The Failure Report In 2008, Engineers Without Borders published its first annual failure report to highlight the errors its volunteers had made and what these errors had taught them. This non-profit organization is encouraging a culture of transparency and honest evaluation that is much needed in the global development sector. Following their courageous lead, I present to you an excerpt from the extensive Michael Kim Failure Report (1995-2012) illustrating my most personal failures and the accompanying lessons I have learned. Growing...

Dear Roommate, Pleasure to meet you! My name is Michael Kim. I’m the oldest of five children, so my childhood was quickly replaced with responsibility. My mom says that I was still wearing diapers when I first changed my brother’s! As the ‘third parent,’ I’ve come to understand the difficulties, sacrifice, and worries that accompany with parenthood. But when I see how my siblings have grown, warmth and pride consume me. It was worth the late nights...

At Bellarmine, Amigos de las Américas, and Stanford, my worth is not defined by my socio-economic background. I am able to pursue my potential greatness through the generosity of donors to whom I am grateful. These individuals have strongly influenced my character without even having met me. Need-based financial aid matters to me, and I aspire to one day be on the giving end of the equation. Bellarmine’s commitment to educating the whole person is evident in their...

My favorite animated film, Ratatouille (2007), tells the tale of a rat named Remy who has a passion for cooking. In a bizarre stroke of luck, he partners with an inexperienced busboy named Linguini to cook at the famous Gusteau’s restaurant in Paris. The climax of the film occurs when the nefarious Anton Ego, a food critic who is nearly impossible to please, visits the restaurant and is blown away by a meal of delicious ratatouille. His surprise is augmented...

In 1440, Lorenzo Valla debunked the authenticity of the Donation of Constantine through his study of Latin philology. By proving that the word “satrap,” meaning governor, had yet to be invented in the 4th century, Valla challenged the Roman Catholic Church and helped usher in the Protestant Reformation. To think that a single word could undermine the might of the papacy overwhelms me with excitement and admiration. Every word has a unique story, and these stories stimulate my intellectual spirit. Last...

I would say that spending an extended amount of time in a foreign country is a wonderful way to spend a summer. There is something about being in a completely new environment that teaches you about yourself and...

I chose Stanford because it was a school with an upward curve in terms of prestige and student services. My counselors told me that demand for acceptance to Stanford had skyrocketed in the last two decades, and that new developments at the school were making it the school to be at. Just like colleges value students who are getting increasingly good grades, I saw that Stanford's growth was more valuable than other Ivy League schools' history/tradition.* Stanford was close to home, which I thought was actually a very important aspect. A school that is closer to home can save...