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…

for a half second before smiling with a hesitation so earnest it almost broke me. “Aunt Rachel?” she said. “Amanda.” We hugged awkwardly, gently, each of us aware of the strangeness of all the missed years standing between us. Once we sat down with our coffees the initial silence threatened to swell, so she saved us both by diving straight toward the continue reading …