Undergraduate / "never met my grandfather" - Stanford Short Response- intellectual vitality [13]

The prompt is: Stanford students are widely known to possess a sense of intellectual vitality. Tell us about an idea or an experience you have had that you find intellectually engaging.

I never met my grandfather. I never got the chance to call him dada, as Indian grandchildren call their grandfathers. When I was younger, I never knew why I only had one grandfather. It was a subject that was evaded at all costs. It wasn't until I was older that I began to question what little I knew of him.

My mom told me the abridged version. My grandfather had been running a successful business in Uganda during Idi Amin's military takeover. Idi Amin ordered all Indians to leave the country, and my grandfather sent my mom and grandmother ahead to India. He was supposed to follow, but they never saw him again.

But that story wasn't enough for me. I needed to know more. And that's what brought me to develop one of my most meaningful passions. I started translating his journal; an unusual book, leather-bound and exuding old-world charm; and written in Gujarati. The job was difficult, because handwriting is subjective and not computer-print perfect.

It was a slow, painstaking work. I would take a letter at a time, and reference it to a list of Gujarati letters. After identifying which letter it was, I would phonetically transcribe the sound the letter made in English. I would then sound out the word, and figure out what it meant.

As time passed, I slowly learned to recognize what each letter looked like and what sound it made. I began to uncover pieces of my grandfather's thoughts. I learned that he secretly wanted to be a doctor, but was forced to study business. I have always wanted to be a doctor, and through that yellowing paper, I forged a connection with him.

It was therapeutic for me. But it also made me realize a love of linguistics. It was intellectually stimulating as well as emotionally curative for me. Looking back, I can realize that while my ultimate goal was to learn about my grandfather, I also learned about myself. I discovered a love of language, because it allowed me to connect with my grandfather, though I never met him. I discovered a love for a challenge. I honed an ability that I never would have had otherwise.

Undergraduate / "cluttered exterior" - Stanford Short Response- To a roomate [4]

Prompt: Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. What would you want your future roommate to know about you? Tell us something about you that will help your future roommate -- and us -- know you better.

My boss at work has a framed quote by Albert Einstein on her desk. It reads, "If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk?" Please bear that in mind, because I feel that I need to inform you that I have a cluttered desk. It looks like Staples threw up on it. But I also feel that my cluttered desk, along with its contents, is an extension of myself.

Most people would agree that one pencil and one pen would suffice. But my desktop is covered with writing utensils, simply because I always feel the need to be over-prepared.

I also leave my alarm clock on my desk. I can't have it next to my bed, because then I'll just hit the snooze button rather than waking up. I have the clock set ten minutes ahead, because I can't stand being late.

My desk frequently houses empty water bottles. I can never bring myself to throw them away, since I know I should be recycling them.

Post-it notes cover my desk. I'm an avid list-maker. I write myself countless post-it note lists, on everything from homework assignments to songs I need to download to my iPod.

I keep my nail-polish collection in my. I'm a multi-tasker by nature, and I usually do my nails at my desk so I can let them dry while I type or read.

So roomie, when you meet my desk, please keep in mind that despite its cluttered exterior, it would love to be your friend.

I just wrote this really quick. I wanted to see if it was appropriate for the question, or too gimmicky? If it has potential, I'll continue working on it.

Thanks!

Undergraduate / 'social implications of medical disorders' - Cornell Human Ecology Essay [3]

Prompt: What do you value about the College of Human Ecology perspective as you consider your academic goals and plans for the future? Reflect on our majors that interest you as you respond.

America is a nation that glitters with prosperity but its greatest wealth lies in the consideration and basic rights it guarantees its people. The government mandates that public places are handicap accessible, and people with disabilities are considered a valuable part of society.

My cousin lives in India, and she has Down Syndrome. A microscopic chromosomal abnormality makes her different. But a society that does not provide for the helpless leaves her forsaken. Children with special educational needs slip between the cracks in India. They have no chance to life a normal life.

I later spent two weeks working in a classroom with preschool-age autistic children. At that age, I was struck by how normal their behavior was. But when it came time to write their names, or to follow simple instructions, they found themselves incapable. Watching a child grow frustrated at their inabilities is heartbreaking. But even just in two weeks, I saw those children grow. It was small steps, like opening their own backpacks, or writing the first letter of their names, but it was progress. And at least they have a chance that my cousin never had. They have a society that respects their needs and their right to learn.

When I was younger, I tried researching my cousin's condition. What started out as a brief foray into research about Down Syndrome turned into a full-blown passion for biology. As I learned more about Trisomy 21, I found that I needed to expand my knowledge of biology to compensate. After my experience working with autistic children, I also grew interested in understanding the molecular biology behind autism. Biology has always become the subject that calls to me, and every new thing I learn only reinforces its appeal.

I never dreamed that there was a college out there that would allow me to integrate my interest in biology with my interest in the societal implications of medical disorders such as Down Syndrome. The College of Human Ecology, and the Human Biology, Health &Society major in particular, would allow me to pursue these interests while facilitating my ultimate goal of becoming a physician. The multidisciplinary nature of the major makes it seem like the learning possibilities are endless.

The College of Human Ecology gives me the opportunity to continue to intellectually stimulate myself and also work toward achieving my life-long goals in biology and sociology.

Am I responding to the prompt appropriately?