Undergraduate / Deciting to go to India (intellectual vitality) + Roomate foods - Stanford [4]

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.

In deciding to go to India, I was faced with a conundrum that I had never reckoned with before- how my very passionately held ideals might fit with another society. For some reason I had just assumed that concepts like equality were "universal" ideals- not American ideals. It was within the context of having someone ask me how I would respond to women's devalued status in Indian society. I have always held a strong belief in gender equality, one that I still have now. However, while I was a guest in someone else's country, and in someone else's home, it didn't seem to be my place to question the system. I did not want to offend their hospitality by being overly critical of their way of life, so instead I observed. I quietly measured up my own convictions against contrasting ones to determine which held true, and which fell down. I discovered rationales for things I had never thought could be rationalized- for example, if you believe (as in Hinduism) that in each life you are re-incarnated according to your deeds and learning, if you have a hard lot in life, it is simply so you can learn from it. It is fair. Eventually you will be born with an easier lot. From this perspective, having a hierarchal society and a society of gender inequality can make sense. You are simply learning the lessons you need from fulfilling that role, and it will pass. While this view amazes me, I continue to believe in social and gender equity. Still think that people should be given the same privilege and respect, regardless of gender. However I am less quick to generalize, or condemn belief systems different from me as "wrong". Though it was, and remains very challenging for me to wrap my head around the idea that inequality can be justified, it is a humbling thought, that no society has all the answers.

Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate - and us - know you better. 

Dear future roommate,
Hello. I'm really excited about getting to share a room- I would much rather have a room mate than live alone! I hope you don't take things too seriously-I have an absurdist sense of humor, and I laugh a lot. I'm a really positive person- I just don't think it's productive to get depressed...that being said, I'm all about productive. If anything breaks in our room, don't worry, I will fix it. My parents are home-improvement obsessed, and thus I know how to fix/revamp/rewire just about anything. I'm a pro with the spackle. I listen to the radio constantly- NPR, but I can get headphones if it's distracting. I shared a room with my host sister for the first time last year (I lived in India last year, it was my favorite thing I've ever done) and it worked out really well- we're very close. I think she'd describe me as a flexible roommate-I'm really low maintenance. I'm bringing my banjo; you're welcome to play it, or to ask me not to play it in the room, if for some reason you hate banjos. I'm really opinionated, and really ambitious- I want to help the world, and will fiercely defend my ability to do so to the cynics of the world. This doesn't mean I don't respect the beliefs of others though, in fact I think that the only way I can be steadfast in my beliefs is if I'm open to having them challenged with contradictory views. I was raised in the South, so I have all these weird southern expressions that I use. "Nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs" means very nervous. I love to cook- so if there's a dorm kitchen I will probably cook for you (how do you feel about salmon? Carrot ginger soup? Cupcakes?) Looking forward to meeting you, Helen

Undergraduate / "learning globally and intercultural learning" - why tufts- poem style? [3]

This is for my Tufts app, and because of the small word allowance I formatted it kind of "poem style" (not exactly a poem, but with rhetorical repetition)...thoughts? thank you!

Which aspects of Tufts' curriculum or undergraduate experience prompt your application? In short: ''Why Tufts?'' (50-100 words)

Why Tufts? Because Tufts offers an opportunity to apply learning globally.
Because it will help me find a way to marry practical skills to my love of intercultural learning.
Because in letting me, a humanities student who hopes to major in International Relations, take science courses for credit, I will be able to understand the engineering behind the water filters I want to provide as aid to third world countries.

Because Tufts has a farmers' market, and a culinary society, which sounds like a great place for feedback on my carrot ginger soup recipe.
Because I'll be free to be a science-pursing, study-abroading, foodie.
Because Tufts won't put me in a box.

Undergraduate / "I arrived in New Delhi, fundaising" - significant experience [5]

Turning in my application tomorrow, any feedback is MUCH appreciated!

Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you

The past weekend, I was fundraising for my nonprofit at an event held by the Indian community of Austin. The party was winding down, families strolling out, when an old man came up to me. He was stooped, and it seemed he could not see well as he squinted at my sign. "Do you speak Guajarati?" he asked me. "No, only a little Hindi" I replied, and nodding his head slowly, he began to talk to me in English, throwing in Hindi words and phrases here and there. "You know India's problems," he told me, "they are too big. There are too many people, and each believes a different thing. It is nice that you try to help, but you know you cannot fix them. Am I right Miss? Do you agree with me?" I respectfully shook my head. "No sir," I said, "no, I don't".

A year ago, I arrived in New Delhi, both excited and terrified. I was there on the State Department's YES abroad program, one of five students who had been awarded a ten month study abroad scholarship to travel to India. We were the first group of Americans in the program, so no one really knew what to expect. I had just left behind every bit of routine and certainty in my life, left behind my friends and family, and was headed into unknown territory. I couldn't sleep at all on the twenty one hour flight. Getting off the plane the first things that hit me were the heat, an oppressive wave of humidity, and the constant buzz of sound. Though we arrived in the middle of the night, during the cab ride to the hotel my eyes were wide open. There were as many people on the street at one in the morning as I usually saw during the day at home. Every truck we passed was beautiful, elaborately painted in vibrant colors. There were cows in the road, goats, even a camel. I saw people, children, sleeping on sidewalks and curled under overpasses. We passed slums, homes built of piled cinderblock, plastic tarps, and not much else. The sight was shocking to me, but everything was so overwhelming, that I could barely register it.

The next day I met my host family- the most caring, forgiving, and generous people I have ever encountered. The idea that these people could open their home to me for an entire year, and include me in their lives was the most profound act of kindness I have ever witnessed. It was because of their hospitality that I soon found myself settling in. As my year progressed in Delhi, I became more patient. In hopes of repaying my hosts for their extreme kindness, I worked to make myself as flexible as possible- not wanting to disrupt their routine, as I was so appreciative just to be a part of it. I studied harder than I ever had before, finding that the same amount of effort I exerted in the US would only make me a fraction of the grade in India. I made friends, and bonded with my host sister who is my age. I became more accustomed to the volume of people, the constant buzz and the array of colors, but my uncomfortable feelings when confronted with poverty never ceased. When going out with my host sister or my friends, I couldn't shake a sense of guilt, a wave of the injustice at my extravagance compared to others need. I felt helpless in the face of so much suffering. One day on the way back to my host family's house I passed a man- he couldn't walk, and limped towards me using both his hands and one of his feet. He had no shirt, and his ribs were completely visible through the thin sun weathered skin of his chest. His feet seemed far smaller than they should have been, crushed in, every toe undoubtedly broken, and covered in sores. He didn't ask for money, didn't address me in any way, simply made eye contact. His spine was completely twisted into a lopsided C shape. It was obvious that it had never been possible for him to stand.

Growing up in a middle class family in the US, it's hard to have an understanding of what poverty truly is. At the time I left for Delhi, I wanted to be a social worker, but I don't think I truly understood what it would take for me alleviate suffering. I didn't realize how difficult it is to be faced with the reality of destitution. I had never seen someone starve. Facing this was both the hardest and the most valuable thing I have ever done- because it was only in looking closely that I could overcome this feeling of powerlessness. I met children from a neighborhood slum through my school's outreach program. The children came to the school every day after class had ended, and were taught by the students. The kids' parents' sent them dressed in their best clothes, hair combed, because they valued the chance for their children to improve their lives. The fact that they set aside time for their kids to go to school- time when the kids could have otherwise been helping their parents- was a testament to the fact that they believed that someday their children would have a better home, more food, a higher paying job. If they had faith that change could come to their lives, there was no reason for me not to try and help them affect it.

Upon returning home, my dedication to my dream of becoming a social worker, devoting my life to helping others was still intact- but now, it is more realistic, and more specific. I know how hard it will be to spend each day acknowledging the struggle of thousands of people- but I also know, that many of these people struggle with the faith that one day things will get easier. I also know what a strong tie I feel with India itself, and have decided that I want to work in South Asian development, in order to give back to the country that gave to me the most challenging, enlightening, and in the end, rewarding year of my life. I started a non-profit about a month ago called the Downstream Foundation (downstreamfoundation.com), with the aim of raising $20,000 and purchasing 500 no maintenance water filters to distribute in slum communities in and around Delhi. Before education, shelter, or even food, access in to clean water is absolutely essential to improving quality of life, and as such, I hope that providing it can be the first step in a chain of initiatives which will fulfill basic needs for underprivileged families in Delhi.

The old man looked taken aback by my answer. I suppose he was used to people agreeing with him, or at least pretending to for the sake of manners. There was an awkward silence in the moment after, he seemed as though he didn't quite know how to respond. He settled on "I wish you best of luck", dropped a crumpled five dollar bill into my collection bowl, and shuffled away.

Undergraduate / My political views didn't align with those of my classmates;Let your life speak TUFTS [4]

Any feedback will be greatly appreciated- I would be happy to read/edit your essay in return!

There is a Quaker saying: ''Let your life speak.'' Describe the environment in which you were raised--your family, home, neighborhood or community--and how it influenced the person you are today. (200-250 words)

I've always lived in the South- born in Birmingham Alabama, and grew up in Knoxville Tennessee. School breaks and long weekends were most often spent in the Smokey Mountains, fostering a great love of the outdoors. Tennessee has it's own quirky character- while other kids went to Six Flags, or Disneyland, I rode the rides of Dollywood- the Dolly Parton theme park in tiny Pigeon Forge, TN, most of which revolved around creepy hillbilly puppets, or animatronic bears. Though my budding political views did not align with those of my classmates, I found a way to fit in- including convincing my third grade class to vote democratic in our mock-election, the first time that had happened in the history of Sequoyah elementary. In fourth grade I moved to Austin, Texas, and found a more like minded community- making John Kerry posters with my friends in middle school, and Obama t-shirts in high school. I discovered a love of tex-mex food, and live music. I joined my school's Speech and Debate team, (a little known fact about Texas, there is a fiercely competitive Debate circuit), and threw myself into the activity, enjoying statewide success. My entire senior year I spent in New Delhi, India which influenced me tremendously. I learned not only about a new culture, but began to look at the world in a different way, cyclically, and guided by dharma (fate). Today, I consider my self a combination of several identities, Texan and Appalachian, Indian and American. A global citizen.