<p>Well from this forum I had heard somewhere that Penn does not take into consideration how well the interview goes. Is this true? Does the interview count towards your acceptance at all? I was hoping it did because I am much more confident in my personality than my grades. And also, would anyone mind reading my essay? It’s very religious so I dunno how Penn would look at this. Thanks guys!</p>
<p>First experiences can be defining. Cite a first experience that you have had and explain its impact on you.</p>
<pre><code>French philosopher Denis Diderot said, Only passions, great passions can elevate the soul to great things. Fortunately for me, I was blessed with such a passion ever since I can remember. It has directed my life ever since.
Growing up in a Presbyterian family, there was ample encouragement to become an active member of our church. However, I never embraced the religion until the end of my pre-teen years. Shortly after the Christmas of my twelfth birthday, I was forced to attend a Christian seminar. With my familys strong religious ties, I was expected to not only go to this seminar, but to go enthusiastically. Fortunately for me, I did not voice my discontent and was rewarded with an experience that changed my life.
There were pastors, various members of the church, my peers and a guest speaker at the seminar. The speaker spoke to the mostly uninterested pre-teens caught up in immature thoughts, not yet ready to digest the powerful message he had. I was a member of this group until the impact of his message opened my mind. Suddenly, the world was a different place. The Bible no longer seemed tedious. Praying started to make sense. I viewed the world in a new light. I was enamored with Gods creations. On the other hand, I also saw the reality of evil and the vast pain and suffering in this world. This was my first experience with God.
Two years later, I decided to volunteer at a local hospital. While I did not intend to pursue a medical career, I felt that it was my duty as a Christian to do what I could to help the ill. Initially, I was disheartened by the anguish evident in the hospital. Screams filled my ears when passing by the Intensive Care Unit, while patients families and loved ones stood by and cried. These sights and sounds were especially visible to me because my job was to deliver medical equipment to different rooms and to escort discharged patients outside to their families. It is this latter part of the job that I found to be particularly rewarding, as I was able to see their overjoyed faces. They reminded me of the good in this world. Due to the enjoyable experience, I returned to volunteer the following summer.
My strong religious background opened up doors that have taught me many lessons and skills. Recently, I started to teach Sunday School for children, ranging from ages six to nine. These children, like most children their age, can be very inquisitive and yet easily distracted. Teaching them has taught me patience and strong leadership skills in helping them focus their attention. Another position that I currently maintain is treasurer of the Christian Club in my school. This experience has given me a sense of fiscal responsibility since I am in charge of raising and allocating money. All of these experiences have helped shape the person that I am, and will continue to influence how I live life at the University of Pennsylvania.
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