"Learn for the sake of learning!" my English teacher chirped. For the thousandth time this year, a student's complaint about the apparent irrelevance of the day's grammar lesson gave my teacher her cue to once again declare these words, which in turn only evoked more groans and grumbles from my classmates. Personally, by the 900th time that my teacher's voice had carved that phrase into my mind, I had come to agree with its message-or so I thought. That word, ...

In horror, I watched Vivian Bearing, a distinguished English professor in the documentary ​Wit, as she battled valiantly with her advanced ovarian cancer. She writhed uncomfortably on her hospital bed like a fish in a desert. Tears cascaded down her face as her body fought against the aggressive chemotherapy that was supposed to kill the tumor eating away at her insides. Her hard earned knowledge leapt out of her mind, and she was helpless to stop its escape. I tried...

Professionalism is an equilateral triangle. Its three sides — technical competence, relational sophistication, and genuine performance — must be contributed evenly in order to reach equilibrium in the workplace. However, it is not just the addition of these elements that is essential to achieving professionalism, but also the equal proportions in which they must be implemented. Too little technical competence leaves one stuck in apprenticeship, blocking the path to mastery. Without sophistication in the relationships that are formed with both their colleagues...

What if? What if the patient is a young man who suffered a concussion but only understands Spanish? What if the deep sigh that the woman on the examination bed just breathed is not one of fear, but one of frustration with the last three doctors who had all run the same tests, only to give her the same negative diagnosis? What if the little girl who has just been rushed to the hospital with mouth sores and sporadic rashes...

Neurosurgery has always fascinated me, the neurology and the surgery aspects alike. I find it amazing that one three-pound organ can play such a vital role in the function of the human body. From the neurons that jump like hurdlers across synapses transmitting electrical signals, to the spinal cord that connects the brain to the peripheral nervous system like a bony bridge, I am in awe that these structures that are so fragile are also so strong. I look forward...

I want to share stories of my experiences growing up as a Nigerian-American in America with my fellow students, and follow up the stories with a discussion of how ethnic cultures clash with — or complement — the American culture. I want to entertain my suitemates with spontaneous Afrodance performances, and teach them the choreography so we can dance together. I want to engage in lively, yet respectful, debates with my classmates so we can use conversation to make our own discoveries...

From the moment I step through the seemingly plain, brown doors of the orchestra room, pure harmony envelops me in its cozy arms. The orchestra’s magnetic energy tugs at my heart, strengthening the bond that I have with my fellow instrumentalists in this home away from home. At the conductor's cue, fingers dance across violins while bows bounce on cello strings. We continue playing like this, until suddenly we are thrust into pitch black darkness. But instead of stopping,...

In horror, I watched Vivian Bearing, a distinguished English professor in the documentary Wit, as she battled valiantly with her advanced ovarian cancer. She writhed on her hospital bed like a fish in a desert. Tears cascaded down her face as her body fought against the aggressive chemotherapy that was supposed to kill the tumor inside of her. Her hard earned knowledge leapt out of her mind, and she was helpless to stop its escape. I tried to convince myself...

Neurosurgery has always fascinated me, the neurology and the surgery aspects alike. I find it amazing that one three-pound organ can play such a vital role in the function of the human body. From the neurons that jump like hurdlers across synapses transmitting electrical signals, to the spinal cord that connects the brain to the peripheral nervous system like a bony bridge, I am in awe that these structures that are so fragile are also so strong. I look forward...

Whether it be sharing stories of my experiences growing up as a Nigerian-American as a basis for a debate about how ethnic cultures clash with -- or complement -- the American culture; or entertaining my suitemates with spontaneous Afrodance performances and teaching them the choreography so we can dance together; or smiling through watery eyes as I look around the common room at my friends doubled over laughing at the story I just shared at our 2am storytime, the unbreakable...

It is a community that is both intimate and large. It has a curriculum whose design is both broad and specialized. It sustains a culture that celebrates both building upon existing knowledge and pursuing newfound curiosities. Boston University is not an institution of compromise, but of total acceptance. At such an institution, I will have the opportunity to grow as a student and mature as a member of society. The BU Hub requirements address all of the elements that are...

The Kilachand Honors College fully embraces the concept that transforming murky complexity into clear familiarity requires bold exploration and innovative perspectives. Every aspect of its curriculum ensures that its students not only learn about all branches of academia, but that they are also able to use their new knowledge as a tool to impact society in the future. The way in which Kilachand’s curriculum seamlessly integrates seemingly unrelated topics into the topic of my desired major, Neuroscience, allows me...

Its community finds inclusion in diversity. Its curriculum creates specialization in flexible interdisciplinarity. Its culture celebrates innovation within tradition. UMass Amherst is an institution that creates a tightly knit home within a community. After moving from school to school for the majority of my educational career, I crave a school that I can call home, and UMass Amherst’s familial spirit offers the opportunity to do so. From defined residential communities like Harambee, to interdisciplinary programs like the Five College...

Transforming murky complexity into clear familiarity requires bold exploration and innovative perspectives. Out of all of the human body’s organs, the brain remains one of the least understood. In pursuing Public Health, I will be able to turn my passion for neuroscience into action, using my newfound knowledge to dramatically improve public health from a neurologically oriented perspective. The Nursing major will give me a well rounded view of the human body, equipping me with the tools necessary to...