Igor/Yale

  Throughout my life, I have engaged in a diverse array of pursuits that have shaped me into a well-rounded individual. From excelling in soccer and swimming to embracing the world of languages, music, and art, each experience has contributed to my personal and intellectual growth. As I reflect upon my journey thus far, I am keenly aware of my passion for mathematics and my affinity for creative problem-solving. These interests, combined with my multicultural background, have ignited a desire within me to pursue a double major at Columbia University, with a focus on Finance and Economics. This essay delves into the various facets of my journey and outlines my aspirations for the future. For six years, soccer served as a platform for personal growth, teaching me the importance of teamwork, dedication, and perseverance. Concurrently, my affinity for tennis and swimming further honed my physical and mental endurance, leading to numerous victories and accolades. Simultaneously, I embar...

  A Tale of Two Cultures: Embracing My Russian-Dominican Identity Growing up in a household where my parents hailed from Russia and the Dominican Republic, I have been fortunate enough to experience the richness of two contrasting cultures. While my mom's Russian heritage exudes strictness and order, my dad's Dominican background radiates a laid-back and vibrant atmosphere. The duality of my cultural identity has shaped my perspectives both inside and outside the confines of my home. Within the confines of our home, I find myself more closely aligned with Russian culture due to my mother's influence. Our house is a testament to her unwavering commitment to cleanliness and organization. Every nook and cranny is meticulously maintained, reflecting the Russian penchant for tidiness. Moreover, the culinary landscape of our home is a delightful blend of Dominican flavors infused with my mother's Russian culinary skills. It is an amalgamation of two distinct culinary traditio...

    My first impression is surprising, I feel like I expected a  different approach to this university. I thought that it would be more of a modern college. When I mean modern I don't mean technology modern, I mean architectural modern. On the other hand I think the rooms are nice, they are not too big, but it's nice to have a room alone. I was also surprised because you have a lot of freedom, some might say that we don't because we can only come back at 11 pm max, but at the boarding school I'm in we can't even leave campus without a teacher with us.      My other approach to this school in classes is that it might be a little more flexible than I thought it was going to be, not saying that it is going to be easy, but we have a lot of free time before and after classes. When I got here I felt like everything in this town revolves around Yale and only Yale, but as I explored the city I saw that there are a lot of places that aren't connected to Yale, which ...