I have always lived a sheltered life with every detail planned out by my well-intentioned parents. From the second I took my first breath, academics were shoved down my throat. My parents forced me to take extracurricular tutoring lessons and I was only given an allowance if I had perfect grades. Homework came before everything, from going out with friends to just living life. Arguments arose over prioritizing fun over school, leaving an embittered relationship with my parents. Resentment inevitably...

While most teenagers spend their Halloween devouring hoards of candy and watching horror movies, I spent mine at school as a sophomore. Luckily, I was not stuck in high school; instead, I had the opportunity to attend Eberhard Zwergel’s Halloween show. I had just begun my first experience with chemistry class, yet I took a plunge into the wondrous world of chemistry. I found that it was full of explosions, fire—and dancing. The show exemplified the Northwestern spirit...

My chemistry teacher was also my tennis coach, so...