Title: Empowering Education and Fostering Connections: A Journey of Philanthropy and Innovation I never thought of myself as someone who could code until my freshman year computer science course. This course introduced me to a brand new area of discovery and thinking that pushed me beyond my comfort zone while complementing my previous area of interest: philosophy and social justice. Through this experience I decided to double major in philosophy and computer science. I am currently the chief of staff for a non-profit called UrbEd in Philadelphia. I would love to use coding to improve our work at UrbEd that centers educational opportunities for marginalized communities, As I pursue my goals in computer science, I envision a future where the realms of philanthropy, legislation, and technology converge to shape a more equitable society. My experience at UrbEd has highlighted the importance of efficiency and effectiveness in non-profit organizations. I aspire to create technological solutions that streamline UrbEd's operations, enabling the organization to reach a broader audience and maximize its impact. Through the development of platforms that facilitate data management, volunteer coordination, and resource allocation, I hope to make UrbEd more efficient, thus enabling it to serve more communities and effect lasting change. To create meaningful and sustainable change, it is crucial to navigate the intersection of computer science and legislation. By gaining a stronger understanding of the legal landscape, I aim to advocate for policies that promote educational equality and bridge the digital divide. With comprehensive knowledge of the legal framework, I can work towards shaping legislation that promotes digital accessibility, inclusion, and equity in underprivileged school districts. By combining my computer science expertise with an understanding of policy-making, I can make a tangible impact on the lives of countless students. My passion for philosophy has fostered a deep appreciation for ethical considerations within technology. As I delve further into the field of computer science, I aim to infuse philosophical perspectives into the design and development of technology. By exploring the ethical implications of artificial intelligence, privacy, and algorithmic decision-making, I hope to develop technology that upholds moral values and serves the greater good. The amalgamation of philosophy and computer science will enable me to approach technological advancements from a human-centered perspective, ensuring that the benefits of innovation are distributed equitably. As I embark on my journey in computer science, I am inspired by the potential to merge my interests in law, philosophy, and technology to shape a better future for underprivileged students. By creating platforms that connect students to resources, enhancing the efficiency of non-profit organizations, advocating for legislative change, and infusing technology with ethical considerations, I hope to contribute to a society that values education, empowers marginalized communities, and embraces diversity. With compassion as my guiding principle, I am determined to utilize my skills and knowledge to make a lasting, positive impact in the lives of others.

Lipstick, Me, and Dickens “Never leave the house without lipstick on,” joked my mom, repeating a phrase from her mother. When I first heard this mantra, the little raging feminist in me was appalled. How could my grandmother say that? Why would my mom repeat it? In my eyes, my mother was the epitome of feminism: a single working mother raising two kids effectively alone in Philadelphia. These two personas were dissonant in my mind, so I dismissed it as the saying of a past generation. Something to ignore rather than internalize. Ignorant, I felt superior in my judgment of my mother’s feminism. My feminism somehow demonized femininity. This judgemental feminism made me uncomfortable in my own body and mind. One night, my cousins put mascara on me, playing around. Looking in the mirror, my throat tightened and my eyes watered. Though mascara didn’t make me look that different, I smiled at this “new” version of myself, then wanted to cry. My desire to feel feminine was a betrayal of the identity I strived towards; my conception of feminism was “independent” in thought, action, and appearance. The feeling of betrayal reemerged every time I heard my mom jokingly repeat that phrase. Reading, A Tale of Two Cities in my 10th grade English class made me confront this contradiction. In the novel, Dickens presents two female characters, Lucie and Madame Defarge, as foils of one another. Lucie is fair, compassionate, and kind, while Madame Defarge is independent, cunning, ruthless, and, in the end, bloodthirsty. My class rejected Dickens’s portrayal of the ideal woman in Lucie, still, they continued to perpetuate a binary view of the good woman and bad woman. Dickens labeled Lucie as good and Madame Defarge as bad, so my class responded with the opposite: Lucie-bad Defarge-good. Listening to my peers ridicule the character of Lucie, a familiar feeling of confusing contradiction reemerged. I left the class feeling I needed to pick a side yet neither felt quite right. I agreed Lucie’s portrayal was a product of Dickens' misogynist ideas; yet, I felt that the femininity associated with Lucie should not be ridiculed. Lucie remained kind, compassionate, resilient, and even beautiful in the face of trauma and tragedy; though these traits should not define a woman, they are positive and often lacking in the world, regardless of gender. Before this discussion, before reading this novel, I could not seem to comprehend that two things could be true at once. Now the contradiction I had been so strictly imposing seems almost comical. The writing in Dickens' 1859 novel continues to impact people almost 200 years later. This text, though not generally perceived as radical or incredibly provoking, made me reframe my understanding of myself and the world around me. Writing and language have this power. The power to make the reader question their assumptions about the world and even their identities. It can be an act of vulnerable protest. Writing can be an outlet to express my ideas about feminism and activism more broadly. My mom can wear lipstick and be a feminist. Lucie can be the product of sexism yet be admirable. This revelation that two seemingly contradictory beliefs may both be true allows me to embrace ideas that challenge my conception of the world. I love that femininity can be delicate and pink, while strong and unwavering in its pursuit of equality. Although I am still growing in my relationship with femininity and feminism, for now, there is nothing wrong with wearing lipstick or mascara every day. Femininity does not detract from my mother’s feminism, nor my own.

A giant slab of butter, time, and flour are the basic materials for making croissants. You fold this butter into the dough over and over again to create the layers we all love. As the croissants bake the butter layers evaporate into the dough leaving the open spaces. It took me three tries to perfect this process. You must constantly put the dough back into the fridge the second it gets warm. It is a long but rewarding process, especially when I can share the product with others. I love the smile I get to see on my neighbors' faces when I knock on their doors, baked goods in hand. This action is an outlet for me; I can create something physical, lovely, and shareable. On birthdays or when friends need to cry, I bring homemade cookies or cakes. During COVID, when I could not see friends and extended family in person, these treats were physical manifestations of my love and desire to be with them. Though simple, I convey my love through croissants, chocolate chip cookies, or apple pies.

The assumption is that children see the world through rose-tinted lenses. They are hopeful and imaginative. Age and experience harden and dissolutions us with the world. For me, this wasn't quite the case. Though I was young, I took on more responsibilities, and my rose-tinted glasses went away. I was thrust into the role of helping my mom and dealing with the messiness of family. My view of the world became cynical and negative. I was doing activities and trying to get good grades not because I wanted to but because I was running from my fear and anger at the world around me. I wanted to prove or simply escape a feeling of hopelessness. But then, something shifted slowly these activities became communities or developed into passions. As I become more secure in who I am, the world looks a slightly brighter place. I found myself and still find myself smiling and being unreasonably happy about the smallest things. This year when it snowed I couldn't stop smiling. I made hot cocoa and chocolate chip cookies and watched movies. The world regained some of that pink glow. I began noticing not just the things people did wrong or bad but also the small and large acts of kindness we all show for one another. The choice to smile at a stranger or a friend writing a thoughtful letter. So often the world feels hopeless and engulfed in sorrow and pain, but there is also so much love and joy. That love and joy are why I want to help the world and why I want to be involved now. I'm not running away from the cynicism and anger I felt but rather towards an idea and understanding of life that is beautiful and worth living.

As the first words of my speech leave my mouth, the storm in my stomach seems to calm for a moment. I begin my five-minute argument about why Edi Arcaro, the made-up defendant for this year's case, is not guilty. Weaving together explanations of the burden of reasonable doubt and case law with catchy phrases such as patient over profit or quality over quantity, I feel at home. Starting my freshman, I joined my school's mock trial team, and I have been captain my junior and senior years. This club cultivated my public speaking and rhetoric abilities. As a freshman, I was obsessed with learning the rules of evidence and exceptions to hearsay (801D2 is my favorite). I loved the creative process of arguing cases and constantly switching sides of the case. I thrived as an attorney in speeches, objection battles, and cross-examinations. January through March is competition season, and my friends never hear the end of the details of whatever case we were working on. As a captain, my public speaking skills expanded as I needed to teach new members how to improve themselves and understand the nuances of hearsay. The speaking skills I learned in mock trials helped me outside of the fictional boundaries of our cases. In my high school classes and additional classes I have taken at the University of Pennsylvania, I am able to hold my own when crafting discussion points or participating in debates. As a leader in my school community, I often have to speak in front of a crowd. These experiences do not scare me anymore; rather the possibilities excite me. I continue to participate in mock trial and practice independently to become the best communicator I can be while incorporating logic, emotion, and even humor.