There is nothing like being blasted in the face by a 2000­-degree glassworking furnace that makes a blistering summer day feel like a polar expedition. But I live for the heat mercilessly scorching my face and arms, leaving my skin pink and throbbing. I am vitalized by the blazing ball of white hot glass at the end of my blowpipe, calling forth fiery determination to pulse through my veins. The glass smiles brilliantly at me like a little sun, begging...

I met Mark Zuckerberg at a barbecue when I was a carefree tween just old enough to sign up for Facebook. I did not imagine that only 4 years later I would be contacting him as a potential business partner. For the past two summers, I worked as the youngest intern for a startup company called Jobcase, which runs a social media platform aimed at empowering and networking blue collar workers. I pursued this job because of my interest in social...

“How are they so incredibly happy?,” I mused as I crossed Wriston Quad. Watching Brown students laugh over Blue Room Cafe muffins and calculus homework, I was gripped by a strong sense of belonging and desire to join this community united by joy in learning. Brown's open curriculum and spirit of boundless inquiry are nirvana for me, as I seek knowledge and experience beyond a narrow scope. With my diverse interests ranging from history and glassworking to neuroscience and statistics,...

The first time I saw a potter throw a bowl using only his feet was at Snow Farm art camp. This unconventional technique illustrates the freewheeling spirit of this quirky community which I've loved for the past two years. Living together for several weeks each summer, we create art for ten hours every day and inspire each other the whole time. My Snow Farm family has encouraged me to explore my passions for glass working and metal-welding, and our community...