at the leadership challenge course, west point sle. photos from west point's flickr.

Dare greatly.

At West Point, the United States Military Academy, cadets must "dare greatly".

At the Summer Leadership Experience (SLE), a week-long program to involve students in life at West Point with physical challenges, academic classes, and motivational and college preparatory seminars, "dare greatly" served as our mantra. We screamed it, every morning, afternoon, and night at formation and meals (and several attempts to sit on auditorium seats in unison while maintaining a straight face and without first adjusting the seat).

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In Defense of Libraries: 4 Reasons to Love Public Libraries

Seattle Public Library, photo by Sylvia Yang on Unsplash

In a (now-deleted) article published yesterday, Forbes columnist and economist Panos Mourdoukoutas asserted that Amazon bookstores should replace public libraries to eliminate library taxes. This short-sighted proposal would deprive community residents of a safe space to read, research, think, interact with others, or even escape the elements. So, in defense of libraries, here are four reasons public libraries remain necessary.

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5 Reasons to Read The Nowhere Girls

"Silence does not mean yes. No can be thought and felt but never said. It can be screamed silently on the inside."

Girls. We are growing up in a time in which sexism still pervades; a time in which girls regularly face catcalling, slurs, intimidation, threats, and assault; in which even our leaders remain respected despite sexual misconduct and vocalized approval of sexual assault.

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50 Books I Want to Read Before 2019

Mid-year, July offers a turning point for many. For students, the month represents the middle of summer, a couple weeks closer to another school year. For those in the workforce, July can promise a vacation or time to reflect. And for us bookworms? July is a time to evaluate reading progress for the year so far and set some goals for the remaining months ahead.

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Hello, Summer (I'm Back!)

a picture of my sister I took this summer

Nighttime has already arrived, but the remnants of a blazing summer sun leave the air warm. With my sister and two friends, I excitedly watch a small box emit miniature fireworks displays. The colorful light illuminates our faces, and for just one second, I savor this moment-- relaxed, fun, free.

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Within and Without: March, April, & a Sprinkle of May

I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life. 

- f. scott fitzgerald, the great gatsby

I have been meaning to post a recap of my March and April for the longest time now. I wrote "draft post" in my agenda for days, until migrating tasks over slowly became disappearing under the stacks of exams and study guides. It's nearly the end of May. While I look towards the summer, I still wanted to upload my bimonthly (well, now almost trimonthly) recap, even if belated, to review and reflect, and share some updates about what I've been doing during my latest online hiatus.

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