Undergraduate / My School; Brown Community - Pick any community and tell us why it's important! [3]

We all exist within communities or groups of various sizes, origins, and purposes; pick one and tell us why it is important to you, and how it has shaped you.

I decided to write about my school...

A small but distinct example of multicultural students all gathered in less than an acre, is my second home, The Buckley School. I entered this community at the age of 13 and felt not only accepted but also welcomed by my friends, teachers, and administrators. It was a microscopic example of Los Angeles, where people from all over the world are congregated. I was very happy to see how we as students would interact with each other in classes and express a cohesive interest in knowledge. I will never forget the depth of the discussions my freshman year in Ancient World History when we would discuss all religions and their pillars. One valuable lesson I learned is to listen and respect the opinions of others, because the way we were each raised constitutes our unique perceptions of the world. I hope to carry this experience of thinking outside the box and collaborating with others, from my high school to college and later in life.

Undergraduate / 'not 2+2=4 but 4=2+2' Cornell Supplement- Why Biology for College of Arts and Sciences [3]

I'm not sure if the intro. is clear?!

More and more I have learned that life is not 2+2=4 but 4=2+2. In other words, the world around us is a system that can be better studied through components. This to me is the beauty of biology, that I can take something that intrigues me and be able to understand how its functions are possible on a microscopic level. With a thorough biological knowledge, I hope to tackle the scientific problems of the world and make a societal impact.

My love for science has taken from working in the classroom as member of the school robotics team to shadowing a vascular surgeon. Since I was young, science, especially biology, has astonished me most. My interest in the animal, plant, and human world grew stronger year after year. Taking Chemistry Honors, AP Biology, AP Physics B and C, throughout high school led me to furthermore believe that I belong in the field of science.

Volunteering the last three years at Cedars-Sinai hospital in Critical Care Unit and externing this last summer with vascular surgeon Dr. Zahi Nassoura, watching him perform numerous surgeries, reassured my interest in the medical field. I always seek to give back to my community, whether volunteering with the children's hunger fund or at the hospital. At Cornell University, I would join the Colleges Against Cancer chapter, raising cancer awareness and funding research. I have always strived to make an impact in defeating cancer, and this is an exemplary way to start.

With my biological knowledge I want to make an impact and majoring in Biology and Society will help me to do so. The research opportunities at Cornell allow me to discover in the classroom, apply my learning to real-world situations, and collaborate with others, working towards a common goal.

I want to research and pioneer ideas for the future. At Cornell, I can not only learn from world-class professors but also work alongside them. As a biology enthusiast, I was fascinated by the opportunity to research with professor Matthew DeLisa on utilizing intracellular protein machinery to discover and design products. The small class sizes also allow me to develop connections with my professors outside the classroom. Being in robotics, I was so excited to know that Cornell has a Creative Machines Lab featuring 3-D printers. I would definitely join the Cornell Robotics program.

As an organized person I have always found myself capable of handling considerable workloads; therefore, belonging to a hardworking student body would not feel foreign. What I found so appealing about the school is the sense of independence. At the University, it is up to me to form my academic future. However, the hardworking student body at Cornell is also lively and supportive. I work especially harder when it comes to the things I am passionate about; I want to join a student environment that works hard and is passionate. I am eager to be part of a social environment that engages in intellectual conversation and where leaders of the 21st century mature; this for me is what Cornell embodies.