college. I want very much to make my parents proud of me.

My family encourages me to be part of activities at school and in the community. Although I was involved in many activities in high school, here at San Diego State University, I find that it is harder for me to be involved in extracurricular activities, because my class schedule does not allow it and I have to take the bus 21 miles to get home. But I would like to join some organizations like Associated Students.

I like to work with people who are interested in developing the potential of students. I am also interested in the Native American Student Alliance student organization because I would like to know about their culture before I graduate.

In my community, I am involved in the youth group and in the choir of my church. I sing at mass every Sunday morning. In the church youth group I am the treasurer, and I am in charge of the group’s activities once a month. These activities demand commitment, responsibility and time.

College education is very important for my future. College is my opportunity to improve my life by having more opportunities to get better jobs, and to encourage my family to go back to school. In college you look into different ethnic groups, their backgrounds, style of thinking and ways to solve problems in the world. I think because I want to be a journalist, I need to have an open mind to understand the people in the community and to know more about the world in which we live.

My goal is to become a journalist who would be in touch with the people, helping them to make this world a more pleasant place in which to live.