Submission Number: 394
Submission ID: 1334
Submission UUID: f091e917-aee9-4e78-8eb0-af397c92908c

Created: Sat, 03/30/2024 - 15:58
Completed: Sat, 03/30/2024 - 15:58
Changed: Sat, 05/10/2025 - 21:00

Remote IP address: 73.203.120.44
Submitted by:Anonymous
Language: English

Is draft: No
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Anton
Ignatenko
He/him/his
Superior
Colorado
United States
80027
Open Option Engineering
English (5), Russian (5), Spanish (3)
Many of my high school friends, when asked about college, simply answer with “anywhere away from Boulder.” At first, I’m confused. Then, I look back at my own living experiences, and remember that unlike many of them, I have had my fair share of different homes.

At the age of five, I never thought that I would be moving away from Japan. Soon to attend school there, my existence seemed to be centered around me learning Japanese alongside my at-home Russian. However, with the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, my parents’ hunt for jobs led us to the flat state of Ohio, where the only company I had was a Russian family we met. After living there for 10 months, we finally moved to CU family housing in Boulder. For the next seven years, I bonded closely with a beautifully diverse community, making so many friends that, looking back on it, surprises me today. Living there and attending Whittier International Elementary School, I grew increasingly aware of the blessing that a closely interconnected world brings, of the constant new experiences that never fail to make life interesting.

My interest in these different worlds peaked when I visited my extended family in Russia for the first time in many years. I was fascinated by the extremely different life that my cousins led. My love for them filled my existence and so did my fascination for our connection, at least until I was later overwhelmed by schoolwork. However, it all came crashing back with the start of the Ukrainian War. While my ego had horribly inflated because of the lifelong celebration of my Russian roots, I now only felt a deep, profound, sleepless, and confusing shame. Mixed in was a panic-inducing anxiety for the safety of our extended family conflicting with support for the Ukrainian people.

Now I see for myself the interconnectedness of the world, how beautiful and how messy it can be for everyone involved, and how crucial it is to help others in this closely webbed atmosphere.
With an awareness of how important education is to proceeding towards our goals, I would want to live with those who also approach their education with a steady determination. That is not to say that they will not procrastinate or slack off or simply be lazy (we all do that), but they will understand why learning is important. Despite this resolve, they also understand that one cannot succeed on their own, and work together with others, giving help as well as asking for it when needed. They are supportive of everyone and can accept failure.

They would also be chill to hang around.
The Global Engineering RAP is a perfect fit and continuation of the different worlds I have been welcomed in. Not only will it help me settle into the college experience, it will also provide a practical base for my engineering classes. By envisioning ways of using the knowledge I learn, I continue to be motivated in my studies. By being part of a closer and supportive community I will continue to work together. I will be able to be with those I can support, just like I’ve tried to support my friends and family (my sister especially, though she does ask a lot).

This immersion in the world I love will allow me to take greater actions towards maintaining it. My past experiences provide a base for me to bond with others and be receptive to a growing environment, which is crucial for these difficult times, where empathy and communication have given way to misunderstanding and challenges.
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