The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be ignited ~Plutarch
My space shuttle, a makeshift cardboard box, with squiggly stars sketched on the exterior, containing a cushion and my grandmother’s old radio receiver was my pride and joy. At the age of eight, daring to believe the impossible, every evening I hopped aboard, squeezing my eyes tightly shut and whispering a little prayer. A few seconds later,I would gaze upon the stars which burned brightly, igniting a perpetual fire in my soul. Spellbound, I’ve never looked back since.
Iris Chan’17 described herself as a thinker, listener, reader but not a talker. However, doing the impossible- she gave a speech at the Commencement in front of a crowd! I perceive that Swarthmore nurtures its students into becoming caring individuals that go beyond their limits thus encouraging personal growth.Swarthmore’s academic diversity lives up to its reputation and more. The Physics and Astronomy Department offers a wide variety of courses that students can take in the pursuit of their dreams. I aspire to be a part of the research on stellar winds from hot stars led by Professor Cohen.
I hope to spend my next four years in Swarthmore’s community learning alongside students and professors from backgrounds starkly different from my own, who bring their varied perspectives to discussions, an invaluable trait when doing collaborative research. Forming lasting memories and lastly, as Chan instructed-To hope in the face of the impossible!
