The “25 Random Things About Yourself” essay can be intimidating. As applicants work on their MMS applications, they are likely focusing on test scores, resumes, transcripts and interviews. The “25 Random Things” essay offers applicants an opportunity to step back from all of that to think about what they value most about themselves.

To help applicants get started on their essays, we’re sharing some of our “random things.”

Jasmine Alexander

  1. As a child, I thought my grandfather was a rock star because he was the lead singer of a touring quartet group. I credit watching his group perform with developing my love of music.
  2. I strive to be early everywhere I go. If I’m not somewhere at least 30 minutes early, I feel late.
  3. I’ve never been a big coffee drinker, but there are three different types of green tea in my cabinets at any given time!
  4. I’m from Augusta, Georgia, home to WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan. Going to wrestling shows with my family is a way we all continue to bond!
  5. Sustainability and climate action are two topics I’m passionate about. As an undergrad student, I helped organize a pop-up thrift store at my university to educate students about overconsumption in the fashion industry.
  6. I’m an optimistic person and strive to see the good in situations. For instance, if I don’t get a position I hoped for, I choose to have faith that something greater is coming, and I should continue working hard and learning from past efforts to be prepared for it.
  7. I am a big fan of the Atlanta Hawks. Whether they win or lose, I love going to the games and soaking up the electric energy of the crowd!
  8. Throughout college, I strived to leave spaces better than how I found them through service. With my involvement in Alternative Breaks (AB), I’ve had the opportunity to inform students about various social issues within the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as zero hunger and climate action.
Jasmine Alexander, a student at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business, and her professor each stand on opposite sides of a giant orange sculpture in Fort Myers, Florida
My professor and I (right) stopping for a photo while on a service trip with Alternative Breaks to help with Hurricane Ian relief in Fort Myers, FL

Isobel Heath

  1. I have a passion for traveling and exploring new places. I have traveled to 19 countries across four continents. I aspire to visit all of the continents, particularly ones where the wonders of the world are located. 
  2. If I hadn’t majored in economics, my dream would have been to become an air hostess.  
  3. My most irrational fear is of alligators, which I discovered while on an airboat in the Everglades.  
  4. I am a sentimental person (my mum would say hoarder). I love to keep every possible memory I can from plane tickets to fortune cookies.  
  5. I played field hockey throughout my school years and adapted to play both on field and in goal as required. 
  6. Rom-coms and ice cream are my guilty pleasure. I could watch the same film a hundred times over and still be content. 
  7. My family loves animals, particularly those that need love, so we often rescue animals from shelters and currently have five rescue cats.  
  8. I hold both a Princess Diana award and a Duke of Edinburgh award for my contributions toward anti-bullying in my school and for my service to the community and development outside of class.  
  9. The most influential person in my life is my older sister, Holly. She is only 14 months older than me, so I grew up one step behind her, being able to learn from her achievements and mistakes. I was the second person in my family to graduate from college/university, after her.  
Isobel Heath, an MMS student at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business, stand in the crowded stands at Wallace Wade Stadium during a nighttime Duke Blue Devils football game
A friend and I (right) attending a Duke football game

Sakshi Vijay

  1. My favorite animal is the panda. On days when nothing will make me smile, seeing a picture of a panda will instantly make me happy. I have a panda toy, t-shirts and a mug.
  2. I am a party animal and go-to gal when it comes to making the most wickedly awesome cocktails. Ask my friends, they’d vouch for it!
  3. I am a religious person and a very firm believer in karma—highly inspired by the quote, “Nothing happens by chance, by fate. You create your own fate by your actions. That’s karma.”
  4. Being obsessed with geopolitics, I watch global news daily and read business case studies to understand the model of big companies and the secret of their success. WION Global News and Think School are my favorite YouTube channels.
  5. I have planted 100+ plants in my home including vegetables and fruits. I water them daily and help them grow by adding organic manure to the soil.
  6. I am greatly inspired by Mr. Ratan Tata, who is the heart of our country India. He introduced to me how kindness and love can bring changes to the world.
  7. I am addicted to the TV show “Shark Tank” which deals with entrepreneurs and startups looking for equity to expand their businesses. I could literally stay home all day watching it.
  8. I have no qualms in admitting that crime dramas are my favorite, and undoubtedly, the series “Money Heist” and “Queen of the South” are my jewels.
Excited to share the start of my Fuqua journey