Healing Process of Chi Kung, Personal Statement Example

My proudest achievement in life has been overcoming thalassemia and not letting the disease define who I am. In addition to genetically-inherited thalassemia, I was also diagnosed with intussusception at the age of only six months and had to go through abdomen surgery to survive the condition. These medical conditions meant I would easily get sick and visits to doctors became a norm. My health issues proved so challenging that my parents unsuccessfully tried almost every imaginable treatment including western medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, massage, nutrition supplements, and exercise.

The situation continued to last for almost a decade. Three years ago, my intestine problem reemerged due to work overload and I had to be admitted to the hospital for a week. The experience made me realized the value of good health and also strengthened my desire to overcome my health issues. As soon as I was discharged from the hospital, I went in the direction of bookstore to get all the books I could find to educate myself. One of the books I stumbled upon was on “Chi Kung” which is an Asian practice aimed at aligning breath, movement, and awareness for exercise, healing, and meditation. The concepts behind Chi Kung seemed to make sense so I decided to try it. I started seeing results only after a week as I would feel energetic and not get tired easily anymore. The results further encouraged me and for the next three weeks, my body kept expelling toxin, resulting in more and more energy. I practiced Chi Kung three hours a day for three months and have never suffered from intestine disorder since then. This experience gave me tremendous self-confidence that if I can overcome health issues, I can do anything I put my heart in. I hated my medical conditions but I might not have learnt the power of perseverance otherwise.

The personal traits I developed in dealing with my medical conditions such as hard work and perseverance have served me well in other aspects of life, too. At Diablo Valley College (DVC), I was instrumental in the formation Chinese Students Association (CSA). I also played a major role in planning the Moon Festival Event in September 2011. As a controller, I realized that Chinese traditional costumes were expensive to rent. Instead of panicking, I contacted various Chinese organizations who helped me get in touch with Chinese Culture Center in Sunnyvale who agreed to lend us 17 costumes for free. As a secretary of the International Students Club (ISC), I helped organize International Education Week during Nov 2012. DVC declined our request for venue and date so I persuaded other clubs to get involved in the matter and not only succeeded in organizing the event but also made it a tremendous success with performances from ten student clubs. These experiences have improved my leadership, teamwork, and communication skills and I sometimes wonder that may be my health conditions were only an excuse to prepare me for the rest of my life.