The doorbell rang. Mom scurried to answer it. I strained to overhear the muffled words from an unfamiliar voice as I listened from my room. “Mindy, the results came back positive. You have melanoma.” Melanoma? Cancer. My mom has cancer? Did I hear it correctly? My heart began to pound faster and faster. My mind raced, refusing to accept what I had just heard. This must be a mistake! Surely my determined, full-of-life, beautiful mother couldn’t be sick. That...

Calvin Coolidge, the 30th president of the United States, was known as a man of few words. Notwithstanding, one quote attributed to him speaks to me: Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated failures. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. This particular aphorism not only personally resonates,...

Calvin Coolidge, the 30th president of the United States, was known as a man of few words. Notwithstanding, one quote attributed to him speaks to me: Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated failures. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. This particular aphorism not only personally resonates,...

Wisconsin is a large school with a ton of spirit and great academic opportunities. With over 160 undergraduate majors to choose from I would be sure to find a major, as I am going in as undeclared freshman year. I look forward to taking a wide range of courses and am confident that the academic programs at Wisconsin will allow and help me to find my niche. Throughout high school, I have participated in a multitude of community services; from working at Winthrop Hospital, to mentoring kids with learning disabilities, and to cooking with kids every Saturday, I have embraced each...

Helped really organize myself. With applying to many...