GRADUATE PERSONAL STATEMENT (BEFORE)
I was already stressed when the phone rang. I was trying to study lines for tomorrow’s sitcom audition while working at a nightclub. When I picked up, Jake was yelling. “Dru just texted me, he’s at a club, and they’re shooting. He’s hiding in the bathroom—” I told Jake to calm down, saying it’s just two drunk guys being stupid. Jake screamed back, “It’s a hate crime!” But I didn’t believe him until I saw CNN counting the dead from Pulse. By the time my shift was over, Dru’s phone went to voicemail. By morning, he was missing. Two days later, we found out Dru and his boyfriend Juan were dead. They were 2 of the 47 killed in the worst mass shooting.
After that, I started rethinking my life. Life could end anytime, was I doing what I wanted? I was acting in NYC, but this wasn’t what I wanted to be known for. I was in bad movies and sitcoms, and my side job was serving drinks to sad people in clubs. Within two weeks, I was looking at NYU's post-bacc programs and picked pre-med. Not because I dreamed of being a doctor, but because I liked science and it started soon. Plus, saving lives felt more important after seeing how fragile life was.
Being the oldest in almost every class, people called me “Abuela.” In bio, girls would stay after class so I could explain pedigrees. In physics, people came early to ask me about problems. By biochem, some students found out I went to happy hour at the International hotel, and they’d join me to talk about class. I liked being the one people came to for help. It was better than pretending to be a fake drug addict on TV. People said I explained things well, made it fun, and was always encouraging.
When I finished classes and got a good MCAT score, I was supposed to apply to med school. But I couldn’t. It wasn’t my dream. When I told my friends and family, they said I was stupid. I didn’t know what I’d do, but I couldn’t do medicine half-heartedly. They say if you can imagine doing anything else, do that instead.
While figuring things out, my dad asked me to tutor his neighbor’s kid in chemistry. The kid had a big test and was freaking out. I didn’t think I’d be good at it, but I said yes. That one lesson turned into ten, and one kid turned into 20. Now, I’ve taught over 300 students and run three education companies. I realized I’d found what I was meant to do. Helping others reach their dreams felt better than chasing my own. I’ve cried happy tears at their acceptance letters. Together, we’ve survived bad classes, awful tests, essays, and interviews.
Now, I’m in my office in Detroit, proud of what I’ve done but knowing this isn’t the end. I’ve mostly helped people who can afford private tutoring, but not everyone can. When I moved to Detroit, I loved how creative and diverse it was. It was what I wanted LA to be but wasn’t. But Detroit also had a lot of crime, and I saw how bad the education system was. I believe fixing education is the only way to fix everything else. Most crimes come from desperation or ignorance. If people have a chance to succeed, they won’t turn to crime.
I want to change that. That’s why I want this degree. At Penn, I’ll learn how to create programs and tools to help more students. Education can change lives. It brings awareness, health, money, and peace. I want to give everyone the same chance to see Detroit the way I do. With Penn’s help, I can make a bigger impact.