Dominique Peralta 10/19/14
College App
Background Story
On paper, I appear to be good at everything, but beyond the numbers and grades is a regular person who had to learn from failures and other people's mistakes to succeed. I was born and raised in Camden New Jersey, one of the most dangerous cities in America. I grew up knowing what marijuana was and when to get down to the floor because of a shoot out happening in front of my home. Growing up in Camden seems really bad on TV but after a while you get used to it. You learn to follow unspoken rules like don't look people in the eye when walking, keep your distance, don't trust anyone, etc.
I was born from a one night stand. My mom was 22 and my dad was 16. I was my mother's second child so I grew up with hand-me downs.
Saturday Morning: Cartoons' Greatest Hits
Map of the Dominican Republic
An example of marginalized credits from The Price ...I live with my mom, stepdad, younger brother, older sister, and my nephew. My dad left me when I was little and came in and out of my life. He went to jail a few times and I remember talking into the phone that connected me with him though the thick plastic glass. My mom received a call from my grandmother saying that my dad was deported to the Dominican Republic. I now talk to him on the phone once a year, on my birthday.
My mom dropped out of school her junior year because she was bullied, some of which came from her own siblings. Most of my family never finished high school; they depend on the government to support them. Most of my cousins are now parents with 1-3 kids. Some of them don't have jobs or places to sleep at night. I will not turn out...