Providence of God was a church struggling to keep its doors open. A predominantly Hispanic parish, Providence found it difficult to attract new parishioners as it resisted gentrification in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago. However, this was more than a church to me: it was a home. I was baptized here, I grew up here, my parents and grandparents were all married here. I knew it was going to be an uphill battle, so I did everything I could to...

I remember coming home after taking my first ACT. I was thinking of two things: “I could really go for a double cheeseburger” and “I am definitely going to retake that.” Shortly after, there was a large stack of mail for me on the kitchen table. I was fairly certain they weren’t love letters, so I wondered what they could be. My eyes lit up as I grasped the multi-colored cards and envelopes: it was my first college mail....

Responding to: "Alice falls down the rabbit hole. Milo drives through the tollbooth. Dorothy is swept up in the tornado. Neo takes the red pill. Don’t tell us about another world you’ve imagined, heard about, or created. Rather, tell us about its portal. Sure, some people think of the University of Chicago as a portal to their future, but please choose another portal to write about." My bare feet make contact with the cold ground. It is pitch...

This was a class unlike any other I have been in. We did all of our work on our iPads. The class was divided into six groups of four people. We only interacted with our teacher about twice a week, when we presented our work in small discussions. One thing was certain: the strength of my group would determine my success in the class. However, the teacher chose the groups randomly, so I was forced to work with people who...

As a senior, it can be easy to become fixated on the high school life. For the past four years, bells have told me where to go and when to go there. Additionally, it seems out of the ordinary to stray away from my lunch table or team. This is a huge difference from what my adult life will be like. Life is not a gated community; it is an ever-changing story filled with a sundry of people and places....

Before the Basilica of the Sacred Heart was built, a team of experts were meticulously planning how to build a beautiful and lasting monument. They debated over the potential material of the building. The Basilica needed to last centuries, so it was built out of sturdy brick. It may seem obvious, but the strength of a building is only as strong as the materials used to erect it. This is why the Basilica has been standing for almost 150 years. Likewise,...

Responding to: "Home is where your story begins. Tell us about your home and how it has influenced your story." The cold wind bit at any body part that dared to be exposed, which in my case was my eyes. I lowered my head and continued onward in the darkness. Snow was my ally here; better to trudge through a foot of snow than to risk it all on a patch of ice. I traversed through the arduous terrain for...

Responding to: "The late Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., Notre Dame's president from 1953 to 1987, served as a trusted adviser to U.S. presidents and popes. A champion for human rights, Fr. Hesburgh was one of the architects of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Reflect on the current state of civil rights, the progress that has been made, or the problems still being faced today." In terms...

Like most high school students, I was somewhat anxious entering junior year. With only two years of high school under my belt, I was not looking forward to the transition to college. While some of my peers had locked-in their career choice since elementary school, I had still not found my true passion. Thus, I was indifferent when I saw “AP US History” typed on my schedule sheet; I was simply taking the courses selected by my advisor. On the...

Through my involvement in soccer, I have built unique bonds with people. Entering senior year, I met three 8th graders: Jonathan, Richie, and Luis. They were thinking of attending our local high school, but it had a reputation of gang activity. They had a passion for soccer, so I invited them to a training camp at my high school. They immediately felt a sense of brotherhood when they met the team, and enrolled at my high school in the fall....

One of the largest hurdles that a businessman—or any other individual—can face is tunnel vision. Tunnel vision prohibits them from looking ahead and recognizing unique opportunities. Growing up in Chicago, I have encountered vast assortment of people. In grammar and middle school, I would interact with unique individuals and learn about their cultures. When I enrolled in a private high school, however, the environment was completely different. Although it was located in Chicago, the diversity was very poor....

Responding to: "Please respond to the statement by Aristotle: 'It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.'" Aristotle leaves us with a statement which may at first glance seem like simple advice: ponder an idea without believing it is infallible. While this may be true, Aristotle’s statement actually has two approaches. These two approaches parallel the two sides of a person’s nature: the hopeful and the rational....

Responding to: "Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time." Soccer has granted me unique experiences both on and off the field. Through my involvement, I have become brothers with the most unlikely of people. Entering senior year, I met three 8th graders: Jonathan, Richie, and Luis. They were thinking of attending our local high school. However, it had a reputation for being overcrowded,...

Responding to: "Describe your favorite academic subject and explain how it has influenced you." Many people think that history is simply the study of people who are deceased and memorizing dates. However, history is much more; it is about change. It tells us of the turning of tides in wars, the reform of laws, or the change of heart in an individual. History is more than a narrative; it is a roadmap that leads us to our current state. This...

Responding to: "What have you done to make your school or community a better place?" There are many things unique to a high school, such as wacky mascots or catchy school songs. However, there are some universal aspects that seem to be present no matter which high school you visit: vast amounts of reading, enthusiastic sports fans, and, of course, bullying. Entering high school, I had one goal: do not become a target. I was extremely afraid of becoming an...

Responding to: "What is the one thing that you think sets you apart from other candidates applying to the University of California?" Although he never directly said it, Charles Darwin is accredited with this famous quote: “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.” His studies prove this to be true, even when referring to modern day humans. I had to change...