A Conversation with Minerva Student Ruby Washio

What drew you to apply for Minerva?

I first learned about Minerva when I was 14, and at the time, applying to university felt so far away, and Minerva seemed almost too good to be true. Fast forward three years, and I was applying to UK universities, and studying abroad had barely crossed my mind, except for Japan, my birth country. However, I was reminded of Minerva, and its application was free and surprisingly fun! I had mentally prepared for my Minerva application by thinking of it as a ‘practice year’, and I had been planning to take a gap year, then reapply when I had enough accomplishments to stand a chance of being accepted. After the shock of receiving the acceptance letter, I enrolled immediately—it was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down. 

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Could you tell us about some of your most memorable Minerva experiences and how they have enriched your education?

My most recent experience was volunteering at a creative writing workshop for underprivileged 4th graders in the Tenderloin district. I had volunteered at an elementary school before, but nothing prepared me for how surprising it would be to hear reality TV-style Californian accents come from 30 excitable 9-year-olds. On a more educational note, I was amazed at how thoughtful and imaginative the students were. After the experience, I found myself thinking about ways I could take inspiration from their imaginative power and expand my own creativity.

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What does the Minerva community mean to you?

Each individual in the Minerva community is so multifaceted. Even when it feels like you have gotten to know someone well, there is always some surprising fact that pops out of nowhere - “Oh yeah, I won a bunch of national competitions for dance, didn’t I tell you?”. Response courtesy of my roommate of over 6 months. Although there are only ~180 students in the M27 cohort, I feel as though there is always something new to learn about someone. 

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Is there such a thing as a typical Minerva student?

It’s easy to say that all Minerva students are varied - everyone has different passions, new ideas, and unique perspectives. But I think in a sense this makes us similar to each other - there are similarities in how spontaneous we are, our eagerness to learn and create and change, to explore new places and meet new people. I can only speak for the M27 cohort, but I think our experiences have made us all ambitious and compassionate individuals. 

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Is there any city within the global rotation that you are most excited to explore?

I think Hyderabad or Buenos Aires will be the cities that will surprise me the most. I was born in Japan and grew up in the UK, so I have a place to call home in Europe and East Asia. Although I’m sure Berlin, Taiwan, and South Korea will show me things I could have never imagined experiencing, I think their societal structures are much more similar to what I’m already familiar with, and I’m excited to see something completely new.

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If you were inspired by Ruby's story and are seeking a college experience that will teach you valuable pragmatic skills that will enable you to change the world, apply to join Minerva today.