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.
My name is Mwizerwa, a Kinyarwanda world for ‘trustworthy’, and I have lived it for most times. In grade 4, I was given the position of class captain because of my name and academic excellence. I despised that post, but I had no other choice but to accept it because that was what was expected of me. Things turned from bad to worse when I was punished in front of the whole class to set an example. I hated it, and I hated everything that had turned me into a class captain. The following years, I drifted away. I never participated in any school activities for fear that I would be noticed.
Secondary school was no different; I had gained weight and turned into a social disaster. I had no friends, and did not feel good in my skin. I started starving myself, mainly because the food was tasteless, but also because I had to lose weight. This went on until I was diagnosed with ulcers, and was forced to eat more. I lost fifteen kilograms in one week. Things turned out differently when I was nominated to be miss value. It was my first time on stage, and my first time modelling. I liked it. But the competition was cancelled a little time after that.
The ulcers healed, and I changed schools for grade 10. I became a Gashora girl. I had not yet fully gone out of my shell, but things were changing.in the first year, I joined the leadership club despite the stereotypes I had about leadership. I wanted to understand the thing that had brought so much pain to my fourth grade self. I realised I had confused leadership. Leadership meant taking initiative, and doing things to inspire others. A leader is able to stand alone, even when no one is supporting her. I was not able to endure standing alone then, because I did not believe in the position I was in. As of now, I am ready to fight for what I believe in, even if it means standing alone against the world.
I no longer hid inside myself; instead, I gave out my best. I applied and got admitted to the WiSci camp in the summer of 2015. It was a three week long intensive camp aimed at encouraging girls to join STEM careers. We learnt many fun technologies like visual programming and robotics, but we also learnt diversity. We were girls from eight different African countries and the USA. Throughout the camp, I experienced what it meant to be a global citizen. We had cultural nights, where we exchanged our values and origins. We also bonded over various game and competitions.
After the camp, I had a desire to give back to my community. I became a member of the agriculture club, because I knew I could help people through the club. My first contact with the farmers was during an information session about conservation agriculture. They were confused when we told them to use sticks for planting in order to minimize oil disruption. I had to find an alternative for them. So I designed a seed planter, a tool used to plant without disrupting the soil. I have almost finished the production of the seed planter, and I believe that it will revolutionize the agricultural sector when it goes on the market.
‘You may now move your tassel from left to the right as a sign of your graduation’ and I completed my high school education. Looking back, I have been transformed from the shy girl to a more accomplished person. I no longer hid my academic excellence; instead I proudly took my award for having the best GPA in my class. I don’t despise leadership anymore, I take part in decision making at my school. I have not completed everything, my book has just started, the rest is still unwritten.
PS: I wrote this essay for University of Chicago, but I did not submit it, so we shall never know if it would have gotten me in.
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