BACKGROUND

Sex: female
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Born in: San Diego
Parents born in: US

I was fortunate to be able to travel deep into Mexico during the summer of 1997. I stayed there for 5 weeks studying Spanish while living with a local family. This total immersion into a different language and culture changed the way I think about like in the US, as well as life in Mexico. Differences in the way we do things, such as household chores, speaking to others, and shopping for food may not seem to be very significant, but they are. Those small differences, combined with the dynamics in which people interact with their environment, attribute to the uniqueness of each culture. This experience in a place very different than that in which I was raised, has given me a new concept of the value of differences in life in all countries. I feel as though I have made a connection to life very different than that which I am familiar with. In that connection, I brought two worlds into one.

..... Looking back at K-12, I see many positive experiences. One person stands out most in my mind. Throughout high school, I was fortunate enough to have super role models. One woman was the most influential by far. The value of budgeting time and setting goals was a priority which she instilled in us. By setting realistic goals and achieving them, we felt as though we could accomplish anything. A positive self-image and knowing I have the power to make anything happen.

This woman always made herself available to her students if they ever needed help with anything. If she was unable to give advice about certain things, she would search out the most qualified person to do so. I attribute much of my personal successes today to the special attention and life skills she instilled in me.

She was my volleyball coach.

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