I don’t know what it is about courthouses. They always feel so cold, empty, unwelcoming; despair seemingly lingers within their hallowed walls. When I walked into the Oconee County Courthouse one cold mid-January afternoon, such a sense of despair overcame me, although the building itself wasn’t entirely at fault. As a sophomore member of my school’s mock trial team, I planned a morning dress rehearsal in a real courthouse in preparation for the regional competition the next...

John Portman’s architectural masterpieces such as the Westin Peachtree or Marriott Marquis make their mark on the Atlanta skyline, and they’ve always caught my interest from the glimpses I’d get of them while driving to the airport or my grandparents’ house. Over time, that interest has turned into a fascination for large buildings, from Portman’s skyscrapers to Georgia’s football stadiums. The idea of planning and constructing such huge structures, helping an architect’s dreams become...

As the oldest child in the family, I’ve always been the first to “test run” new situations. From the first day of school to the first driver’s ed lesson, I’ve been frequently thrown into scenarios new not just to me, but to my parents as well. Being the first kid, the “experimental one,” taught me to adapt and be flexible to the present; I learned not just to accept what’s new, but to fully embrace it....

Acting is a way for me to lose myself in the world of theater, and participating in the fall and spring plays has been wonderful for me to de-stress after school by becoming another person altogether. The drama department has had its highs and lows, but I’ve met many incredible people through drama, and love collaborating with them to produce something beautiful for our whole school to see. I’ve played many roles over the years, ranging from Doody...

Athens, Georgia’s history is defined by the University of Georgia, our town’s largest employer and cultural institution. Without UGA, Athens would probably only be known for high school football and Confederate landmarks. Students arrive each fall, enjoy our downtown restaurants and music scene, party at Greek houses on Milledge Avenue, watch Bulldog football at Sanford Stadium, and ultimately leave for somewhere else to live. Unfortunately, these students rarely stay long enough to see the persistent inequality that faces...

The architectural masterpieces of Atlanta’s skyline have always caught my interest from the glimpses I’d get of them while driving to the airport or my grandparents’ house. Over time, that interest has turned into a fascination for large buildings, from massive skyscrapers to Georgia’s football stadiums. The idea of planning and constructing such huge structures, helping an architect’s dreams become reality, sounds incredibly rewarding, and has drawn me towards looking into civil engineering as a career....

“Welcome to Streets, everyone! Today, we’ll be discussing the history of the roads and freeways which form the racial boundaries of our country’s cities.” Browsing UVA’s fascinating Racial Dot Map, which diagrams the demographic makeup of our country, I was humbled by how easy it was to see the continuing divides in our nation’s urban areas, even after fifty years of desegregation. The division between a city’s white and minority neighborhoods is often no more...

One of the most vivid memories I have of my dad is at a Perkins in Sandusky, Ohio, just days after botox was injected into his vocal cords. As the waitress took our breakfast orders, I saw him struggle to speak up, straining to reach a normal volume. Reluctantly, he stopped trying, opting to type out his order and show the screen to the waitress instead. He looked at me, tired and frustrated, as he always is in the days...

I’ve been heavily involved in drama since freshman year, acting in six plays playing everything from ensemble to lead roles. Being able to relax after a stressful day at school by becoming someone else on stage is cathartic, and the rush of adrenaline I feel standing backstage before opening night never gets old. With each passing year, my responsibilities in the department have grown, culminating this year with leading an entire company in an energetic rendition of Amazing Grace,...

While leaving a school [Sadie Hawkins] dance two years ago [2017], I saw a student dressed in drag being harassed by other students. People were calling them all kinds of slurs, even throwing toilet paper at them while the student ran to their car. Not knowing the student well back then, I didn’t act at the time. I talked to the student’s friends and those I knew about how messed up the situation was, but I came to regret...

Two years ago, the mock trial team I’ve been a part of since freshman year was disbanded, as we didn’t have enough participants to attend our region’s competition. That next year, my junior year, I was determined to bring the team back, developing a plan to recruit new members with the one returning senior. I contacted whoever I could and asked them to join, and worked with them to ensure rehearsals wouldn’t conflict with their schedules....

My goal this year is to become more physically fit, and make up for my lack of exercise due to not participating in sports or weight training during the school year. I’ve become interested in mountain biking within the last year or so, and with that has come a renewed desire to get in shape, partially due to wanting to ride more trails on my bike before collapsing in sheer exhaustion. So far, I’ve relied heavily on my...

Civil engineering is a broad discipline, covering topics ranging from environmental management to the infrastructure powering America’s major cities. As an aspiring civil engineer, I value McCormick’s holistic education of the person and the engineer, providing me with a broad knowledge foundation which could prove useful in solving engineering problems. At Northwestern, the focus on a strong liberal arts background, as well as the flexibility of the quarter system, gives numerous opportunities for me to pursue classes such...

At a small warehouse across the street from a Dairy Queen, I’ve spent my past two summers cleaning frames, patching tires, and oiling chains. I volunteer at BikeAthens, a local nonprofit which repairs bikes for low SES Athenians who don’t have easy access to transportation. I’m obsessed with how people get around in the places where they live, and volunteering here lets me help improve mobility and access for those who need it the most, alleviating worries...

Civil engineering is an incredibly broad discipline, and studying it can branch into topics ranging from the infrastructure that makes up America’s major cities to natural resources and environmental management. As an aspiring civil engineer, Rice’s distribution requirements would provide me a broad foundation of knowledge which could prove useful in solving engineering problems. From Houston’s architecture to the effects of law on society to how voting machines influence the electorate to Renaissance drama, Rice provides numerous...

I visited Rice during Willy Week, and the excitement in the air was electrifying. There were so many events around campus, and school spirit seemed to be at its annual peak. But as I talked to student after student, I realized their spirit never dwindled; everyone was involved, passionate, and open to share their love for Rice to me, a total stranger. This spirit, manifesting in clubs meant to solve Houston’s local issues or create original comedy sketches; in...

Athens, Georgia’s history is defined by our largest employer: the University of Georgia. Without UGA, Athens would be just another Southern town, known only for high school football and Confederate landmarks. Students arrive each fall, enjoy our downtown restaurants and music scene, party at Greek houses on Milledge Avenue, watch Bulldog football at Sanford Stadium, and ultimately settle down somewhere else after graduation. Unfortunately, these students rarely stay long enough to see the persistent inequality my community faces. Excluding...

I mountain bike on the weekends, mostly at a park ten minutes from my house. Some days I ride for distance, pedaling out the miles to get in some cardio. Other days I hit the downhill trails, speeding down slopes and turning around berms at dangerous speeds, dodging roots and trees until my hands ache from gripping the handlebars in fear and excitement. I’ve always been a thrill seeker, constantly searching for the newest adrenaline rush. Mountain biking is...

Course 1 at MIT offers opportunities for me to grow my love for urban transportation and learn how to improve mobility in our cities. I’m attracted by CEE’s focus on real-world applications of student knowledge, showcased by 1.101’s introductory, project-based learning style and the department’s easily accessible internship program. The smart cities joint degree would allow me to merge CEE and CS knowledge into an extensive understanding of how networks and data will change the way transportation infrastructure...

At a small warehouse across the street from a Dairy Queen, I’ve spent my past two summers cleaning frames, patching tires, and oiling chains. I volunteer at BikeAthens, a local nonprofit which repairs bikes for low SES Athenians who don’t have easy access to transportation. Being obsessed with the importance of mobility and how people get around in the places where they live, volunteering here lets me help improve mobility for those who need it the most, alleviating...

Athens, Georgia’s history is defined by the University of Georgia, our town’s largest employer and cultural institution. Without UGA, Athens would probably only be known for high school football and Confederate landmarks. Students arrive each fall, enjoy our downtown restaurants and music scene, party at Greek houses on Milledge Avenue, watch Bulldog football at Sanford Stadium, and ultimately leave for somewhere else to live. Unfortunately, these students rarely stay long enough to see the persistent inequality that faces...

Since joining my school’s mock trial team freshman year, I’ve seen the club face issues with recruiting. This became a major problem my sophomore year when the seniors graduated, as they left behind six empty spots we couldn’t seem to fill. We scrambled to get to the regional competition, even helping witnesses learn to play roles for both the prosecution and defense. The resulting stress caused many to quit, forcing us to disband the team before regionals...

On my frequent journeys down I-85 to the airport or my grandparents’ house, I’d always look forward to the glimpses I’d get of downtown Atlanta’s architectural masterpieces. Over time, that interest has turned into a fascination for large buildings, from skyscrapers to football stadiums. The idea of planning and constructing such huge structures, helping an architect’s dreams become reality, sounds incredibly rewarding, and has drawn me towards looking into civil engineering as a career. At Duke,...

Athens, Georgia’s history is defined by our largest employer: the University of Georgia. UGA students arrive each fall, enjoy our restaurants, music scene, and cultural amenities, and ultimately settle down somewhere else after graduation. Unfortunately, these students rarely stay long enough to see the persistent inequality that faces our community. Athens has a poverty rate of 23.5%, the nation’s fifth highest. This problem stems from a lack of access, as Athens’ car-dependent nature leaves those who can’t afford...