The only in-person college tour I’ve ever been able to attend was a small school in Macomb County, Illinois. It was a school that wasn’t really on my radar, but the faculty was why I went. I heard that the people working there had my same passion, but with a key distinction - they had made theirs a reality. A conversation between them and myself had to happen. Graciously, they sat down with me and we began chatting...

Narrow-mindedness dominated my life as I entered my Sophomore year. I thought of myself as complete, but soon I would learn just how incomplete I truly was. Shortly after the school year began, I was nominated to represent my high school as a member of the Youth Equity Stewardship (YES) team. The YES team had monthly meetings where representatives from my school and others would collaborate in order to shed light on social issues at our collective schools. I walked...

In the eyes of many, people are who they are, end of story. That story ended for me too until I learned about behavioral analysis. Exploring the chapters in the lives of others, the why behind the final draft of their personality is captivating. Most universities do not have both breadth and depth. Brown stands out in that aspect; utilizing the abundance of research opportunities in order to understand behavior within the greater context of humanity and going beyond a...

In first grade, I built a book fort in the library. My construction efforts were taking place during silent reading time and I realized the mistake I made. As my architectural masterpiece started collapsing, so did my perfect undisciplined track record. I was mercilessly scolded by the librarian and thus sent to the principal’s office. The principal at my school was an incredibly wise man and he always knew how to make his words stick - for better or...

“Mom, what does Northwestern even mean?” I was confused, after all, Northwestern isn’t even a real direction. I asked my all-knowing mother and she said it was located in Evanston. Immediately I recognized that as the place she had been married. “Sounds more Midwestern to me.” She then told me to shut up and apply to the school. I’m remarkably thankful she did. Every time I look deeper into this school, I see core qualities that I value...