Rodriguez 1

Emanuel Rodriguez
4 PIQs
5 May, 2017

Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced
others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time.
About 2 or 3 years ago it was a beautiful thursday morning, but not just any morning, it
was christmas eve, my father was going to go work, like he usually does at 6:00 am. We knew he
would be back from a small job and then we would all be together to celebrate this beautiful day.
30 mins later, we got a phone call from my father, but little did we know that my father had been
followed by the immigration patrols and soon he was stopped and deported.
Hearing those news, me and my family started crying but we tried to keep calm. My
father was taken away and my mother was having a hard time, trying to deal with everything that
was going on, at that time I knew I had to step in and take over my fathers position and help. I
had to step up and help out, around the house and wonder what my father would have done.
First, I tried to calm my siblings down, of course they were young and very upset, but they
clearly understood what was happening. I tried to calm them down by telling them that he would
be back. We all still had school, and my mother had to work extra hard to keep the financial
balance, sadly I didnt have age to work. But I would help in any way possible, such as being on
top of my siblings to do their homework, helping around the house with chores and being a good
role model and showing them how to deal with these types of situations. Everything was so sad
at home, but I always tried to cheer my family by telling them to go out somewhere to get our
minds distracted, but never forgetting my father. Dealing with all the problems that were
occurring, I knew I had to be the leader in my family, which was significant in helping my
family get through this hardship. I was young, but I understood what was happening and I knew I
had to step in until my father came back.
My father was away for weeks now, not knowing when he would be back with us. I was
still at home helping my mother with all the problems and with taking care of my siblings. My
siblings looked up on me and I was their role model for them to follow. I helped them pass
through this hardship, helping them succeed in school and continuing our lives. I understood we
couldnt stay disappointed forever and that we would have to continue with our lives, because
its what my father would have wanted. He doesnt want us to be sobering at home. So I
encourage my family to continue with our lives and that when life throws something like this at
us, we have to learn to confront it and keep moving forward. Long term effects were that I lead
my family and I helped them keep moving forward, of course never forgetting my father. This
has taught me how to deal with problems that life throws at us unexpectedly. It might be tough,
but we must keep moving forward and try our best to continue.
We continued like this for a few more weeks. Then my father called and told us that he
might be detained somewhere else, so they were going to move him far away from us. The next
 Rodriguez 2

few days, the prison was releasing people at random. Then one day they called his name and he
was told he would return back with us. He told us he was released and was back home!
I am proud of having my family with me and Im proud to be able to help my father by
taking care of the family when he isnt here. I have the honor of being a first generation graduate
and leading my family into future success.
Word Count:656
 Rodriguez 3

Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving,
original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express
your creative side.

Click/Clap, Plop-Wwwiiiisshhh & Scribble. From building to painting/drawing I always

did my best to express my creativity. I love to be creative in everything I do and its a quality I
was born with. Creativity is power; power to another universe of imagination and never ending
ideas.
From projects at school, remembering how my father and I built a replica of Wall-E ( a
robot from a Pixar Disney movie) for a project at my elementary school after the movie first
came out or when I built a Rube Goldberg machine (a complicated machine that accomplishes
simple tasks) such as watering plants or picking up a spoon.
Building things with Legos with my siblings helps me get creative by inventing things
other than just a regular house or car. Together we combine our ideas to make, one of our best
projects, the incredibly big flying car with huge thrusters and awesome windows, while building
this I also released my creativity when making a story with my brother about villains and heroes
using our great invention. I also enjoy building things that will work in my convenience some
way whether it is a desk, stairs, a pet house (which I recently built). Building these things also
helps me strengthen my building skills and mathematical skills, for example when measuring
wood. Making things out of wood, pipes, metal and playing with my little brother helps me get
my inner creativeness out.
I love to combine elements of my graphic memory to paint a picture for example, I
recently went to the beach and then sometime later I will create an image of what I saw, like the
rushing waves, a group of seagulls, a pelican diving for a fish, the bright green palm trees, the
beach umbrellas and the people all under a great temperature. This will be one of the best
projects yet. I also love drawing/painting because everyone has a unique style of doing it. I had a
natural talent for art it was like second nature for me. When I draw/paint, it helps me express my
thoughts and it also helps me concentrate on what Im doing, rather than everything else around
me. I have a good graphic memory which has helped me with my drawings because I love to
draw nature and animals and knowing how nature looks, Im able to develop a great picture.
Many have complimented me on my amazing talent, Wow, you did this, you have a great talent,
you can make this your passion. This artwork is amazing. I love the different colors and
techniques of painting, it unleashes my inner creativeness after every brush or every dash on the
paper or canvas.
Word Count:451
 Rodriguez 4

What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and
demonstrated that talent over time?
Art is its own language and it speaks for itself, depending on how people interpret it. It
all started around the age of 8, when my first artwork was Popeye, from my favorite show
Popeye. One day my mother bought some art supplies and we went to our backyard and we
started painting anything that we wanted to, of course I wanted to paint my favorite character
because I admired it, like any other kid who admired Johnny Bravo or the Looney Toons. This
was one of my first paintings. I always liked to color and draw when I was in kindergarten,
which might explain my artistic talent. I am self taught, except for a couple of classes I took
when I was very young. But besides that, I learned from experience of drawing and look at
videos that showed different techniques from sources like YouTube.
One of the best pieces of artwork I have ever done was drawing the view of the beach.
These drawing are significant because, in order to make an amazing work of art, I need
dedication, patience, and time. The drawing of the beach was the best yet along with the
thanksgiving one. My drawings dont really have a meaning until I finally see the result and
think about it. The beach may symbolize San Diego, my hometown. I believe San Diego is by far
the best place in the U.S. The beach can also symbolize peace and joy as well as freedom.
As I have grown my talent of drawing and painting, I started to display my art, but at first
I was shy about displaying it because I didn't know what people would think of them, but people
admire it. As time passed, I gained experience and confidence. I entered art competitions outside
of school an in school at a young age. School competitions were mostly about who can make the
best drawing/design for specific reasons such as logos, or shirts. My area of expertise in art is
mainly nature (landscape), animals and cartoons. I love to draw things for other people, and
every time I show my art to other people, they always express their appreciation with the nice
compliments such as, wow, youre talented. I have developed this talent of art by drawing
something as often as possible, my artwork usually takes me about two weeks to do, while
balancing my priorities of school.
Art also helps bring joy and art is also powerful because it can generate different types of
feelings, according to the drawing/painting, such as happiness, love, and it can also show you
care. This correlates with helping others, which I enjoy doing equally. I love to spend my free
time helping others with school and letting my creativity guide me in art.
Word Count:468
 Rodriguez 5

What is the one thing that you think sets you apart from other candidates applying to the
University of California?
I have worked hard all my life to get where I am, but never forgetting where I came
from. I am different because of my past, generations of people from Mexico who have work hard
all of their lives to have a better life for them and for their children. My past generations have
learned to deal with whatever life throws at them accordingly and patiently. The efforts of my
parents to come to the U.S. for me to have a better life was a significant decision that played a
huge role in our success. They are role models to me and they demonstrated me how hard work
pays off.
My have raised me with the beliefs of a Christian, and Im not afraid to admit that I am
one because this is who I am, this has helped me acquire the qualities I have. I have learned to be
giving, forgiving, as well as humble. I care about others equally or more than I care about
myself. My beliefs have shaped me into the person I am, I always strive to do better and become
a better person as well as helping my community become a better place for everyone. Problem
solving, perseverance, hard worker, Christianity, creative, helpful, caring, life changing, family
story, well-rounded, talented, giving, forgiving, and humble are just a few words that describes
my personality and demonstrates some of the many characteristics I obtain.
I am different because of my characteristics and qualities such as problem solving
because I know how to find the solution to problems in life. I also know how to see the bright
side of things that happen to me in life. I always strive to persevere through any situation that I
encounter in life. I never give up in anything I do and if I somehow fail in something, I always
pick myself and keep moving forward.
My parents have taught me to work hard and I have grown with that characteristic and
Ive developed a mindset of never say quit, no matter how hard it is, because like a person once
said pain is only temporary, it will eventually go away and you will become victorious, but if
you quit, it will hurt forever. An example of this is life at school. More specifically, school is
hard and sometimes getting little sleep is painful and all those projects and presentations are also
very hard, but this is just the beginning of school, I have persevered through high school and I
will persevere through college even if it stresses me out because I know that at the end of the
tunnel there is light and Ill always try to keep my eyes on the prize however, if I quit and drop
out because I cannot do it anymore and Im weak, I will not forgive myself thus, it will hurt
forever.
Word Count: 481