1.

Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have

positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to
group efforts over time.

The student body along with myself had been planning the annual halloween pep
rally for a while now but now that the day was here it seemed as if people still had no
idea on what needed to be done. The timer was ticking and we were starting to run out
of time, that was when I then decided to take over my job as Commissioner of Rally and
instruct people on what needed to be done. I stepped up, and reached for my goal
which was to make this year’s pep rally better with a lot more school spirit and
decorations.
“Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality,” posits Warren Bennis.
After I was made the leader of this event by the student body president, I realized I had
two hours to get everything and everyone together to ensure that the vision I had
drafted manifested. I began to delegate necessary roles to my colleagues and focused
them in designated areas of the gym while also making sure everyone knew the
schedule of the games that were planned out.
It was now time to open the doors and allow for everyone to enter. The time was
here and it was officially the opportunity for me to assume to the position of leader of
festivities. I made sure that throughout all the enjoyment we remained on schedule and
were engaging with games in order. This allowed the student body president and
student body advisors to know that I was able to take on a leadership role, run a whole
event and have it go smoothly and effectively.
This experience taught me how to use my leadership skills effectively and get
things done no matter what. It allowed me to push myself to my limits and take on the
role of a leader while also working with others and resolving issues under a certain
amount of time to make things work.

3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed
and demonstrated that talent over time?

Paul J. Meyer argued that, “Communication-the human connection- is the key to

personal and career success.” My bilingual experiences have assisted me in developing
a sincere empathy towards those who struggle with linguistic identity. This as well has
been one of my most admirable qualities. I would like to enter the field of psychology
where I can employ my both bicultural and bilingual capacities and ensure that my
patients are attended to in the utmost caring and thoughtful and calculated fashion.

Every year new students from different countries always come to the United
States seeking opportunities in which many start off by learning how to speak English. I,
being hispanic and a spanish speaker, over the years, have communicated with and
helped out Spanish speakers in my classes that have recently migrated to The United
States from different countries. Many of those Spanish speakers usually do not
understand what teachers say or are asking them to do so I step in and translate to
them in order for them to have a better understanding of what is being asked of them.
While having the ability to speak to someone in two languages, I also have skills
such as active listening and compassionate collaboration. These skills have been
developed over time and used to my advantage. Working efficiently with others shows
strong teamwork in a workplace which I managed to prove while I volunteered to work
at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The process of my work at this workplace
became more efficient and we all complimented one another's strengths.

4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational

opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.

Being 15 at the time and careless, I did not realize what I was not experiencing.
The culmination of my reckless behavior was reflected in my academic marks. My move
from Maryland to California was at one point a difficult move and at another a profound
transition in my adolescence. This duality of experience became one of the most
significant educational opportunities and one of the greatest challenges I have faced.
Sophomore year, I remember telling myself to walk outside my comfort zone and
realign my priorities to what I visioned for my future. Alkin to the New York Times best-
selling author, Blaine Lee Pardoe who once posited that, “We are all capable of change
and growth; we just need to know where to begin”.
Before stepping out of my comfort zone and getting my priorities straight, I was
lacking leadership skills and was not taking advantage of the educational opportunities
that were always there. All I needed was a little push to begin. I have gradually learned
from my opportunities and become a better global leader, listener, and communicator.
This was due to my involvement in National Honor Society and the Interact Club. These
clubs contributed to my growth in socializing and becoming a well-rounded individual
and school participant.
After this rather rigorous move, I realized that despite the many different types of
people in the world in some way we can come to understand each other and gain
deeper insight from the experience of being human and the common connections we
can make with one another.

7. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
 My upbringing in a Catholic environment had a profound influence on the manner
in which I developed my worldview. I remember sitting there, in my catholicism class,
thinking to myself how much I would like to teach younger children what had been
taught to me. After finally completing the requirements to go through my first
communion and confirmation, I was able to begin training to become a catholicism
teacher myself.
The first class I taught at the Immaculate Conception Church was nerve-wracking
but exhilarating. My students were eager to begin learning about Catholicism since they
were still at the age of adolescence. As I nervously stood up to introduce myself, the
anticipating eyes of the children faced me. Their excitement to learn motivated me to
communicate what I was so passionate about. Two young girls came up to me after
class mentioning how they wanted to know more about conducting a rosary. They
specified how interesting it was that many people use that as a form of communicating
with God. At this moment I realized how important it was for me to share the knowledge
that was shared with me. I came to the recognition of how this was a way to help and
impact my community by having this younger generation grow up with the same
Catholicism ideals as I did.
After spending a whole year teaching these kids, I felt a sense of pride and
accomplishment. Knowing that I played some sort of impact in these children’s lives
and teach them ideals that they could apply to their daily life made me happy. Not only
that but I also received positive feedback about my work and success.