"the brightest minds in the school"-as my teacher would say
what a terrible comparison for a teacher to make! I was in AP classes, too, but even then I knew the kids with lower GPA often had the real wisdom... :-)
I enjoyed writing my research paper on US foreign policy in the Middle East, a phenomenon I would have never foreseen sophomore year. --unclear
My enjoyment of writing my research paper on US foreign policy in the Middle East was a phenomenon I would have never foreseen sophomore year. ---see how this is clearer? Maybe you can think of another way you like better...
Google this: how to write paragraph topic sentences
The first sentence of a paragraph should try to capture the main idea of the paragraph.
This is a great essay, but your goals seem ill-defined. A passing reference to a possibility of a position at the World Bank is not a good enough vision of the future. Do not just wait to see what happens in the future. Choose now, and then adjust your decision as needed. But choose right now: Where will you work, and what work will you do... it is not necessary to make a final decision right now, but it is necessary to express clear goals if you want to be a competitive applicant. :-)