Friends and family members when they think of me are mostly aware of my high degree of determination. I would consider determination my most defining quality since numerous events in my life reflect this about me. I was raised by my mother who taught me to be curious and to always look for opportunities to learn new things. From my childhood she instilled in me desire to succeed. Since then, I have always tried to make the best out of my situation and seize opportunities as they arise to put me on a successful path. One series of events that reflect this quality is my experience studying in the Soviet Union under a communist regime and my struggle to obtain admission to graduate school in the United States.
             Fresh from high school I was offered admission to a local university to study chemistry, a subject in which I excelled. I remember I did not hesitate even for a second when I rejected the admission and, instead, flew to Moscow to take entrance examinations at Moscow State University, the most prestigious university in Russia. There was no guarantee, however, that I would gain admission. I chose the uncertainty over the definite, the best over the mediocre, the challenge over the comfort. Moscow State University represented excellence in education since its staff was composed of the most talented professors in the country. For me it also represented the door that would open up new opportunities; the door I had to go through if I ever wanted to realize my dream to travel and study in the United States. I became one step closer to making it happen. I was offered admission.
             During the summer of 1991, after completing my second year at the University, I was visiting my grandparents who lived far away from Moscow. On August 19th, Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev was overthrown after a coup by Communist hardliners. On that day, all the channels of national television were showing tanks on the streets of capital. One could not d
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