My hand began to twitch as it brought itself closer to my lips. I knew this wasn’t right, yet I couldn’t resist. I mustered all the willpower embedded into every cell of my anatomy in an attempt to distance my fingertips from my mouth, but to no avail. It was inevitable. After days of self-restraint, I would relapse yet again. I abstained for so long, but no amount of strength in this universe was able to hold me...

Having once contemplated the many injustices in today's society, I questioned why there was not more effort being put into improving the situation. I was then treated with this answer: ‘It does not matter a person's circumstance now, for he or she will be rewarded in the afterlife for any suffering undergone during this life’. I found this response to be lazy and insufficient. I viewed it as an example of flawed-thinking, perhaps an excuse to allow for the evils...

I spent a portion of my summer in Kisii, Kenya, teaching micro-finance to self-help groups. Although it was one of the more enjoyable experiences of my life, I felt that something was missing: cultural diversity. Having grown up in the international hub that is Abu Dhabi, it seems that I took multiculturalism for granted, something I hadn’t realized until my exposure to the relatively mono-ethnic environment of Kisii. Being part of such a culturally diverse community remains the most...

An appropriate study of the realm of modern politics necessitates more than the pursuit of a typical bachelor’s degree. The political decision-making process draws heavily from numerous fields, such as economics, philosophy and psychology, and thus to study one of these disciplines without considering the others would be an intellectual nightmare! Thankfully, Brown provides a solution, as its curriculum encourages students to undertake a multi-disciplinary approach in regards to their academics, a prospect I find extremely appealing due to...

I spent a portion of my summer in Kisii, Kenya, teaching micro-finance to self-help groups. Although it was one of the more enjoyable experiences of my life, I felt that something was missing: cultural diversity. Having grown up in the international hub that is Abu Dhabi, it seems that I took multiculturalism for granted, something I hadn’t realized until my exposure to the relatively mono-ethnic environment of Kisii. Being part of such a culturally diverse community remains the most...

Unique to Dartmouth is the Nelson A. Rockefeller Center, a feature aligning perfectly with my academic interests. Through its Public Policy minor and internship opportunities, I would receive exposure to the world of politics within weeks of turning eighteen! I would be given ample opportunity to pursue my intellectual curiosities, gaining insight into the ways in which political decision-making is influenced by factors such as ethics and the economy. The existence of this center indicates that there resides a community...

Having once contemplated the many injustices in today's society, I questioned why not more was being done to improve the situation. I was then treated with this answer: ‘It does not matter a person's circumstance now, for he or she will be rewarded in the afterlife for any suffering undergone during this life’. I found this response to be insufficient. I viewed it as an example of flawed-thinking, perhaps an excuse to allow for the evils of this world to...

Whilst scrolling through Yale's website in an effort to explore the institution’s countless opportunities, I stumbled upon a page titled 'Advice on Choosing Where to Apply'. I was taken aback by this finding: the article was dedicated solely to helping students find the university that was best suited to their individual requirements. It contrasted strongly to the stereotypical propaganda seen on the majority of university websites, professing the ways in which their individual school is the greatest. The very...

Some have described the worldwide appeal of populism–a grass-roots force associated with a distrust of political and cultural elites, the attraction to common-sense solutions, and an upsurge in ethnic, religious, or national pride–as a response to the upheavals of globalization. Over the past decades, technology and global trade have cost jobs and emptied cities, income inequality has grown exponentially, and, for many, the values of community and identity seem more threatened today than ever before. In your view,...

Moving from the sparsely populated island-nation of Bahrain to the commotion of a rapidly developing UAE, was indeed an arduous experience. Many a tantrum were thrown in an effort to impede the process, but to no avail. Fortunately, that reaction was nothing more than the delusional fears of an eleven year old boy being made to adjust to a new environment. Within weeks of my arrival to Abu Dhabi, I begun to appreciate the blend of culture and modernity. This...

It is unfortunate that such an overwhelming emphasis is placed on standardized examinations during the final years of British secondary education. A student spends this crucial stage of his or her life becoming accustomed to countless acronyms such as ‘GCSE’ and ‘UMS’, memorizing mark schemes word for word and scrutinizing past grading curves in an attempt to predict the following exam session’s grade boundaries. Amidst our struggle for success, we develop a tendency to neglect the things that bring...

It is unfortunate that such an overwhelming emphasis is placed on standardized examinations during the final years of British secondary education. A student spends this crucial stage of his or her life becoming accustomed to countless acronyms such as ‘GCSE’ and ‘UMS’, memorizing mark schemes word for word, and scrutinizing past result curves in an attempt to predict the following exam session’s grade boundaries. Amidst this struggle for success, we tend to forget about the things that bring us...

Towards the end of 9th grade, IGCSE French students were given the choice to follow the regular two-year curriculum, or to sit the exam a year early. This would allow them to then spend 10th grade preparing for the DELF B2, a rigorous qualification where if one is to pass, he or she is considered a fluent speaker. I felt that the IGCSE was neither adequate nor fulfilling. Being passionate about the French language, I craved the ability to utilize...

It is unfortunate that such an overwhelming emphasis is placed on standardized examinations during the final four years of British secondary school. A student spends this crucial stage of his or her life becoming accustomed to countless acronyms such as 'GCSE' and 'UMS', memorizing mark schemes word for word, and scrutinizing grading curves in an attempt to predict the following exam session's grade boundaries. Amidst this struggle to excel, we have forgotten that there is more to school than just...

During the first week of 10th Grade English, Mrs. Houlihan treated us to a short movie for all of the work we'd done. Before pressing play, she shut the blinds and asked a student to turn the lights off. Momentarily after, a group of boys stood up and yelled, 'Oh no, where's Shady gone? It's too dark to see him!', and followed these words with cruel laughter. As wonderful as she was, Mrs. Houlihan never acknowledged the hateful words...