1.Why Tulane Essay, 2018: This is one of the essays that I wrote while applying to colleges. It is an in-depth explanation of why I would like to attend Tulane University. I wrote this essay in-part n senior seminar with the help of my peers and teachers.
I remember the day vividly. Full of anticipation, I rushed out of bed and ran to the window to catch a glimpse of the city I had been so eagerly looking forward to seeing. Even though I wanted to head to campus immediately, my dad suggested that we visit Audubon Park first. The park did not disappoint. Ornate fountains and swaying live oaks reminded me of the stories my aunt told me about my great grandfather, a sharecropper who moved to New Orleans in the 1920’s. My dad and brother were miserable in the heat, so instead of walking ten more minutes to Magazine Street we opted for an Uber to shield us from the sun.
As I stepped inside the Uber I was delighted to hear my driver’s accent, the non-rhotic speech of Southern Louisiana that I had only heard before in recordings. I listened intently to every sentence, imagining the vibrant history behind that dialect. We arrived at our destination, a small, unassuming Mexican restaurant named Taqueria Corona. I had fish tacos which, to my amazement, were better than any I had ever eaten in California. New Orleans is a city of surprises.
As I did my research, I discovered, to my delight, that Tulane is also full of surprises. While I am strongly attracted to its beautiful location and small class sizes, what really excites me about Tulane is its unique combination of excellent academic opportunities, complex regional culture and linguistic diversity, and commitment to serving the community. When I learned how Rebecca Whitney, a recent graduate from the Tulane Linguistics Department, documented and transcribed the Quapaw language of native populations in Oklahoma, I realized I might find classmates at Tulane who share my fascination with the accents and dialects of different populations.
I first discovered this fascination in history class. My teacher passed out fifty pages of documents from the Federal Writers’ Project: phonetic transcriptions of the narratives of former slaves. While my classmates groaned, I dove into the words. I’ve found that language is one of the things that defines communities, and preserving language preserves communities. One of the things I love most about America is our regional distinctions and diversity, that each region has its own culture, its own history. At Tulane, I could be on the ground in New Orleans, the most linguistically diverse city in the country. Different dialects are literally blocks away from each other: Uptown speech, old Creole, Yat, all music to me. Preserving and documenting those linguistics distinctions is something I hope to do someday. Who knows, I might one day find myself recording and transcribing my Uber driver’s unique accent.
Though it’s probably not a typical combination, I intend to double major in Linguistics and Political Science. One of my motivations for a life in government service is to help preserve and protect the cultural diversity that makes America the place it is. I’m eager to tackle courses such as Introduction to Comparative Politics and Slavery & Modern Anti-Racism Policy, and I hope to take advantage of the internship program that would allow me to work in the US House of Representatives. Outside of the classroom I want to try out for the Debate Team, where I could hone skills that will help a career in government. I’m also attracted to the mission of CACTUS, which would give me the chance to do hands-on work in local communities in New Orleans.
To be honest I don’t just hope to go to Tulane for the amazing academics and extracurricular opportunities. I also want to discover and connect with my heritage in the region, beyond just the small tastes I get when I visit, or when my grandma makes her gumbo. I relish the opportunity to study in the region where my family came from. I want to find out how that has influenced the person I am today, as well as the person I will one day become.
2.Evolution of the American Dream Essay, 2017: I wrote this essay last year in Molly's English three class. We where reading Great Gatsby at the time and we where evicted to write about the themes present in the novel.
James Truslow Adams coined the phrase the American Dream during the great depression, one of the most hopeless times in our history, he saw it as "That dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for every man, with opportunity for each according to his ability or achievement." Since then the American dream has remained the quintessential American inspiration. However, income mobility, the driving factor of the American dream, has greatly diminished over time leaving Millennials entering the Job Market with little prospect of surpassing their parent's income.Income mobility is the ability to improve one's income and social status over time. Until relatively recently climbing up a rung on the social latter was close to impossible. For the majority of civilization, humanity had a rigid class structure known as feudalism. In a feudal society, there were only to classes the ultra-rich, Lords, Landowners, Wealthy Merchants, and the ultra poor known as serfs who were tied to the land they didn't own and were made to work it for their whole lives. Most didn't even leave the plot of land they were born in. This system remained strong until the industrial revolution which paved the way for the emergence of a middle class. With new jobs in factories, people could earn a higher income and standard of living. For example “British income per person (in 1970 U.S. dollars) rose from about $400 in 1760 to $430 in 1800, to $500 in 1830, and then jumped to $800 in 1860”. This was one of the first historical examples of upward income mobility. However, even during this time, rigid class structures remained in place. While some were able to escape the perils of serfdom and rise up in the factory ranks the majority did not. In 1840, the heart of the industrial revolution, more than 80% of people lived in absolute inescapable poverty.
America became the remedy to the economic stagnation and poverty seen in Europe. In America, people had the ability to gain the standard of living and social status that they couldn't in abroad. Wave after wave people flocked to America in search of that dream. The truth is that at the time the dream was possible. People with absolutely nothing in their old country could come to America and be greeted with jobs and opportunity. America boomed with new industry and vast untapped natural resources. New immigrants were virtually guaranteed to make more than their parents back home. With each generation, the hope for property remained strong in the culture. Even during the worst parts of America's history such as the great depression or world wars the Americans always had hope and always strived to be more prosperous than the generation before.
For the majority of America’s history, this hope was supported by reality. Children could expect to make more than their parents did but as America enters the 21st-century income mobility has stagnated “About 90 percent of children born in 1940 ultimately exceeded their parents’ incomes...However, for children born in 1970, only 61 percent earned more than their parents, and for those born in 1980, only 50 percent did.” The loss of the driving factor behind the American dream, income mobility, is changing its fundamental principles. As Millennials enter the workforce they no longer strive to make more than their parents but instead, according to a 2011 study, their number one goal is a “sense of meaning”.
Perhaps this change in the definition of the American dream has less to do with Americans making less money and more to do with society changing overall. In the past Americans strived to be “better and richer and fuller” many still having the memory of poverty resh in their minds, but as America and the world become more and more civilized it makes sense that people strive something more than material wealth. This has definitely been my experience members of generation Z who grow up in comfortable families are looking for lives filled with travel and independence. As America changes so do the American dream.
3.Biology Essay,2016: I wrote this essay sophomore year in biology class. This was the last essay of the evolution unit and we where required to explore the topic in-depth. I believe that this essay adequately explored that topic.
On November 24 1859 Darwin published his book “on the origins of species” this was the first time the world was introduced to the Theory of Evolution. Evolution is a broad term that defines the change in the critics of organisms over many generations. At the time darwin and his theory were widely cried but now Evolution is overwhelmingly accepted by the scientific community. This largely due to the massive body of evidence that supports it . The theory of evolution is proven through the evidence of natural selection the fossil record as well as new DNA evidence.
The first and most observable evidence for Evolution is Natural Selection. Which is the process where animals with traits more suitable for their environment tend to survive over those, who don't have those traits. This is demonstrated by a population of mice who live near a dark lava bed. Some of the mice developed a dark coat that allowed for them to blend in with the lava bed those who didn't have this coat were eaten by predators. While those with the coat survived and pass on their genes. This process exists throughout the natural world and is the mechanism that allows for organisms to develop traits that are suitable for their environment. Over time the traits and organisms will change new species will develop based on the genes of the past. This gradual process of changing organisms is what becomes Evolution
The second main source of evidence for this slow evolutionary change is the Fossil Record. This record of past species and organisms clearly shows how over time an organism can become increasingly different from their ancestors. Likely the best example of this is the whale. The earliest example of a whale ancestor walked on four legs and lived in a swamp like an area. Further down the record, one can see that over millions of years this whale ancestor lost its legs became larger and eventually transitioned to living in the open ocean. The vast transitions and that can results from the process evolution further confirm how vital evolution is for the biodiversity of the planet.
recent ways scientists have been able to observe evolution is through the use of DNA evidence and links. By analyzing the DNA of different species scientists can find which species share a common ancestor. So far Scientists were been able to discover that Chimpanzees and humans share a common ancestor. By mapping, the DNA ancestry of organisms scientists can prove that certain modern-day species descended from species far in the past.
In conclusion Evolution is the best explanation for the world’s great biodiversity. This is shown through the evidence of Natural Selection specifically how mice develop fur to fit their environment. In addition to that Evolution is shown through the fossil record by comparing fossils; As well as new Dna studies, which to this day find more links within the evolutionary chain. As we move towards the future it is essential that our society accept evolution and use it to further our knowledge of the world.
I remember the day vividly. Full of anticipation, I rushed out of bed and ran to the window to catch a glimpse of the city I had been so eagerly looking forward to seeing. Even though I wanted to head to campus immediately, my dad suggested that we visit Audubon Park first. The park did not disappoint. Ornate fountains and swaying live oaks reminded me of the stories my aunt told me about my great grandfather, a sharecropper who moved to New Orleans in the 1920’s. My dad and brother were miserable in the heat, so instead of walking ten more minutes to Magazine Street we opted for an Uber to shield us from the sun.
As I stepped inside the Uber I was delighted to hear my driver’s accent, the non-rhotic speech of Southern Louisiana that I had only heard before in recordings. I listened intently to every sentence, imagining the vibrant history behind that dialect. We arrived at our destination, a small, unassuming Mexican restaurant named Taqueria Corona. I had fish tacos which, to my amazement, were better than any I had ever eaten in California. New Orleans is a city of surprises.
As I did my research, I discovered, to my delight, that Tulane is also full of surprises. While I am strongly attracted to its beautiful location and small class sizes, what really excites me about Tulane is its unique combination of excellent academic opportunities, complex regional culture and linguistic diversity, and commitment to serving the community. When I learned how Rebecca Whitney, a recent graduate from the Tulane Linguistics Department, documented and transcribed the Quapaw language of native populations in Oklahoma, I realized I might find classmates at Tulane who share my fascination with the accents and dialects of different populations.
I first discovered this fascination in history class. My teacher passed out fifty pages of documents from the Federal Writers’ Project: phonetic transcriptions of the narratives of former slaves. While my classmates groaned, I dove into the words. I’ve found that language is one of the things that defines communities, and preserving language preserves communities. One of the things I love most about America is our regional distinctions and diversity, that each region has its own culture, its own history. At Tulane, I could be on the ground in New Orleans, the most linguistically diverse city in the country. Different dialects are literally blocks away from each other: Uptown speech, old Creole, Yat, all music to me. Preserving and documenting those linguistics distinctions is something I hope to do someday. Who knows, I might one day find myself recording and transcribing my Uber driver’s unique accent.
Though it’s probably not a typical combination, I intend to double major in Linguistics and Political Science. One of my motivations for a life in government service is to help preserve and protect the cultural diversity that makes America the place it is. I’m eager to tackle courses such as Introduction to Comparative Politics and Slavery & Modern Anti-Racism Policy, and I hope to take advantage of the internship program that would allow me to work in the US House of Representatives. Outside of the classroom I want to try out for the Debate Team, where I could hone skills that will help a career in government. I’m also attracted to the mission of CACTUS, which would give me the chance to do hands-on work in local communities in New Orleans.
To be honest I don’t just hope to go to Tulane for the amazing academics and extracurricular opportunities. I also want to discover and connect with my heritage in the region, beyond just the small tastes I get when I visit, or when my grandma makes her gumbo. I relish the opportunity to study in the region where my family came from. I want to find out how that has influenced the person I am today, as well as the person I will one day become.
2.Evolution of the American Dream Essay, 2017: I wrote this essay last year in Molly's English three class. We where reading Great Gatsby at the time and we where evicted to write about the themes present in the novel.
James Truslow Adams coined the phrase the American Dream during the great depression, one of the most hopeless times in our history, he saw it as "That dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for every man, with opportunity for each according to his ability or achievement." Since then the American dream has remained the quintessential American inspiration. However, income mobility, the driving factor of the American dream, has greatly diminished over time leaving Millennials entering the Job Market with little prospect of surpassing their parent's income.Income mobility is the ability to improve one's income and social status over time. Until relatively recently climbing up a rung on the social latter was close to impossible. For the majority of civilization, humanity had a rigid class structure known as feudalism. In a feudal society, there were only to classes the ultra-rich, Lords, Landowners, Wealthy Merchants, and the ultra poor known as serfs who were tied to the land they didn't own and were made to work it for their whole lives. Most didn't even leave the plot of land they were born in. This system remained strong until the industrial revolution which paved the way for the emergence of a middle class. With new jobs in factories, people could earn a higher income and standard of living. For example “British income per person (in 1970 U.S. dollars) rose from about $400 in 1760 to $430 in 1800, to $500 in 1830, and then jumped to $800 in 1860”. This was one of the first historical examples of upward income mobility. However, even during this time, rigid class structures remained in place. While some were able to escape the perils of serfdom and rise up in the factory ranks the majority did not. In 1840, the heart of the industrial revolution, more than 80% of people lived in absolute inescapable poverty.
America became the remedy to the economic stagnation and poverty seen in Europe. In America, people had the ability to gain the standard of living and social status that they couldn't in abroad. Wave after wave people flocked to America in search of that dream. The truth is that at the time the dream was possible. People with absolutely nothing in their old country could come to America and be greeted with jobs and opportunity. America boomed with new industry and vast untapped natural resources. New immigrants were virtually guaranteed to make more than their parents back home. With each generation, the hope for property remained strong in the culture. Even during the worst parts of America's history such as the great depression or world wars the Americans always had hope and always strived to be more prosperous than the generation before.
For the majority of America’s history, this hope was supported by reality. Children could expect to make more than their parents did but as America enters the 21st-century income mobility has stagnated “About 90 percent of children born in 1940 ultimately exceeded their parents’ incomes...However, for children born in 1970, only 61 percent earned more than their parents, and for those born in 1980, only 50 percent did.” The loss of the driving factor behind the American dream, income mobility, is changing its fundamental principles. As Millennials enter the workforce they no longer strive to make more than their parents but instead, according to a 2011 study, their number one goal is a “sense of meaning”.
Perhaps this change in the definition of the American dream has less to do with Americans making less money and more to do with society changing overall. In the past Americans strived to be “better and richer and fuller” many still having the memory of poverty resh in their minds, but as America and the world become more and more civilized it makes sense that people strive something more than material wealth. This has definitely been my experience members of generation Z who grow up in comfortable families are looking for lives filled with travel and independence. As America changes so do the American dream.
3.Biology Essay,2016: I wrote this essay sophomore year in biology class. This was the last essay of the evolution unit and we where required to explore the topic in-depth. I believe that this essay adequately explored that topic.
On November 24 1859 Darwin published his book “on the origins of species” this was the first time the world was introduced to the Theory of Evolution. Evolution is a broad term that defines the change in the critics of organisms over many generations. At the time darwin and his theory were widely cried but now Evolution is overwhelmingly accepted by the scientific community. This largely due to the massive body of evidence that supports it . The theory of evolution is proven through the evidence of natural selection the fossil record as well as new DNA evidence.
The first and most observable evidence for Evolution is Natural Selection. Which is the process where animals with traits more suitable for their environment tend to survive over those, who don't have those traits. This is demonstrated by a population of mice who live near a dark lava bed. Some of the mice developed a dark coat that allowed for them to blend in with the lava bed those who didn't have this coat were eaten by predators. While those with the coat survived and pass on their genes. This process exists throughout the natural world and is the mechanism that allows for organisms to develop traits that are suitable for their environment. Over time the traits and organisms will change new species will develop based on the genes of the past. This gradual process of changing organisms is what becomes Evolution
The second main source of evidence for this slow evolutionary change is the Fossil Record. This record of past species and organisms clearly shows how over time an organism can become increasingly different from their ancestors. Likely the best example of this is the whale. The earliest example of a whale ancestor walked on four legs and lived in a swamp like an area. Further down the record, one can see that over millions of years this whale ancestor lost its legs became larger and eventually transitioned to living in the open ocean. The vast transitions and that can results from the process evolution further confirm how vital evolution is for the biodiversity of the planet.
recent ways scientists have been able to observe evolution is through the use of DNA evidence and links. By analyzing the DNA of different species scientists can find which species share a common ancestor. So far Scientists were been able to discover that Chimpanzees and humans share a common ancestor. By mapping, the DNA ancestry of organisms scientists can prove that certain modern-day species descended from species far in the past.
In conclusion Evolution is the best explanation for the world’s great biodiversity. This is shown through the evidence of Natural Selection specifically how mice develop fur to fit their environment. In addition to that Evolution is shown through the fossil record by comparing fossils; As well as new Dna studies, which to this day find more links within the evolutionary chain. As we move towards the future it is essential that our society accept evolution and use it to further our knowledge of the world.