Prompt: Rutgers requires that you provide a short essay that is your original work. Please reflect on what you consider to be an important personal experience related to your talents, interests, or commitments. Using this experience, please tell us what you learned about yourself. How will this experience prepare you for success at Rutgers?
August 29th, 2012 was one of the most important and enlightening days of my life. To me, it was going to be an uneventful Wednesday shopping at Times Square however, little did I know that I was going to meet Mondo Guerra, winner of Project Runway: All Stars. It was late afternoon when I walked into B&J Fabrics and while I browsed, right in front of me stood Mondo, quietly sketching his designs. I gathered my courage and although I tried to sound like my normal self, my “hello” came out squeakily and I nervously asked for a picture. He smiled and then even proceeded to ask my name. I responded, “uh…its Atsi.” Even at that moment, I was so unsure about approaching Mondo and it was then he sat me down at the bench next to him and started talking to me.
He asked me about my dreams, and I responded saying that I was unsure about my future in the Fashion Industry. I knew that I was never going to be good enough to be successful and at that moment, I poured my heart out to this TV star. Surprisingly, he listened, offering me advice when he saw fit.
Depressed I said, “But I will never be good enough… my sketches are not as artistic, they do not represent any originality…to me they are only drawings from past seasons.” Nodding his head, he seemed to agree with me. He knew exactly what I was talking about because unbelievably he had also been in that same situation. However, he told me something that I would never forget- no matter what.
His advice to me was to keep trying, to focus on my hobbies just as much as I did to my actual academics. He believed that being successful was important, but it was not necessary. To be happy, was more crucial.
This experience with Mondo helped me grow as a person, and become who I am today. Looking back, I can say that I was unsure of myself, who I was and who I was going to be. He helped me understand that my interests were just as important and I should always pursue them- no matter what.
Thinking about it now, this run in with Mondo shaped me for better, and it is also going to help me prepare for the full Rutgers experience. Mondo taught me not to be afraid, but instead, to seize the moment and just go and do it! He taught me to be committed, even if I was terrible at a particular activity, because after all practice makes perfect. I realize now that after that day, I have never given up on anything or anyone, and I plan on bringing this positive attitude with me to Rutgers and experiencing RU the way it should be. I am ready to meet my professors, and move past the obstacles and hurdles that could potentially be in my way. I am prepared to help out in the Rutgers community and make this world better for women and change the laws stating that women are either superior or lower to men- no, the view is that we are all equal. I will cause not ripples, but waves; I will change the way people think, the way they act. I will focus on my designs while I still study late into the night for my business degree. I will be determined, I will be assiduous and most importantly, I will not give up because I believe in myself just as Mondo Guerra did when he sat down to talk to a complete random stranger asking for a picture.
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