When I was born 9 weeks early and two pounds lighter than average, the only family present was my mom. And that’s how it has always been, in our small family with the same makeup as a hydrogen atom – a mother nucleus and daughter electron. My childhood was one filled with exploration, in our tiny apartment overflowing with books. My mom helped me go at my own pace, so I read chapter books at 3½. Questions, no matter how strange, were...

Curious. Passionate. Outgoing. I was the one to introduce myself first, sticking my hand out like I’d been taught. I didn’t know who the new person was, but I wanted to. After the initial pleasantries, I began the interest list, trying to find common ground. Aha! There. Something we both like. And then started the discussion, my arms moving with emphasis and exaggeration, fully absorbed in this subject with this new person. We and our familiarity have grown,...

I’ve been a member of my school community for a long time: 12 years starting from Grade 1. And while I’ve certainly done a lot over the years, my most enjoyable role is as a school ambassador. Since Grade 6, I’ve toured prospective students and their families, detailing all the positive attributes of the school, especially the IB program, regaling them with tales of my ever-developing school experiences, and, of course, answering any of their questions. Tours are an intimate...

After being diagnosed with ADHD in 7th grade, I became very interested in what in my brain caused this disorder, which led to a more general interest in the brain. The more I read about ADHD and the brain, the more I realize how little we know about the brain as a whole. ADHD and schizophrenia are both partly imbalances of dopamine, yet it is fascinating to see how different the symptoms and effects can be. The relationship between genetics...

When the Tufts admissions officer visiting my school told me about the strength of the Biology program and the small class sizes, I was intrigued. Reading about the interdepartmental program in Biopsychology, with courses like Cognitive Neuroscience, made me want to visit. And visiting is what made me know. The experimental college and the possibility of teaching a course on morality in Star Wars, the beautiful campus and facilities, hearing firsthand about the meaningful relationships between professors and students, and...

My normal is being surrounded by girls in plaid kilts, non-uniform shoes and untucked button-down blouses discussing celebrity gossip, the Montreal burka ban, Snapchat streaks and Trump’s policies, all over large cups of coffee. At my all-girls IB school, there’s every reason to be a feminist. Anything is possible if you spend enough hours and coffee on it. We criticize Trudeau’s policies and praise his looks simultaneously. I have never understood the existence of beliefs like “x...

Look up to the night sky, to the millions of stars, to the infinite expanse above. Contemplate inward, to the grey, squishy mass about the length of your hand that controls nearly everything in your body, that is the main reason you are you. Both are fascinating for many different reasons, and for a single shared one: there is so much we don’t know. For space: Does gravity really work the way we think it does? Does dark matter...

What convinced me to apply to Lynn was not only the wonderful admissions officer who came to my school, but also the individualized learning that Lynn offers. Firstly, the Institute for Achievement and Learning. As someone with diagnosed ADHD, the IAL is perfect for me. I have been receiving direct and individualized support in my high school from our Learning Strategies staff, and a continuation of this in university is ideal for my seamless transition. I especially would welcome the...