The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don't feel obligated to do so. (The application won't accept a response shorter than 250 words.)


 

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? 


 

Ever since the summer before freshman year I have had a summer job. I would work

landscaping with my father Monday through Friday for long hours. At first I did not like it at all. My father would tell me that working and learning new skills was important. He also explained to me that learning to handle and earn your own money at a young age was also important. Landscaping was tough and it would take over most of my time but I stuck around since I was getting paid. At the time I did not understand why working a job was important and simply did not like it. I would look at my friends and classmates' social media posts and see them having fun and enjoying their summer and wished I could do the same. I would still hang out with my friends on the weekends but it just was not the same as the previous summers. As time passed and I progressed through high school my mindset began to change. I began to realize that the summer job I had was a positive thing in my life instead of a negative. I was able to buy things that I liked and previously could not obtain. I have always had a love for fashion and exclusive clothing, and I was finally able to purchase items I had been wanting for a long time. I was also able to save some money towards college which was extremely beneficial since I do not come from a wealthy family. Although I did not save a crazy amount of money it was still some help. I felt happy not having to ask my parents for extra money and put even more stress on them. I learned the immense sacrifices and work my father performs everyday so our family can have what we have. After seeing how hard my father works, I want to make him proud and be the first person in my family to attend a four year university. But the most important part of the job was time I got to spend with my dad. I didn’t notice this, but before the summer I hardly spent quality time with my dad. He was always busy at work for most of the week and even most weekends. And I was always at school, hanging out with my friends, or at soccer. Some of the great memories I have with my dad are from the summer and I would not trade that for anything. I challenged my father’s idea of a summer job being something positive, but as I matured I realized the valuable lessons it taught me and I do not regret it one bit. I hope to be able to apply the skills and lessons I have learned in my job as well as in school to create a positive impact at the University of Oregon and its community.