Colleges and universities in the United States want to get know you as a person both in and out of the classroom Use this essay as an opportunity to let us get to know you how you think and what s important to you As we want to get to know you as individu

Answer
I grew up in a community notorious for youth restiveness, and education decay. It was common for boys as young as 12 years old to be initiated into secret cults and engaged in violent crimes and other forms of social vices. Relevance in the community was determined by the strength of the secret society to which one belonged and anyone who did not identify with one became an easy target for oppression. The promise of protection was incentive for most young people to join these groups. High levels of restiveness were a bane in my school as students who belonged to different secret societies terrorized the school community and sometimes drove teachers out of the class. The deterioration was so extreme that a special police unit was deployed to my school to maintain order.
The burden of having to complete my secondary education under these uncivil conditions was aggravated by the poor infrastructure that plagued the educational system, even so by my indigent familial background. Despite my passion for quality education, access to it was limited due the situation in my immediate society, school and family. I practically evolved into becoming a self-taught student, having to buy books swap with friends. It was apparent that the burden of my education rested on my shoulders. As I continued to self-learn, I developed interest in science and became the laboratory prefect. I followed this trend until completion of high school. This built my self-confidence.
After high school, most of my colleague could not pass their certificate examination and further their education while I did. I worked menial jobs in construction sites, saved money yet studied daily. In 20__, I got admitted into a polytechnic to study Electrical Electronics Engineering (National Diploma), which I completed with Distinction. While there, I won a [type of] scholarship which catered for my tuition and accommodation.
Eventually, I got admitted into the prestigious University of Ibadan in 20__, upon completion of my National Diploma program. Due to my performance at the polytechnic, the foundation extended my scholarship to the university level. My experiences built me into becoming a resolute and self-confident individual, increasing my tenacity. These traits saw me through the university, where I graduated with a First-Class Honours degree in Industrial and Production Engineering.