My Most Beneficial Personal Quality

I have taken advantage of the education opportunities presented me thus far to prepare for college in many ways. First and foremost I have ensured that I have enjoyed a wide variety of classes and electives to provide me the opportunity to explore as broad a subject selection as possible. Most of the courses I have focused on in my senior year have been college preparatory. College preparation however is much more than academics alone. I have also experienced many educational opportunities that exist outside the realm of traditional ‘academics'. These experiences have prepared me more so for my college experiences than my preparatory courses. I have for example faced many challenges while growing up. During my four years of high school I engaged in a variety of extracurricular activities and clubs that taught me much more about the ways that people interact and communicate than I ever would have initially assumed. Participating in many volunteer organizations and student achievement groups, I realized that not two people interact in the same way. Most people I learned are products of many different elements including their beliefs, values, morals and faith. One's religious ideals, culture and even familial upbringing can all influence their perceptions on life, their ability and motivation to interact with others and their desire to achieve. With this knowledge I learned new and exciting ways to interact with people, even those that were very different from me and with those that held very different beliefs. In fact in most of my pursuits I found myself drawn to those with conflicting ideals and moralisms, in part because they challenges me to learn more about myself and question the beliefs I held true about the world in which we live. I believe it is through these types of interactions that we actually learn everything there is to know of the world. We need to rely on people that challenge us and our views so we open our eyes and get a better understanding of the world in which we live. I feel these diverse educational experiences while not academic, have prepared me for life in the university more so than any classroom instruction may have or will in the future. I bring to the University of California a unique ability to network and work personally with people. By far my most beneficial personal quality is my ability to build relationships and communicate with a wide diversity of people from varying backgrounds, cultures and environments. In today's society it is vital for anyone to understand the importance of interpersonal skills and relationships both on a personal and from a professional perspective. More and more the world is operating in a global business environment. Modern technology has afforded people the opportunity to communicate from once remote locations. What this means is that people from all over the world with all manner of different morals, values and beliefs are not just communicating with one another but also working together to create a better world. As members of a global society I feel it is vital that we all have the ability to communicate effectively with one another. Sometimes this takes the guidance and direction of a true interpersonal leader. I believe I am possessed of those traits. I have throughout my high school career taken great care to interact with people from various backgrounds and ethnicities. I have participated in multiple groups, clubs and organizations that have enabled better exposure to different people and have helped me learn better ways to communicate with one another. I have also witnessed first hand what happens when communication goes bad, and have since committed myself to facilitating solid communications and interactions between people. I believe this personal trait will benefit the University of California in many ways. The University of California is one of the nations top universities; home to thousands of unique students and home of many of the nations top academic programs. Early on I knew that more than anything I wanted to pursue the best education I could afford. To succeed in today's world business professionals and students must be possessed of a wide range of skills that are best learned in a University environment. I feel that throughout my life I have already faced many unique challenges and obstacles. I was not always a committed student, lacking the insight and motivation necessary to excel in my classes early on. However experience has taught me that little in the world is more valuable than an education. Every day on the news we hear stories of tragedy. Hurricanes that devastate infamous regions, terrorism that destroys the livelihood and communities of varying regions†¦ these are all modern realities we must learn to cope with. To address the often-turbulent environment we live in today, it is vital that we all commit ourselves to one another and our communities. I feel that I can best do this by excelling in my education. Through my university education I hope to learn not only of the fine nuances of other communities, but also about key demographics about the worlds' population and needs entering the upcoming decades.