I met Ziva in an unexpected text from my mother. Ziva is a Shepherd mix, she wrote, followed by a photograph of a young dog with wide brown eyes radiating warmth through the latticework of her cage. Caramel- colored eyebrows stood out against her dark coat, her expression permanently surprised, yet friendly. The text came after my mother had discovered Ziva on Facebook. When we squeezed into the small room at the Town of North Hempstead Animal Shelter, Ziva initially...

From the moment I ran out of the pouring rain and into the Admissions center to join my tour, I knew I wanted to spend the next 4 years at Boston University. Subway sandwich in hand and campus map in the other, I made my first trek down Commonwealth Avenue. I quickly developed a love for all the small quirks of the university, like the BU beach. However, it was the academics that truly stole my heart. No other institution offers...

I’ve never been one to stick to a single topic. I can recall countless occasions in my third grade classroom where my curiosity was prompted by a connection. I would flip to a different section of my binder, trying to find what stimulated that link. One memory involved inquiring about the science behind my painting drying darker than it originally was. My teacher could not answer that question, and I took it upon myself to research at home. I...

I always look forward to visiting Mrs. Frances Leyland. It was with her that I first understood how art can have a vivid existence outside of its frame. The subject of James McNeill Whistler’s Symphony in Flesh Colour and Pink, I first saw Mrs. Leyland in a rounded gallery at The Frick Collection. I was immediately drawn to her, despite the muted tones and her demure expression. I took in all the small details, such as the flowers cascading...

It was the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, the day of our annual Little Neck run. Four years on the cross- country team, and I had never been able to complete this one workout. It was intimidating- over ten miles, with half on the road after the hilly trail ends. I walked out of the locker room with low expectations, already hindered by shin splints. I began at a steady pace, using this run as a time to appreciate the beauty of...

The first coworker I met was an eight-foot tall paper mache polar bear. One of the warehouse’s prominent donations, I greeted Gus each morning as I stepped out of the ninth-floor elevator and into the office. I spent my summer as an intern at Materials for the Arts, a nonprofit run by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. Materials is a magical place, a warehouse filled with hundreds of yards of fabric, every color sequin one can...

NYU has always been present in my life, in small ways like the bumper sticker on the Honda declaring my mother an alumni and in the periodical letters I would bring in from the mailbox. As my junior year began these mailings continued to come from the university- now addressed to me. After learning more about NYU online and visiting the campus, I realized that the academic rigor, school size, and community fit were a complete match for what I...

Whoever labeled New York as “the city that never sleeps” knew what they were talking about. I can recall the countless nights I was kept awake by the sonorous medley of train whistles, cars skidding to avoid the pothole in front of my house, and tourists returning to the hotel down the block. Over the years I have grown comfortable with the loudness, and realized I enjoy a loud, thriving environment. At Wellesley, I can easily see myself enjoying an...

My first impression of Tulane came in an olive green card delivered in the mail. My eyes immediately latched onto my favorite color, leading me to unknowingly discover my possible future. After learning more about Tulane online, I realized that the academic rigor, school size, and community fit were a complete match for what I wanted in a university. I am not the type of student who can settle on studying one subject alone, and I believe Tulane would give...

Visiting Dartmouth wasn’t in my summer plans, but my dog needed a break from our six-hour road trip. After finding parking and untangling Ziva’s leash, I got a chance to take in the lush green lawns and trees that framed each building. However, it was the students that struck me the most. I was surrounded by packs of frisbee players, friends reading to each other outside Left Bank Books, and echoes of laughter throughout ‘53 Commons. It was the...

It was the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, the day of our annual Little Neck run. Four years on the cross country team, and I had never been able to complete this one workout. It was intimidating- over ten miles, with half on the road after the hilly trail ends. I walked out of the locker room with low expectations, already hindered by shin splints. I began at a steady pace, using this run as a time to appreciate the beauty of...