1.

Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively

influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.

I have paved the pathway for those who look up to me. As an older sister and a cousin, it

is my obligation to set an outstanding model for those who look up to me. When I was younger, I

looked up to my mom, who was a single mother. She was able to go to school , keep a job and

raise 4 kids whilst being elegant and successful. I want to be able to set that model, so, for my

sisters and cousins I have showed them the pathway to success via hard work. I have been

involved in extracurricular activities, clubs and community activities and lead teams and my

peers. My sisters have begun to follow in my footsteps, both are successful in school and have

joined extracurricular activities to be like me as one said. I have lead them by example,

keeping above a 4.0 for my and junior years of high school. I have been in the high school's

music program and competed on sports teams. I have also shown my leadership skills in school. I

am currently participating in the Gaucho Marching Brigade, the El Capitan Symphonic Band and

the track team, specifically the shot put and discus unit. I am the clarinet section leader for both

musical groups. Throughout the years I have shown freshman and my peers how to fix rhythms

and techniques. My section in the band is successful because I get to teach them how to play

their instrument and be their best self. I lead by example; I practice my instrument often (2-4

hours a day on the weekends and a minimum of 2 hours on weekdays) and I take responsibility

for faults. Within my experiences I have learned how to delegate time and manage others. As a

leader I have learned to listen to what other say so that I can grow as a person and a premier; I

am also able to help those around me better themselves by telling them my experiences.
3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and

demonstrated that talent over time?

Work ethic, its necessary in daily life, whether you need it for school, your job or even

to cook dinner. My greatest skill is my work ethic. I typically get things like homework, projects,

class work etc. done quickly because I work very fast and tackle the easy parts of each

assignment first so I have time to focus on the more difficult parts of assignments. In group

projects I am often first to finish my part of the project. I usually finish my homework during

school because I work quickly to get the assignment done and often I get a high score on each

assignment because I am very detail oriented. In band I am often first to memorize a piece of

music such as a march. If I dont understand how to do something, either in my school work or

in my music I ask how to do it or practice relentlessly until I know how to do what i previously

didnt understand. In music I practice a rhythm I dont understand until I can no longer get that

rhythms wrong and then its off to the next nuisance in music or in my schooling. In sports I am

one of the people who will keep practicing to be the best because I dont want to lose. I practice

basics and then move onto something more challenging, such as a spin I dont fully understand

for discus. Not only do I have a great work ethic, I am also very motivated. In class I do my best

and often have high grades and I am not afraid to ask questions so that I can better understand a

topic and expand my knowledge. In sports I am always practicing because I dont want to

embarrass myself. In band I am constantly practicing so that there is nothing my band director

can pick on and so my section has no doubt in me and will ask me a question if they need to. I
am motivated in my core subjects in school. I have maintained above a 4.0 for half of my high

school career and strive to keep my GPA high.

4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or

worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.

Larger cities, new ideas, new people and better schools. That was my introduction to

Merced and it was a scary and difficult transition. I grew up in Chowchilla, a mere 22 miles from

my current school, yet, there is a drastic difference in educational opportunities. When I switched

schools it was very difficult leaving everything I knew behind, but I left it for a better future. I

switched at a very difficult time; common core was just being enforced in all school and when I

switched, it had just been set as a standard in Merced. It was difficult to keep up at a faster pace

of learning in Merced but I kept above a 3.5 GPA by working as hard as I could. My sophomore

year I took an AP class as a sophomore, I had, in total, 9 classes. I ended up not doing so well

that year and learned that I never wanted to go through that again so I worked very hard my

junior year. I took two AP classes and kept a high position in band along with being in sports. I

ended up finishing out the year with a 4.14 GPA. In that year I didnt slack off like I did my

sophomore year. It was difficult to put so much work into school but I ended up putting all of my

effort into it and studying very hard for my AP tests and passing both of them. I had no time

because when I wasnt in school, I was doing homework or I was at a parade or a track meet or I

was practicing or studying for something. Now, its my senior year and I have kept my work

ethic. In, Chowchilla, there was never a need for work ethic because school never had any
opportunities, when I came to Merced there were and are so many opportunities. My sophomore

year I had to break the barrier blocking my mindset and put in more work. It has paid off and this

year, I will graduate with a white gown and a gold cord because I am a CSF student.

5. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken

to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic

achievement?

Bullying affects 3.2 million students in school every year. I, along with all of those

people, know ow much bullying affects you. When I was younger I didnt have any friends and I

was constantly bullied, it was relentless. I decided not to worry about what people said and focus

on my schooling. I decided that I would also take up reading. I have been a very successful

student and I have had high grades for the majority of my life. I was bullied for being a nerd and

many other things. It wasnt until my 7th grade year that I let my criticism motivate me. I worked

hard and was above average. I was switched into honors classes and did well. I decided to keep

working hard because it proved to be a good thing. I switched districts and was bullied when I

came to Merced but I decided not to listen to it. I became a motivator for other students who

dealt with the same thing. I have focused on my school and others. I was an academic mentor in

which I helped other students with their homework. AT that point I learned that it wasnt always

a bad thing to be considered a nerd. I learned that I could help other people. This year, is my

senior year. I have kept the criticism with me and I have used it to motivate me. I graduate as a

CSF student. I am a section leader for two sections in band. I am vice president for band council.

I am in track on the shot put and discus unit and was on the varsity team when I started. I am
always going to do my best and I strive to be the best because I use what I overcame to motivate

me to do me best.