As I smoothed the ruffles of my dress and fixed the straps of my sandals, I heard my mother ask from the driver’s seat if I was ready. I replied enthusiastically, bubbling over with the mix of nervousness and excitement that comes with experiencing something for the first time. It was the summer after eighth grade, and I was on my way to my first interview. It was a job interview for middle schoolers’ most coveted volunteer position in...

An Open Letter to my Younger Cousin: Being a teenager is nothing like it is portrayed in movies. Although media would like you to think that your teenage years are full of drama, gossip, and fun, the decisions that you make when given more freedom to do so are what really matter. One aspect of being a teenager is that you gain the responsibility of making your own decisions. This is a double-edged sword, because you will have the power...

In 2012, my middle school held an all-girls field trip to the University of Florida for us to learn about engineering. At the time, I did not fully understand what engineering was. However, as faculty taught us more about engineering and helped us through activities to demonstrate each discipline, I fell in love. Since then, I have dreamed of becoming a biomedical engineer. Because of Duke’s unmatched engineering program, impressive thinkers, and engaged faculty, I feel that Duke would be...

Although a plethora of ideas come to mind, I would use funding to design and create a machine to help my grandfather become mobile again. When I was younger, he suffered a stroke, leaving him unable to do the things he loved. He used to play golf every day for hours, and even got an offer to become a professional golf player. However, whenever he suffered a stroke, he was unable to hold or properly swing a golf club. Seeing...

Out of all the words that constitute my vocabulary, headstrong has the most meaning to me. Despite its negative connotation, it is still the epitome of what I strive to be: someone who defends their beliefs and is not afraid to be challenged. Although headstrong could be understood as being stubborn, it could also be described as being determined and unyielding. When describing myself, I prefer to use headstrong because of my strenuous effort to resolve any problem that is...

An experience that stands out to me was my job at College For Kids, a local educational summer camp. During my time there, I was a Counselor-In-Training (CIT), which involved aiding various classes to children between the ages of ten and fourteen. My love for math and the sciences enabled me to assist in classes congenial to my interests, such as “Math Quest” and “World of Biochemistry”, as well as some art, building, and beginners’ robotics classes. College For Kids...

In the summer before my junior year, I started volunteering at a local summer camp, Santa Fe College For Kids. At this camp, I help to teach various classes to children between the ages of ten and fourteen. I teach science classes, creative classes, and sports classes. I am responsible for watching over classes of up to sixteen children and providing a good role model that children can both relate to and look up to. In addition to volunteering at...