As a child born with Spina Bifida, I have spent a fair deal of time in Doctor’s offices and until recently the last thing I imagined for myself was a career in medicine, but with maturity came realization and a respect for those who contributed to my strength despite me having a handicap. I yearn to give children like myself the push to realize that their disabilities do not define them, just as my doctors had done for me...
On March 5, 2011, my dad and I were rear-ended while driving to a tennis tournament. We were fortunate that the accident was small, and resulted in limited damage to the car. Two days later I endured a pounding headache during the school day and that night began vomiting and experiencing severe dizzy spells and black outs that caused me to stumble and fall to the ground. As a trained athlete, I almost never before lost my balance unexpectedly and fallen, so the combination of symptoms concerned my parents. The severe headache continued for weeks, while black outs and dizzy spells occurred more frequently, impairing my physical and mental capabilities...
I was born and raised in Bakersfield, a small town with an economy based mainly on oil andagriculture. Unfortunately, it has the fourth highest poverty level in California. Bakersfield High School isa melting pot of three-thousand students from many different ethnic backgrounds and all walks of life.Among my classmates are children of congressman, of migrant workers, and possibly even illegalimmigrants. In actuality, the minority groups make up the student majority. The diversity has shaped meto become a more learned individual, a world citizen. For example, among the languages heard oncampus are Spanish, Hindu, Arabic, and Tagalog...
There was a time when crossing the ocean was a tall tale, flying a mere fantasy, walking on the moon awild dream. What made them come true was not only genius, but genius complemented with a passion, a drive
to achieve. Living without dreaming results in a purposeless life of monotony. Dreaming without living is nothingmore than wishful thinking. The third thing is a goal – a dream with a plan of action...
I’ve always dreamed of college to be this utopia of learning: class out on the green,cosmopolitan debates among students, and coffee with the professor at cafes, Collegetown Bagelsperhaps. I might have just found that place two years ago in the summer of 2010. I chose Cornell’sSummer College because my dad had told me of the beautiful campus and how great his years therewere. I still remember the professor of my Intro to Microeconomics class: Professor Tom Lyons whoselove of teaching spoke through his lectures. While there surely was an intimidating factor in testing thewaters of college as a sophomore, his interest in his students as well as teaching really impacted me andremoved any butterflies I had about going away to college...
With dangling feet and wandering eyes, I look out the window in awe of what I see – the vast mountain valleys, the mesmerizing elephant-shaped clouds, the way the raindrops dance on the windshield. I’m a three-year-old girl sitting in the middle seat of my family’s minivan, curious as can be. As we’re driving, I see a man a couple of blocks away, walking in oblivion with eyes fixed on the sidewalk, failing to notice the ominous puddle on the side of the road. As we get closer, I watch attentively. Before I know it, the car in front of us mercilessly drives through that puddle, sending a massive wave of water onto the man’s body. Unfortunately for my parents, who I’m sure were tempted to leave me in day-care for the rest of the weekend, I repeatedly ask, “¿Qué pasó? Por qué?” the rest of the drive to my grandparents’ summer house two hours away from Mexico City. Little did my parents know that this was just the beginning of perpetual questions and my personal quest for answers.....
“Me no English.” And there I am to the rescue, to help and to translate for a woman at the movies or a man at the supermarket who only speaks Spanish. I can understand people when most cannot. I’m lucky. I’m bilingual. Having learned to contrast the culture that Mexico teaches me with that of the United States has shaped my perception of the world in more ways than one. I was brought up by parents who encourage me to explore while maintaining a straight moral line. Because I read, write, speak and think in both English and Spanish, I know just how important it is to reach out and come to terms with the world regardless of the many differences that too often create a barrier...
July 2011 New Mexico schools - 87% of N.M.'s Schools Get Failing Grade.The July 23rd edition of our local newspaper, the Albuquerque Journal, proclaimed “87% of N.M.'s Schools Get Failing Grade”. The public school system which I have attended for thirteen years is based on a culture of failure. The challenge for students like myself, who are motivated and want to excel, is strategizing how to succeed in an educational system grounded in apathy and mediocrity...
Serving my community is at the top of my priority list. Volunteering at Roadrunner Food Bank and assisting the Backpacks for Kids program have been incredibly enjoyable and rewarding experiences. I also enjoy helping with the Interfaith Hospitality Network through my temple. IHN is a program which hosts homeless families in the houses of worship of non-proselytizing religious denominations. My favorite experience with IHN was Christmas shopping with the families and helping wrap presents and decorate trees...
I’m claustrophobic. Mr. Raison’s office is reduced to a mere broom closet by the clutter. His desk is adorned with a bust of the Bard and a double-decker matchbox bus from London, forced to negotiate nonsensical routes around teetering stacks of papers. Manila folders I neatly labeled afford his well-loved acoustic with a dusty daybed, and I pale imagining the number of sugar ants inhabiting the empty iced tea bottles beside the bookshelf. If asked for a copy of All My Sons or A Rose for Emily, he’ll shrug and offer, “It’s in here somewhere…” in which case, it will never be found. Whenever I beg him to let me organize, he balks, afraid he won’t be able to find anything. On this occasion - among numerous others - Raison drives me absolutely insane...
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