On January 2, 2012, adversity struck my family. My grandmother severely injured her legs. My family needed to send money for her surgery immediately. With my parents’ low-paying jobs, this was something my family would not be able to afford, so my parents spent days calling relatives to borrow money. With nowhere else to turn, my mother sold her most precious possession, her wedding ring. After two sleepless days filled with anxiety, my parents gathered enough money, but little did I know...

Coming from a low-income, immigrant family, family ties and work ethics play significant roles in my life. Due to my family’s financial state, my happiness couldn’t come from material possessions as a child; Nerf guns and Legos were never parts of my childhood. Instead, my joy and laughter came from the experience I shared with my family. Unable to afford gaming systems, I played hide-and-seek with my brother and cousins at the park. My family would have long...

As I picture myself at Brown, images of students with boundless freedom and contentment come to mind. Known as the college with the happiest students, Brown captivates me with its open-curriculum and emphasis on tradition. Attending Brown will allow me to be far from home and to develop a sense of independence I have long craved after living under my parents’ roof for all my life. Not only will I get to decide how I want my life to be,...