My application essay basically describes FIRST's ultimate impact on me ... so I'm attaching that.
If anyone has criticisms to offer about this essay, please do. Any time you want! I'm using this for USC (for which criticisms would be too late for, since apps are due already) and.. maybe for some other schools. We'll see
Anyway, aside from what I remember mentioning in my essay.. FIRST has taught me everything I know about engineering. I'd never done building, wiring, programming, etc. before .. but in 6 week's time, I felt like I'd learned as much as if I'd gone through a year-long class. Not only that, but I absolutely loved every single minute of it. FIRST made me realize that engineering may just be perfect for me ... even though I'd never seriously considered it before. It's awesome. I'm thankful I got to participate (and am participating! ..For the last year as a high school student, but still.) I'm SO grateful that we got the money to participate through the NASA grant.
And.. I'm still hopping around inside, waiting impatiently for January to roll around
Okay, enough rambling. Essay attachment is as follows.. keep in mind that I had a 500-800 word limit. So.. yes. The impact stuff's in the last part of the essay