Yale University, Brown University, Columbia University

I whizzed down the uneven road, wobbling on my yellow bicycle before careening over a ficus root. My grandfather was teaching me to ride a Brazilian Caloi, my first bike. On Fridays, he would pick me up at school and we would enjoy a lunch of fried eggs, red rice, and fresh jaboticaba—Brazilian cherries. After a siesta, we’d spend the rest of the day learning how to ride my Caloi at Ibirapuera Park. My grandfather didn’t believe in training wheels. I learned to ride by practicing amongst the holes and ancient tree roots in the asphalt. He would give me a strong shove, helping me find the…