Why I Belong at Bryn Mawr Julia Debski

I hate sitting in a classroom and sensing the hesitation and self-consciousness of the other girls, something I fight against feeling myself. The silence continues until a male peer speaks, and the conversation continues between him and his comrades. My female classmates and I remain quiet, sometimes glancing at each other, but not interjecting as the boys debate the topic. I try and step in, to forge the path for the others, but I'm cut off. After the fourth try, I lean back in my chair and fall silent, angry as the tension in the room dissipates at my surrender. I can't help but wonder what a discussion of just women would be like.

Bryn Mawr prides itself in a rigorous education, encouraging its students to think and develop into better human beings. Not only does it demand education above the regular standards for all, but also offers opportunities tailored to each student's interest. As a writer and future English major, the Creative Writing Program Reading Series is naturally of great interest to me.

I hope to challenge myself at Bryn Mawr, to push myself to learn more of the things I am curious about, and to go deeper into the subjects I already know and love, such as English, Film Studies, French, and Gender Studies. I...