There’s something incredibly disorienting about seeing my neighborhood convenience store encircled by barbed wire. But even more unsettling was the riot-shield palisade that accompanies the trees in the shaded boulevard on the way to the convenience store. I had seen this scene before, but always in newspapers about far-off locales from which I felt safely detached. I never imagined that I would witness it in the place that I loved and called home. I grew up with the impression...

“So is there actually a use for this in the real world?” seems to be a popular question among other members of my demographic when pointing out the flaws of the American education system. This question, however, almost always leads to the question, “Is there a point to it all?” However, I do not have the time nor space nor relative dimension to discuss why the answer to life, the universe, and everything is 42 - but I am here today...

The Japanese word tsundoku translates to something along the lines of the purchase of books but never reading them. It’s a fantastic word to describe the state of my room. I don’t think tsundoku should be translated into English. Honestly, the closest word I can think for tsundoku is hoarding, but that doesn’t carry the brightest of connotations. I don’t think tsundoku merits the negative implications of hoarding. Hoarders stash away shoes, creepy Victorian dolls, and...

My personal statement (Common App essay) details my experience with the Sunflower Student Movement (also known as 太陽花學運) in Taiwan.

I definitely should have balanced my spread of schools...

I love my Civ course, History of Science. I couldn't fit in a...

I interviewed with as few schools as possible (so all the non-Ivy schools), but my Ivy interviews were definitely on the awkward side....

Quirky, motivated,...

Do what you like. Don't sign up for a grueling volunteer activity that you're not passionate about -...