Filming out the window of the Yangon Circle Train. Riding the train allowed me a 3 hour glimpse into the lives of local Myanmar people.

As I look back on my experience with the Miller Center I realize how much I have changed as a person. Or maybe not changed, but a part of me that has always been here is now at the surface. I find myself thinking a lot about what I did this Summer and how it changed my life. I was able to combine my passions for filmmaking with social justice and take charge on the project. This experience taught me three very important things: I am incredibly independent. I want to work in a career that makes a difference in some way. I love meeting new people and living in different cultures. In a weird way, I found myself more comfortable in Myanmar around the people there than I do in the United States. Something about nobody knowing me or my culture or my background was incredibly refreshing. Many people thought I was outside of my comfort zone this summer, however I was right in the thick of my comfort zone. This is what I enjoy, this is where I thrive. I love being a different person in a different place..

Filming in a blacksmith shop on Inle Lake. This woman was very interested in my camera and asked many questions.

One moment where I felt incredibly secure during my time in Myanmar was when I was running my second video interview with my team. For the first video interview, I was nervous and we hadn’t gotten the hang of things yet. At the second however I felt confident in my abilities to delegate tasks and run the interview. After it was done I was confident with what I had accomplished. My footage looked good and I worked hard to get answers from the woman that would go well in a video. I felt the most confident I ever had and was simultaneously enjoying myself more than ever. It was an exhilarating combination- one that I realized could be my reality in the future. It is such a good feeling to find yourself doing what you truly love.

I love spending time with people. I am extroverted and genuinely enjoy listening to what others have to say so I can have a better understanding of their human experiences. Sharing time is something that has always been important to me. I come from a loving family that values time together over everything else. My incredibly patient parents taught us how to listen, be respectful, and be genuine. I recognized from a young age how human others were. I tried to never be absorbed in my own world but to recognize everyone else around me as people with families and lives and thoughts, all just as important as mine. My experience in Myanmar this summer solidified that mentality and showed me how important it will be to carry that forward.

This beautiful family in Mandalay was so welcoming and kind. They reminded me that human connection is most important in life.

After I graduate I plan to travel somewhere different so that I can work a job for a year outside of the United States, and then I will apply for a Fulbright scholarship the year after that. I hope to gain professional experience abroad for a year before I submit my application so that I am prepared for a year long Fulbright placement if I am successful in the application process. Regardless of my plan, I hope to continue surprising myself with what I love and live in different parts of the world.