I cried last night. Was it grief? Frustration? Or shame? A bit of all three, but mainly the last. George Floyd. Breonna Taylor. Ahmaud Arbery. So many others. I’m heartbroken. I’m outraged. But most of all, I’m embarrassed that it took me so long to feel this way. How long did it take? How many … Continue reading some words, some feelings
Ever since I returned to the US, there’s one, single word that constantly nags at me. A single word that makes me feel guilty when I find myself neglecting all things academic, a word that comes to me when I hear from friends who are finishing up a year in college, or others who are … Continue reading I’m not “productive”… but I guess that’s okay?
The past month of quarantine has meant that I have a lot of free time on my hands, and lately, I’ve been spending much of my time eating-- and cooking! I’m definitely a foodie, and in these weeks, I’ve been trying out a bunch of recipes, from falafel and hommos, to Moroccan salads, and of … Continue reading Daal Makhni, a family recipe
Happy Independence Day to all Indians, as well as a belated Independence Day to all Pakistanis! From the eyes of an outsider, "India and Pakistan," seems synonymous for conflict and decades of disagreement. Recent years and months have seen a rise of nationalism, divisions, and heightened tension. And in the midst of all the polarizing … Continue reading Independence Day, and another favorite Desi Recipe
It’s August 5th, 2019: my mom’s birthday. It also means that in 29 days, I’ll be in DC attending my Pre-Departure Orientation before spending nine months in Morocco. Every year, on August 5th, it’s a family tradition to celebrate my mother’s birthday with goat curry. My grandparents visit us each summer, and as much as … Continue reading A chicken curry recipe, and a realization of how much I will miss Desi food
It’s been just over a month since I graduated from high school. In other words, temporarily liberated from the education system, I’ve spent the past month free of the compulsion to learn. I’m no longer responsible for challenging myself, absorbing new content, and proving that I know things based on a set of standards. Yet, … Continue reading Self-Exploration, Self-Education
It's been an incredibly long time since I've written (due to IB exams, then graduation, and then a general lack of motivation for all things productive), but I've finally come up with a summer endeavor that I'm excited to share. "Your Future, Their Future" is a project that aspires to address the educational privilege gap … Continue reading New Project: Your Future, Their Future
I'm thrilled to announce that I'll be attending Harvard University starting in the fall of 2020 as a Cameron Impact Scholar! Before that, however, I will be taking a gap year studying Arabic in Rabat, Morocco with the NSLI-Y scholarship! I am so thankful for the Bryan Cameron Education Foundation and National Security Language Initiative … Continue reading My College Decision!
It’s second semester of senior year, and probably the most defining feature of this school year has been APPLICATIONS. Tons and tons of applications. From long personal essays, to short supplements, to interviews, and creative pieces, each application has taken reflection, deep thought, and constant attention to detail. However, when I was invited to apply … Continue reading Getting Creative with Scholarship Apps — Or should I say “Raps”?
As Saif Nabeel’s “Galb Thani” plays on repeat, I make my third round on the small greenbelt behind my house. Alright, listening to slow Iraqi music and taking long solitary walks in the neighborhood is probably not your idea of a workout, but it’s definitely better than what I usually do: sit at my desk, … Continue reading Solitary Strolls…
Shraddha Joshi 