Undergraduate / Female Empowerment! Georgetown : Global Issue [NEW]

While Georgetown doesnt have a word limit, I would like to cut it down to a page. I suggestions how to make it flow better! Thanks

Briefly discuss a current global issue, indicating why you consider it important and what you suggest should be done to deal with it

"What was your upbringing like in Nigeria?" I asked my dad. "Well, I worked the land. I went to school. My sisters stayed home. I wasn't distracted by all the things you are today. There was no Facebook, Twitter. All, I worried about was helping my family when I could and keeping up with my studies." While, I could see that my dad used this as an opportunity to motivate me to stay on top of my school work, all I took away from this conversation was that my dad went to school while his sisters didn't. Soon, I discovered this wasn't just happening in Nigeria during the 1950s but currently all around the world.

In Vietnam, Nhi wants to go to school, so she travels 30 miles on a bicycle to go to school in a neighboring village and 30 miles back to her meager home each day. In India, Monisha is looking for a way out because she knows that within a year or two, she will be pulled into the same cycle of commercial sex and exploitation that has plagued generations of women in her family. In Sierre Leone, 14 year old Amie is beaten and sexually assaulted by her husband and is ready to give up.

Deemed the "moral dilemma" of this century, gender inequality is limiting girls and women from education, participating in their local economies, and being thought of as equals. With more than 250 million girls living in poverty, the developing world has the most opportunity for a social and economic change. Larry summers, former chief economist of the World Bank said "It may well be that the highest return on investment in the developing world is in girls education." Education is a pathway that leads to women's independence from men, thus empowering women and young girls. With primary and secondary school education, girls and women in developing countries can increase job opportunities, lower their risk of falling victim to human trafficking, marry later and have fewer children. As an educated mother, she will be the most influential force in her community to break the cycle of poverty.

Introducing economic empowerment opportunities at an early stage in girls' lives equips them with the knowledge and understanding they need to shape their futures economies. Women's groups and community centers provide women a support system which lead to economic empowerment, thus gaining social influence and power for women in their communities. When these women put together their money or receive a microfinance loan, they can start a business, moving her out a vicious cycle into a virtuous one. For a girl to achieve economic empowerment she needs to be equipped with assets. We need to provide girls and women with financial knowledge, access to capital and make them aware of economic potential. Economic empowerment allows these young women to secure their futures with an income and savings, which gives her social status and authority of her own life.

As a democracy, we've made the mistake of thinking that if people need something we don't need to force it. But that isn't true. We need to work with community members in order to present women's equality as a lifestyle more than a cause. Melinda Gates made a good point in a TED talk. She asked why Coca Cola was more readily available in third world countries than vaccines. After watching that video, I asked myself "What is Coca Cola doing that could be applied to gender equality?" Coca Cola is using locals and has great marketing. If we, as a democracy, can better understand what these innovators are doing then we can apply that to public needs. The reason people want a coke is because, to them, coke is aspirational. It's about marketing girl's quality aspirational, too. Working with the locals to position it as a modern trendy thing, we reach a new audience. The local knows how to reach the hard to serve places and what motivates their neighbors, thus they can reinvent how gender roles are perceived.

Earlier this year, I began working with an Burundian organization named Youth in Reconstruction of a World in Destruction (YRWD). Their mission, to bring education of peace and national reconciliation, was something I easily get back when I realized that they fully intended to educate young girls as well. I helped fundraise for their cause by hosting a film presentation of the film "Half the Sky" to my school. I later gave a presentation to my local Rotary club, with the hopes that they could focus their efforts on empowering women. Georgetown understands that when rebuilding broken communities devastated by war, terrorism, natural disasters and poor economies, investing in girl's equality and education is the answer. When Georgetown opened the Institute for Women, Peace and Security and brought Secretary Kerry, Former Secretary Clinton, and Former First Lady Laura Bush, I realized how similar our missions were.

Globally there are policies, great leaders and international instruments that have made commitments to protect children from want and fear. All these great things have been in place to get young people to where we want them. But when the dream of a young girl in a developing country is to be educated, to have economic weight, and to be thought of as an equal, all these goals and hard work has failed. They failed my aunts, the women that came before them, and they failed many nations. Nigeria, like so many southeast asian and african countries, did not see the value in educating women. When we can carve out space for girl and women to sit and unlock greatness, intelligence, and passion, we are building the next community leaders, innovators, policy makers, and the best catalysts of change for regions that are suffering from an array of problems. Problems that can be fixed when we see that women are the solution, not the problem.

Undergraduate / Activity/Favorite Musical artists/Significant Challenge/ Summer/ Favorite event; STANFORD [NEW]

Stanford - Describe an activity:
The same way you hold a dollar bill to the light to verify its authenticity, I hold the causes I support against the question "So what?" For STAND (Students Together Advocating Non-violence and Diversity), the answer is simple: "because educating the school on diversity issues is essential" and "because being a voice for marginalized groups is imperative." STAND has taught me to always question the impact of a cause in order to legitimately support it. I'm part of STAND because I can change my school's culture through meaningful dialogue about issues that impact neglected groups. In STAND, I mediate hot-topic lunch discussions about diversity and socio-economic divides. Recently, I planned a homeless immersion program for students to gain perspective on poverty in my community. Overall, STAND has given me the platform for social justice and empowered me with the best tool: the ability to legitimize a cause.

Name favorite books, authors, films, musical artists:
Maya Angelou, The Group by Mary McCarthy, Destiny's Child, Anti-Racist Reflections from an Angry White Male by Tim Wise, The Wedding Date, Alanis Morissette, India.Arie, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Sarah Kay, The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin, The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency Series

What is the most significant challenges that society faces today?
Finding respectful and ethical ways to eliminate cultural practices that are promoting gender inequity, hindering girls from attending school and taking away the human rights of all people.

How did you spend your last two summers?
For the last two summers, I worked as an intern for the Public Utility Commissioner's 2012 Campaign and for a 2013 City Council member's campaign . I attended the Presbyterian Youth Triennium in Indiana as part of the production and planning team. The occasional pick up volleyball game or tennis match with friends.

What were your most favorite events this past year?
I went to a luncheon with Former Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, where he talked about current challenges facing the region. Also, I hosted a screening of the documentary, "Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide" at my school.

What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed?
Howard University president, Mordecai Johnson's lecture about Gandhi's philosophy on social reform. I'd be sitting next to Martin Luther King, as he realized he could fight for the rights of blacks without guns or lies but with nonviolent resistance.

What five words best describe you?
Charismatic, Ambitious, Bold, Honest, Idealistic

Letter to Roommate:
You know the quiet types who love reading Tolstoy for fun? Always locked away in a room, lost deep in a book, probably Walden, contemplating ice as an interesting subject? I hate to disappoint you but that isn't me. I'm the girl you'll never find reading Tolstoy for fun. In fact you might not find me at all. I'd rather spend my free time ingesting all Stanford has to offer outside of our dorm. I'd love for you to join me!

That said, if you'd prefer to experience Stanford with Tolstoy instead, some of the places, other than the library, where you'll find me are:

Any of the cultural houses: Maybe its from growing up in a Nigerian household, but I can't imagine living without hearing native languages and smelling foreign spices. You can expect I'll be at Ujamaa for a discussion about "Blacks in Politics" or at Casa Zapata to share in creativity and poetry readings.

What Matters to Me and Why presentations: I think its vital to reflect on your motivations, aspirations and spiritual growth to understand the values you hold closest. Thats why I'll jump at the chance to hear personal accounts of failures and successes.

Frosh Council: While I haven't been elected yet, you can bet that I'll find away to influence the campus. Whether that's tying myself to a tree or simply planning the Freshman Formal.

The offer still stands! Let me know if you want to come along!

What idea or experience had been important to your intellectual development.
"Its not just happening here, its happening all around the world." As Anderson Cooper appealed to those watching, he caught my attention. He went on to say that third world dilemmas are the whole world's dilemma. Anderson Cooper made think globally, outside of what was familiar.

I saw an article about gender inequality, a topic Anderson Cooper was talking about the night before. I opened the article, shocked to read that young girls weren't allowed to go to school.

Analyzing multiple sources further revealed the injustices women worldwide were facing. If only people knew to rebuild broken communities and devastated economies, investing in girl's equality was the answer. To directly impact these young girls lives, I gave a presentation to my local rotary club. I shared what had manifested from my research, specifically focusing on the significance of education, economic empowerment and ending gender-based violence.

Somewhere between Anderson Cooper's nightly pleas and my presentation, my intellectual curiosity sprung. I saw how relevant my findings were, not just for girls half way across the world but, for people with the upper hand in this global dilemma, who weren't suffering from gender inequities. My intellectual vitality is excited when I see the global impact I have because of my expertise. My curiosity to know what goes on in the world has expanded my horizons, allowing me to one's issues as my own, think critically, ask questions, and thus use my knowledge to further contribute solutions to the world's problems.

What matters to you and why?

When Nigerians gather at each other's homes, voices are raised and stories are sprinkled with exclamations such as "Chi-ne-ke!", "O-jo-we-o!", and "Eh-ya!" And I, who haven't understood but a few words, can nod in agreement and say, "Yes! Our life stories are indeed praiseworthy!" Growing up American with Nigerian parents, I've been privileged to learn the stories important to two continents. As a kid, my parents read books such as Off to the Sweet Shores of Africa: and Other Talking Drum Rhymes, which created a vivid picture of Africa.

Stories made a part of my culture accessible. I could travel to Nigeria through the stories I heard. I learned that girls like me, ebony skin and kinky hair which never held pony tails, existed. Stories matter. Many stories matter. I looked past Nigeria's single story of flora and fauna and saw Nigeria as a multitude of people, with the capacity for good, bad, and all levels of complexity in between.

Even though I've lived most of my life on a suburban cul-de-sac, culturally diverse stories have shaped my view of the world. Stories matter to me because I want to hear them and I hope others want to hear mine. Some of my stories are easy to understand because they cut across obvious human differences such as color and gender. Others are more nuanced and may only be understood by those, like the Stanford community, willing to think outside familiar boundaries.

Undergraduate / '...quiet types who loves to read Tolstoy for fun' STANFORD SUPPLEMENT: Letter to Roommate [3]

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.

You know the quiet types who loves to read Tolstoy for fun? Always locked away in a room, lost within a book, probably Walden, contemplating ice as an interesting subject?

Well, I hate to disappoint you but that isn't me. I'm the girl you'll never find reading Tolstoy for fun. In fact you might not find me at all. I'd rather spend my free time experiencing all Stanford has to offer outside of our dorm. I'd love for you to join me!

That said, if you decide you'd prefer to experience Stanford with Tolstoy instead, here are some of the places you'll find me:

Any of the cultural houses: Maybe its from growing up in a Nigerian house, but I can't imagine living without hearing native languages and smelling foreign spices. You can expect that I'll join the house for group discussions or delicious meals.

Room next door: They'll probably had the closest printer...

What matter to me and why presentations: I'll own up to it! I'm one of the many who religiously read self-help and inspirational books. The chance to hear personal accounts, from my own professors, will hold more meaning than books will.

Frosh Council: While I haven't been elected yet, you can bet that I'll find away to influence the campus. Whether that's tying myself to a tree or simply planning the Freshman Formal.

The offer still stands! Let me know if you want to come along!
Adora

Undergraduate / The Cold War - STANFORD SUPPLEMENT: Intellectual Vitality [2]

PROMPT: Stanford students possess an intellectual vitality. Reflect on an idea or experience that has been important to your intellectual development.

"Under what presidency did the War of 1812 take place?" Mrs.Costello asked looking around the classroom. "Does anyone know the answer?" All eyes turn towards me, expecting me to answer. I was about to jump out of my seat with the answer. "Monroe!" Heads turned towards the back of the classroom to the unfamiliar voice of the new student. For the remaining 20 minutes, AP US History was a competition about who could correctly answer the most questions. The key players were me and the new kid, Lucas from Arizona.

This lighthearted back and forth stopped being about who knew more about the Cold War. There was a moment when I started to evaluate the way I was perceived by my classmates. While, I had never hesitate to answer a question or voice my opinions in class, others in my class did.

"Last question! Who is the author of Silent Spring?" I didn't answer. At that moment I realized my intellectual development would only go as far as those who shared my excitement for learning. My attempts to participate had unknowingly created an environment where I was the sole participant. The only way that I could grow as an individual was if my classmates were equally invested in their intellectual development as I was. Lucas looked at me. There was an understanding that this "battle" was over. "Lucas? Adora?" It was silent until two voices, very distinct from each other accidentally harmonized, "Rachel Carson."