“It is an amazing feeling to attend one of the world's most renowned institutions knowing that there is a group of people who believe in my ability to change the world and succeed.”
How did you learn about UChicago? When did you first know that UChicago was the right school for you?
I first heard about UChicago at the Harvard debate tournament. UChicago is a top choice school for many debaters on the national circuit; since debate had such a profound impact on my high school experience, I decided to look into it. After reading about UChicago's dedication to intellectual discourse and life of the mind, I knew that this was the school for me. I believed that an environment where individuals constantly disagreed with each other and pushed their classmates to debate and explain their perspectives was a place that would foster intellectual and personal growth. Please describe the moment you received your admission to the College.
What was your reaction?
Decision day was a very hectic day for me. I had gotten on a 6am flight from Minnesota back to NYC to return from a debate tournament, headed straight to school from the airport to attend my calculus class, then got on a bus to go to a swim meet. Between each one of my races, I would leap out of the water and check my phone, tapping nervously while the page didn't change at all. Finally, after getting out after the break, the words "There is a status update" flashed and I felt my heart race. The scream that proceeded to fill the room drew everyone's eyes to me and I felt my own fill with tears of joy. For a moment, nobody on either team cared about the result of the swim meet. Everyone (even complete strangers) celebrated with me with screams and hugs of excitement.
What are you most looking forward to at UChicago? Are there classes, subjects, or activities you’re excited to explore?
I'm really looking forward to taking classes with some of the world's most renowned theorists and professors. John Mearsheimer has been a personal hero of mine for years and I look forward to the day where I can sit in his presence and have the honor of hearing his lecture. Moreover, I look forward to all the speakers that UChicago will host on campus at the Institute of Politics and other registered student organizations. Beyond the distinguished faculty, I look forward to engaging in debates and conversations with other students from around the world at UChicago and having everything I ever thought was true continually questioned over the next four years on this campus.
If you could speak directly to the person whose gift supported your scholarship, what would you say?
First, I would like to thank you for being generous enough to grant me the opportunity to attend this school. It is an amazing feeling to attend one of the world's most renowned institutions knowing that there is a group of people who believe in my ability to change the world and succeed. From a young age, my mother always told me that if I worked hard, I could overcome any barrier and succeed. While I stand before you today at one of the world's best institutions, I can't say my mother was right. It is through individuals like you that give me the opportunity and the belief that I could do better than the economic situation I was born in. This scholarship means that although I was born into a low-income family, I am lucky enough to be in a position of privilege: I have access to a large alumni network and one of the best educations in the world. This scholarship means that I get a leg up when I want to do educational reforms in government or work in a chemistry lab.
