<p>I need it to be really good in order to get into U of I’s engineering program, so please criticize every little part of it thanks :)</p>
<p>How have your past circumstances and experiences (such as your upbringing, community, and/or activities) impacted who you are, your future goals, and your choice of major? Please limit your response to approximately 300 words.</p>
<p>I would like to say that ever since I was young, science has been my favorite subject; but that would be completely false. In fact, when my mom suggested that I become an engineer when I grow up, I was absolutely against it. Although it probably did not help that I initially confused engineers with railroad conductors, science nonetheless was a category I often placed everything about the world that I did not understand. I found it intimidating and wished to stick to easier subjects that made more sense to me.</p>
<p>My opinion of science, however, took a dramatic turn when I happened upon the television show, How Its Made. I was surprised to find that the episode, which featured the manufacture of aluminum bike wheels, was very interesting, and it sparked a curiosity in me. I actually understood what was going on. Suddenly, science began to seem simple, and my ignorance transformed into a keen interest in scientific processes and manufacture. </p>
<p>Since I began taking chemistry in high school, I found it really intriguing because it gives me a detailed understanding of the natural world. Every day I see applications of chemistry; I cannot wash my hands without thinking about intermolecular forces or charge my iPod without thinking about oxidation-reduction reactions. I also enjoy learning about the chemicals that surround me and make up part of my everyday life. For example, did you know that rust is formed by oxidation, or reduction of electrons, of iron when it reacts with oxygen?</p>
<p>After researching chemistry and engineering, I have discovered that chemical engineers come up with improved manufacturing processes for existing products, whether it is a drug like acetaminophen or a material like plastic. Majoring in chemical engineering will allow me to attain a hands-on experience with a subject I have come to love.</p>