When I Dropped Out At 20, My Sister Told Everyone: “She’s The One Who Didn’t Finish.” Twelve Years Later, I’m Yale’s Dean Of Admissions. One Essay Read: “My Family Moved Past My Aunt’s Setback.” The Name? Amanda Chen. My Niece. I Picked Up My Red Pen And…

High school was too hard, so she ran to community college. Now university is too hard, so she’s quitting that too. At what point do we stop pretending this is bravery and admit it’s failure?” The word landed harder than my father’s anger. Failure. As if she had been waiting years to finally say it aloud. I sat there in that polished dining room with continue reading …