1 I was born into a silent world. Beginning at a small hospital in Benin, West Africa my nine-year old mother sat in the waiting room as she caught glimpses of her older brother, in the operating room. The image of him strapped onto a medical bench, unconscious from anesthesia made it difficult for my mother to bear. Minutes later, the doctor returned for her. As she screamed and hollered, doctors dragged her into the room and strapped her down into...

grew more exasperated that so many outrages occurred in the world without serious coverage by major American news organizations. Having helped educate many of my peers about genocide in Darfur and its economic, political and moral costs for Americans and the international community, I am eager to learn even more about not just global crises, but national problems that also rarely make the nightly news. I am more committed than ever to researching and understanding social issues both in school...