kunaal
Nov 25, 2015
Undergraduate / My contributions to CU-Boulder's 2030 Plan [6]
Hi, Here is my rewrite. I have tried to make it talk more directly about how the moves enriched me, and how i hope to translate it to my contributions at CU-Boulder. I am continuing to fine tune it, but wanted you to have a look at it and get early comments before I go too far.
Thanks again for your time and very valuable input.
-----------------------------------
Response:
Moving anywhere, even to a different house in the same city, will change you in some ways. Moving across cities will change you significantly. Moving countries is a magnitude more involved, and is a life changing experience.
By the time I turned 16, we had done two country moves, 5 city moves, and 10 house moves. So yes, I have had plenty of experience in dealing with change. I was born in the US, but we moved to India when I was 3 years old. I lived and schooled there, till we moved back to the US during my 10th grade.
Each of these moves added to a rich list of experiences and skills, and left me with rich perspectives and insights. I am fluent in two languages (English and Hindi) and know two other languages (Marathi and Spanish). I listen to music from the west and the east, and play my guitar to both. I play "asian" sports like Cricket and Badminton, passionately enjoy Soccer, but also follow the 49ers and the Golden Warriors. We celebrate all Indian festivals, but also the tradition of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Our dining table reflects this diversity by having cuisines from across the world. While not a great cook, I do asian, indian and italian, often doing fusion food. I am interested in US politics, follow what is happening in India, while staying keenly tuned to international affairs. I have made close friends that have various ethnic backgrounds, regional or national, and we enjoy both the shared experiences, as well as the differences of our experiences. I often find myself questioning implicit and unconscious bias that my friends or family might have, and these make for great debates and are always a great learning opportunity for all.
Through these many moves, I have learnt to recognize the emotional process when facing the unfamiliar. There is the initial reluctance to having to change, and a strong need to avoid the pain of questioning one's own assumptions or having to reform existing ideas and habits. The default style for many is to simply stay aloof. However, with increasing ease, I have gotten over that, and emerge incrementally better as a fellow student and a lot richer as a human being. Overall, I have not just come to accept and respect diversity, I have come to take joy in it. I have naturally come to expect and appreciate different point of views.
Every one of my fellow students will be unique in their own way. They will also share a universal curiosity to learn more about the world around me, but also have this innate fear like I had. I will create a platform that will allow their curiosity to be met in a safe and accepting environment. I will be actively looking to start up cross-cultural exchange clubs, to help people cross these divides and experience other cultures up close.This clubs will have activities that range from music, traditions, cook outs, and more. The intent will be to go below the surface and develop real appreciation and understanding of our uniqueness, while having fun. This will be an opportunity for all of us to expand our horizons, and becoming better global citizens.
As people get closer in our ever shrinking planet, conflicts are on the rise. Mutual respect for our differences is just a bare minimum requirement. We need to go much beyond, and be able to celebrate our differences, and use them as a way to tie us together as people. This is the experience I plan to create at CU-Boulder for myself and all my fellow community. I am sure these initiatives will not only be fun, but valuable enough that they will survive my stay at CU-Boulder.
One area that really stood out for me when I visited CU-Boulder campus was the diversity on campus, and the international exchange programs that are in place. I would like to set up, or participate in a host-program for incoming international students, helping them better integrate in the local culture. I will also be part of the outgoing students to international schools, and bring back those experiences back to CU-Boulder.
The 2030 plan with its flagship initiative like Global Crossroads give me the platform to implement my plans around cross-cultural exchange and understanding.
CU-Boulder is my top school choice, and I am excited to be sending my application for consideration. It will be an absolute privilege to not only earn my undergraduate degree at CU-Boulder, but create an environment that fosters better understanding towards a better future.
---------------------
Now that you have read it, here is my overall layout:
Para 1 - hook.
Para 2 - my move summary.
Para 3 - my diversity experience
Para 4 - my understanding of the change process
Para 5 - how i will apply this to CU-Boulder
Para 6 - how this make for a better world
Para 7 - how i will participate and enhance the international exchange program
Para 8/9 - conclusion.
Looking forward to your inputs and critique.
Hi, Here is my rewrite. I have tried to make it talk more directly about how the moves enriched me, and how i hope to translate it to my contributions at CU-Boulder. I am continuing to fine tune it, but wanted you to have a look at it and get early comments before I go too far.
Thanks again for your time and very valuable input.
-----------------------------------
Response:
Moving anywhere, even to a different house in the same city, will change you in some ways. Moving across cities will change you significantly. Moving countries is a magnitude more involved, and is a life changing experience.
By the time I turned 16, we had done two country moves, 5 city moves, and 10 house moves. So yes, I have had plenty of experience in dealing with change. I was born in the US, but we moved to India when I was 3 years old. I lived and schooled there, till we moved back to the US during my 10th grade.
Each of these moves added to a rich list of experiences and skills, and left me with rich perspectives and insights. I am fluent in two languages (English and Hindi) and know two other languages (Marathi and Spanish). I listen to music from the west and the east, and play my guitar to both. I play "asian" sports like Cricket and Badminton, passionately enjoy Soccer, but also follow the 49ers and the Golden Warriors. We celebrate all Indian festivals, but also the tradition of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Our dining table reflects this diversity by having cuisines from across the world. While not a great cook, I do asian, indian and italian, often doing fusion food. I am interested in US politics, follow what is happening in India, while staying keenly tuned to international affairs. I have made close friends that have various ethnic backgrounds, regional or national, and we enjoy both the shared experiences, as well as the differences of our experiences. I often find myself questioning implicit and unconscious bias that my friends or family might have, and these make for great debates and are always a great learning opportunity for all.
Through these many moves, I have learnt to recognize the emotional process when facing the unfamiliar. There is the initial reluctance to having to change, and a strong need to avoid the pain of questioning one's own assumptions or having to reform existing ideas and habits. The default style for many is to simply stay aloof. However, with increasing ease, I have gotten over that, and emerge incrementally better as a fellow student and a lot richer as a human being. Overall, I have not just come to accept and respect diversity, I have come to take joy in it. I have naturally come to expect and appreciate different point of views.
Every one of my fellow students will be unique in their own way. They will also share a universal curiosity to learn more about the world around me, but also have this innate fear like I had. I will create a platform that will allow their curiosity to be met in a safe and accepting environment. I will be actively looking to start up cross-cultural exchange clubs, to help people cross these divides and experience other cultures up close.This clubs will have activities that range from music, traditions, cook outs, and more. The intent will be to go below the surface and develop real appreciation and understanding of our uniqueness, while having fun. This will be an opportunity for all of us to expand our horizons, and becoming better global citizens.
As people get closer in our ever shrinking planet, conflicts are on the rise. Mutual respect for our differences is just a bare minimum requirement. We need to go much beyond, and be able to celebrate our differences, and use them as a way to tie us together as people. This is the experience I plan to create at CU-Boulder for myself and all my fellow community. I am sure these initiatives will not only be fun, but valuable enough that they will survive my stay at CU-Boulder.
One area that really stood out for me when I visited CU-Boulder campus was the diversity on campus, and the international exchange programs that are in place. I would like to set up, or participate in a host-program for incoming international students, helping them better integrate in the local culture. I will also be part of the outgoing students to international schools, and bring back those experiences back to CU-Boulder.
The 2030 plan with its flagship initiative like Global Crossroads give me the platform to implement my plans around cross-cultural exchange and understanding.
CU-Boulder is my top school choice, and I am excited to be sending my application for consideration. It will be an absolute privilege to not only earn my undergraduate degree at CU-Boulder, but create an environment that fosters better understanding towards a better future.
---------------------
Now that you have read it, here is my overall layout:
Para 1 - hook.
Para 2 - my move summary.
Para 3 - my diversity experience
Para 4 - my understanding of the change process
Para 5 - how i will apply this to CU-Boulder
Para 6 - how this make for a better world
Para 7 - how i will participate and enhance the international exchange program
Para 8/9 - conclusion.
Looking forward to your inputs and critique.