Barnard College is a collaborative community of care shaped by bold women with a multitude of perspectives. Choose one woman— historical, fictional, contemporary, or personally significant— whose views differ from your own. Imagine a conversation with her. What would you discuss? How might her perspective challenge or shift your own? Share how this new mindset could influence your approach to learning and engagement both in and beyond the classroom at Barnard. (250 words maximum)
I would want to talk with Ayn Rand. As someone who believes deeply in mutual support, I have always struggled with her philosophy of radical self-interest. I would ask her, “How can a society function if its greatest minds refuse to help those who are struggling?”
I imagine she would respond that my question is flawed. She would argue that true progress comes not from altruism, but from the unapologetic pursuit of individual excellence. She would claim that by prioritizing the needs of others, I am diminishing my own potential to create something truly great.
Her perspective would not convert me to Objectivism, but it would challenge my view of collaboration. I have always seen group work as an exercise in compromise, sometimes quieting my own ideas to maintain harmony. Rand’s perspective would force me to reconsider. It would shift my mindset to see that my boldest, most well-developed ideas are actually my greatest contribution to the group. To truly care for a community, I must first be intellectually fearless. At Barnard, this new mindset would push me to be a more assertive participant in classroom discussions and research projects, understanding that my individual pursuit of knowledge is the most valuable thing I can offer to our shared success.
I would speak with Shevek, the protagonist from Ursula K. Le Guin’s novel The Dispossessed. He comes from a world without property, where all work is done for the collective good. His views are a stark contrast to my own, having grown up in a society that celebrates individual achievement. I would ask him, “Is there no room for personal ambition? Don’t we deserve credit for our own ideas?”
Shevek would likely challenge the very premise of my question. He would argue that an idea can never truly be “owned.” He would say that knowledge is a shared resource, built upon the work of countless others who came before us. His perspective would suggest that my desire for individual recognition is a cage, limiting the potential of my work to benefit everyone.
This conversation would shift my understanding of success. I currently see my academic achievements as personal accomplishments. Shevek would teach me to see them as community assets. At Barnard, this new mindset would fundamentally change how I engage with my peers. I would approach study sessions not just to improve my own grades, but to contribute to a shared pool of understanding. I would be inspired to join collaborative research opportunities, driven by the idea that a discovery is most powerful when it is given away, strengthening the entire community.
All the best
