Autobiography (Long Draft)

My name is Lin Tzu Hsuan, a student graduating from the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures of National Chung Hsing University in the current year. Excluding modest remarks, I would like to describe myself as a combination of four qualities: Adaptive, Ambitious, Diplomatic and Independent.

At the age of ten, my family moved to Shanghai and I was registered at one of the International schools called SSIS (Shanghai Singapore International School) with teachers lecturing in English every class. It was a big challenge, for I barely knew the alphabets. Struggling in this new environment, I tried my best to learn, to speak and adapt. I lost count of the tears shed and obstacles toppled, eventually, English and I became friends. Throughout the years in the Main Land, my family went on several independent trips, visiting the cities and rural areas in China. We stayed in budget accommodations rather than fancy hotels; we traveled in buses, carriages with the locals rather than taxis; we had hiked for hours in the mountains. But I seldom make complaints or whine, even in the hottest desert of Xin Jiang, the frozen river in Harbin and so many others. I think by travelling so frequently and broadly, it had indirectly granted me the advantage to adapt quickly to new environment, and the knowledge that one should always hold curiosity toward new things.

Most friends have known me as an ambitious man, always eager for competitions and determined to strive for excellence. After graduating from SSIS, I resumed my junior high study back in Taipei, but it wasn’t long before my family was again on the move to Jhunan, where I entered an Elite class at a local school. There, my language skill started to shine. I won lots of contests in English Speaking, Reading, Listening and Chinese Lectures. And not only the ones in school, but also some nationals. Plus, I past the High-Intermediate GEPT test in the second year of Junior High.

My strong desire to prove myself didn’t cease after entering the Language Exceptional Class in Hsin Chu High School. Competitors were everywhere in the campus and my English skills were greatly tested. Still, I didn’t falter, nor back down from any of the challenges, my eyes were always set on the first prize. With this attitude and great ambition, I won 2 times the English Lecture contest in school, participated in the National English Speaking Competitions, and received many awards in the Annual Literature Contest. Being competitive but not at all reckless, I was often chose as leaders in class, in sports teams, due to my great sense of responsibility. In addition, I scored a 925 out of 990 in TOEIC during my first summer vacation as a high school student.

At last, I graduated and made my choice to major in Foreign Languages and Linguistics, without a blink.

To me, college isn’t just a mixture of studying and playing, it’s more about exploring oneself and building connections. One can never be too outgoing or sociable, and that’s why I decided to take a 45-day Independent Trip to Australia with my girlfriend, from 7/4-8/19 during my summer vacation of the sophomore year. It was adventurous, and sounded insane. We took the cheapest flights to Singapore and slept in the airport, moving on to Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and finally the Gold Coast, staying around 8 days per city; we moved in overnight trains and limited ourselves to low budget hostels; we also tried our best to make as many friends as possible, and most were extremely friendly.

Talking in English never stands a problem, the difficulty lies in how to make a conversation last. And the trip to Australia, really did the trick.

Most teenagers of the 21st century behold the image of softness, overly relying on their parents. However, I considered myself as independent, and the quality don’t just appear out of nowhere.

After my trip to Australia, I was vigorous for my next challenge: Cycling around the island in my junior winter vacation, alone. So, while the Taiwanese were busy with their New Year decorations, I was getting ready for my 10-day ride around Taiwan. I took off with my bike and gadgets on 1/28 from Jhunan, and I was all by myself. The cold breeze cut like razors and sometimes the wind was so strong that it knocked you back. It didn’t matter, I departed early in the morning and arriving in the evening from city to city, covering over 100 kms per day. I felt no pity, even when everyone was in their house having hot pots and celebrating, for this was what I craved to do at the moment. Throughout my biking around Taiwan, I had rode in downpours; I had overcame Shouka, the steepest bike trail; a flat tire in the mountains; and the SuHua Road with many dark tunnels, dangerous trucks and four continuous mountains. I was full of satisfaction and a great sense of accomplishment, and all these tasks had made me more strong-minded and independent.

My most recent trip was a 41-day backpacking trip to the South East Asia in my junior summer vacation from 7/4-8/15. I was again on my own, visiting Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Hong Kong, a total of 6 countries and 14 cities. And this backpacking trip made me more mature.

To sum up the above, I think I possess all the necessary qualities for this course, and I look forward to an interview opportunity to demonstrate my suitability and enthusiasm.