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2. 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.

Things to consider: What does creativity mean to you? Do you have a creative skill that is important
to you? What have you been able to do with that skill? If you used creativity to solve a problem, what
was your solution? What are the steps you took to solve the problem?

How does your creativity influence your decisions inside or outside the classroom? Does your
creativity relate to your major or a future career.

Quickwrite Question 2
Creativity is the place where most people go to get away from their mundane, left sided mind. I like to
use creativity in areas where all segments of my mind can cooperate and work like it is supposed to;
the right side determining the aesthetics and the left side defining the details.This is reflected in my
academic and life after taking regular art as an elective in middle school and taking advanced art the
next year in 8th grade. I love drawing and building, (working with my hands) and just about everything
that has to do with creativity. I sing, dabble in piano and bass guitar, mocked up a business concept as
a freshman in high-school that I hope to establish after college, enjoyed Industrial Technology
freshman year and then Small Engines Sophomore year. Creativity is definitely the skill that is most
important to me. In a way my creativity is just a branch of my own adaptability. One good example of
my use of creativity to solve a problem occurred in my Freshman year of high school. My first period
Geography teacher, just 'Sanchez' as we called him, had created a simulation of multiple warring
countries. Two students would represent one country. Every country had the ability to make alliances,
but we soon learned that there would only be one winner in the end. My partner and I decided we
wanted to keep our alliances and not only that, but also create a 'worldwide' peace treaty. We managed
to get every country's signature without alerting the teacher that we had undertaken such an
endeavour. Once our teacher did find out, however, he was surprised and rewarded us. Everyone got
extra credit as a result. We won and Mr. Sanchez. This type of thinking, applied to all of my different
classes, especially Graphics, has helped me succeed by creating venues for completion where none
other seemed possible.
3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and
demonstrated that talent over time? Things to consider: If theres a talent or skill that youre
proud of, this is the time to share it. You dont necessarily have to be recognized or have received
awards for your talent (although if you did and you want to talk about, feel free to do so). Why is this
talent or skill meaningful to you?
Does the talent come naturally or have you worked hard to develop this skill or talent? Does your
talent or skill allow you opportunities in or outside the classroom? If so, what are they and how do
they fit into your schedule.

Quickwrite Question 3
My greatest talent or skill would probably be the fact that I can look at a situation and see where it will
end up. I dont necessarily see the proverbial oncoming train and know it is going to hit me so I wait
patiently for my sentence to the next world, but I am able to adapt to situations and maintain calm
where others might go sideways. I can see what is happening in front of me and usually, if its a bad
thing, I can realise it as inconsequential in the great scheme of things. Minor bumps in the road dont
stop people from driving, so a roadblock on the pathway to success should only be seen as a detour
where one can see different scenery not originally planned and thus learn new things from the
alternate, temporary, path. Detours, after all, eventually get fixed once the road is repaired, then one
can continue down the originally planned route. So, my greatest talent is not just that I can remain calm
in unexpected situations, but that I am able to adapt and learn when thrust into unforeseen, bumpy
terrain. Many times in stressful situations I will find myself calmer than ever, or wondering why others
might be so transfixed on the problem, rather than helping me fix it. The case is not that I am always in
crises with other people, though. Most often I will be alone, but ever calm, and working towards the
solution. This trait is not something I have carried for a long time. I once was a screamer and an
excessive Worry Wart. It has taken my years of schooling and experience with worry to understand that
the only way to fix things is to act. And that panicking and hysteria do not help in a difficult situation.
Simply, my greatest skill is being cool, calm, and collected during a calamity.

6. Describe your favorite academic subject and explain how it has influenced you.

Things to consider: Discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience
you have had inside and outside the classroom such as volunteer work, summer programs,
participation in student organizations and/or activities and what you have gained from your
involvement.

Has your interest in the subject influenced you in choosing a major and/or career? Have you been
able to pursue coursework at a higher level in this subject (honors, AP, IB, college or university
work)?
 Quickwrite Question 6 My favourite subject is history. I've always had that thought; I've always liked
older things. Since I was a baby my parents called me 'an old soul'. And it wasn't only my parents that
saw this in me. Other people might comment about me to them that I acted mature or sophisticated. I
had a fascination with old people for their wisdom and their stories. This is largely due to the fact that
from a young age I was always eager to ask 'why' to the workings of a thing. As I grew older this turned
into, 'where did this come from' and 'how did this get here'. I found that histories of things and people
almost always can answer those questions and are just as often the 'why' something works the way
that it does. History, or stories of people and places, teach us about humanity and our tendencies and
the universal, deep longings of the human being as a whole. This is one reason I like talking to my
elders. Though they might stink or look funny, I always know that they know a lot more than I do and
have lived a lot longer than I have. I know that, despite technology differences, we are interconnected.
We are not islands. If we really want to find it, we can find common ground with one another no matter
from what continent or era we might come. These elders that I enjoy talking to always have stories and
even though they might be from a different era, there are universal truths that I always seem to learn
from them. There is a quote from Bill Nye that is, 'Everyone you will ever meet knows something you
don't.' Such a quote is no more applicable than to one's venerable elders. History teaches humans
what other studies cannot, and as stated by George Santayana, 'Those who do not learn history are
doomed to repeat it.' So let us learn and improve ourselves so as to not impair ourselves.

8. What is the one thing that you think sets you apart from other candidates applying to the
University of California?

Things to consider: Dont be afraid to brag a little. Even if you dont think youre unique, you are
remember, theres only one of you in the world. From your point of view, what do you feel makes you
belong on one of UCs campuses? When looking at your life, what does a stranger need to
understand in order to know you?

What have you not shared with us that will highlight a skill, talent, challenge, or opportunity that you
think will help us know you better? Were not necessarily looking for what makes you unique
compared to others, but what makes you, YOU.

Quickwrite Question 8
I like to consider everything as an art, no matter what it is. This helps me approach things with
an open mind and allows me to be free from stress in general, be the task a United States
History essay or a page of Physics homework. Although I am largely a math minded student,
it is this love for art that has helped me appreciate more the things that I previously
considered contrary to art. My love for art has also helped me be a well rounded person and a
healthy, thriving person too. Things such as math itself and especially writing are examples of
what I used to think were strict and foreboding subjects. Yet, my enjoyment of finding the art
in the approach of the particular task before me has brought me to the place of using
creativity in now only the use of words, or drawings, but possibly finding a nuanced approach
of a physics (or math) problem. This then allows me to be artistic in all I do and as such
allows me to be the whole of the person I truly am so that I am not in a box but an array of
colors and temperatures and thus, ultimately, many possibilities will present themselves to me
because my outlook is to enjoy the process as much as the final result. Using my natural
creativity and artistic mindset, whether in traditionally artistic endeavors or in maths or
sciences, are what set me apart. We are each a whole of the parts that make us up as special
individuals. I choose to gather these parts together in my going forward to allow me the
enjoyment of all of it, no matter the endeavour before me.