A handwritten letter carries a lot of risk. It's a one-sided conversation that reveals the truth of the writer. Furthermore, the writer is not there to see the reaction of the person he writes to, so there's a great unknown to the process that requires a leap of faith. The writer has to choose the right words to express his sentences, and then, once he has sealed the envelope, he has to place those thoughts in the hands of someone else, trusting that the feelings will be delivered, and that the recipient will understand the writer's intent. How childish to think that could be easy.

The intimacy. The deepest level of love. The knowledge that someone understands you, is rooting for you, is sharing your life.

The good things that happen to us were meant to happen, and the bad things that happen are lessons meant to teach us to be better.

We hang out, we help one another, we tell one another our worst fears and biggest secrets, and then just like real sisters, we listen and don't judge.

I'm very organized - and the best thing - when you love your work, you don't mind putting in 15 hour days. It's joyful.

The most precious research to me came from the paperwork filed on behalf of my grandparents and great-grandfather. The ship's manifest showed that they could read and write. I am still emotional when I look at those boxes checked yes.

I look at my roommates who are so proud of me that it makes me proud.