In April, a diverse assemblage of 23 teenagers visited Marlboro for a symposium and the culmination of the second annual Beautiful Minds Challenge. Symposium attendees were the finalists in the challenge to come up with the most creative answers to the prompt: “Take a road less traveled. Make something that shares your journey.” 

“The students who came to the symposium had a great time, and had a transformative experience they will not soon forget,” says Ariel Brooks, director of non-degree programs. Participating students met one-on-one with faculty, attended a class, and presented their “road less traveled” submissions to a public audience. They also learned creative problem solving through improvisation with Jodi Clark ’95, director of housing, and examined the concept of “journeys” in a round-table discussion with philosophy professor William Edelglass.

“This was one of the most amazing experiences in my life…I can’t wait to be a student here,” says Karuna, from Tennessee. Symposium participants came from as close as Vermont and as far as California, Hawaii, and even South Korea. Eight challenge participants applied to Marlboro as a result of the symposium, and all were accepted for the fall 2014 term.

“There really are like-minded people in the world that want the things I do from school,” says Alek, from Minnesota.

“Even though we came from such different places and backgrounds, I think we all relate to each other, and I wouldn’t have expected that before the symposium,” says Louisa, from Kentucky.

“The best experience of my life. Thank you,” says Saron, from Washington, D.C.

Perhaps a high school student in your life will benefit from the Beautiful Minds Challenge this year, for which the prompt is “Create something out of destruction. Share what you learned.” Send them to minds.marlboro.edu for details on how to apply.