Ronald Cecil G.

Lingat
University of California
Freshman Application Prompt
30 November 2015
HiiiPoWer: Heart, Honor, Respect
Every year, all current seniors are allowed to place a quote right under their picture in the
yearbook. It can be any saying the student wants it to be, so long as its school appropriate.
Personally, I feel that this is a chance to allow each graduating class an opportunity to leave a
final message to our peers and to our high school. It should hold some sort of meaning or
significance to the student. In my case, I chose to cite the words of musical artist Kendrick
Lamar, The sky is falling, the wind is calling; Stand for something or Die in the morning. This
tiny tidbit is an effective representation of what I believe in. I want to change something. I want
to leave my mark. I want to impact our world. For my past 17 years of life, my parents have
raised me in a culture that encourages benevolence. They have always pushed me to do good
deeds, help others, and place the needy before my own interests, values that they inherited from
their rather illustrious childhoods in the Philippines. All of their teachings culminated in my final
decision to be a healer, a doctor that helps all who need helping. The way I see it, I have so many
resources and opportunities at my disposal and to do nothing with them would be an exorbitant
waste. I cant see a better way to use these resources than to help others.
For as long as I can remember, my parents have always pounded a strict set of ideals into
my head. One particular phrase they love to repeat is Kailangan mong magbigay, Cecil. It
roughly translates into English as, You need to give, Cecil. As my parents grew up in the
Philippines, their first language was Tagalog, and they spoke to me in their native tongue readily

since birth. This was also my first language, as I was also born in the Philippines and moved to
this country when I was 8 years old. They raised me with the culture that they brought from the
Philippines to America, and I am very thankful that they did so. From an early age, I could see
things that most of my peers could not. And no I dont mean ghosts or spirits of dead
psychologists, my childhood wasnt The Sixth Sense. I mean that my worldview was very broad
and developed throughout my childhood. Whereas many children were shielded from our worlds
many harsh realities, like worldwide poverty and rampant death from disease, my parents
exposed me to these truths early in life. As a result, I matured from an early age. Their stories of
their poor childhoods in a third world country gave me more and more motivation to do what I
currently seek to do. They motivated me to take action against disease and to contribute to our
human race.
My family has played a huge role in shaping me to become who I am today. My parents
especially have given me my values and provided me with a moral compass that desires to help
others above all else. My time with them has helped me grow into who I am today. As I move
into the next phase of my life, I want to act on this standard. All I want to do is help others who
need healing. This, in my mind, would make the most significant impact on the world around
me. Maybe I will be able to do something about Kendrick Lamars prediction. Maybe I will even
be able to do something to stop the sky from falling and the wind from calling. Maybe I will be
able to stand for something so even if I do die in the morning, it wouldnt be in vain. In fact, I
know.

Prompt:
Describe the world you come from for example, your family, community or school and tell
us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.