"When I step out of French Language and Culture class into the crowded hallways of my high school, I hear the muffled conversations of other students, yet something seems to be a bit off. I glance around – the dark blue hallways are still the same as they were fifty minutes ago, the cheerful back-to-school posters are still taped in their place, but suddenly, the ebb and flow of the English language that I have been hearing for 16 years don’t...

Instead of colorful stamps from times forgone or wrinkled maps of faraway lands, I collect quotes. Taken from Fitzgerald and Feist alike, these alluring strings of words have always captured my interest more than any tangible object can. I always found difficulty, however, in trying to share my collection with others, as there is no scrapbook or glass case equivalent for quotes. That is, until I stumbled upon Brandon Stanton's street photography/interview mélange, Humans of New York. Clicking...

We know you lead a busy life, full of activities, many of which are required of you. Tell us about something you do for the pleasure of it. (*)(100 words or fewer) Whether I am at a quiet Starbucks typing on my blog or in the loud school cafeteria scrawling in my journal, writing brings me into another space altogether. In this space, I am not limited to any perceptions that others have of me. It is a space where I...

I grew up balancing my parents’ Chinese culture and my American one. My childhood consisted of both Hans Christian Anderson and old Shandong parables, teaching me that the power of stories is the same in every culture. I constantly acted as translator between my parents and grocery clerks, showing me the advantages of learning different languages. I was reared by parents who rushed into this country on half-whispered wishes built by bright images on cracked television screens, helping me learn...

Excerpt from "Why Economics" : "A white-haired professor with a cranky expression shuffled in, overflowing files of papers spilling out of his arms. He seemed to me as if he had just stepped out of a scene from The Paper Chase, but only with a little less glamour. Glancing around the room, I saw a few faces fall as fellow students in the Economics summer program began to prepare themselves for a brief hibernation. I chose to organize my pencils and...

My name is Janna, and I currently attend X High school. A little more than a month ago, I took a few deep breaths, plugged in my earphones, and mustered up the courage to view my Penn ED decision. After seeing that my application had been deferred, I was, of course, disappointed. There was, however, a silver lining knowing that I still have an opportunity to see dear old Ben as a true student, rather than a prospective one. Now, I understand that you are extremely busy, so I will try to be brief. For the longest time, Penn has...

1. Welcoming 2. Passionate 3....