[Student Profile]
GPA: 3.9
SAT/ACT: 1440/33
Academic focus/Extracurricular activities: taekwondo, internship, python
[Prompt & Essay]
What have you done to make your school or your community a better place? (350 words)
It was my first day coming to Tamil School in my new role as a teaching assistant. Greeted with screaming kids, confused parents, and a teacher overwhelmed by the madness, I started a game and engaged the kids. Soon the class was quiet with eager faces looking up at me. I saw a relieved smile on my teacher’s face. Every Sunday morning for ten years, I wasn’t enthusiastic about attending Tamil school. My peers and I found the content irrelevant. When I graduated, I thought I’d escaped this weekly nightmare. However, in the fall of the next school year, I received an email inviting me to return as a teaching assistant. Surprising myself, I signed up. Why this lapse in rational judgment? At home, my parents introduced me to the traditions of Tamil Nadu, such as Navarathiri (a festival where we put up a display of idols for nine nights), Pongal (the harvest festival to thank farmers), and Tamil New Years. They enrolled me in Tamil School as a way for me to learn more about my ethnic background and deepen my connection to my roots, but I wrote off the opportunity as lame. My superficial understanding of Tamil culture pushed me to go back because I know there is so much more to learn and explore about this part of my identity.
Therefore, I chose to return to Tamil School not only to rectify my mistake but also to effectively engage other children in learning about our culture. As a teaching assistant, I utilize my role to present the curriculum in a relatable manner. Instead of just speaking at my students, I encourage them to share their personal experiences with Tamil traditions and history, then present new information in this personally relevant context. To reinforce understanding, we play games. I ensure everyone is heard and valued.
I’m eternally grateful that I chose to return to Tamil school. As I work to connect my students to our South Indian heritage, I feel closer to my family, see where I fit in with my culture, and am eager to learn more.