The Essence of the Human Spirit Essay examples -- Graduate Admissions

The Essence of the Human Spirit My mother taught me the two most important lessons I have learned: you really can do anything if you work hard and dedicate yourself to it; and, every person has a responsibility to contribute something toward improving the world. She taught me by example. When I was eight, she went to college to fulfill her dream of becoming a teacher. Very few things in my life have been more inspirational than watching her, a poor woman with a husband and four children, graduate summa cum laude from college. Ever since I can remember, I have been interested in the stars and the planets. As a child, I persistently asked questions and read books about space, and when I was about seven, my parents took me to see The Right Stuff. Right then, I decided I wanted to be an astronaut. As I have grown and matured, I have become even more fascinated with the adventure and intellectual challenge of exploring the newest frontiers. I decided to major in aerospace engineering so I could contribute to technical advancements in space exploration. I decided to attend Boston University because of its Accelerated Four-Year BS/MS Program and its large international student population. Born and raised in Omaha, I had not had much chance to meet people from other countries, and Boston University offered me the opportunity to learn about 131 other cultures. After spending two years pursuing my passion for engineering science, I needed another challenge, so I applied to be a cooperative Education Student at NASA's Johnson Space Center. I was accepted and moved to Houston to work for a year at the preeminent center for... ...ion, it will inspire us to work together toward a common goal. Once we learn how to cooperate to reach our dream, we may be able to use that knowledge and that hope to improve the human condition on Earth. This is why I have chosen to dedicate my life to exploration. I hope to witness the fulfillment of all these dreams in my lifetime, but I realize it is likely that I will not. Indeed, it is even possible that the space program could be cancelled. Where that to occur, there are many other challenges I could embrace, from spending time in the Peace Corps, to using my plasma research experience to help find alternative energy methods, to writing science fiction. Whatever the future, I feel certain I will reach the end of my life believing, as Cecil Rhodes did, that there is "so little done--so much to do."