Min, Albert

1. What subjects do you most enjoy in school and why? Be specific and explain
carefully

One particular subject that I enjoy the most in school is Speech and Debate. I enjoy this
particular subject because it broadens my knowledge on various topics. Knowing the pros and
the cons of a particular topic to argue against a side helped me develop analytical thinking. By
thinking analytically, Im able to think multiple steps ahead before my other peers. The analytical
thinking eventually led to something that I like to do: challenging the harder topic. When two
things are given, one hard and one easy, I tend to work on something that is harder because I
enjoy challenging myself. Taking the devils advocate on an issue makes me open minded
because it allows me to take different perspectives on an issue that Ive never thought before.
The stress and extra research to find loopholes or other ways has always been a pleasure to me.
As I practice composing and delivering multiple speeches, I am able to practice my
public speaking skills. I believe speaking well is essential because confidence is one of the most
important quality of a leader. Confidence creates the aura of dependable leader. Being a superb
public speaker brings out this aura to social world. When someone masters the art of public
speaking, he or she can paint a beautiful sunset with just two colors.This skill can turn a cheap
painting into a priceless piece of artwork. This is why I believe public speaking skills are very
crucial in the business field.

2. Describe your strength as a student. This is your opportunity to talk about skills
and attributes that bring you success in your studies (study skills, writing, reading,
discussion, leadership, analytical thinking, creativity, motivation, etc.)

My strength as a student is deep analytical thinking developed during speech and debate,
as well as challenging myself on various topics. During my 11th grade year, my AP United States
History class was divided into groups, and was assigned to make a mini documentary regarding
the constitutionality of the Patriot Act. While most groups fought for the unconstitutionality of
the Patriot Act, I had a different vision. I planned to play the devils advocate and fight for the
constitutionality of the Act. This was a difficult task to do as all the research articles, historians,
and other credible sources support the unconstitutionality of the Patriot Act. However, that did
not discourage me to hold onto my position. Through extensive and arduous research and
visitation to a historical Japanese district, I was able to find a loophole: a key to open the hardy
gate of incredulity that I couldnt open. My group got the highest grade out of all the rest of the
groups. This characteristic that I have pushes me to take challenges and broaden my knowledge
in various topics. When I argue the devils advocate, I have to find all the rebuttals that are hard
to rebute. This helps me broaden my knowledge and helps me become an open minded person.
Thus, when I apply to this in an educational environment, this not only helps me understand the
topic in a deeper sense, but also helps me find alternative solution to all the challenges that I
face.

3. What do you consider to be your strength as a person or special skills or

talents? Your response to this should include examples and explanation (do not just list
adjectives here.)

For me, my strength as a person is my determination to strive for the best and my
leadership characteristic among the people who I work with and my being able to take risks.
Leadership characteristics can always be developed; however, there are two kinds of
characteristics in people: innate and acquired. Since a young age I learned that I had an innate
leadership quality. During pre-school, I was the boss or the leader of 5 group of boys who
took over the school. In elementary, I was the class representative and captain of the track and
field team. In middle school, I was the leader who organized a 30 person group called Asian
Family, among diverse group of students in school. In high school, I am currently the student
body president, varsity golf team captain, and 11th grade vice president. At this point in life, I
realized that the quality of a true leader was deep inside me. A lot of people depended on me, and
I took that as a personal obligation.

4. Which of the extracurricular activities have been most important or meaningful

to you (you can include several if appropriate)? Please explain why each activity has
been important to you and what you have gotten out of your involvement in this area.

It was another Saturday at Hwarang Leos summit meeting. The President and two of the four
Vice Presidents were absent that day. Although I wasnt one of the elected summit leaders,I felt like it was
my obligation to run this organization because I felt like I was responsible for this club as one of the
committee chairs. It was an unpleasant surprise that hit me out of nowhere. I panicked because more than
100 people were showing up to this meeting. My natural instinct is to work under pressure. When no one
stepped up to prepare and lead the meeting, I stepped up.
Pressure makes diamonds; now I had to make diamonds out of this dark mess. Ms.Park, The
Hwarang Leo President, had called me to come early; when I showed up, I realized that I had three hours
to create the agenda and have a short meeting to inform the two attending Vice Presidents about the
agenda. At this point, I ignored the hierarchy and bypassed it; Ms.Park assigned the duty to me, and it was
my responsibility to start and finish the task.
I arrived and took over the Presidents role. I assigned each chapters their roles for the month; and
through observation, I saw potential improvement to be made for our next meeting and through the
meeting with the president, I have became a person that will run this club alongside with the president.
Out of the leadership position, I saw this as an obligation and my passion.
 This experience has taught me how to work under pressure, take over a significant role, and to
finish whatever that is assigned to me by any means necessary. After the summit meeting, I decided to do
what was more than needed. I wanted to go beyond the assignment, thus telling the President that I would
be running the organization alongside of her. Perseverance: a task was given to me--even under pressure--
I will get it done no matter what; and even going beyond to create the optimum result and success for any
of my responsibilities.

5. What makes you special? Why should a college choose you over others? Why
would your presence on its campus make it a better place? Why would a college be proud
of you as an alumnus?

My strong-willed mindset to dominate and to strive to become the elite of the world
makes me special. Skills and knowledge can be obtained as people get educated. However, one
thing that cant be obtained is innate leadership characteristics that sets apart leaders to followers.
Of course people can gain leadership skills by taking classes, but natural leadership mentality
such as ambition, dominance, enthusiasm, social boldness, charisma, and tough-mindedness
cannot be easily gained. Theres an interesting story about how the Jet Propulsion Lab was
created. The Jet Propulsion Lab was started by group of CalTech students who wanted to create a
rocket as interests as well as helping one of the students write his thesis. The students blew their
dorm room up, and instead of getting suspended, they moved to an isolated area and invented the
modern rocket. Now, the Jet Propulsion Lab is funded by the government as well as partnering
up with NASA to make interstellar explorations and researches possible. My presence on the
campus will turn the campus into living history like the creation of JPL at CalTech. My ambition
and willingness to tackle hard challenges although easier choices are given, will be the footstep
of the next big corporation that influences the world. Its easier to see doctors, lawyers, or
engineers graduate from a college and bring service to their communities. However, it is very
rare to see such people make the world an innovative place. I want to be the TIMES Person of
the Year; Forbes 100 will have my face on the front cover, Fortune 500 will write about how my
future company turned the world into an avant-garde world, and New York Times will write
editorials about my biography.

7. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?

The first task of a leader is to keep hope alive, said Joseph Batten. Through my
freshmen eyes, my school was a sinking boat and I just boarded a sinking ship. With no form of
school spirit, proper student government structures, and organized activities, my school was
falling apart. Students were unmotivated to get involved, and the activities were planned. Im
going to take over, I said to myself; then before my senior year, I was elected as the Student
Body President.
 My first agenda was to build a solid Student Body Government. I created a cabinet
system and appointed my peers as cabinet memembers. After I appointed my cabinet members, I
drafted a 20 page Constitution that explains the officers roles as well as qualifications. Now that
I constructed a solid foundation to the Student Body Government, next was to bring school spirit
back.
I carefully appointed the popular kid as the Commissioner of Rally. After I had
appointed her, school spirit skyrocketed; majority of students participated in school activities.
Students cheered louder; I overheard conversations about how this years pep rally was better.
Slowly but surely, I was taking steps to accomplish my goal.
My last goal was to coordinate events in the most organized way. During the month of
November, I brought back the annual Turkey Bowl. Last year, the faculty cancelled the Turkey
Bowl because the organization was a mess. However, this year I begged the faculty for one more
opportunity.
When they had granted my wishes, I delivered the optimum result. After the event, all the
teachers and the principal, told me that this years Turkey Bowl was the most organized outdoor
event the school ever had.
After hearing these comments from both the students and the faculty, I was proud of my
work. I finally accomplished my goals for my school to be more efficient and fun. I was not only
proud of success, but I was also overjoyed that I was able to make the school better for all the
students and establish a solid foundation for the future students of my school.