Undergraduate / Paideia - the complete education of mind, body and spirit. Contribution to the Reed community [5]

For one week at the end of January, Reed students upend the traditional classroom hierarchy and teach classes about any topic they love, academic or otherwise. This week is known as Paideia after the Greek term signifying "education" - the complete education of mind, body and spirit. What would you teach that would contribute to the Reed community? (200 words minimum, 500 words maximum)

Martian

I am a movie geek. I especially love to watch science fictions because futuristic science/tech truly excites me particularly when it comes to astronomy. Combining two of my passions, I have found a way that can be both very entertaining and educational at the same time, a movie commentary. If given the chance, i would start a discussion or commentary on the movie Martian and the physics behind it.

First of all, you may be wondering can movie commentary really be educational? Yes, it can because i will be reviewing the movie in terms of science and explain the concepts it covered. I am positive that many audience have wondered whether the scenarios in sci-fis are accurate and such things are possible or not. For example, is it really possible to harvest potatoes on a Martian soil? How is Martian climate compared to Earth's? Clearing that out would be a great pleasure for both me and my fellow reedies.

Even though study should be our first priority at Reed, we should not forget to relax and have a little fun. Why not start by enjoying ourselves with a great movie? It is an great opportunity for the community to take a break from some rigorous courses. While entertaining ourselves with open discussion, we can still learn some worth-knowing lessons that we never had a chance to grasp.

Most importantly, the main purpose of my temporary course would be to foster independent thinking in the community. Ideally, we should be able to evaluate the information in our head and come up with an answer. I hope that my commentary will inspire others to approach any science source with smart questions regarding the credibility and possibilities of the concept.

Undergraduate / I lost my IPad but I found something much more valuable. Common App 2nd Prompt Essay. [4]

Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

I lost something, however I got a very valuable lesson in return

"Leave your backpack in case you don't come back" said the taxi driver when I tried to get out and take my wallet from my house. I must say I was pretty surprised that he doubted me because in our 20-minute trip we got to know each other quite well. We talked about Ulaanbaatar's terrible weather, NBA finals (we both thought GSW was overrated) , the upcoming political election and even about my gift for my prom date. We agreed on almost everything for he was such a cool guy for his age. I thought I understood his vigilance because many teenagers run away from the taxi without paying. I was so wrong and still can't believe I did as he said.

As usual my first instinct was to call my parents for help. I dialed their number but instantly cancelled it. I realized that I was doing the same old thing I always did when I got into trouble. I felt ashamed, even miserable. Not only because I was so careless and naďve, but because I was so helpless I couldn't do anything. That was the moment I realized I needed change and it was inevitable.

I was raised and educated in the suburbs. My parents paid much effort and money on my self-development, to instill a dream in me. I did everything they told me without questioning, following their guidance every step of the way. I was an excellent executor, however, I fell behind when it came to initiating. I was dependent on others and never relied on myself on anything. Until that fateful day, I had never done a thing for my own good. Unconsciously, I had created a shell, separating me from the world outside, from my hopes and dreams, as though it were not me but others who lived my life. That shell had to be broken open and I had to do it myself.

So I decided to act. I walked into the police station and asked to see the officer on duty. As I walked into his room, I saw a menacing figure with not the most friendly face. I tried hard not to look directly into his face. Sharp, eagle-like eyes were fixed on me as if they were drills. "You don't even know the color of the car?" he cried, giving me the "I don't have time for you, kid" look. I tried to answer as accurately and quickly as possible but the officer's mean look and the frustrated people waiting outside got on my nerves. Finally, he stopped questioning and told me to wait for another hour or two.

Unwavered by the cold reception at the police station and filled with my newborn confidence, I settled on cracking the case on my own. Putting on hat and pipe, I went full Sherlock Holmes-mode. With Ulaanbaatar's map in front of me, I marked the taxi's entire trip and spotted the places we stopped using dial times on my cell phone. I remembered exactly where we were when I was on my phone. Then I went to the stores we passed by to check their hidden cameras since all I needed to find was the number of the taxi. This kept on going and going as the cameras had very poor quality images but I did not even flinch. After hours of pursuit, I found the perfect shot from security camera outside a karaoke parlor entrance. I walked triumphantly into the detective's office, gave him a broad smile and shouted "6768 UBO!", the number of the cab.

It felt extraordinary, the taste of success, as if I was finally out of my shell. At the end of the day, I may have lost my backpack, but I found something much more valuable. I learned the power of initiative along with the importance of independence. This was the moment I knew I was ready to take off, to take on new responsibilities and go on to study in college.

Undergraduate / Aspects of Colorado College which attracted my attention. Why this College? [2]

How did you learn about Colorado College and why do you wish to attend? (500 words)

Physical sciences, particularly physics cosmology, truly excites me. Big questions such as the existence or the fate of the universe have always been my favorite subjects when it came to reading for fun. The first encounter with Colorado College was when I saw a presentation "The Story of Cosmology" by Shane Burns, the professor of physics who teaches at Colorado College's unique program, the Block Plan.

Professor Burns' works are definitely among my favorites. I am always impressed by the elaborate concept and insightful analysis he proposed as it thoughtfully answers the questions I encountered with concrete examples. For instance, in his article "The Physics of Interstellar", I really liked the fact that he used real life examples in explaining the abstract concepts of black hole and multi-dimensions which makes it extremely clear even for those who don't excel in science. Professor Burns has definitely had a huge influence on my passion for physics and my intellectual curiosities even though we never actually met in real life. His work inspired me to pursue my favorite subject even further. i'm really looking forward to take his classes in the Block Plan, especially the "Observational Astronomy" course.

Another aspect of Colorado College that i am excited about is the Block Plan. The term Block Plan was definitely an alien to my eyes but I eventually found out the magic behind it. In highschool, i always found it challenging to do evenly good on all of my courses and not to mention Mongolian education system requires all students to take 15 different courses at a time. The idea "one class at a time" suits me perfectly because my concentration and productivity is at its peak when i'm dealing with only one subject. Shifting my focus frequently can be quite troublesome. Furthermore, taking 15 different assignments, exams and finals from 15 different professors is a nasty, stressful business. At Colorado College, i can peacefully excel in a single course in a few weeks, not worrying too much about the others.

Although there are many more advantages of attending the Colorado College such as the low student faculty ratio and exceptional research opportunities, the Block Plan and Professor Burns are the main reasons i want to attend your institute. I can only find them at Colorado College and my place is with them for the next 4 years.