SUCCing it up
Allow me to describe a moment of distilled fear. Imagine Simmons Hall Auditorium: MIT students line the seats, crammed shoulder to shoulder. Audience members spill from plush red rows onto the stairs. Every pair of eyes is fixed on a lone figure onstage. A spotlight chains her in place. As initial applause dies down, she begins to speak into the microphone in her hand — and in that moment, more than anything in the world, she wants the audience to laugh.
Tylor Hess
Editor’s Note: Portraits of Resilience is a photography and narrative series by Prof. Daniel Jackson. Each installment consists of a portrait and a story, told in the subject’s own words, of how they found resilience and meaning in their life.
Lydia Krasilnikova
Editor’s Note: Portraits of Resilience is a photography and narrative series by Prof. Daniel Jackson. Each installment consists of a portrait and a story, told in the subject’s own words, of how they found resilience and meaning in their life.
Mary Tellers
Editor’s Note: Portraits of Resilience is a photography and narrative series by Prof. Daniel Jackson. Each installment consists of a portrait and a story, told in the subject’s own words, of how they found resilience and meaning in their life.
Love is...
I never thought I would have to worry about healthy relationships. My relationships seemed pretty great. I have a close group of friends, two amazing parents, and a wonderful group of women that I get to call my sisters. It took one conversation to make me realize that while I don’t have a directly unhealthy relationship myself, I certainly have felt the effects of one.
In search of an elusive freshman internship
The search for something to do over the summer has been a rough one. As a freshman who wants to code but hasn’t done a ton of coding, it can be quite difficult to secure an opportunity from a company of interest. Nevertheless, last Monday, like many MIT students, I went to xFair to speak with dozens of representatives looking for potential summer interns.
Taylor Shaw
Editor’s Note: Portraits of Resilience is a photography and narrative series by Prof. Daniel Jackson. Each installment consists of a portrait and a story, told in the subject’s own words, of how they found resilience and meaning in their life.
Lessons from Confessions
I started confessions.mit.edu after the suicide of a student whose death surprised everyone: a sociable, involved student who, I thought, must not have been talking to anyone about her deepest struggles or hearing firsthand the same struggles in others. There is a deafening silence on certain issues, and Confessions has shed some light on the kind of thoughts that proliferate in an emotional vacuum like this.
Caterina Colón
Editor’s Note: Portraits of Resilience is a photography and narrative series by Prof. Daniel Jackson. Each installment consists of a portrait and a story, told in the subject’s own words, of how they found resilience and meaning in their life.
Sally Lee
Editor’s Note: Portraits of Resilience is a photography and narrative series by Prof. Daniel Jackson. Each installment consists of a portrait and a story, told in the subject’s own words, of how they found resilience and meaning in their life.
Why I’m leaving engineering
I chose to study mechanical engineering because I wanted to empower people and create things. And what better way to do that than to create things that empower people? So I launched myself into the world of assistive device design where I felt that I could best achieve my goals. I worked with clients who inspired me to design products that helped them lead more independent lives.
John Belcher
Editor’s Note: Portraits of Resilience is a photography and narrative series by Prof. Daniel Jackson. Each installment consists of a portrait and a story, told in the subject’s own words, of how they found resilience and meaning in their life.
Karen Hao
Editor’s Note: Portraits of Resilience is a photography and narrative series by Prof. Daniel Jackson. Each installment consists of a portrait and a story, told in the subject’s own words, of how they found resilience and meaning in their life.
Rounding up recipes
Recipes often call for a cup of a vegetable. Vegetables don’t come in cups.
When sleep doesn’t come readily
Watery eyes. Constant yawning. Nodding off in class. These are common side effects of not getting enough sleep. They are also typical characteristics of MIT students.
MIT APPLICATION ESSAYS THAT WORKED ‘I AM SHAMELESS’
This is part of a series of MIT application essays submitted by students who were later admitted to the Institute. The following prompts are from the 2014-15 and 2013-14 admissions seasons. Note that word counts aren’t strictly enforced!
MIT application essays that worked ‘Is that a paperclip, or the trigger to my next crossbow?’
This is part of a series of MIT application essays submitted by students who were later admitted to the Institute. The following prompts are from the 2010-11 admissions season.
Tricks, treats, and defeat
There are few text messages in this world that would prompt me to ditch a Chipotle burrito bowl and sprint back to campus. These anomalies include: “fountain of youth sprung from burst New House pipe,” “Random Hall milk gained sentience,” and “free pizza at Burton-Conner front desk.” On Halloween night, while taking advantage of the burrito discount, I received one such text of immense motivational caliber.
Saving time and turning back the clock
Last week, a few select individuals on campus celebrated another holiday on Nov. 1: a moment of quiet victory for everyone who adores sleep. Just last week, many of us experienced our very first daylight saving time switch.
Thank you, PE
Stinky gym uniforms, awkward locker room conversations, and getting hit in the head with a basketball. These are just a few of the horrid memories I have of high school PE. Yeah, not exactly how I wanted to spend my freshman year of high school.