Before starting the ignition, I glance over my shoulder to the back seat to make sure my siblings have their seatbelts fastened. I am their taxi driver. Joelle, my little sister, sits to the right. For a first grader, she has a daring sense of style— rose-colored light up sneakers, striped neon leggings, and a white shirt that reads “I’m a Princess.” Beneath her feet lies her Disney princess backpack containing her pointe shoes, tutu, and a leotard for...

Within my own room, I can travel the world. Strum a few chords on my ukulele (her name is Katie), and I’m relaxing on a beach in Honolulu. Feel the ridges of my seed bead necklace, delicately patterned with red and brown, and I find myself in the Cameron Navajo Reservation where it was gifted to me. Read a letter from Solomon, a student in Kenya supported by my non-profit, and I am in Mahiga trying not to overheat. ...

Home means the smell of Korean rice noodles, a unique aroma that connects my family back to our heritage. Home means the sound of peaceful prayer at night with Mom, and the racket of contentious arguments about philosophy with Dad. Home means the sight of my eleven year old brother “accidentally” wearing my shirt for the tenth time. Home means the taste of chocolate chip cookies that my little sister has baked for us, who has not yet caught on...

Pop. And just like that, my left ear became deaf. Four years ago, my eardrum burst, rendering my ear useless. Vestigial, if you will. People always give me a sad look and tell me they’re sorry to hear that, but it really isn’t as bad as it sounds. The whole world needs to listen: there are a lot of advantages to being half deaf. For one, I've found it to be an asset rather than a hindrance as...

Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World sparked my interest in philosophy. The novel touched on the negatives of an ostensibly successful world which was really driven by materialistic happiness and the sacrifice of liberty. Although nearly a century old, Huxley’s apprehensiveness for eugenics and the reliance on technology is critically insightful and relevant. In the technologically driven society we live in, Huxley’s outlook is especially pertinent. Whereas in the past, ideas such as eugenics were fantasies, today’s...