“Now just observe what’s going on,” called the department head, “and take notes if you see anything interesting.” I stood wide-eyed in the ICU hallway as oxygen masks hissed and trolleys squeaked. Doctors and nurses rushed about, charts rustling and keyboards clacking. Amid the chaos, I noticed a group of doctors speaking animatedly as they exited an “Isolation” room. A giant sanitizer dispenser on the wall, surrounded by posters and red arrows, reminded them to wash up. As an...

On the ride home from my first regional Congressional Debate tournament, I rubbed my hands together in anticipation. A shiny third place trophy glinted next to me. Oh boy, feedback time. I glanced at the crinkled envelope in my lap and bit my lip nervously. Slowly, I peeled back the flap, keen to see the raw, unfiltered critiques. “Histrionic? Overly assertive?” How was this possible? Just the day before, my captain advised me to challenge my competitors with a bit...

There is something terrifyingly beautiful, almost poetic, about a virus. After holding an amber-encased Ebola sample at science fiction author Richard Preston’s lecture, I yearned to learn more about what diseases mean for our world. The threat of an epidemic had always seemed so distant, yet there I was, with a deadly organism in my hands. At Cornell’s College of Human Ecology (CHE), I’ll be able to explore my interests in public health through research and community...

Strolling through Butler Library after my tour, I saw students reading and speaking quietly. The silence was broken by two classmates animatedly discussing Copernicus’s heliocentric theory. Interested, I slowed down as I passed. “Well? What do you think?” I turned around...they had asked me. For me, creative and inclusive discussion is the most important component of Columbia's Core Curriculum. With all of my peers taking similar introductory courses, regardless of their majors, I look forward to hearing distinct...

I never thought I’d see my mother in an Ebola hazmat suit. The threat of an epidemic had always seemed so distant, yet there I was, watching her pull on the yellow hood in preparation for a potential patient. Wanting to understand the ramifications of such outbreaks, I began shadowing doctors in my local hospital’s Infectious Disease department, where I conducted research on preventative policies. Holding a sample of amber-encased Ebola, I wondered about the extraordinary feats of...

There’s an unspoken understanding among women and minorities in Congressional debate: we’re an almost nonexistent group at the national level. Debate culture remains predominantly male, to the extent that at my very first tournament, judges criticized my “feminine voice.” My initial reaction was to mimic successful male contestants; however, when I connected with peers facing similar criticisms, we realized we needed to pursue our own potential. To enhance our existing strengths, we trained to speak with genuine conviction...

My bedside table nearly collapsed last year, crushed by a teetering stack of books. My thirst for gaining knowledge, unquenched by biophysics and the Hapsburg dynasty, stems from the excitement of discovery. Learning gives me a sense of joy and fulfillment, propelling me to take in even more. When I process new ideas, I use them to solve problems and view the world through a new lens. At FSU’s Young Scholar’s Program, I translated classroom knowledge into research....

When I first held an amber-encased Ebola sample, I yearned to learn more about what diseases mean for our world. After an animated discussion with author Richard Preston following his lecture, I watched him pull out the seemingly innocuous yellow block from his pocket. The threat of an epidemic had always seemed a safe distance away, but here was one of the world’s most potent diseases in my bare hands. There was something terrifyingly beautiful, almost poetic, about the...

I never thought I’d have the world’s most potent disease in my bare hands. Meeting with author Richard Preston and holding his amber-encased Ebola sample, I realized that the threat of an epidemic was not so distant after all. There I was, admiring the terrifyingly poetic beauty of the virus. Staring at the yellow block, I yearned to understand what diseases meant for our world. This experience solidified my desire to study the multifaceted contexts of health. I�...

Holding an amber-encased Ebola sample, I yearned to learn more about what diseases mean for our world. At Boston University, I’ll be able to study the behavioral basis of health while immersing myself in research and community involvement. I plan to major in Behavioral Biology and minor in Public Health, an interdisciplinary course that will provide me with the foundation needed to effect future health policy. Taking classes beyond the biological scope, like “Primate Evolution and Anatomy,” I’ll...

Boston College strives to provide an undergraduate learning experience emphasizing the liberal arts, quality teaching, personal formation, and engagement of critical issues. If you had the opportunity to create your own college course, what enduring question or contemporary problem would you address and why? I never thought I’d hold a deadly virus in my hands. After meeting with author Richard Preston following his lecture, I watched in awe as he pulled an amber-encased Ebola sample from his pocket. I...

In eighth grade, I decided to read what I believed was a science fiction novel titled The Hot Zone. It turned out to be a real account of the development of Ebola and its eventual outbreak in an American town. Though reading about the diseasewas frightening, the author’s description of the virus piqued my interest in Evolutionary Biology and public health. When I met the author at my school and held an amber-encased Ebola sample in my bare hands,...

I’m drawn to the Columbia Debate Society because it inspires thoughtful analysis of world affairs, most notably through public debates and middle school outreach programs. My four years of Congressional debate have led me to firmly believe in the importance of discourse. I mentor female debaters, helping them to overcome systemic biases by empowering them to embrace their personal debate style. At Columbia, I hope to work for the inclusion of all viewpoints, specifically those of women, by actively...

After disease author Richard Preston’s lecture, as I held an amber-encased Ebola sample in my hands, I yearned to learn more about the significance of diseases in our world. I’m excited to further explore my interest in health policymaking and research experience through the incredible interdisciplinary education, research, and service opportunities available at George Washington University. One of my most significant bills that I authored for national Congressional Debate competitions addressed health NGOs in Nigeria; I combined my...

On the weekends, I’m not X—I’m Senator X. I know Robert’s Rules of Order by heart, and I’ve perfected the art of tapping a gavel to the tenth of a second. Whether it’s discussing the funding of air-strikes on Bashar al-Assad or amending the Dodd-Frank act, I’m someone with a duty to my constituents and my decision has real consequences. Four years of Congressional Debate have taught me to think critically about contemporary...