<p>Here are my statements, these are only my first drafts because I’ve been really busy and kept putting this off. Let me know how I can shorten them too, mainly the second one. 1079 words. I know I’m not a strong writer. please and thank you!</p>
<p>Prompt #1
[Transfer Applicants] What is your intended major? Discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had in the field such as volunteer work, internships and employment, participation in student organizations and activities and what you have gained from your involvement.</p>
<pre><code> As a young boy I was always curious about what people thought of me, what they were thinking at a given moment, and why people do certain things. Prior to learning of my mothers condition I was very interested but confused about her behavior. Some days she would be herself but other days she might sleep for hours or just lie in bed awake and ponder. My daily experience with my mother, who is diagnosed with clinical depression, inspired me to help people understand that no one is perfect, that they can feel okay to be in their own skin. I was enticed by the human mind and determined to understand it, thus propelled into the science of psychology.
Learning of my moms condition was not easy and it was even harder to adapt to. Before any knowledge of psychology, I understood that the underlying cause for clinical depression was in fact a physical condition (hormonal imbalance) that severely affected the mental health of an individual. This being known, I assumed the medication would fix everything, but it did not. All it seemed to do was prevent severe relapses. After taking an introductory psychology course in high school, several psychology courses at PCC, and research, I had a thorough understanding of clinical depression and how to deal with it. I have been applying my knowledge ever since and my mothers improvement has been increasingly stable. This demonstrated that nature and nurture are necessary for treatment. Even as my mom was regularly taking medication, if I were to leave many house lights off during a dark gloomy week, it would impair her ability with household tasks and make her feel very tired a variant of winter depression or seasonal affective disorder best treated by light therapy.
Daily life stresses and words I say to her at a given time can make her day or destroy it. Dealing with this issue has made me realize that I do not aspire to become a psychologist to analyze people but rather to help people with disorders understand that they are not alone and that they can live perfectly normal. After learning and addressing this major issue in my life I have become a more patient, considerate, and compassionate person. I plan to carry these qualities with me and hope to adapt a few more as I pursue my education in psychology.
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<p>Prompt #2</p>
<p>Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality, accomplishment, or experience makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are?</p>
<p>As far back as I remember, my mother has always been a devote Christian. She brought the family to church every Sunday, prayed frequently, and embraced the scripture into her life. Other children and families that surrounded me at church always seemed to be happy, having no issues at all. As any logical child would have reasoned, I thought all Christians had full and happy lives because they have God, which left me very confused as to why my mother was not happy or active all the time. Little did I know, she was very sick, but the days that came are still an experience I have learned much from and will never forget because I would not be the person I am today without my moms strong display of faith and compassion.</p>
<pre><code> My family moved to California from North Carolina when I was eight years old. I was told we moved because my mom wanted a different lifestyle and that she couldnt tolerate the severe weather conditions of North Carolina. My father stayed behind to continue his restaurants business. When I was about fourteen my mom drove us to a nearby park after church and sat there alone with me in the car. Through painful tears she explained to me why we had really moved. My father stopped attending church and had left the family and my mom to be with another woman. My mom then explained her condition and why she will never be the same person she once was she was diagnosed with clinical depression in her twenties.
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<p>Under medication, her health had improved during our stay in North Carolina, but after my parents separated, she had a severe relapse. I knew that raising my younger brother and I alone was extremely stressful but prior to telling me everything I had no idea how much she struggled or how weak and alone she felt at times to the point that she almost attempted suicide twice. She then explained to me that at the end of each day she is reminded by Gods unconditional love for us. This gave her strength and hope to carry on. Listening to her testimony gave me hope and strength in my own walk with God to pray and read the Bible regularly. The moment I put my faith in God, my worries and complaints faded away but my relationships with everyone I knew grew stronger.</p>
<pre><code> Though my mom struggled with the pressures of daily life, she still found time to be a loving and compassionate friend. Recently, she invited a woman from church, to whom she had never spoken, to stay at our home most of the day. After talking for hours the woman told my mom that her husband had been abusing her, controlling and monitoring her, and worse - she had absolutely no friends. My mom was there to comfort her when nobody else could and even helped explain legal issues on how to deal with the situation.
The fact that my mom can so easily cast her own problems aside, even after a tough day with her depression, and still take time to be there for people who need someone most, showed me so much compassion and selflessness. This made me realize how selfish I was. I was always thinking about not being good enough, not owning the best things, or how I can enjoy myself. Her actions through her faith in God inspired me to always put others before me and to truly be grateful for everything in my life. I feel better knowing someone is better off because I made a difference, a small sacrifice for the benefit of another. There are people in the world that suffer everyday and need our help and our comfort. My mother is the strongest and most influential person in my life. Through the day to day experience with my moms enduring faith in Christ and ongoing struggle with depression, makes me proud to be her son and continues to shape the person I am today and the person I will be tomorrow.
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<p>–
Bryan</p>