UPs aNd dOwNS

Share an experience through which you have gained respect for intellectual, social, or cultural differences. Comment on how your personal experiences and achievements would contribute to the diversity of the University of Michigan.

Just before going on a stage, I looked around at my Creativity Olympiad team. There were a computer geek, a writer, two brilliant artists, and a class clown. As for me I was the leader and the actor; we really were a fantastic team. Judges were surprised as we began our play with computer graphics; a brightly shining holy fish costume captured everyone’s eyes; Sea Wook, and I swerved the audience’s emotions through out the play. Participating in the Creativity Olympiad made me realize the importance of diversity in a group. Since then, I have tried hard to develop my unique qualities such as leadership and speech skills.

I am a student from South Korea who has attended a high school that emphasizes Korean traditions and cultures which most present young Koreans never learned. In school, my friends and I have been wearing hanbok (Korean traditional clothes) for past three years. We bow to seniors and teachers every time we meet them, as a show of respect. When I enter Minjok Education Center next to the dormitory, I feel like entering a miniature size Gyeongbokgung, a Choson Dynasty palace. Moreover, I have learnt to play daegeum, a traditional Korean woodwind and eventually have become one of the best daegeum players in my school. These experiences helped me to appreciate my Korean roots.

As a person who knows the importance of diversity and value my own ancient Korean culture, I hope to be a real asset to the University of Michigan.