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…

the monogrammed napkins and the expensive silver and understood, maybe more clearly than I ever had before, that in this family I was never going to be allowed the dignity of being uncertain. Jennifer was permitted ambition. I was assigned disappointment before I even opened my mouth.

The cruelest part was that I had not taken an easy road to get there.continue reading …