At 9,500 feet above sea level towering over my motherland, surrounded by icy clouds, I was a queen. I was also an insignificant speck dwarfed by the sheer size of the snow-capped mountains. My descriptions of the Caucasus Mountains are futile, I know, so perhaps if I tell you how I found myself in such an extraordinary position, my story will make more sense. Ever since my childhood, I have been captivated by Georgian dance. It fills me with both pride...

Ladies and Gents, presenting the ultimate dynamic duo: Columbia University meets New York City. The way I see it, each adds a distinct flavor to the other. New York is a bustling center of commerce, business, and entertainment. Columbia — one of the city’s centers for academia where fresh ideas burgeon and old ones are constantly reevaluated. At Columbia, I would be learning from film giants like Professor James Schamus whose course “Film Theory” would provide a firm foundation in...

Ever since I learned that Kathryn Bigelow was the first and only female to win an academy award for best director, I’ve wanted to be the second. My cinematographer is a man, my gaffer is a man, and even my set decorator is a man. I have directed four films, and all of my key co-workers in each production have been men. I’m determined to involve more women in filmmaking by launching a Women’s Collegiate Film Club,...

When I’m on set, I travel between parallel worlds. The lens becomes my eye and the set within its frame is my only reality. I'm an artist who strives to weave in her vision through effective mise-en-scène elements, but I’m also a businesswoman who wants to maximize a day’s productivity. My perfectionist nature takes over as I take a daily account of the equipment and props, and recalculate the budget to remove unnecessary costs. Maybe I�...

When I’m on set, I travel between parallel worlds. The lens becomes my eye and the set within its frame is my only reality. I am an artist who strives to weave in her vision through effective mise-en-scène elements, but I’m also a businesswoman who wants to maximize a day’s productivity. My perfectionist nature dominates as I take a daily account of the equipment and props and recalculate the budget to remove unnecessary costs. Maybe I�...

A few brave students unsuccessfully ventured up to Dr. Kraus’ desk. All of us stole cold glances at her and grumbled. It took me about seven minutes to realize that our teacher had no intention of explaining the lab she had just handed out to us. It was our first lab for AP Biology, and all I had on the lab table was a gallon of milk, a bottle of acid, and some beakers. I dived into making calculations for...