Today, we celebrate the 10th anniversary of Kanye West’s debut album, The College Dropout. I’ll be the first to admit that Dropout had a tremendous impact on my life. It gave me the courage to define my identity and challenge the world around me.

I’m proud to call myself a graduate of Columbia University, but in part, I couldn’t have done it without Mr. West. In 2007, I wrote my college admission essay on Dropout and what it meant to me as a 17 year old high-school student. Below is the unedited essay that I sent to the Columbia Admissions Department in 2007—hope you enjoy it.

My Columbia Admission Essay (2007)

As I experience the college application process, I find it ironic that a college dropout would so clearly express what lies behind my desire for a higher education. Nevertheless, that is exactly what has happened. With his debut album, hip-hop artist and Chicago State University dropout Kanye West has helped me develop into the person I am today through his fearless desire to be unique and his emphasis on courage and perseverance. This, in accordance with values taught to me by my parents, has provided the framework of principles that have given me the motivation to overcome any obstacle that may present itself.

I find it ironic that a college dropout would so clearly express what lies behind my desire for a higher education.

Individuality, courage and perseverance are all character traits instilled in by my family that have challenged me to be all that I can be. Using hip-hop as a platform, Kanye West offers listeners the courage to confront the harsh realities of our society. His empowering anthem of individuality, “We Don’t Care,” expresses the importance of staying true to yourself, and not giving in to pressure from others. The exuberant chorus, which includes a refrain sung by a group of young children, is extremely powerful in its expression of the notion that self-worth is solely defined from within and should not be influenced by others. Even though I have listened to this song over 129 times, I am engulfed by a sea of emotions every time. When I hear this song, West’s proud and captivating ode to individuality, it empowers me to tenaciously overcome any obstacle that I may encounter.

Kanye West’s The College Dropout also has also reinforced for me the importance of drive and determination. On “Through the Wire,” the first radio single on the album, West literally raps through the wire as he speaks with his mouth wired shut after experiencing a near-fatal car accident. His difficulty in speaking does not limit the overall depth of the song — it actually increases its effectiveness. Showing his dedication and passion to rap by insisting on continuing despite any physical limitation, West proves that he will not let anything — mental or physical — keep him from pursuing his love for music. His willingness to gladly risks it all in an effort to succeed is a quality that I truly admire, and one that I have implemented into my daily life.

Kanye West’s The College Dropout has been a tremendous inspiration to me. By reinforcing my determination to be myself and to not be unduly influenced by others and also by continually challenging me to never give up, West has given me the courage, strength, and awareness needed to succeed in today’s society. At Columbia University, I expect to be able to further develop these character traits through education, achievement and the challenge of thinking creatively while I work to define myself as a young African-American man of the 21st century.