I lost the greatest debate round I ever had. On a cold January morning at a tournament during my freshman year, I checked the pairings to see who my round one opponent would be. When I saw the name, I began to nervously click my heels. ----- was rumored to be the best debater in the district and that day the competition gods decided that I, a freshman, was to be his first adversary. I slowly made my way to...

The staircase in my house is lined with family photos. One, from my parents’ 1996 wedding, has always stood out. Look closely and you will see half the guests wearing traditional Japanese kimonos and the other half wearing yarmulkes. And almost as if the beginning of a cheesy joke, it was officiated by both a priest and a rabbi. That humid afternoon in Dallas, Texas, two very different worlds diverged. And so began my family, with our strange traditions and our...

I remember my Tufts tour guide passionately recalling an astronomy class he took in the Ex College, despite science never being his “thing.” He rambled about it for some time, and while everyone else was slightly confused (yet politely listening), I raised my hand to ask him about a star he had studied. Delightfully surprised, he answered confidently. At Tufts, passionate students are given the opportunity to deepen their knowledge while stepping outside of their comfort zones. That small “geek-out”...

Some people use an alarm clock. For five years of my life it was a leap of faith into ice-cold water at 5:00 a.m. that woke me up. But that’s what had to happen if I wanted to swim in the Olympics, and I knew that with enough dedication, it could happen. I began to rise in state ranks, swim faster than ever, and I even went to the Junior Olympics. Soon enough, collegiate level swimming was a path...

As an aspiring International Relations student, I appreciate the value USC places on an interdisciplinary and immersive approach to all aspects of life. USC will allow me to explore the past, make connections to the present and deepen my understanding of the world. Courses such as “The Political Economy of Autocracy ” and “Terrorism and Counterterrorism” will surely challenge my view of global policy. The emphasis on integrative experiences seeps into student life as well. I envision myself joining student groups...