Mothers former member of UNION worker would like to have your wise advice

[kcl]

I am from the working class in my country. At 14, I worked with the worker Union . My main focus was human exploitation in sweatshops. I used to distribute news paper,set up conferences,workshops and do literacy courses workers could read their rights in the country's contstitution I was not into politics at all, I just did it because my family suffered since my mother who worked in a sweatshop never gets paid for over hours. She also miss important events in our lives because at the last mns her boss would make her stay to do extra work. In my college application, I would like to mention my accomplishment with the UNION but its name in English is the Orgnaisation of the communist workers. Will the school look down at me because I once work as a volunteer with the Union? What would an American college will think when they see that one of their applicants were member of a "communist organization". The leaders of the Union are just a group of peaceful public and private school teachers. You can't imagine how shcok I was when I found out about the communist tag.

In my language there's no communist in the organisation's name. That's what confused me. Even it had it, at 14 I didn't know America's perception of communist,. I am currently attending a US college( I am 20 now) PLease give me your advice. In addition to that, the UNION was the only organization that was helping poor workers, and it provided them lawyers when they had to go to court with their boss.
Thanks

[paying3tuitions]

Are you writing an essay? Is it for an application?

Can you just write the story and refer to your participation in "a union for workers" without naming it?

I think what is interesting is the narrative, the story you have to tell: what were the situations, how the union helped or didn't help improve things, what meaning you derive from living through those days and times. All of that matters, not the official name of the organization.

(My mom, in the USA, started to work at age 14 and went on strike the very first week.
Labor history here is part of the nation's history. We study it in textbooks. Not so scary.)

But if you could avoid writing the word "communist" that might help you all the way.

If you feel you must name the organization, then try to explain it IN CONTEXT within your home country. Just add an explanatory sentence, as you were attempting above, that the word "communist" there means "having to do with workers" and not a political viewpoint as here in the USA today.

[MomOFour]

I would mention it once in your native language and thereafter refer to it as the union.

[paying3tuitions]

^^I prefer what MomOfFour says to what I said!!! She's smarter.

[kcl]

Thanks to both of you. I will not write an essay about it, I will just list it as my EC or my work experience. I will literaly translate it so it will not have the "C..." part and I will also give the name in my languages. Thanks a lot.

[xiggi]

I don't think you need to worry about the word "communist" in your application. It is what it is and, in fact, it might help you gain a little bit of recognition. Etching a mark in the mind of the adcoms is much better than being too common.

Be yourself, trust yourself, and trust the system.

[emeraldkity4]

I agree with xiggi- it could be a hook!
how many communist volunteers do they already have?
How do you like conifers and bridges?
The unofficial motto of Reed College in Portland, is "Atheism, Communism, and Free Love,"

[xiggi]

And all this time I thought that AFL-CIO stood for "Atheism, Free Love, and Communism International Organization"

[great lakes mom]

To an extent you need to know your audience. In some places the word communist would not be a problem. The story of what you were doing, and why is admirable, and mention of communism would just be intriguing. In other, more conservative places, you are better off with the suggestion from mom of four.