Cindy Kuo
University of UtahMy three-year journey in service has transformed me from a painfully shy freshman into a First-Year Service Corps co-director. As I have worked more intimately with the Bennion Center at the University of Utah, I have cultivated an articulate voice, developed the confidence to address a group of people, and refined my flexibility to thrive in all types of situations. These invaluable lessons fuel my motivation to succeed in my academic and career endeavors. I would have not gotten to where I am without civic engagement, and I desire to see how much further I can go. Looking back at what I have achieved, I do not take all the credit for my success. Sir Isaac Newton said, "If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." I had all of my life-changing experiences through displays of incredible kindness, patience, and understanding. I have stood on the shoulders of giants and have risen to a place in my life that would have baffled my freshman mind. With what I have gained through my collegiate expedition and the skills acquired through the Bennion Center, I hope to become the giant who lifts others to new heights.
Personal Statement
My parents are the descendants of poor, uneducated rice farmers who labored from dawn until dusk to provide meager food and shelter for their hungry family. Although they suffered through poverty as children in Taiwan, they dutifully studied in school and used their family's life savings to attend college, oceans away, in America. The stalwart dedication of my grandparents to pass on the dream to their children has spared my brothers and me the anguish of scarcity and reinforced the power of knowledge. My entire family's tenacity and selflessness to scrape what scraps of money they can for their children's education is a font of inspiration.
Their willingness to freely give back has driven me to dedicate time to civic engagement. As I have further discovered more aspects about myself through acts of service, I have been concurrently captivated about the enduring vitality of altruism, compassion, and unconditional understanding. There has been nothing more fulfilling in my college journey than holding a student leadership position that promotes active volunteerism around campus and the community. The kindness that has been shown by others and my family emboldens me to share what I have in abundance to those around me.