Fordham University Supplemental Essay

Prompt: At Fordham, we believe that a liberal arts education is aimed at developing the whole person. How do you see yourself contributing to the Fordham community?

My grandmother's kitchen in the Bronx was barely six subway stops from Fordham's Rose Hill campus, though it might as well have been another world from the Gothic architecture and manicured lawns I glimpsed through the fence on my way to visit her. During those childhood visits, I'd listen to her stories of immigrating from the Dominican Republic, building a life in New York, and her unwavering commitment to both her Catholic faith and her community.

The values she instilled in me—intellectual curiosity, service to others, and ethical responsibility—align remarkably with the Jesuit principles that form Fordham's foundation, making the university feel like both a new adventure and a homecoming.

My academic interests have always existed at the intersection of disciplines rather than within their confines. While my planned major is Environmental Studies, I'm equally drawn to Fordham's core curriculum that will challenge me to explore philosophy, theology, and literature—subjects that inform how we understand our relationship with the natural world. In my high school's environmental club, I organized our local beach clean-up initiative but found that sustainable change required more than just collecting trash; it necessitated understanding economic systems, local politics, and community values. This realization taught me that addressing complex problems requires the interdisciplinary approach that Fordham's liberal arts education cultivates.

Beyond academics, I hope to contribute to Fordham's commitment to developing "men and women for others" through active engagement in service. My experience tutoring English language learners at my local library has shown me how educational support can empower individuals and strengthen communities. Programs like Fordham's Global Outreach and Service Learning initiatives would allow me to expand this work while gaining broader perspective on social justice issues. I'm particularly interested in joining the Environmental Club at Fordham to connect my academic interests with actionable service, perhaps creating educational outreach projects in the Bronx community surrounding campus.

The "cura personalis" or "care for the whole person" aspect of Jesuit education resonates deeply with me. Throughout high school, I've maintained balance by complementing academic pursuits with artistic expression through photography and physical well-being through soccer. At Fordham, I look forward to continuing this holistic development by joining intramural sports and potentially contributing to The Paper, the student newspaper, where I could document campus life and environmental initiatives through photojournalism. These activities would not only enrich my own experience but allow me to contribute to the vibrant campus community.

My grandmother often spoke about education as not just a path to personal success but a responsibility to create positive change. When she passed away last year, I found among her possessions a newspaper clipping about Fordham students tutoring local children, carefully preserved in her prayer book. This discovery cemented my desire to attend a university where faith, intellectual growth, and community service aren't separate domains but integrated aspects of the educational mission. At Fordham, I wouldn't just be receiving an education; I would be joining a tradition of thoughtful engagement with both ideas and community needs.

The Jesuit commitment to finding God in all things encourages looking beyond surface appearances to deeper meaning—a perspective I've cultivated through my own faith journey and community service. As a first-generation college student from a middle-class family with strong ties to New York City, I would bring to Fordham a diverse perspective shaped by bridging different cultures and communities. This background has taught me to listen carefully to others' experiences and to recognize that true understanding comes from engaging with viewpoints different from my own—skills essential to meaningful participation in Fordham's diverse community.

While Fordham would offer me tremendous opportunities for growth, I also see myself contributing to the university's ongoing evolution. As climate change poses unprecedented challenges, I hope to help expand the conversation around environmental justice on campus, particularly in relation to urban communities like the Bronx that disproportionately bear environmental burdens. By connecting classroom learning with community engagement, I aim to embody Fordham's ideal of transformative education that serves the greater good.

My grandmother never had the opportunity for higher education, but she was one of the wisest people I've known. Her life exemplified the values Fordham champions: intellectual curiosity never separated from compassion, faith expressed through service, and unwavering commitment to community. In seeking to attend Fordham, I hope to honor her legacy while contributing my unique perspective and energies to a university community that understands education as not merely the accumulation of knowledge but the formation of purpose-driven individuals committed to creating a more just world.

Did you like this example?

282

12