What experiences have awakened your interest and will help you contribute to the Global Initiatives Program at Poly? In what ways do you hope that the Global Scholars program will expand and deepen your global perspectives?
I have become increasingly more interested in global issues as I’ve grown older, and I think I can contribute to the Global Initiatives Program because of my trip to the Dominican Republic, my summer in Spain, and my dream of joining the Peace Corps. When I was in third grade, I spent my spring break in the Dominican Republic at the Punta Cana resort. I remember swimming in the crystal clear waters and wondering if the whole island was full of resorts and restaurants and trapezes. That’s when I learned that Haiti split the island with the Dominican Republic but was stricken with poverty and did not have a booming tourist economy. This was the first time I learned about another country’s issues, and I instantly wanted to learn more about this wealth juxtaposition and what was being done about it. Since then, I have been fascinated by international relations and the history of the world. Every day in Globalization and Human Rights we look at a different aspect of the world- illiteracy rates, average life span, or migrant statuses, for example- using the Penguin world atlas. I love comparing these aspects of each country and learning about the patterns in the data. Furthermore, I think I could contribute to the class because I love learning about different cultures. When I visited Spain two years ago, I learned how Spaniards park their cars an inch away from each other, how they don’t really eat snacks throughout the day, and how the people in the suburbs spend their free time with people from their piso, or apartment. I loved learning new idioms and ways of life, and I will forever value Asturias as my second home. I have wanted to travel the world ever since I was younger, and I am overjoyed at any opportunity to experience a new culture or a new country. Additionally I want to combine my love for travel and my interest in globalization with service. I am currently working with SHE Nicaragua to promote education and health for young girls in Nicaragua, and I would like to continue this type of work throughout my life. I have dreamed of being in the Peace Corps ever since I met someone in the program, and I still plan my future around that goal. Overall, I would like to combine my interests of global issues, traveling, and service in the Global Initiatives Program next year.
I hope that the Global Scholars program can further my understanding of the world and give me the tools to continue the path of international issues. I would like the learn about countries around the world, as right now I know mostly of those that I’ve visited. Also, I would like to continue discussions of the comparison between nations and how societies differ globally. I am interested in learning about the histories of the different countries around the world and what led them to where they are now, as well as considering how human rights and societal values play a role in each country. In the end, I hope to meet people from around the world and learn about global issues from different perspectives.