When I think of the New Orleans of my childhood, I remember food packed with flavor, music full of heart, and people teeming with generosity. I always devoured my aunt’s red beans and rice and my uncle’s duck and andouille gumbo. Playing in City Park, walking through the Audubon Zoo, and celebrating Mardi Gras all contributed to a dynamic image of New Orleans that I carried with me when I moved to Seattle.
That vision was crushed as I sat on a sofa at age seven with my cousins, watching the city fill with water on television. Watching family members lose their homes, I thought that I would never again see the vibrant New Orleans from my memory, but that could not be farther from the truth. Through ongoing recovery efforts, New Orleans has strengthened its culture and life. Tulane’s pioneering community service program would not only allow me to rediscover the city as an adult, but also to contribute to efforts to revive the home that brought me so much joy. …show more content…
Diversity, whether it be racial, cultural, socioeconomic, ethnic, or even religious, is important to me. Coming from the cosmopolitan city of Seattle, I feel very much at home amongst people from varying backgrounds. Discerning diverse experiences, struggles and hidden talents in my peers enriches my world view and allows me to affirm my own unique qualities and share my perspectives. In turn, I hope to learn from the perspectives of the many different types of Tulane