The first time I was rejected for publication by a literary journal was in the eighth grade. Its name escapes me now, but I still remember the email quite clearly: Ms. Li, thank you for giving me the opportunity to read your poem “Urania.” Though a fine piece, I’m afraid it is not right for us at this time. We wish you luck in continuing to seek publication. The rejection stung, especially coming from a journal that was one...

At JHU I would have ample opportunity to build upon two of my main passions: creative writing and debate. I have been writing since I was six or seven years old and it has been instrumental in my personal development. Writing has helped me learn how to express myself and communicate with others, and in recent years, it has also helped in my struggle with depression. Even if I do not pursue a career as a novelist and/or poet,...

Earlier this year my English teacher mentioned that some of the greatest poets and philosophers she had ever met worked in astrophysics. My classmates found this quite strange, but it came as no surprise to me, as many of my favorite literary works were written by or about cosmologists. There’s something about the sheer magnitude and grandeur of the universe, I think, that brings out the philosopher in all of us. Stephen Hawking said it best when he claimed...

Many people claim that colleges are looking for a "well-rounded" student, but this is only partially true. The most...