As I walk through my front door after a demanding day in school and on the court, the familiar smell of home-cooked rice and earthy spices absorbs me, and immediately calms me down. This is my home, my sanctuary. I make my way to the kitchen and greet my parents as they continue their conversation, starting a sentence in Arabic just to finish it in French. Growing up in a Lebanese-American family has had its fair share of each culture....

Some schools that waitlist students require additional material to be sent to them, whether it be an essay, transcripts, etc. In my case, when I was waitlisted at UC Davis, they asked me to write a 200 word essay explaining why I think Davis was the right choice for me. My advice: don't take this lightly. Take it as a second chance, as a make...