Undergraduate / 'Porch conversations' - What matters to you and why? Stanford Supp. [4]

Any criticism is welcomed!!! I'll critique in return! thanks!!! :))

What matters to you, and why?

Porch conversations. You know, those long conversations on nothing and everything in "the Book" - not the Bible, but the book of Life, la Vida. However "cheesy" or melodramatic that may sound, conversation is what matters most to me. Conversation allows us to connect, to communicate, to reflect. Conversation may be defined as an exchange of ideas, but when I refer to conversation, I include the moments spent merely absorbing.

People would vouch for my claim that conversation is what matters most to me. They would, of course, refer to my inability to be quiet, mention how "I've never met a stranger"; what they may not realize is that I value my loquacious nature for the moments in which I stop - the moments in which I listen.

I have gained so many perspectives from hearing the insights of my classmates on pieces of literature in my English class. I have better understood global issues through exploring the opinions of others in my online Human Geography course. I have discovered my passion of exploring other cultures by witnessing the journeys of exchange students. Absorbing the tales of my Tio Pepe and Nana Ruth over baked manicotti has enlightened me on my heritage further than reading about it in books. Rocking in a chair and wearing down the cedar on my handicapped aunt's porch has taught me more about empathy than any film. Making a simple phone call to my family overseas has kept our connection alive, saved our relationship.

Listening. Communicating. It's how society builds from its past, learning from its mistakes. It's how we've become globally-minded, connecting with others. It's how I discover my world, finding my inspiration .

Undergraduate / 'center of education where learning is limitless' Stanford - Intellectual development [5]

This has a 2000 character limit, and I am at 2007. -.- any ideas? Also, I put GS because it saved words and characters... but I feel as though it is distracting. Any ideas?(GS = Governor's School). Thanks for any help in advance!!! :))

Stanford students possess an intellectual vitality. Reflect on an idea or experience that has been important to your intellectual development.
This summer I had the amazing opportunity to attend a center of education where learning is limitless -North Carolina Governor's School. Diversity in this environment is an understatement. There are traditional classroom settings filled with desks and white boards, and there are prospective classrooms of lunchrooms, transit systems, and parks. Teachers and students are found in attendees and instructors, hall-mates and supervisors. Lessons are learned during allotted time through readings and during spontaneous discussion between seminars and workouts. The multitudes of ethnicities, religions, and socio-economic backgrounds present in the community allow students to explore and inquire by abolishing any artificial boundaries that may initially be present. In this utopian community, my capacity to learn was expanded. Not only did I acquire a larger perspective in which to analyze concepts, but I was able to experience and reflect on much more than I could in my typical schedule.

When I look back on my experience at GS, of course I recall the seminars, the TACtivities, and the presentations, but what I really remember are the details. Each time I am offered a plastic straw and cap for my drink, I remember the amount of trash I had to carry on my back for two weeks to witness the immensity of waste the world produces. When I taste Indian food, I recall the first time I had authentic chicken curry from my hall mate, Neha, and the lessons I learned hearing about her practices as a Buddhist. While sitting in traffic, I flashback to when Orlando, a GS conductor, taught me that music is made anywhere, anytime, even in the midst of motors and sirens.

At GS, my mindset was transformed. No longer do I mark topics off of a to-do list, rather I aim to experience education, be impacted by it. I look for the details and the unexpected lessons. I value accomplishments that are not just difficult to master, but difficult to explain. I am now the scholar, and the world is my classroom.

Undergraduate / 'my future as a Cardinal scholar' - Letter to Roomate - Stanford [8]

The words in brackets [ ] are words that I am looking for replacements for. I cannot seem to pinpoint the most accurate word to describe what I am looking forrrr... but just ignore them! haha or offer suggestions for them if you'd like! thanks! :))

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.

I am in love with the color red. From my venetian backpack to my ruby binder and matching notebook, from my flaming hot Cheetos(unhealthy, I know) to my scarlet paisley bed set, its many shades [encompass] my life. Please disregard the cliché association between love and red, because that is not why the scarlets, tuscans, and chestnuts appeal to me. Actually, in the past, I accredited my love for red to my rich Hispanic heritage. It did, after all, bless me with the bronzed skin that illuminates the lowest frequency of light so well. My insight on the matter, however, has changed.

Just the other day, my mother told me how I begged my uncle for bright red boots as a child. This story would [support] my previous claim, but he is my mother's uncle - a southern, Native American man reared in the mountains. If my love for red has influences from both sides of my heritage, then perhaps it is more than a shade to compliment my [brown] eyes and flowing locks. Perhaps it is my [centrifuge].

Red represents a multitude of aspects in my life. It is my past as a woman of Spanish, Italian, and BlackFoot Indian background. It is my present as a representative of the red and black, the Hibriten Panthers. It is, hopefully, my future as a Cardinal scholar. Red ties together the tornado that is me. It reigns in my passion for exploring the difficult to explain as opposed to the difficult to accomplish. If my crimson red Chuck Taylor's and my chili pepper red laptop doesn't prove too much, I look forward to our upcoming years as roommates!