In a world of black and white, I am a strange instance in which the universe created gray. Picture the perfect blank canvas, a town unstained by shades of crime. Summer vacations are synonymous with weeks spent abroad traipsing through cobblestone alleys in Barcelona or fine art-meets-fine dining by the Louvre. Bat mitzvahs, sweet sixteens, and quinceñeras are rites of passage, not into religion, maturity, or culture, but into the world of lavish spending. As a minority and the...

Getting my foot in the door to the fashion industry is no easy feat, so this past year, I set my mind to getting a fashion internship for the summer. Being located close to New York City, America’s ultimate fashion hub, the opportunities were right at my fingertips. However, internships weren’t open to high school students, let alone legal minors. Despite this, I sent my resume to dozens of companies, and after weeks of waiting and rejection, I...

One of my favorite fictional female characters of all time is Jessica Pearson from the television show, Suits. Not only is she a woman, but she’s also a woman of color, and neither of these factors hinder her from running one of the most successful law firms in New York City. The show doesn’t reveal much about her backstory, except for the fact that she graduated top of her class at Harvard Law, so I would love to...

From studying the relationships between apparel and their respective cultures to experimenting with the subtle differences in textile and pattern that have major impacts in the end-all be-all functionality and perceived aesthetic of a design, fashion has always been my forté. Despite popular belief, the subject is much more than superficial vanity. Beyond art, fashion is psychology, a meticulous decision backed by intent. Even those who claim indifference or argue to being above attending to appearance, donning a daily uniform...

When hard times struck my family, I decided to work as a hostess at a restaurant notorious for harsh management and bad reviews. It was a last resort, being the only job paying above minimum wage that would accommodate my busy 7 to 5 school-and-sports schedule. At first, it was nothing short of hell. Between the endless hours on my feet and occasional devilish customer, after a month, I was physically and mentally exhausted. But for every moment I wanted to leave,...

Although I'm no thespian, I was a better actress in elementary school than people gave me credit for. My town is the retail capital of America, nicknamed "The Land of Malls". Shopping is an inherent interest for all residents here. Weekly or bi-weekly shopping trips are met with bags chock-full of merchandise with stuffed wallets to match. When I was younger, I had a hard time fitting in to the environment. With only one parent bringing in a regular income...

The diversity statement was my main essay for QuestBridge.

Research the school online or visit in person and...

I was ultimately stuck between two amazing schools on two completely different coasts. And while I was in love with...

I applied to my school through QuestBridge and got very generous...

When you are visiting a school in person, try to find out...