The best greeting card I’ve ever received was scrawled on the arm of an eight year old. Printed in bright orange Crayola marker on freckled skin, the message read, “Merry Christmas Ms. Deeny!” The “card” was adorned with a charmingly messy sketch of a tree and my misspelled name. As Lauren raised her arm, I laughed. “How am I going to keep this?” She pouted. “Can’t you take me to your house?” That’s Lauren for you. Then...

What is most attractive about Duke is that it encourages students to engage in a multitude of subjects and classes by opening their programs to student selection. With its wide variety of degree possibilities, Duke’s college education is not limited to just majors or minors. I want a future career in education policy in order to combat the achievement gap and other injustices in our current school system. To achieve my specific goal, I need Duke’s promotion of...

I live in Wisconsin, a state ranked first by the U.S. Department of Education for the worst education achievement gaps in the country. As part of Simpson Street Free Press, I delved into an investigation regarding Wisconsin’s education disparities and found the unfortunate ranking. I was astounded. I have always recognized the importance of a solid education, and this interest in addition to my discovery spurred my want to reevaluate the school systems and other social inequalities. Social...

While visiting Houston, I fell in love with its striking dynamic: a city that’s always moving and innovating. At Rice, I was met with an imposing statue of William Marsh Rice and an aura of interactivity. That day, I set my heart on Rice. The tight-knit Rice community is home to scholars and classmates I can connect and socialize with. World-class professors at Rice are extremely willing to take time out of their days to support and connect with...

I live in Wisconsin, a state ranked first by the U.S. Department of Education in 2013 for the worst education achievement gaps in the country. I discovered this report when conducting research for a city-wide, student-run newspaper, Simpson Street Free Press. The statistics left me shocked, but at the same time, curious about where our schools had gone wrong. In the future, I want to utilize my love for journalism and my passion for education to transform the school system...

As an education enthusiast, I have always dreamed of starting an academic out-of-school program for kids in need of extra school support. Through this program, I planned that high-schoolers take a few hours out of their week to spend time at a local elementary school to interact with the students, provide homework help, and tutor. This idea eventually formed the Elementary Outreach Program (EOP). In 10th grade, as I contacted school principals to promote this new program, I was met...

The charm of Madison, Wisconsin lies in its university, and the charm of UW-Madison is its city. Growing up in Madison, Wisconsin, I have witnessed the close-knit interactions that UW-Madison and Madison have. The university is located downtown, in the hub of Madison culture and activity. Everything from the Saturday Farmer’s Markets, to the all-city Homecoming Parade, to grand history museums, encourages UW-Madison’s students to take advantage and engage with Madison. To me, that cultivates a sense of...