Graduate School Awards, Admission Essay Example

There is an Old Persian saying that my father always used to tell my brother and me when we were growing up. He who knows he who knows not, and knows not that he knows not, is a fool, ignore him; He who knows not, and knows that he knows not, is a child, teach him. He who knows, and knows not that he knows, is asleep, wake him. He who knows, and knows that he knows, is wise, follow him.

This saying perfectly describes my cognitive evolution. When my brother got a microscope, I was thirteen. It opened a new world to my young eyes. I wanted to build my own microscope more powerful than my brothers did so I could see more. With some assistance from my brother, I endeavored to make one. I used an old pair of binoculars, one glass, one magnifying lens, and an old pipe. I built my own microscope / telescope/ binoculars. The reaction by my family made me want to do more. My brother became my partner in invention for he had more knowledge and experience. Thus, this part of the saying applies to me. He who knows not, and knows that he knows not, is a child, thus teach him.

The western sanctions Iran forced the government to increase the price of gas. This made things even more difficult for my family. So my brother and me came up with the idea of coming up with our own homegrown fuel blend to help mitigate the fuel costs. With my little knowledge in chemistry, I knew that water had hydrogen and oxygen both highly combustible gases. Therefore, I theorized that by adding water to fuel in the right quantities it would ultimately reduce fuel costs. We used his motorbike as our control and tried to approach very scientifically. So we eventually settled on the ratio of 1:5.One part water to five parts fuel, we watched my dads’ old car leaving in the morning in absolute glee and elation. To cut a long story short my dad came home in a taxi and simply asked us what we had done. We told him what we were trying to do for him and our family he simply wirily smiled and said that water was not the preferred choice. He who knows he who knows not, and knows not that he knows not is a fool; therefore, ignore him.

When life became too hard for us in Iran, fate chose to smile on my family and we got the opportunity to come to the United States. The great thing about the country is that if you worked hard you can make it. There were no veritable connections, family name or lineage everyone with opportunity, to succeed by their bootstraps. My father’s health had been deteriorating for years. The United States gave him the opportunity to get better medical treatment. This meant however, I had to put myself through school.

In school, I felt encouraged by many others who were in my same shoes it made me stronger in many ways. I read inspirational books to keep me going when things got tough financially emotionally and most importantly when I saw the state of my father. We lost everything because he did not have health insurance. Therefore, I had school my own bills and his bills to think of. He was battling the mother of all diseases cancer. I had my GRE exams the day I was told my father might not make it. My thoughts were scattered like pollen in the wind. It was there right there in the exam room that I knew what I wanted to do it was there I remembered. He who knows, and knows not that he knows, is asleep, wake him.

What you become is a journey of thousands of steps that begins with one. What is interesting is that the steps have direction and when you look back at you are steps you will realize that there is a connection between all of them. I have volunteered at hospitals, shelters, pharmacies, and research laboratories. This means I am meant to be in this sort of field. I feel endeared to those struggling with chronic disease due to my own life experience. My father is recovering after the doctors removed his tumor. I have been trying to be in this field even after graduating from university.

After my graduation from UC Davis, I joined the laboratory of Dr. Roshanak Rahimian and worked as a research assistant in the field of vascular biology in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of the Pacific. I volunteered there for almost eight months and attended some of seminars. I strive for excellence in everything I do. This is why I want to go for a career, which I will be able to excel at and make a meaningful contribution to the scientific world. I enjoy research, since it affords me the opportunity to have a helping hand in deviating scientific findings. I believe I have the qualities essential for being an effective researcher, and found the bioengineering research not only an interesting field but also one that gives me the opportunity to help in creating cutting edge research that may be the break through to cancer. I end with the words of an Iranian theologian and philosopher.

“Man is the supreme Talisman. Lack of a proper education hath, however, deprived him of that which he doth inherently possess. Through a word proceeding out of the mouth of God he was called into being; by one word more he was guided to recognize the Source of his education; by yet another word his station and destiny were safeguarded. The Great Being says: Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit there from.” Baha’u’llah