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Michael Dela Cruz

College essay
I come from a world filled with a lot of irony. It is ironic how although my mother
graduated from college in her native country, the Philippines, she currently works at
Wetzel's Pretzels; and even though my father also has a degree from his native country he
works as a caretaker for disabled persons. Its ironic how my eldest brother scored a 1900 on
his SAT, yet had to drop out of college. Then there was my grandfather, Lolo Hennie,
who because the greatest lessons I have ever learned came from him, became the person
who would ultimately shape my dreams and aspirations--ironic as I only realized those
lessons after he passed away a little over a year ago.
My family immigrated from the Philippines to the U.S to find the American Dream
when I was 4 years old. I vividly remember kissing my grandparents, Nanay and Tatay,
and all my other family members goodbye, going onto the plane and flying away, never to
come back and see them again. My parents always tried to give everything to us despite
earning minimum wage. At the time, I didn't see the sacrifices they made for my siblings
and I. They gave me toys and clothes; and when I finished my food and they hadn't, they
would share their food with me so I wouldnt be hungry. As a young child, I didn't realize
the paradox of feeling like I had everything, when in actuality I had only a little. My parents
had given me their whole world. It was because of the purposeful actions of my parents that
I was able to grow up not realizing how difficult it really was for them. It was even difficult
for them to afford going out to restaurants and having family days. I was too busy finding
trouble being known as the familys mischievous one. I know that these were some of the
reasons my grandfather would say, Anak (Child), work while you work, play while you
play.
I want to go to college not just to get a nice job afterwards, but to make my family
proud. Im the young adult they shaped me to be, with tough love and discipline. I could be
a role model to my older siblings (ironically) which may even motivate them to go back to
school. I dream of pursuing higher education and eventually give back my family what they
never had. Going to college is the one thing I can do for my parents, grandfather, siblings,
and myself. I know it will someday be ironic to say that the youngest of the Dela Cruz
family, the mischievous one who never thought he could not live up to the ability of his
older siblings, will be the first to graduate from college in the U.S. Especially for my Lolo, I
can fulfill his wish for me to be a success. Never lose your integrity, your word is your
bond. - Eugenio Dela Cruz

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