I was born with everything: not five personal TVs and a butler, but happily married parents, a home, and a big golden spoon clutched in my sticky little fingers. Better yet, I didn’t even need to share. Growing up as an only child, “daddy’s little angel” and “mommy’s personal food critic”, I was a concoction of spoiled, spice, and everything not-so-nice—reflecting all the stereotypes of an only child...
With society at a crossroads over what we deem morally right and wrong, the idea of a normative, universal morality has come to my attention. Humans have a set rule of morals which are considered universal based on aspects such as maintaining human life. However, as I delve into philosophy I have become skeptic of these supposed moral norms that have been placed on us by society...
Education is freedom.This April I spent a week on RESERVATION [name redacted] in STATE as part of a cultural immersion and service experience. Working with students at SCHOOL [name redacted], speaking with the TRIBE [name redacted], and witnessing the stark juxtaposition of beautiful landscape with horrid living conditions gave me a new perspective on social injustices within the United States...
Education is freedom.
This April I spent a week on RESERVATION [name redacted] in STATE as part of a cultural immersion and service experience. Working with students at SCHOOL [name redacted], speaking with the TRIBE, and witnessing the stark juxtaposition of beautiful landscape with horrid living conditions gave me a new perspective on social injustices within the United States...
The ticking of the clock. The pounding of my heart. I sat in the tiny holding room anxiously waiting, waiting for something, anything. My father paced nervously. My mother offered me her characteristic half-smile, but I knew her heart wasn’t in it. The phone rang from the corner of the room. I jolted at the jarring sound as my father jumped to answer it. Few words were exchanged with some indecipherable voice. I knew something was wrong...
{Ben Franklin once said, “All mankind is divided into three classes: those that are immovable, those that are movable, and those that move.”Which are you?}
Life challenges us all. Besides being beautiful, it’s full of difficulties. There is no human being on Earth, strong, powerful, wise or rich, who has not experienced struggle, suffer or failure. These difficulties test the courage, patience, perseverance and true character of a human being. And exactly these times of hardship identify whether one is eager to pursue his or her goals despite any difficulties or circumstances and identify where one belongs; among those who are stagnant or those who have dreams and do the impossible to fulfill them...
My life has been very interesting so far. It’s been a life full of different experiences that have caused moments of joy as well as moments of sadness. Most importantly, all these different experiences have contributed in shaping my personality and helping me grow as a person.Coming from a country like Kosovo adds much shape to the way one thinks, lives and acts...
{Why Penn Engineering?}Since I was a kid, I always wanted to become an engineer. My father, an electrical and electronic engineer, used to explain me how basic things worked and how engineers made different devices which helped people perform tasks faster and better. I quickly learned how to change a bulb or fix a broken plug. Together with my father we would make up new toys and put them into work...
The novel Narcissus and Goldmund by Herman Hesse has had much influences on my life. The novel documents the life of Goldmund, the protagonist, and Narcissus, the foil. As a young boy Goldmund wishes to follow Narcissus into monkhood, but Narcissus explains to Goldmund that they cannot live similar lives as they do not have similar personalities. Narcissus’s statements disturb Goldmund...
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