The long hours of practice had finally paid off. The scrapes, embarrassment, and frustration took on a new meaning. Dostoevsky’s words rang true: “The darker the night, the brighter the stars.” I was skating off the stage in front of the audience during my school’s production of Little Women, the musical, and my mind was on one thing: I was rollerblading! To many, this may not seem like an accomplishment worth noting. However, in the weeks leading up...

Throughout the years, my personal faith has felt like a roller coaster. There have been periods when I have thought that my relationship with Christ was rock solid, only to followed by a time of lethargy. At the time I didn't know what to make of this. If I had doubt, did that mean that I wasn't supposed to be a Christian? I thought that uncertainty was a sign of unbelief, and wondered about the status of my salvation. Romans 11:23 �...

Everybody loves the underdog. The character, determination, and sheer heart that they demonstrate is inspiring. Is that really the truth of the matter, however? I come from a high school of 150 students, meaning that we are always the underdog. The other schools in the area have never heard of my high school, much less expect them to succeed. After all, what can such a small group of people actually accomplish? It is easy to sit back and accept that mindset....

I knew that I wanted to stay in California, so I picked schools that were...

I would apply sooner and look for...

The activity that takes up the majority of my time is track. I run the 400m and the 400m hurdles for the team, which means...