I wrote this about an hour ago (the deadline is today and I forgot about it because of the Jan. 15 deadline) so feel free to heavily criticize.
3. Imagine you have to wear a costume for a year of your life. What would you pick and why? (250 words or fewer)
Picking a costume to wear for a year was no easy task for me. Immediately, a list of my Halloween costumes from the past came to mind: dinosaur, skeleton, pirate, etc. The problem was I couldn't bear settling for one of these typical choices, as it seemed pointless to wear any one for more than a single day. The costume of worthy significance, I later decided, was the hanbok (한복), which is traditional Korean dress.
A version of me from only a few years ago would be disgusted with my choice, not out of embarrassment, but out of the dread of hearing the petty question my costume would inevitably invite: "Are you Chinese?" Indeed, growing up, I was frustrated by my peers' assumptions about my race. Some didn't even know the difference between the terms "Chinese" and "Asian." Why, then, would I deliberately wear such an instigative costume? I realize now that I can't blame anyone for not knowing Eastern culture. In fact, the only way some people become aware is by talking to people like me. It's an opportunity to share my heritage, as well as meet new people. And who knows? Over the course of a year I could be the one learning from others more than I bargained for.
Word count: 213
By the way, I'm specifcally not sure about this sentence: Indeed, growing up, I was frustrated by my peers' assumptions about my race.
Is the comma after "growing up" necessary?
