I had been a part of Operation Smile. It is a club where you help fund surgeries for kids with cleft lip in third-world countries. The major positive impact was the solitude leading to finding my true self. It was a new environment with new people and new perspectives which broadened my mindset. On the downside, it was difficult to branch out of my busy routine. It was an additional responsibility and every time you get lazy; it bounces back very harshly.
I am changing from a psychology major to environmental studies major. The main reason is that I was inspired by a teacher. She opened up my eyes to a life-changing concept. It persuaded me to try new things, and explore new possibilities and new perspectives.
Washington has always been home to me. Although I could not get off the waiting list during my senior year, I always knew that I was going to come back. There is something so captivating and compelling about UW. The idea of visiting multiple colleges intrigues me. UW is a very embracing community that offers a home-like feeling. As for switching from Psychology to environmental studies is concerned, it was just me gradually figuring out what I am really passionate about.
Thought I started with psychology, but my true aspiration had been environmental studies. Although psychology is a very interesting subject, it was just a matter of time before I realized that it was not fulfilling my inner spark. Having come across environmental studies felt like an eye-opening experience. The idea of studying the environment, its sensitivity, and criticality toward our own existence had been something that motivated me to adopt it as a career.
You can never be fully prepared but I feel eager and excited to learn about environmental studies. During my time at Indiana, I learned something more about myself. I realized that life is too short for me to not try to make an impact. I also had a teacher last semester who opened my perspective. She was a totally unique individual. All her views were different from mine. At first, I was reluctant to open up to her, but later I let her thoughts resonate with mine. It was one of the first times in my life that I felt that my view has changed. She enlightened me on issues that I had no reason to care about. Strangely, these issues did affect me in one way or another. I concluded that every decision we make comes right back to us. That’s why it is quite essential to take care and learn about our environment After talking to many adults I realized that most the people end up making wrong choices in their professional lives. I plan to pursue my passions and desires to the fullest regardless of where it takes me in ten years.
UW, besides being a world-renowned university, is a hallmark of opportunity and ambition to thrive. UW has an embracing community that is positive reinforcement for success. My feelings for UW are completely different from those for Indiana. Words are just not enough to describe these feelings. If I want the best for myself I need to be in an environment that best suits me and my goals. I am sure that I will continue towards my development of different perspectives.
Cultural understanding is often drawn from the ethnic background, customs, values, and ideas of a person’s immediate family, community, and /or social environment in which they live. I grew up in a place and environment where I had similar viewpoints to those of my peers. Afterward, I moved to Indiana and realized that I was in a melting pot. Everyone has their own story which shapes their perspective on life.
Since my teenage, I have been under enormous pressure to balance my life between family, work, academics, and friends. I have had tons of responsibilities on me. I had to grow up quickly in a very challenging environment where every decision had an immediate outcome. It has made me very bold and decisive in my life.
I have been an advocacy officer for operation smile. My main role was communicating the message to the world and meeting with companies who could sponsor our events. I do everything on my own terms which makes me a much more reliable and independent individual.
I have had volunteer experience with the Indiana dance Marathon and Operation Smile. I also had been learning to play the harmonica. I also aimed at reading a book every two weeks. Being involved in these activities has equipped me with multi-tasking skills. I have been able to better prioritize my engagements and have become a highly efficient individual.
UW is the place where I feel at home. Graduating from UW has been a desire. I just want to make it a reality. I am ready to make a difference.
