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Submission Number: 400
Submission ID: 1342
Submission UUID: f53931ed-200e-4c03-8355-37cd3908f0c8
Created: Sun, 03/31/2024 - 19:53
Completed: Sun, 03/31/2024 - 19:53
Changed: Tue, 09/03/2024 - 20:06
Remote IP address: 173.63.123.120
Submitted by:Anonymous
Language: English
Is draft: No
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Kenzo
Schwab
He/him
Berkeley Heights
NJ
USA
07922
Electrical
English (5), Japanese (3)
I have visited Japan to see my grandfather several times, and the most impactful experience I had was attending Japanese school as a 3rd grader. In Japan, their summer break is much shorter and I was able to attend school while I was there. I had previously only spoken at home and was barely literate at the time. It was an uncomfortable, frustrating, yet rewarding process. I went from trying to talk to my teacher in English to having full conversations in Japanese with my classmates without trying to think of what words I could say in order to properly communicate. I found things in common with my friends, and experienced firsthand what non-native speakers feel when starting at a new school. As I think back on my trips to Japan, they also taught me new things about cultural values.
Growing up, I assumed that almost everyone had similar values and experiences. However, I found many things that were different in Japan. The first thing that stuck out to me then was that we were required to bring a toothbrush to school and brush after lunch. Even though it is a good practice for hygiene, because it was different from my experiences, I still found it puzzling. There was also a time set aside every day for cleaning the hallways and classrooms, and we scrubbed the floors, sinks, desks, and cubbies thoroughly. This activity was also fun, as we sang songs, and had time to talk to our friends. This experience sparked a moment of realization of how in America, we take janitors and the work they do for granted.
These examples are very specific, but it was eye-opening to see them because I had expected all people in Japan to do the same things and have the same conversations as people in America. However, I realized that Japanese people have different experiences and values in comparison to those held by Americans. Americans value the end result, the American dream, where you find success, money, and happiness all at once, all at the end. In Japan, the journey of trying your hardest to reach your goal, regardless if you reach it or not, is one of the most highly esteemed values. At the same time, both countries have similar values such as democracy and are family-oriented. Each and every country’s culture is similar yet different. I also gained the understanding that neither culture is wrong, nor are they right. Instead, it is the distinction between the two countries, two differing perspectives on how to look at the world. I use this knowledge when I interact with those of other cultures. For example, when my friend Derek moved from Costa Rica, he was shy. Instead of having long conversations, I kept conversations short and simple. In addition, we bonded through the universal language of soccer. We started to get to know each other, and eventually, we became the friends that we are today. Every culture has a different method of communication, and when meeting people for the first time, I now look for the way that they are most comfortable expressing themselves in order to build strong connections with people that may have different values, thoughts, or beliefs.
Growing up, I assumed that almost everyone had similar values and experiences. However, I found many things that were different in Japan. The first thing that stuck out to me then was that we were required to bring a toothbrush to school and brush after lunch. Even though it is a good practice for hygiene, because it was different from my experiences, I still found it puzzling. There was also a time set aside every day for cleaning the hallways and classrooms, and we scrubbed the floors, sinks, desks, and cubbies thoroughly. This activity was also fun, as we sang songs, and had time to talk to our friends. This experience sparked a moment of realization of how in America, we take janitors and the work they do for granted.
These examples are very specific, but it was eye-opening to see them because I had expected all people in Japan to do the same things and have the same conversations as people in America. However, I realized that Japanese people have different experiences and values in comparison to those held by Americans. Americans value the end result, the American dream, where you find success, money, and happiness all at once, all at the end. In Japan, the journey of trying your hardest to reach your goal, regardless if you reach it or not, is one of the most highly esteemed values. At the same time, both countries have similar values such as democracy and are family-oriented. Each and every country’s culture is similar yet different. I also gained the understanding that neither culture is wrong, nor are they right. Instead, it is the distinction between the two countries, two differing perspectives on how to look at the world. I use this knowledge when I interact with those of other cultures. For example, when my friend Derek moved from Costa Rica, he was shy. Instead of having long conversations, I kept conversations short and simple. In addition, we bonded through the universal language of soccer. We started to get to know each other, and eventually, we became the friends that we are today. Every culture has a different method of communication, and when meeting people for the first time, I now look for the way that they are most comfortable expressing themselves in order to build strong connections with people that may have different values, thoughts, or beliefs.
The people around you have a major influence on how you live and who you are later in life. I can personally attest to this as I found that when I started playing less soccer and focused more on studying, and I got closer to people who were more academically rigorous, my grades significantly improved from my junior to senior year. Especially in a place for learning, where the ultimate goal is growth, your environment has an increased importance.
I want to live with someone who is disciplined and excels academically. By spending time with someone who takes the time to study in advance and prioritize academic preparedness, it would feel natural to do homework the day it is assigned, study for tests ahead of time, and be ready for finals before dead week.
Next, creativity would be the centerpiece of a great hallmate. I believe that I am a creative person because I am always looking for new experiences, solutions, and ways to complete tasks more efficiently. For instance, as I now drive myself to school, I continually look for new ways to get to and from school faster. Whether it involves taking different roads, driving in different lanes, or leaving at a certain time to avoid any traffic, I always look for the quickest route because with so much going on, I want to make the most of my senior year. Another area where I have experimented is cooking various dishes. During quarantine, I cooked a deep-dish pizza every Friday which also required preparing the dough the night before. I got better and better at making the pizza by reading directly from the recipe until it became boring. To continue to make the process interesting, I experimented with different ways to make the dough, and tried a variety of cook times, ingredients, and oven temperatures. Due to my non-recipe following nature, I have several “signature” dishes beyond pizza, including miso chicken, spicy wings, and sweet omelets. I want to live with others who also use their creativity in everyday life, so we can complete homework tasks together, tutor our peers, and make the most of being together.
Collaborativeness and open mindedness is another key trait that I have found valuable in high school. I frequently verbalize my thought process when studying with peers, in order to create a dialogue of how to solve the problem at hand. As we tackle different aspects of global engineering in the GERAP and refine our skills, it's important to review and appreciate the new ideas and opinions that come up along the way. Being exposed to new perspectives will help me to widen my view on their world as well as widen the views of others. Furthermore, as we navigate these discussions, our conversations will become richer by having different perspectives and differing opinions. One or many people who will disagree with me not to be right, but to help both of us be right, will enhance our ability to solve problems because as we explain concepts and listen to each other we will build off of each other to maximize our learning.
Overall, it would be extremely beneficial for all of us to healthily challenge each other. I look forward to doing this for others, and making our time at CU Boulder the best that it can be.
I want to live with someone who is disciplined and excels academically. By spending time with someone who takes the time to study in advance and prioritize academic preparedness, it would feel natural to do homework the day it is assigned, study for tests ahead of time, and be ready for finals before dead week.
Next, creativity would be the centerpiece of a great hallmate. I believe that I am a creative person because I am always looking for new experiences, solutions, and ways to complete tasks more efficiently. For instance, as I now drive myself to school, I continually look for new ways to get to and from school faster. Whether it involves taking different roads, driving in different lanes, or leaving at a certain time to avoid any traffic, I always look for the quickest route because with so much going on, I want to make the most of my senior year. Another area where I have experimented is cooking various dishes. During quarantine, I cooked a deep-dish pizza every Friday which also required preparing the dough the night before. I got better and better at making the pizza by reading directly from the recipe until it became boring. To continue to make the process interesting, I experimented with different ways to make the dough, and tried a variety of cook times, ingredients, and oven temperatures. Due to my non-recipe following nature, I have several “signature” dishes beyond pizza, including miso chicken, spicy wings, and sweet omelets. I want to live with others who also use their creativity in everyday life, so we can complete homework tasks together, tutor our peers, and make the most of being together.
Collaborativeness and open mindedness is another key trait that I have found valuable in high school. I frequently verbalize my thought process when studying with peers, in order to create a dialogue of how to solve the problem at hand. As we tackle different aspects of global engineering in the GERAP and refine our skills, it's important to review and appreciate the new ideas and opinions that come up along the way. Being exposed to new perspectives will help me to widen my view on their world as well as widen the views of others. Furthermore, as we navigate these discussions, our conversations will become richer by having different perspectives and differing opinions. One or many people who will disagree with me not to be right, but to help both of us be right, will enhance our ability to solve problems because as we explain concepts and listen to each other we will build off of each other to maximize our learning.
Overall, it would be extremely beneficial for all of us to healthily challenge each other. I look forward to doing this for others, and making our time at CU Boulder the best that it can be.
An education that goes beyond what is written in the textbooks and that focuses on community and helping others while bettering yourself is more than beneficial for all students. The large student body at CU offers a wide variety of opportunities that I intend to utilize to the maximum. At the same time, I believe that small classes and mentorship groups will have the greatest impact on my education. A close-knit community of people with aligning ambitions would mean closer connections to teachers as well as students. By extension, we will all care about each other more, helping us all to be successful in our respective pursuits. I am especially excited about the GERAP because of my own experience and what I found helpful in my development. Over the past 3 years, I have had the same lab group in Physics, and through developing friendships over that time period, we care about each others’ success as much as we care about our own. Fostering our relationship for such a long period of time has made us more comfortable with each other. One outcome of this is feedback, which I believe is one of the best ways to learn and improve. Although it was uncomfortable and I didn’t always want to hear it, I knew it made me better. Together, we fostered an environment where we challenged each other and ourselves, to enhance the rate at which we learned every single day. I look forward to creating the same environment at the GERAP, a smaller crowd where criticism comes from people who care about you and who are only trying to make you stronger as a person and student.
While I enjoy and am open to input and feedback within a smaller group, I am also comfortable representing the needs of myself and others. In addition to my work on the student council, there was a situation where Physics C, the final and most advanced physics course in the school, might be discontinued due to low enrollment. Within 3 days, I had called a meeting, organized a student group to speak at the next Board of Education meeting, started a petition and collected 250 signatures in a school with less than 1,000 students, and had many parents send messages directly to our principal and the Board of Education. In a different arena, I always supported and stood up for my teammates on the soccer field. If they were having a bad game, I would tell them that going back on the field would be an opportunity to turn things around. If they were having a good game, I would tell them to keep pushing themself, so they would be able to leave the field at the end of the game, knowing they had done everything that they could. On the field, I was vocal and would tell the referee to better protect my teammates, and in some cases, simply put in a hard tackle to make it known that I would not allow my teammates to be roughed up. I plan to bring these skills and attitudes to the GERAP, advocating for ourselves and staying united, so that we are all capable of great things.
In terms of what I believe I can bring to the community, I want to support and contribute to the collaborative atmosphere of the GERAP, encouraging criticism for the purpose of helping us all grow together. In addition, I want to inspire my fellow students to stand up for themselves, and do what they feel is right, and not what is easy because I firmly believe that hard work is its own reward. In addition, by creating strong bonds with my peers and teachers, learning from my fellow students, being inspired by them everyday, and being a part of a curriculum created to ensure the best education possible as a person and academic, I am confident that the GERAP would allow me to become the best version of myself, influence the world around me, and proudly uphold the esteemed legacy of a Buff
While I enjoy and am open to input and feedback within a smaller group, I am also comfortable representing the needs of myself and others. In addition to my work on the student council, there was a situation where Physics C, the final and most advanced physics course in the school, might be discontinued due to low enrollment. Within 3 days, I had called a meeting, organized a student group to speak at the next Board of Education meeting, started a petition and collected 250 signatures in a school with less than 1,000 students, and had many parents send messages directly to our principal and the Board of Education. In a different arena, I always supported and stood up for my teammates on the soccer field. If they were having a bad game, I would tell them that going back on the field would be an opportunity to turn things around. If they were having a good game, I would tell them to keep pushing themself, so they would be able to leave the field at the end of the game, knowing they had done everything that they could. On the field, I was vocal and would tell the referee to better protect my teammates, and in some cases, simply put in a hard tackle to make it known that I would not allow my teammates to be roughed up. I plan to bring these skills and attitudes to the GERAP, advocating for ourselves and staying united, so that we are all capable of great things.
In terms of what I believe I can bring to the community, I want to support and contribute to the collaborative atmosphere of the GERAP, encouraging criticism for the purpose of helping us all grow together. In addition, I want to inspire my fellow students to stand up for themselves, and do what they feel is right, and not what is easy because I firmly believe that hard work is its own reward. In addition, by creating strong bonds with my peers and teachers, learning from my fellow students, being inspired by them everyday, and being a part of a curriculum created to ensure the best education possible as a person and academic, I am confident that the GERAP would allow me to become the best version of myself, influence the world around me, and proudly uphold the esteemed legacy of a Buff
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