Joining Global Scholars

     I have always been fascinated with other cultures and foreign languages. I think that my first experiences with foreign cultures stem from food, and as I explored new cultures through cooking foreign dishes, I delved further and further into them. I was fascinated with French and enamored with words such as remoulade and soufflé, which drove me to learn more and more about French as I deepened my perspective in the culture and became more aware of global affairs in general. My interests only grew at Poly, where I have taken both French and Chinese in conjunction with history classes such as World Cultures: Middle East and Western Civilizations. Through these classes, I have been able to pursue interdisciplinary interests such as the stories of the marginalized and French colonization. Furthermore, I have been able to explore my interests through GIP experiences such as our discussion with Viet Thanh Nguyen last year, where I was able to learn about the Vietnam war as well as the impact of French colonization in Vietnam. Viet Thanh Nguyen also discussed the difficulties of telling an authentic story in a society where he was marginalized and left unsure of his own identity. Collectively, these experiences have sparked my interest in the Global Initiatives Program. I have also pursued these interests through programs such as the Los Angeles Service Academy (LASA), which aims to discuss solutions for global issues such as homelessness, water and food sources, and infrastructure. LASA has combined my interest in global issues with the exploration of practical solutions on a small and large scale, and it has furthered my curiosity in global events, something that I have explored through events such as Model UN. Finally, I have attended many incredible GIP events that have provided me with many different perspectives and ideas beyond my own; I think that these events have helped me to understand both the differences and similarities between cultures. Ultimately, I hope that the Global Scholars program will provide me with the insights, resources, and connections to continue to pursue my interests and expand my global perspectives.