Gemma Teller

College Essay

Since the day after my birth, I lived in a Chinese orphanage. I lived with orphans just like me,

and our nannies cared for us since our own parents could not. One day, I was taken on a bus

with four other girls to meet our new American parents. I was about to turn two. Two weeks

later, I was in my new home in California.

I don’t remember much about when I was adopted, but my mom tells me stories and shows me

the thousands of pictures she took. One story that stands out to me is that when I was given to

my mom, many people would try to speak Chinese to me, but I wouldn’t respond. I didn’t know

Chinese or English; I didn’t know where I belonged.

As I grew up, I always knew I was Chinese, but I never fully felt truly Chinese. My mom and I

belonged to Families With Children From China (FCC). We went to numerous events held by

the FCC and I met lots of friends that were just like me. Each year, we celebrated Chinese New

Year, feeding the lion dancers red envelopes filled with money, and then went to the strip mall

Chinese buffet. For a couple of summers, I went to Chinese Culture Camp, where I learned

even more about my Chinese heritage. These gatherings made me a part of my own unique

Chinese-American culture.

At home, I learned another heritage: Judaism, my mom’s culture. I spent almost all of my

Sundays and holidays at Congregation Beth Israel, attending Sunday school, preparing for my

Bat Mitzvah, or getting ready for my Confirmation. I have always loved going to temple. I love all
the people and friends we’ve grown close to, and I love to sing along during T’filah. Now, since

I’m a little older, I volunteer every Sunday to be the teacher’s aide for the Torah Tots at Sunday

school. I will always feel a part of the temple where I grew up, since I participated in my Bat

Mitzvah, in my Confirmation, and chanted Torah during High Holy Days. Judaism was and

always will be my mom’s culture, but now I can call it my own too.

When we moved to Austin, Texas, we lived with our friends until our house was ready. I would

sometimes go to church with them since they were Catholics. Once we moved into our house, it

was very ironic that we were Jewish because we lived in a neighborhood of churches. There

were lots of churches surrounding our house and I’ve visited all of them. We went to First

Communions at St. Catherine’s, to a baptism at the Mormon church, and a Christmas pageant

at the Lutheran church that my friend was in. I also went to music and drama camp at the

Methodist church for a few years. Ironically, the only synagogue near us was several miles

away.

When I graduate, I will be sad to say goodbye to all of the communities I am a part of, which

have helped me grow as a person and find my place in the world. I have never truly felt a part of

just one culture, but I know I’m not an outsider because I can still be Chinese and Jewish and

American. This is how it happened. It doesn’t need to be just one identity; I chose three cultures

and this is who I am.

 Short Answer: Why do you want to attend Hofstra?

Hofstra and I are a great fit for each other. From the moment I learned about the

Physicians Assistant program, Badminton club, and the size of the campus and student

body, I knew it was right. Coming from Texas, I won’t know many students, but I want to

make lots of new friends and I can do this by joining and playing a sport I love and

finding common interests with others at Hofstra. Hofstra’s location between New York

City and the beaches of Long Island appeals to me because I have family in both

places. Hofstra and I are diverse, and this makes us compatible with our many cultures.

As part of the Academy for Global Studies program at Austin High School, I was

fortunate to experience traveling each year; I hope to continue learning and volunteering

in other countries through Hofstra’s study-abroad program. Hofstra’s Physicians

Assistant program offers me the most practical way to become a P.A. and it will help me

build a career quickly. As a P.A. I want to work with children and get to know my

patients. I could do this since I wouldn’t be in and out as fast in a high paced medical

environment. I can build relationships with my patients as I do when I babysit children. I

want to attend Hofstra because I believe I can succeed with all the help and support I

will get from the small size of the campus, brillant faculty, and spectacular student body.