As long as I can remember, my life has revolved around learning. As the daughter of a first grade teacher, this is probably fitting. My mom knew exactly what a developing brain needed, so we played learning games and pointed out letters and colors wherever we went; but, she wasn’t my only teacher. By the time I was in the first grade, my dad had taught me multiplication and would make me worksheets to do on the weekends. I remember one day, he took me to the library. We picked out an easy chapter book, but at that age it was difficult book to read. Being the patient man that he is, we worked through that book for what seemed like forever, but I read it! He was so proud of me, and I was proud of myself too. I learned that hard work paid off, and I could do anything I wanted to. I had no excuse not to do well in school, and so I did.
Our learning didn’t only come from books. We would sing songs, go to the playground, paint and learn how to play instruments. My brother, sister, and I also had a lot of freedom to play on our own and make mistakes. A lot of times I was told to “figure it out.” Although sometimes I hated it, I built valuable problem-solving and critical thinking skills and self-confidence.
My early background in learning led to an intense curiosity. I was always up for a new experience and a challenge. As long as I thought I could handle it and kept my grades up, my parents never said no. I did karate and basketball, theatre, student council, school trips, piano classes, part-time jobs and more.
During high school, my school sponsored a trip to Boston to participate in Harvard Model Congress. I knew very little about congress and had never been away from home, but it was an opportunity for an adventure, so I went. I loved every second it. Being on my own away from my parents, going somewhere new, learning about something I knew nothing about, and meeting people from all kinds of different places was exciting, and I wanted more.
Then, I learned about a program through my hometown, Montebello, CA. Montebello has a sister-city in Ashiya, Japan and sends two student ambassadors every year. I applied, and in the summer of 2014, I traveled to Ashiya, Japan, met the mayor, did presentations at schools, represented Montebello at different cultural events, and built strong bonds with my host families and others from Ashiya. Throughout my stay, I noticed the differences between an individualistic culture such as my own in the United States, and a more community-centered culture in Japan. I appreciated the sense of order and not being wasteful.
The next year, I went on an immersion trip to Cuba through the Food and Agribusiness Institute at Santa Clara University. The purpose of our trip was to learn about organic agriculture in Cuba and how it can be sustainable for a large population. The topic had nothing to do with my major, but I was interested nonetheless. I met people in the community, college students, families, farmers, and famous baseball players! I loved their sense of community, openness, and creativity. I noticed how so many things in life that I thought of as “necessities,” really weren’t.
Last summer, I was inspired to take a trip on my own, outside of any kind of structured program like I had before. While my sorority sisters studied abroad in Spain and France, I took advantage and went out to visit them. I attended La Tomatina (a giant tomato-fight in Spain), saw countless landmarks, and had more setbacks thrown my way than I could count. I had no choice but to be adaptable, spontaneous, and laugh through the pain. These new experiences are what I love the best about traveling. I took what I had learned in school and in the real-world, applied it, and learned more. I was proven wrong about some things, challenged about others and had a lot of fun in between. Throughout my life I’ve discovered that learning happens beyond the classroom, and no knowledge, however random, is useless.
If it wasn’t obvious yet, I am passionate about learning and education, particularly because of its implications towards social justice. When I heard about the Global Social Benefit Fellowship, it was a clear fit for me. I want to do my part in creating a more just world. I am excited to apply my talents, skills, and fresh perspective to a whole new field, one that can improve the lives of many.
I have had an amazing education in my lifetime (and continue to do so), and I want to help as many people as possible have the same experiences in travel and education that I have had. For that reason, I continue to be an active member and help raise funds for the sister-city association that sent me to Japan. In the future, I hope to become a lawyer in the field of education, and advocate for the rights of all students. Along the way, I plan on traveling around the world and learning a whole lot more.