In an impassive manner, she told me her dad was murdered, her sister was raped and killed, and that her mother abandoned her and her siblings. She defended her nonchalant mannerism, claiming “my story is not as sad as others’.” After my shock subsided, I became gravely wary of the immense dichotomy between the problems faced in America versus the problems faced in other parts of the world. This past summer, with a group of real-world professionals and philanthropists, I...

“You’re a disappointment.” Before I met her, I told myself this everyday. I couldn’t accept that mediocrity at something preceded mastery at it, until I met her. In the past 6 years, she has become my closest friend despite the ups-and-downs in our relationship. At first glance, I became infatuated, and wanted to interact with her. I had to persist to get her attention, and I’m fortunate I did because she turned out to be my perfect match. ...