Donna, Jen, Marin; three faces I knew almost better than my own. Not playmates or teachers, they were the children librarians at the public library, right across from my house. My father, although he preferred Gilligan’s Island and Seinfeld to stories and picture books, supported my reading wholeheartedly. He had cancer for ten years, since before I was born, and, even though he was constantly exhausted, I was always welcome to climb up on the couch or hospital bed...

“We’re done with short stories. Bring your As I Lay Dying to class tomorrow.” Mrs. Clark’s declaration was met by our eleventh-grade English class with great enthusiasm. Although we appreciated Poe’s dark genius and Hawthorne’s talent for story-weaving, we could only write so many papers about Young Goodman Brown and the idea of a new book thrilled us. Senior friends refused to comment on the Faulkner, giving only vague, ambiguous hints like “strange,” “confusing,” and “bizarre.”...

Being from a small school in a small town, my opportunities have been limited theatrically, culturally, and spaciously. Walking around the campus of Brown, therefore, was an exercise in self-control. Like a child in a candy store, I wandered wide-eyed as the tour guides casually dropped tidbits like, “Oh, that library has three million volumes,” “There are 300 different student clubs,” or, best of all, “You can get student discounts at almost every theater in the city!” Having done theater and...

As Mme. Tillier expressed her frustration with educated people who say “Deja voo” instead of “Deja vu,” I sat forward, listening intently. Nuances of pronunciation fascinate me, as do cultural differences. Why is “Merde” a light exclamation in France while its English translation is never used in polite society? Studying voice opened more linguistic doors as I worked through German, French, and Italian music. Differentiating between flipped, rolled, and guttural “r”’s improved my pronunciation and enthusiasm for French class....

I ended up joining a co-ed fraternity, the Alpha Delta Phi Literary Society. I never...

The culture at Brown is inclusive, so you'll always be able to find a group of people who share...

Brown was the first school I visited, and I had no intention of applying (it was simply close by) but I...

Right now I intend on getting my Master's in Teaching, hopefully from...

I only applied to Brown. I did Early Decision, which was announced on December 15th, and I figured I would...

Is there something about yourself/your school that troubles you or that you find lacking? Explain about how you can find unique ways to grow at the school...