Gabriel Reyes

Reflections of a college senior

When I first came to Brown, I remember telling myself how my destiny would not be determined based on where I got educated; that my values of making an impact would only be amplified by Brown, not determined by them. And as I prepare to commence my last year, I can’t...

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Things All College Students Do

I’ve seen a lot of articles about “Things X Kind of People Do” or an iteration that defines people based on certain characteristics. Like this video my friends shared on Facebook that shows the differences between successful and unsuccessful people. Or this article...

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Why You Should Fail

“We learn most from our failures.” “Failure is an opportunity for learning and growth.” “It’s not a matter of how many times we fall but how we get ourselves back up.” Ah, failure—it’s a universal word every college-bound student is all too familiar with, but I would...

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Going Outside the Lines

I remember when I was in elementary school I had this tendency to not follow instructions. My teachers viewed it as a act of rebellion and early signs of delinquency; I thought it was harmless, as I was merely synthesizing the main objective of my endeavor and...

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A Trip Down Memory Lane

Something I realized about my upbringing before I left for college was the silence—the silence specifically about college. Discussion regarding my preparation for life post-high-school was nonexistent, but I noticed that the topic of “change” was never brought up in...

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My First-Gen Experience At Brown

I think one of my greatest strengths is my confidence. I never doubt my abilities to succeed in any context or standards I set for myself, and rarely do I allow external forces to negatively influence my indomitable spirit. However, I think that this was also a...

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DO YOUR FAFSA

By now, you’ve probably finished all your supplements. You no longer have to pester your AP teachers for references, and you’re probably celebrating the New Year by relaxing and catching up on Netflix. All that’s left is to wait, right? Wrong. At the beginning of the...

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The Four Types of Fun

I had the distinct privilege of embarking on a life-changing—and I truly mean it when I say “life-changing”—experience with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) on a Future Global Leader Expedition. I spent 20 days backpacking in the Rocky Mountains with some...

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Words Will Never Hurt Me

I remember a point in my life when being different was dangerous. A period when words such as “smart”, “amicable”, and “Hispanic” were replaced with derogatory terms such as “nerd”, “gay”, or “dirty.” I never understood why I was subject to such cruelty; I don’t know...

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Don't Check The Price Tag

Financial aid was the number one component when compiling my college list. I didn’t care much about academic programs (because the school itself would not have altered my passion to become a researcher, professor, or a doctor), but rather whether or not the school can...

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