I struggled to find a word that meant “now”. As in right now. Despite my years of learning Spanish that had rendered me a proficient speaker, I failed to find a way to communicate in a way that was unexpected and frustrating. This type of communication characterized my first few weeks in Santa Lucía, Panamá. Through Amigos de las Americas, a non-profit organization, I had embarked on a six-week journey to live with a host family, to work with...

At Penn, I intend to pursue my love of writing and literature, as well as my desire to work internationally, by enrolling in the College of Arts and Sciences and majoring in comparative literature. A degree from Penn, with its unique course and extracurricular offerings, will provide me with a strong foundation in the skills I need to continue to grow as a writer and a communicator. I hope to deepen my own understanding of literature in both English and...

The Power of One is the ideal book for Boston College's First-Year Convocation program because by examining South Africa during World War II, a nation wrought with racial tensions between numerous ethnic groups, Bryce Courtenay, a former resident of South Africa under the apartheid system, conveys the positive change that one individual can bring about through faith and dedication. Peekay, the protagonist, grows up with a Zulu nanny, British parents, Boer classmates and teachers, a German friend and piano teacher,...

“Expecto Patronum” I think, waving my hand under my desk, as pre-race jitters fill my mind the day of a cross-country meet. Silly, I know, since muggles like me can’t do magic. But nonetheless, the idea of being able to cast away my fears with a powerful force of positive energy is appealing. I wonder idly what form my patronus would be- maybe a cheetah (hopefully not a sloth). The secret of the Harry Potter series is that magic...

Into two giant squares, where the tallest buildings in New York City once stood, falls an unending rush of water from all sides into a dark abyss. “Reflecting Absence,” the new 9/11 memorial, commemorates the emptiness that now exists where a symbol of American identity once stood. As I pass through a metal detector and as police search my purse, I am reminded of the great impact 9/11 has made; hyper-awareness prevails. I see twisted branches on a lone pear tree, the �...

I am attracted to Georgetown’s politically active, intellectual environment because of the enhancement it can bring to my studies. I plan to pursue my interests in writing and literature through an English major at Georgetown. I also want to earn a minor in journalism, which would be an ideal career because it combines my interests in writing, exposing and evaluating social issues, and giving back to society. Georgetown is the ideal environment to study journalism because of its internationally...

“I survived, but it’s not a happy ending. I was a coward. I went to war.” I have always loved reading for the allure of being transported into another place, time, and life, as well as the beauty of written language, and I have envisioned myself as a writer since childhood. However, when I read the above line from the memoir The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien my perspective on literature changed. I realized that language is...