Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. (650 words)
The resiliency of humans has always fascinated me. Despite our physiological and mental limitations, we continue to learn, explore, discover, and invent anyway. Born with a language acquisition disability, I learned early on how humanity is defined by its commitment to constantly break barriers.
I could not speak until I was almost six. It was an interesting yet lonely struggle to overcome as my native language felt completely foreign to me. I struggled to pick up new words and follow the endlessly confusing grammar rules in the English language; it's so hard to understand when your own language is consistent only with its inconsistency.
Shortly after I was diagnosed, I started using a device created to help speech-impaired people. Every day, as I practiced constructing and pronouncing sentences, the device taught me how to communicate verbally. In this way, technology gave me my voice. Seeing the power of technology has inspired me to work with artificial intelligence and robotics.
To follow this passion, I've been participating in FRC Robotics competitions for the past three years. My efforts are concentrated on embedded systems programming, behavioral programming and sensors. Competing at the [name], my team won our regional design award in 2014, and the Entrepreneurship Award in 2015. This last achievement was very important for me, as I actively participated in putting together a business plan for building robotic assistants - the autonomous devices helping humans carry on with their daily tasks, like cleaning and recycling. Having an impairment taught me the value of robotic aid and backing, so our business plan reflected my passion and drive, which was noticed by the judges.
Over time, I learned how to become a better communicator. During my time at the [name] summer program at UC Berkeley, I felt proud to receive praise from my teammates and instructors for my concise, thoughtful, and well-structured presentations intertwined with demos and visual aids. My initial struggle with verbal communication has made me more innovative and thoughtful with other methods of communication. For example, I created a prototype ID badge with a screen which could be altered to only display information relevant to a given situation. To present this project, I wrote a sketch that our team performed to show the interactive benefits of having the right info and good timing. The variety of projects we completed - from flying machines to biology-inspired robots to assistive devices and tensegrity systems - helped me appreciate the diversity of sources for inspiration and innovation.
From my early childhood, I have been eager to continue a family legacy. My great-grandfathers, grandfathers, and my dad studied engineering and devoted their professional careers to building power stations, designing new industrial machines, or writing software. It was important for me to overcome any deficiency that could hinder my pursuit of a career in engineering. Apart from my passion for the subject, my family history has provided inspiration for me to pursue my dream. Shortly after getting his college diploma, my great-grandfather was killed defending his native city Kyiv, Ukraine, during World War II. I have been told that he was a smart and diligent person and, like me, in love with engineering. Also, he worked hard to overcome his obstacles: poverty, hunger, and limited access to education. I strive to model his path by being enthusiastic, devoted, and persistent. I believe my language impairment helped me develop these traits.
Indeed, my disability - a great obstacle - has made me a stronger person, calling forth my fortitude, creativity, and productivity. It taught me how to work hard. I refuse to let language difficulties affect my learning. Comforted by the progress I've made toward my communication skills, I feel ready for college. My struggle has inspired my dream: to create new technologies that make people's lives more productive, pleasurable, and interesting. I am eager to work diligently to make this dream a reality.
(645 words)