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Stanford University. Just saying those words makes my heart beat faster. It's not just a school to meāit's a place where innovation meets tradition, where dreams become reality. I first discovered Stanford three years ago when I was researching artificial intelligence for a school project. I stumbled upon a documentary about their robotics lab, and I was completely mesmerized. The way students and professors collaborated, the way they weren't afraid to fail and try againāit felt like home, even though I'd never been there.
What draws me to Stanford isn't just its reputation or its beautiful California campus with those iconic palm trees. It's the interdisciplinary approach to learning. I imagine myself taking computer science classes in the morning, then heading to the d.school for a design thinking workshop in the afternoon. I see myself sitting under an oak tree, discussing ideas with people from completely different backgroundsāmaybe an art major, a physics student, and someone studying philosophy. At Stanford, I wouldn't have to choose between my love for technology and my passion for understanding people.
The entrepreneurship programs excite me the most. I've always had this dream of creating technology that solves real problems for real people. Stanford's culture of "you can do this" combined with resources like StartX and the entrepreneurship cornerāit's exactly the environment I need. I want to be surrounded by people who don't just talk about changing the world but actually roll up their sleeves and do it.
I won't lieāI have fears. What if I'm not good enough? What if everyone there is so brilliant that I feel like I don't belong? Sometimes I wake up at night thinking about the competition, the thousands of talented students who apply. But then I remember why I'm working so hard. I've been preparing for this since I realized Stanford was my goal. I've challenged myself with advanced courses, started coding projects that push my limits, and even founded a small tech club at school. Every late night studying, every difficult problem I solveāit's all preparation for the person I need to become.
When I picture my first day at Stanford, I see myself walking through the main quad with my backpack, trying to look confident but probably getting lost. I'll be nervous, excited, maybe a bit overwhelmed. But I also see myself smiling, because I'll know that I'm finally where I'm supposed to be. I hope to find a community of curious minds, people who aren't satisfied with easy answers, who want to dig deeper and understand more. I want friends who will challenge me to think differently, who will celebrate my successes and help me through my failures.
Stanford isn't just a school to meāit's where I believe I'll truly discover who I am and who I can become. It's where I'll transform from someone who dreams about making an impact to someone who actually does it. And yes, the path there is difficult, and yes, I might not make it. But I'd rather aim for the stars and fall short than never try at all. Because even the journey toward Stanford has already changed me, made me work harder, dream bigger, and believe more in myself than I ever thought possible.