Building Bridges and Embracing Diversity: My Interest in Biochemistry at Rutgers University

I have always held a deep-seated belief that higher education is a pathway to building and cultivating skills that will help to both enrich a human being’s character and refine them as someone ultimately seeking a career to support themselves and their family in the future. With intentions to apply to Rutgers University I am writing this supplemental essay where I can showcase personal academic interests and achievements which will be useful for my future studies at this university. 

For me, Rutgers University is a bridge towards that future and a better version of my current self. The cultural diversity of Rutgers’ many campuses is well known and provides opportunities to interact with and meet fellow students that come from different walks of life. This vibrant community, with students from different ethnic backgrounds, will allow me to expand my view of the world by enabling interactions with students that hold perspectives or beliefs that differ from those of my own. As someone who comes from a different cultural background, I hope to contribute to this diversity and cultural awareness within the Rutgers University community.

While researching universities I also learned that Rutgers offers students with opportunities to enhance their learning through programs and clubs, in addition to their stellar academics. In addition to the multitude of extracurricular organizations and programs, Rutgers University provides numerous opportunities for me to get involved in community service. Programs such as the volunteer organization Global Brigades offer unique opportunities to travel to under resourced countries in Central America and Africa. I empathize with this particular organization because I would like the chance to help those who were not afforded the same opportunities as I was in life. I first moved to the U.S. from Brazil in 2012 and spoke little to no English.

Coming from the rural Brazilian countryside I had few resources and even fewer opportunities to attend college. Moving from one country to another was a life changing experience that came with many obstacles and opportunities for me. Three years of attending high school gave me the ability to express myself and interact with others in a new language. My study at Brookdale College further improved my English and opened my eyes to higher education. My hope is that completing my degree at Rutgers University will help me to better realize my full potential and find my place in this world. Breaking out of the economic cycle that is characteristic of people from my part of the world has been one of my main motivations for furthering my education.

Graduating with an Associate Degree in Chemistry from Brookdale Community College is the first step of a long climb for me. My goal is to major in Biochemistry at Rutgers and ultimately pursue a career as a Medical Examiner or Forensic Scientist, which has been a long standing dream of mine.