Getting dressed each morning for school, I slip on my blazer, tighten my leather Oxfords, and pick a pair of glasses that match my outfit. Just a block away from my house, my town's high school is a two-minute walk to my left. However, I turn right and begin my hour-long commute to St. Peter's Prep. On my way to the bus stop, I always run into my childhood friends as we go in different directions. I wonder, “Why is...

One of the things that is ingrained into my being as an Ecuadorian young man is the desire to make people feel loved. I have been raised to make family out of familiarity. As the Eric Garner incident unfolded, the variety of opinions dragged people apart at school. The feeling of family crumbled as I heard things like "race is irrelevant," and "Garner died because he was a fat-ass." People began making the same kind of assumptions that led to...

Columbia's Core Curriculum fosters excellence through collaboration and cultivates family. Being located in New York City and having students from all over the world, Columbia has a rich variety of perspectives that are crucial to robust self-discovery. The Core bridges these people from all different walks of life in a way that works to enhance the foundational years of college. Unique to Columbia, it will assist me in finding my academic passions, whether that be a major or a specific...

As Cinderella was woken up by the sun, she angelically riffed about believing in her dreams in the face of adversity. Hearing her song, the blue-jays and crimson ravens popped in to help with the cleaning and dress-making. Not only do I see myself in the way she sings and dances around the house, but also in the way she uses music to bring different beings together. It's my job as a performer to discover and exhibit the inexplicable human...

Read yourself a few books on college admissions. I read 2...

Find a passion and excel in it to the max. I'm passionate...

I was accepted to Fordham on a full ride. But you have to truly follow...

List your favorite professor. Be insanely specific. Show passion...

Be your best self and get...