Global Awareness: As a result of the massive world that we live in, the intricacies of culture and diversity has become more difficult to maintain. That is why I find it personally significant to study abroad and participate in activities that help promote cultural awareness. In high school, my first real introduction to a vastly different culture was in my Chinese class. My teacher, Chi Chen, believed it was important for her class to understand the history that surrounded Chinese tradition in order to completely understand the language itself. I was amazed at the vast tales and legends associated with the sun, the moon, and a plethora of other subjects, and they all sparked a deep personal interest in Chinese culture as a whole. Now, in college, I am taking a Norse Mythology and Scandinavian Literature seminar in order to gain a deeper understanding of yet another culture that I find enthralling. I would also love to study abroad before I graduate, exploring the finer aspects of culture and history of a particular area. In particular, the Britain study abroad program sounds extremely appealing, and I sincerely hope to be able to participate in the next several years.

Original Inquiry: While the accomplishments that have been made to establish the advanced civilization that we have today, it is important to continue the pursuit of knowledge and advancement through creative and forward-thinking research. Personally, I am particularly interested in astronomy and physics-based research, particularly in regards to the colonization of other planets, so I am constantly looking for research that I could participate in order to advance our understanding of space and its many challenges. However, I also recognize the importance of aiding studies outside of my direct interests, because any advancement in any field is beneficial to the scientific community as a whole.

Academic Enrichment: Challenges encourage us to expect more from ourself; if accomplishments came easily, then we would have no reason to improve. This principle translates to academics in that challenging ourselves academically forces us to adopt new ways of perceiving challenges and the world around us. Inside the classroom I challenge myself to put as much effort as I can into the work assigned to me, not only to demonstrate a strong personal understanding, but also to portray to the teacher that I genuinely care about the subject being taught. Academic challenges outside of the classroom, such as finding tutoring and studying, also portray the lengths to which we are willing to go to further educate ourselves. While it may not always be convenient, I try to find a couple hours a day to study, whether it be alone or in a group, in order to further my understanding of concepts I struggle with.

Leadership Development: Leadership skills are fundamental to a successful self and to a successful group. Through my job as an OA I plan to improve my ability to guide and properly help people, ultimately contributing towards improving my communication and leadership skills. However, I also plan to implement my experience as a section leader in choir and band in high school towards my college experiences. While I have many experiences as a peer leader, I am constantly looking for new clubs, new experiences, and new people to further increase my understanding of myself as a leader.

Service Engagement: Personally, I find community service to be essential to the functions of that community. I plan to contribute in as many ways as possible to help the Columbus area in regards to general cleanup, tutoring services, and any other means by which I can aid those less fortunate than myself. Without community service, certain areas would just fall apart, so it is important to always consider the general impact of our actions and how they extend to our own communities.