“Nationalist!” The smug, contemptuous jeer of one upperclassman boy upon realizing that I was one, Taiwanese, and two, insistent on being referred to as such. Wait, what sort of insult was that? Dumbfounded, I failed to think of a single retort. “Taiwan is not a country! It’s not part of the United Nations.” The haughty teasing of an otherwise friendly and likeable girl who happened to be Chinese as we sat together on the school lawn during lunch. What...

My search for colleges began with much self-reflection. Having cautiously decided on the broad category of “business” upon eliminating other popular career paths (doctor, lawyer, engineer), I nevertheless had only a vague idea of what it entailed. But even though I have no formal business experience, the experiences that I do possess have helped me understand my personal interests better, and lead me to specific possibilities that are unique to NYU. The subjects I enjoyed the most during high school...