Ever since I can remember, I have always had a deep inexorable love of learning, and insatiable curiosity about the nature of our world, exploring questions like whether the current “status quo” should be accepted, or if it could be improved upon. At the age of seven I began listening to the musical “Hamilton” by Lin-Manuel Miranda, however, unlike most other kids whose interest started and stopped at the hip-hop music, mine led me to critically engage with its broader themes and history.

 

       Even though I was only in 3rd grade, I would rush home to read Chernow’s biography “Alexander Hamilton.” However, Chernow’s Hamilton didn’t quench my thirst for answers, instead it led to more questions, like “why did the colonists pursue war with Britain, the most powerful empire in the world, when they where just a ragtag group of “federalists?”. I needed to learn more. So, after I finished I asked my dad for a copy of the Federalist Papers, and began absorbing all the knowledge within its pages into my still developing mind. I yearned for answers about the founding of our nation, and its rich and complex history.

 

 

     I then learned of the sorrowful and often unspoken history which was elucidated by the “freedom fighter’s” of the civil rights movement. I was especially moved by the late John Lewis’ March series, which provided a revealing look into the struggles that he and others faced in their “march" for justice—the hardships they overcame, the violence they forgave; all with the faith that they would prevail. Hoping that if they did not survive, their message would still inspire previously unsympathetic masses. I was moved to action by their message of non-violent resistance and civil disobedience. As others across the country were kneeling to protest racial inequality and police brutality, I too kneeled during my school’s national anthem. After a teacher asked me to stand, it prompted an important conversation with the administration about the first amendment, and my right to not participate in flag ceremonies. That same year, I read over 5 million words, with each book begging more questions than it answered.

 

 

     Since that time, my extensive readings have grown as diverse as my interests, and now span philosophy (Utilitarianism, Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals, Second Treatise of Government, A Theory of Justice, Introduction to Philosophy Second Edition), cosmology (The Pleasure of Finding Things Out, Oppenheimer: American Prometheus, Science of Interstellar, The Elegant Universe), and much more. I learned the value of authenticity to oneself by reading Cervantes’ Don Quixote. I experienced Javert’s existential battle between justice and mercy, and Jean Valjean’s self-redemption revealed in the pages of Hugo’s “Les Miserables.” I came to understand how unjust systems of power embed themselves in “free market” societies through Robert Reich’s works (Saving Capitalism: For the Many Not the Few, The Common Good, etc.).

 

     However, just reading books wasn’t enough, which is why at just 13 years-old I completed college philosophy courses through both Harvard (“Justice” with Professor Sandel), and MIT (“Problems of Philosophy” with Professor Byrne). I did so well in the MIT course that I was invited to participate in an essay contest on an original topic of my choice. I even had the opportunity to have lunch with one of the most influential political philosophers of this generation, Stanford Professor of Political Science, Philosophy, and Law, Prof. Josh Cohen. We discussed exploring utilitarianism and how concepts of temporal and spatial relativity might influence moral priorities, especially regarding climate change and environmental stewardship. These revelations led me to lead a fundraiser where in lieu of presents for my birthday, my friends instead donated supplies to create hygiene kits for resettled refugees from Afghanistan, Ukraine, El Salvador, and Guatemala (to name a few). I worked together with the International Rescue Committee (founded by Albert Einstein) to donate over $1,000 in hygiene items. This fundraiser helped me realize the impact my leadership and collective action can have, a lesson I applied in my work in Brownell’s student government, where I serve on the Fundraising Committee. In that fundraiser, my team raised approximately $600 for school dances.

 

    For me, the philosophical endeavors I have undertaken allowed me to hone my moral compass and the efforts I undertake, which is reflected in the 15 “Outstanding” citizenship marks on my transcript. One of the philosophical systems that resonated with me and spoke to the ethical and logical parts of my brain, was Kant’s categorical imperatives which dictate: “Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.” This maxim guides me in my everyday actions, and means that we must treat people as a means in themselves, with dignity and respect for their humanity, and not just as a means to an end—a mere object to help you achieve some goal. This maxim along with other philosophically principles have allowed me to live a moral life and I believe will help me live up to my potential.