Please feel free to provide a statement concerning any information you would like to add to your application that you haven't addressed elsewhere.
When I was a college junior, I received the devastating news that my father had eye cancer, was losing his vision, and could no longer continue working. My family faced an emotional and financial struggle, and my contribution was important to both. I had always admired my father and the financial assistance he gave my grandfather, so I was determined to help however I could. Ultimately, although it pained me to sacrifice some aspects of my college experience, I decided to take a near full-time job while remaining a full-time student to help pay my father’s medical bills.
Working 30 hours per week, attending classes, and striving to be emotionally supportive to my family was very challenging at the age of 19. In addition to my difficult academic commitments, my job was very demanding and required me to develop many new skills in a short time period.
Consequently, I missed out on many extracurricular and social activities and had to overcome many self doubts throughout the process. As I assessed my personal priorities, however, I discovered a passionate resolve to support my loved ones and a resilient spirit that has given me the confidence to succeed under even the most unfavorable conditions. With my financial support, my father was able to maintain the sight in his left eye, and just as important, our family bond deepened during the crisis so that it is stronger now than before.
Although my academic performance experienced a downward trend during this time, the experience was truly a defining moment as I realized the importance of serving others in need. Ever since, making a difference by inspiring others has resonated very strongly with the values I strive to live by. On the community level, I leveraged my architectural knowledge and took on leadership roles for the nonprofit organization Habitat for Humanity. At Habitat, I have leveraged my design expertise and led hundreds of volunteers, in constructing 5 housing projects serving the local low-income residents. At work, I have initiated numerous training lectures to help staff growth. On a personal level, I have committed myself to helping friends through difficult times and have been an important resource for a severely depressed friend in music school. With my support, her attitude has improved dramatically and her performances have regained the poise and confidence that she had lost.
Accordingly, I know Haas is a great fit for me because of its unique and effective focus on social stewardship and collaborative teamwork. After leaving Haas, I will be well-prepared to make an important contribution to society at large as a forward-thinking and compassionate business leader.