Pushing Through the Door The fresh, overly hygienic smell that hospitals always to seem to have filled my nostrils, just as the rancid odor of the street vacated them. I felt the cool, artificial breeze of the air conditioning on my lips, which I had whet as I prepared to speak. “How bad is it?” I asked my mom. “Bad,” she replied. Her eyes filling with tears, she continued, “It’s the chemotherapy. It’s like she has no muscles;...

The question was "What makes you happy?" (I wrote it for Tufts and used it for Harvard since Harvard doesn't ask a specific question for the supplemental essay). A soft, fluffy, well-buttered, and lightly toasted whole-wheat bun; a thick but not too thick black angus beef patty cooked medium-well, just the way I like it; a layer of well-salted goat cheese topped with a generous helping of cherry jam and rocket leaves. As you take a bite, your taste buds...

The question was "Imagine yourself in a tutorial at Williams. Of anyone in the world, whom would you choose to be the other student in the class, and why?" In Lebanon, liberal arts colleges are something of an unknown entity. In fact, when I told my parents I wanted to attend Williams, they were rather perplexed. As it turns out, they thought it was an actual art school, and, having seen some of my paintings, they knew that, while I...

The question was " What's your favorite word and why?" Although I rarely use it in conversation, my favorite word is perspicacious. Prior to my last year of middle school, I considered my only strengths to lie in science; although I was an avid reader, I had little interest in English class. That changed when I met Mr. Mee, my 8th grade English teacher. He had a passion for words like no other, and it was infectious. Before long, I felt...

The question was "What work of art, music, science, mathematics, or literature has surprised, unsettled, or challenged you, and in what way?" It is rare that a book truly unsettles me, but the events of La Petite Fille de Monsieur Linh, by French author Philippe Claudel, did just that. The book recounts the story of Monsieur Linh, a refugee of war, and his baby granddaughter, whom he cherishes and loves above all else. His first few months as a refugee...

The prompt was "Describe the environment in which you were raised—your family, home, neighborhood or community—and how it influenced the person you are today." On Halloween of 2016, Lebanon’s parliament elected a president after almost three years without one. It was treated as a momentous occasion, but the truth is that having no president made little difference. Everything functioned as it usually would, which is to say, barely. With or without a president, Lebanon is a tumultuous place...

This one was for Tufts, but the Duke one was very similar. I often hear that universities are looking for well-rounded students, but I think that many students, I among them, are looking for well-rounded universities − universities like Tufts. In addition to being in what I consider the ideal location in Greater Boston and having a lovely campus as well as a vibrant, diverse student body, Tufts excels in practically all areas of academics. I hope to capitalize on Tufts’...

Although I am a staunch advocate of movies in the movies-versus-TV shows debate, I admit that some shows are exceptional. One such show is “The Office”, where Brown alumnus John Krasinski plays my second favorite character, Jim Halpert. Embarrassingly enough, that’s what first drew my attention to Brown. Brown became my top choice when I learned of the liberal learning goals achieved through any and all concentrations. I am attracted to Brown’s emphasis on developing skills common to...

The question was "Why are you drawn to the area(s) of study you indicated earlier in this application? If you are "undecided" or not sure which Brown concentrations match your interests, consider describing more generally the academic topics or modes of thought that engage you currently. (150 word limit)" "Doctor, engineer, or lawyer?" It’s a question that saw me embark on an ultimately doomed quest to discover which Lebanese-parent-approved profession suited me best. I have found that I am...

The prompt was "Tell us where you have lived - and for how long - since you were born; whether you've always lived in the same place, or perhaps in a variety of places. (100 word limit)" My love for Christmas has grown because of the different environments I have celebrated it in. In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where I spent the first ten years of my life and Christmas is effectively banned, the only place to celebrate is a secret party...

The prompt was "We all exist within communities or groups of various sizes, origins, and purposes; pick one and tell us why it is important to you, and how it has shaped you. (100 word limit)" It’s the duality of swimming as a team and individual sport that makes it so important to me: it simultaneously offers me the camaraderie of a team and the chance to compete on my own. Hunched over the starting block, a teammate is a...

The prompt was "Human beings have a creative side that tends to shine most when we are truly invested in the world around us. Describe a situation when you responded effectively to a particular need and found yourself at your creative best." I once wrote that identification cards are society’s way of summarizing a lifetime of identity building on a 3-by-2 inch piece of plastic. While it’s true IDs are primarily used to identify rather than classify, they...

The prompt was "We know you lead a busy life, full of activities, many of which are required of you. Tell us about something you do for the pleasure of it. (100 words or fewer)" Despite my heavy involvement in sports and my semi-obsession with fitness, I (like anyone else with their priorities straight) am a lover of food. I tend to be adventurous, both in life and in diet, so I firmly believe that the best food is new food. ...

The question was "Describe the world you come from; for example, your family, clubs, school, community, city, or town. How has that world shaped your dreams and aspirations?(*) (200-250 words)" My early childhood in Saudi Arabia placed me in an environment of perfect structure: between the impeccably organized expatriate compound I lived in and the strict British school I attended, I developed an affinity for order. So, when I moved to Lebanon as a nine-year-old, I was in for a...

The prompt was "Tell us about a small goal you hope to achieve, whether in the next 10 days, 10 months, or 10 years." “The difference between a raft and a boat is an engine,” my dad often tells me. Each person has their own engine; something that drives them to improve. Without our engines, we would just float aimlessly through life. My engine is the goals I set for myself. I learned a long time ago that life is richer with an...