Ask anybody about archaeology and they’ll immediately bring up Indiana Jones. Sure, he brought excitement and adventure into the mix, but he destroyed more artifacts than he recovered. As for me, archaeology isn’t a search for lost gold and treasure. Rather, archaeology is truly a background, an identity, an interest, and a talent. It was only a few days after Christmas, and my parents and I had driven from our former home in Massachusetts to a small town...

I use my creativity in the traditional artistic sense as well as within an academic context. One way in which I express my creativity is choir. I adore choral singing and the various pieces of music my choir performs. By singing texts from old Gregorian chants, I feel connected to the people of the past. I feel the deep emotion behind their music. I revel in the works of composers like Beethoven, Mendelssohn, and Handel, amazed how their pieces still...

I used this past summer to challenge myself academically by taking advantage of several educational opportunities. First, I took a 'History of American Women' at Moorpark College to expand my limited knowledge about women's role in American history. I also attended the Pre-College Program in Early American History from the National Institute of American History and Democracy at the College of William and Mary. Here, I focused on American history from the founding of Jamestown to the American Revolution. I...

History blossomed in me when I was ten, upon the discovery of an old book in my father's bookcase. It contained the tale of my family history and how we arrived in 18th century Virginia from Germany, changing Steinseifer to Stonecipher. My mother's Jewish side was shrouded in mystery, yet I quickly understood how easily people could be lost. Though my second great-grandmother emigrated long before the Holocaust, the Nazis succeeded in erasing her story by destroying the local synagogue...

I think my background and the lessons it has taught me are truly unique and different from other UC candidates. I grew up in a little suburb outside of Boston, Massachusetts, and lived there for ten years. There, the local wildlife sanctuary taught me of the beauty of nature and how our human actions impact the natural world around us. I learned that inner peace could only be found through both solitude and collaboration. Both of my parents grew up...

Boston University’s Archaeology major is unique in that it is separate from a specialization in anthropology. Additionally, the offer of a combined BA/MA is compelling, along with the plethora of research opportunities available in Boston. The Archaeology Seminar Series interests me in particular, as it covers a wide range of fascinating topics! In terms of study abroad programs, the Menorca Field School in Archaeological Heritage Management offers the opportunity to engage in fieldwork over the summer, which I...

A liberal arts education takes into account the wide spectrum of human activity and creations through in-depth study of many different subjects. I believe that such an education is reliant upon the ability to find common themes within all disciplines and to make connections between them which depends on the abilities to think creatively and problem-solve. Though the IB diploma program has integrated globalism into my secondary education, I believe my education has, thus far, been too focused on the...

The choir music room is my own Library of Alexandria. Centuries of musical history lay at my fingertips, and I revel in Renaissance polyphony and word painting. I love the thrill of learning new music, the journey from messy sightreading to mastery. Every Winter Concert, my choir finishes with Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus.” When I feel my own voice contribute to the waves of golden sound, all I can think about is grilled cheese. I think of the warmth and...

History blossomed in me when I was ten, upon the discovery of an old book in my father’s bookcase. It contained the tale of my family history and how we arrived in 18th century Virginia from Germany, changing Steinseifer to Stonecipher. My mother’s Jewish side was shrouded in mystery, yet I quickly understood how easily people could be lost. Though my second great-grandmother emigrated long before the Holocaust, the Nazis succeeded in erasing her story by destroying the...

At Brown, I wish to have my worldview broadened and my preconceptions challenged. I want to experience Brown’s celebration of the individual and the encouragement to ask hard questions about the human condition. More specifically, I’d like to pursue a double concentration in history and anthropology, or possibly a designed concentration in archaeology and artifact policy. I would also take advantage of the fieldwork opportunities offered by the Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World, like the...

I grew up in a little suburb outside of Boston, Massachusetts, and lived there for ten years. My home was the local wildlife sanctuary, where I sat upon the dried pine needles, deep in thought. I explored my home through poetry, with odes to the unwavering majesty of the earth. I fervently pored over the works of Emily Dickinson and admired her for her quiet genius. Both of my parents grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska, and I feel an inherent...

The choir music room is my own Library of Alexandria. Centuries of musical history lay at my fingertips, and I revel in Renaissance polyphony and word painting. I sift through piles of lost music, everything from Dello Joio to Beethoven, and return each piece to its proper home. I love the thrill of learning new music, the journey from messy sightreading to mastery. Over these past four years, I’ve seen myself grow and develop as a musician. Before I...

To me, community is warmth and support stemming from the people surrounding me. Overall, community is kinship and recognizing that while we come from different backgrounds and have a breadth of perspectives, we have something in common. I believe that community is built upon respect for one’s fellow man and the human spirit. In college, I hope to participate in many facets of the Clark community. Music has always been an important part of my life, and I want...

Academically, I’m drawn to the opportunity to design a Special Major in archaeology and artifact policy as well as the FSPs in Auckland and London. I’d also love to participate in the University of Copenhagen and Keble College, Oxford University, exchange programs. At the College, I’d join a traditional choir and an a capella group. I want to try new activities like rowing and ski racing as well. Moreover, Dartmouth is a truly unique combination of history...

I am a fervent believer in the power of a name. I am Willa Beutler Stonecipher, and even those three words hold the mo’olelo of my family and its vivacious past. Just by looking at my name, a person would think my story is simply German, but they’re wrong. There is infinite power within a name. I’ve spent endless hours pondering my name, my background, and how it results in the person I am today and the...

I used this past summer to challenge myself academically by taking advantage of several educational opportunities. First, I took a ‘History of American Women’ course at Moorpark College to expand my limited knowledge about women’s roles in American history. I also attended the Pre-College Program in Early American History from the National Institute of American History and Democracy at the College of William and Mary. Here, I focused on American history, from the founding of Jamestown to the American...

The choir music room is my own Library of Alexandria. Centuries of musical history lay at my fingertips, and I revel in Renaissance polyphony and word painting. I love the thrill of learning new music, the journey from messy sightreading to mastery. Every Winter Concert, my choir finishes with Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus.” When I feel my own voice contribute to the waves of golden sound, all I can think about is grilled cheese. I think of the warmth and...

The choir music room is my own Library of Alexandria. Centuries of musical history lay at my fingertips, and I revel in Renaissance polyphony and word painting. I love the thrill of learning new music, the journey from messy sightreading to mastery. Every Winter Concert, my choir finishes with Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus.” When I feel my own voice contribute to the waves of golden sound, all I can think about is grilled cheese. I think of the warmth and...

Simply put, there is no empathy for one’s fellow man anymore. Politics and conflict dehumanize the opposing side and obscure compromise. Such is the case between different religious sects and political parties. If we acknowledge each other’s humanity, the world would be a better place.

This past summer, I attended an early American history program at the College of William and Mary. I also took a class on the history of American women at a local community college. The year before, I traveled around Europe and took two summer classes to get ahead.

If I had to choose just one, it would be to witness the rediscovery of the Rosetta Stone. The Rosetta Stone truly was the key to understanding Egyptian hieroglyphics, and by extension, ancient Egyptian culture, and I wonder if those who found it held any sense of its monumental importance.

Vivacious, old soul, passionate, courageous, principled

I’d read Jane Austen any day, especially Pride and Prejudice! In terms of television and movies, I enjoy reruns of The Office and gothic horror movies. I love listening to NPR, particularly “This American Life.” I delight in alt-rock music like Hozier. Recently, I’ve been getting into traditional fiddle music.

I’m looking forward to experiencing Archaeology Survey and Testing on Stanford Lands because I’ll be able to participate in the community’s understanding of what came before it while still fully immersing myself in my studies.

I’d use my extra hour to tend a small herb garden and apiary where my goat, whom I’d name Lucy, would wander about. I would use medieval knowledge of plants to recreate remedies used centuries ago. I’d also make goat milk soaps, scented with herbs from my garden.

I remember crying as I watched videos of the destruction of the Palmyra Archaeological Museum in Syria at the hands of the so-called Islamic State. So many priceless artifacts from a myriad of different cultures were desecrated. After a period of mourning, I was filled with burning curiosity. I thought about destruction of important historical art, artifacts, and sites. I contemplated the Taliban’s razing of the Bamiyan Buddhas, all the art lost in China’s Great Leap Forward, and...

Dear Emily Smith, Hi! I’m Willa, your new roommate. I’m sorta from Massachusetts, sorta from California, and I like to think of myself as an honorary Nebraskan. Now I know what you’re thinking: you’ve struck the roommate jackpot! Before you collect your winnings, I come with some brief warnings: - This person may contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm (Ugh Prop 65, I don’t drink...

I collect photos, the older the better. It always happens the same way— I stroll through an antique shop, scanning for items of interest until I find the photo section. I walk away from the photos, but I can’t get them out of my head, so I sheepishly walk back to the photo section, pick out my favorites, and purchase them. In Lincoln, Nebraska, I found a pair of Victorian-era photos of a young woman. One was of her...

The choir music room is my own Library of Alexandria. Centuries of musical history lay at my fingertips, and I revel in Renaissance polyphony and word painting. I sift through piles of lost music, everything from Dello Joio to Beethoven, and return each piece to its proper home. I love the thrill of learning new music, the journey from messy sightreading to mastery. Over these past four years, I’ve seen myself grow and develop as a musician. Before I...

I learned about Vassar College through my research on the Seven Sisters colleges. At the start of my college search, I wasn’t sure what I wanted in a school, and I was drawn to the empowerment found within women’s colleges. Along the road, however, I figured out that a coeducational school would be the best environment for me. I was captivated by Vassar’s historic mission to support women’s higher education while welcoming people of all gender...

History blossomed in me when I was ten, upon the discovery of an old book in my father’s bookcase. It contained the tale of my family history and how we arrived in 18th century Virginia from Germany, changing Steinseifer to Stonecipher. My mother’s Jewish side was shrouded in mystery, yet I quickly understood how easily people could be lost. Though my second great-grandmother emigrated long before the Holocaust, the Nazis succeeded in erasing her story by destroying the...

I’m drawn to the concept of iconoclasm and how it manifests in a modern context, like with the razing of Palmyra, Syria, and the destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas, as well as ancient art destroyed in China’s Cultural Revolution and ‘degenerate’ art obliterated by the Nazis. It’s truly fascinating how contemporary examples connect to the infamous Byzantine iconoclasm, many sharing theological roots condemning idolatry. Iconoclasms are sometimes the result of strict religious fundamentalism, yet always are an...

It was a hot June afternoon, unexpected after a morning of thick fog. As it was late in the day, the mail carrier soon arrived. I went out to grab the mail and on my way back inside, I noticed a winged insect on the pavement. Stooping down, I saw it was a bee flipped on its back. My heart pounded. I spent much of my childhood outdoors at my local wildlife preserve in Massachusetts, surrounded by stinging beasties. I...

Archaeological Studies, History, History of Art

History blossomed in me at a young age. I want to unveil the lives of those who have faded away with time or who have been purposefully eliminated. History provides a skeleton, a backbone, and archaeology fleshes out the rest of the narrative. This summer, I participated in an archaeological dig at Fairfield Plantation in Virginia. I excavated large pieces of stoneware from the 18th century, my hands becoming its first touch in three hundred years. I realized then that...

Yale’s history and strength within archaeology and the Archaeological Studies major really intrigue me, along with the University’s close relationship with UNSAAC in Peru. The department’s Brown Bag Lunch Series, with talks like ‘Art and Antiquities in Times of War and Shock’, speak to my longing to learn more about different lenses of viewing the past. I also would take advantage of the opportunity to double major in History, with a geographic specialization of Europe, along with...

I’m inspired by seemingly mundane objects of the past. I see beauty within the lives that touched an amphora or a worn coin.

I’d like to discuss the mainstream perception of the past with Lin Manuel-Miranda. I would ask him how he thinks Hamilton has impacted young people of color and their engagement with history.

Brick-a-Brac: Architectural History Through LEGOs

I’ll always be there for my suitemates as a giver of advice and a confidant. In turn, I hope that they’ll always be up for discussing the meaning of life and getting a midnight snack!

Topic #1 I’m drawn to the concept of iconoclasm and how it manifests in a modern context, like with the razing of Palmyra, Syria, and the destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas, as well as ancient art destroyed in China’s Cultural Revolution. It’s truly fascinating how contemporary examples connect to the infamous Byzantine iconoclasm, many sharing theological roots condemning idolatry. Iconoclasms are partly the result of strict religious fundamentalism as well as an expression of power. Groups like the...

Topic #3 The rise of the new alt-right within American politics and culture is particularly concerning to me. I see the alt-right movement as a reaction against the changing demographics of America and how the political institution of white, wealthy, Protestant men is losing its power within the government. Though I did not lose family in the Holocaust, as a Jewish woman, I feel like I share the memory of violence and oppression. When I watched the news covering the Charlottesville...