<p>I’m going to put in my own “youth culture” experience (I applied to Barnard ED this year and am eagerly waiting for result while I was already accepted with scholarship to a state school): Igloo, perhaps this is in my own mind, but every day I wonder why boys don’t look at me and why they can’t just be my friend. I’m nice. I’m pretty. I’m athletic. I’m smart. My parents say it’s because I am intimidating. I’m confident in my own judgments and don’t meet aggregation or gossip with a reply. I invest myself fully in whatever I’m doing without any distractions (whether it’s completing a project or reading a book). I’m very calm and don’t hold grudges. I have very few boys that are friends, much less boyfriends (my only experience is with my brother, who is old enough to be a mentor to me and has loved me and respect me all my life). I think college is going to be different from high school. Men might grow up or I might loosen up. But Barnard is a place where I know I’ll meet at least some girls who have had the same issues at me. The stories that these parents have told (about telling boys to hush up or doing a sit-in to get what they want) is something that inspires me. I would love to be surrounded by strong women who aren’t afraid to scare off the boys because they’re so determined and because they’re so intimidating. Barnard, however, isn’t an escape or an archaic “dungeon” where they will “lock me in”. It’s more of a think-tank for me (that is, if I get accepted). Barnard defines me and I define Barnard.</p>