Below is my college essay for the University of Washington, I just wanted a few opinions and perhaps some proofreading, this is just the first draft.

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Required Topic - (This is what I've written about thus far)
1. Describe an experience in your life that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.
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Optional Supplemental Topics - (I'm going to write another page or so covering these topics, as well)

2. Describe any personal hardships or barriers you've had to overcome and explain how they have affected your education.
3. In the context of your life experience, describe your understanding of cultural differences, how this awareness was acquired, and how it has affected you.
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The greatest experience in my life so far is the one that I walked into blindfolded, unprepared for, and without any inkling of what to expect. When I was thirteen I moved to Ankara, Turkey. My father is enlisted in the United States Navy and consequently I have become accustomed to moving quite often, however, I had never stepped foot outside of the United States before this point. For months I was told by dozens of people what a great experience and a wonderful opportunity moving to Turkey would be for me. In my infinite teenage wisdom, however, I paid no attention to these comments and I figured that these people had no idea what they were talking about; silly me.

I arrived in Ankara, Turkey on February 10th, 2001, without any knowledge of Turkey, the language, or the customs. We picked up my baggage and began to drive home, but where was home now? As we neared my father’s apartment, the sun began to set, and for the first time in my life the sun was setting, my shadow was disappearing and I was not “home.” The car came to a halt in front of my father’s house and as I stepped out, the shadow that I formerly cast had dwindled and had all but disappeared; there were no streetlights guiding me home this time. During my first few months in Turkey the culture shock was so thick that I could have cut through it with a knife.

Here I was, a blonde-haired, green-eyed, exceptionally white American (think Aryan poster boy) in a predominantly Muslim country. I spoke no Turkish, I had no friends, and I definitely didn’t understand what those weird spigots that were affixed to the insides of the toilets were for: things were looking grim. I am typically a pretty heavy sleeper but on my first night in Turkey, despite the jetlag and being conked out like a newborn baby, I was woken up in the middle of the night to a soft, melodious noise outside. What was it? At first I thought it was someone nearby having a party, after listening for a few more seconds I realized that it wasn’t anyone nearby having a party, it was the Muslim call to prayer, reminding the faithful to carry out their mid-night prayers.

For the next several days until I was fully accustomed to the sound of the call to prayer, I woke up every night like clockwork and listened to the soothing melody that ensued. I cannot explain why but in the midst of the culture shock, the call to prayer held my tears of frustration back, soothed my nerves and dissipated all of the random emotions that were swimming relentlessly throughout my mind. I was now ready to embrace the opportunity and experience that those people back in the states had spoken of. Although I am seventeen and have only lived in Turkey since I was thirteen, when people ask me where I grew up, I tell them Ankara, Turkey.

Over the past four years, living in another culture has been the biggest enlightenment and shaping of character that I have ever known. My school, the George C. Marshall DoDDs (Department of Defense Dependants schools) is comprised of students from over forty-five countries; my two best friends are from the countries of Azerbaijan and Georgia (the former Soviet republic). I have come to know and experience many things that I would never have even been able to fathom while living in the United States. Growing up in Turkey is one major mold that helped to shape my character, but going to school with such a diverse body of students from around the word has been a huge treat for me.

I have learned to speak fluent Turkish and by doing so have discovered both the penchant and appetite that I possess for writing and learning foreign languages. Despite sticking out like a sore thumb because of my looks, I have managed to almost seamlessly immerse myself into Turkish culture (as much as a foreigner ever possibly could) due to my linguistic capabilities and my respect and understanding of Turkish culture.

It is no secret that many Americans live overseas on huge bases such as Ramstein, Germany or Okinawa, Japan, but what sets Ankara apart from the rest is that there is no base here; everybody lives in town, mingled amongst the general Turkish population. The “little America” that exists on large U.S. military bases overseas is non-existent here in Ankara. While it is true that many Americans affiliated with the military or the Department of Defense have the opportunity to live overseas, but how many of them actually ever make the most of it? By the time I leave Turkey next year to start college, I can honestly say that I will have made the most of the time I spent in Turkey and am a better person (than I was previously) for it. Perhaps a few years down the road, if someone asks me where I went to high school and what impacted me the most while growing up, I will be able to smile and tell them that I went to high school in Ankara, Turkey, and that it was both a great opportunity and a wonderful experience for me.