College Essay – Risk Takers (Final)

Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.

If you had a chance to accomplish one of your wildest dreams, would you strive for it? However, your parents told you to do another job, against your dreams. Would you follow their directions instead of accomplishing that dream you longed for? Without doubt, the majority of you all would choose to strive for your dreams. However, I chose the other choice. Why? Because risk takers would profit from the learning experience. Through a rare opportunity to join Watoto’s service trip, my decisions, service skills, and views on Africa have dramatically changed positively.

First of all, Watoto’s service trip has made my decision making stronger. Watoto is a non-Governmental organization that helps children and widows in Uganda. I was eager to do service, but before the trip, I didn’t want to go at all. I stubbornly questioned myself, “Should I go there… Should I? But I don’t like this place!” It is at that moment where I realized that my heart and my body were fighting. So I prayed to God for wisdom and guidance for many months. Then, on the interview day, the interviewers asked me, “Do you want to join this service trip?” I knew this was a crucial decision to make, but I did not hesitate to answer, “Yes!” I did not regret making that decision.

Besides decision making, I also tackled one of my weaknesses – service skills. I had a pessimistic view towards serving, and I was not willing to serve others. However, I saw that the African children owned less items than we had, yet they had a heart of loving others. So I decided to give my best into what I could do. I gave my sweat and blood to help set up a spring well for the community, looking towards the reward of a fully functional spring well that the villagers could benefit from. Through this event, I came to a conclusion that the heart was a main component in service. Without love, you cannot serve others.

Finally, I realized my misconceptions about Africa. From a first-world point of view, I thought Africa was a depressing place, because they have very little in their lives. I turned out to be wrong. After giving a go at trying Ugandan culture, I absolutely regretted what I spoke about African culture. Africans love their simplistic, moderate paced lives, and they are always satisfied with what they had, so they got excited every time they saw a new shirt, a new toy, or even clean water. They also gave thanks for everything they had. Because of that, I got hooked into their realm of optimism. Not only have my viewpoints towards Africa been corrected, I also experienced real happiness from one of the poorest yet happiest countries in the world.

Watoto’s experience trip really turned my decisions, service skills, and African misconceptions around. At the end, the risk was well worth the reward. So, would you still choose to follow your dreams, or betray your dreams and take the risk?

Draft here: https://javierlamcollegewriting.school.blog/college-essay-risk-takers-draft/