Notes

Solidarity is to Columbia as mathematics is to my life: a major concept that illuminates over others explosively. At Columbia, each student, despite his or her differences and personal interests, has the same heart and drive towards pursuing ambitions and goals. In one way, Columbia fosters this solidarity through the Core Curriculum. More than just a list of required courses to complete by graduation, these shared courses merge the paths of our future aeronautical engineers and fiction novelists. An engineer with knowledge of contemporary literature and a novelist with an understanding of science literacy have a respect for the other's work through a genuine understanding of their endeavors. I've done my best to share my appreciation for this bridge to my community, such as by founding STEMTalks to discuss the idea that STEM needs humanities as much as humanities need STEM. Our different passions cannot negate the fact that we live in the same world; therefore, it is vital unity serves as our roots to appreciate and understand each-other. At times, however, unity can cause our differences to be neglected, such as in the Columbia Spectator with the recent issues of a lack of coverage of people of color. Yet, I believe that these setbacks have the potential to make us more human and bring us even closer together. If I were to bring my journalism passion to the Spectator, I'd tackle this issue and aid in bolstering Columbia to a university based on social solidarity as much as academical. And with its position in the most diverse city in America, a goal like this is definitely within reach. Thus, not only is this solidarity what I value the most, but also its possibility to be strengthened using the entire city to its aid.