Tears poured down from my eyes as I said my last good byes to Tatiana and in response her eyes started to water. After moments of gloomy silence, I turned around and went through the security gate into the Brussels Belgium airport and caught up with the Smith Middle School exchange group. I could not believe that my wonderful trip to France and Belgium had come to an end. The time that I had spent with my Belgian pen-pal, Tatiana,...

Describe the world you come from — for example, your family, community or school — and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations. From 2001, the year that my family immigrated to the United States, I watched my dad’s shining face transform into a dull, tired figure as he struggled to support his family with his limited english language skills. He tried a number of minimum wage jobs from a construction worker to a sushi chef. Everyday during...

At my school, it is very hard to find a nice study area. From my dorm (where all the...