PRAGUE APPLICATION

My twin sister always wanted to be an astronaut growing up. Or an

artist. She was bad at art and not nearly motivated enough to go
through the training to travel to the moon, but they were magical
occupations to her. She was a poster kid for the Childhood Dreamthe
nave manifestation of a persons deepest desire that hasnt yet been
slapped by the hand of practicality. My Childhood Dream was to
become a teacher. I was a curious kid who loved asking questions, and
nothing was more satisfying than finding the answers. To my young
logic, school was the answer to all of my questions, and I wanted to
stay there until I knew everythingtherefore I should be a teacher. My
occupation of choice was a lot more achievable than becoming an
astronaut, but my Childhood Dream was slapped with a different kind
of realitythe reality that I cant know everything. I learned this reality
gradually throughout high school, but it wasnt until my freshman year
at the University of Washington that I fell in love with it.
I have since found something freeing in the willingness to embrace
lack of knowledge. Its limitless and excitinga Childhood Dream that
can transcend all realities until it brings you to ask what reality really is
anyway. This taste of abstraction is tantalizing and inspiring, but also
needs grounding with out-of-mind experiences. My experience with
the Interdisciplinary Honors program here at UW has both fostered and
grounded my love for abstract learning. Through these courses, I have
learned how to learn to for growth rather than for answers, and how to
apply these skills to the community in which I live. I would love to
align with the CHID style of learning and expand a knowledge within a
new learning community in a different setting.
Ive traveled fairly extensively throughout my life, always under the
context of either vacation with family or service-based trip. Vacations
are great for quick bursts of exploration to serve as a reminder that
there is more to life than school and jobs, and there are more people
out there than live in Southern California, where I grew up. I gained
similar experiences from service trips, but with the added focus of
learning for people. I traveled to areas in bad shape in order to learn
how to make them in better shape. True to their intention, these trips
taught me quality of life and how relative it is for a person or a
community.
Having grown up seeking to learn for people, Ive only just become
interested in what it means to learn from people. Service to a culture
is a completely different experience from immersion into a culturean
experience I first tasted by moving up from Palos Verdes, California to
Seattle, Washington. I had no idea such a short plane ride would take
me such a long distance. My hometown was suburban, affluent,
conservative, and sun-soakedthe complete opposite of what I came

PRAGUE APPLICATION
to find here in the University District. I have since lived on my own for
three years, surrounded by incredibly diverse communities of people.
Ive lived in the residence halls and a sorority, been involved with the
motivated youth of my churchs student leadership program, mentored
high school students in Bellevue, worked for an old couple who own a
coffee shop downtown, and more. Ive been exposed to many different
communities and people in different environments and stages of life.
Its interesting to note the differences between these people, but even
more thrilling to study the levels on which each person can relate.
My time in Seattle has established within me a competency and
hunger for immersion in new and uncomfortable situations. And its
through these situations that I have discovered that discomfort is the
most thorough way to grow in character and intellect. Prague presents
a new environment to explore this philosophy. I have had little
exposure to Central Europe, and would love to explore its history and
complexities. I know almost nothing about the culture in Prague, which
intrigues me all the more. Immersion into this society would not only
benefit my curiosity and desire to learn a culture I cannot possibly
understand fully, but would further my academic interest. As a
Psychology major, I have been trained to look critically at people and
their relationships with each other and the world. The classes offered
in this program intrigued me because of the focus on the relationship
of society to its past and its future, and these tangible manifestations
through art and culture. Im used to studying and learning from people
on a very personal level, and find the need to balance this level with a
more national approach.
From this program, I hope to attain a positive response on my interest
in travel and learning. The curiosity I felt as a kid is now fueled by its
open-endedness and I know an experience Prague would only
accentuate that feeling. I have a good amount of experience travelling
abroad, but this program is unique and unknown, yet still aligns with
the style of learning Ive come to find passion for. As with any other
abroad program, I know the best parts of studying abroad will be the
aspects I dont expect, but I anticipate this program to give me the
most enriched and unexpected experience.