Submission Number: 442
Submission ID: 1576
Submission UUID: 04a7a067-1a71-4095-9edd-b2376a6a2e64

Created: Mon, 03/10/2025 - 18:19
Completed: Mon, 03/10/2025 - 18:20
Changed: Mon, 05/12/2025 - 04:40

Remote IP address: 75.166.238.75
Submitted by:Anonymous
Language: English

Is draft: No

Flagged: Yes
Locked: Yes
{Empty}
Mathis
Joens
He/Him
Golden
CO
United States
80401
Chemical Engineering/Global Engineering
English (5), Spanish (2)
While my international travel has been limited to family vacations in Mexico, I strongly desire new experiences and destinations. During a trip to New York City last fall, my mother and I explored the city on foot, immersing ourselves in its sights, restaurants, and people. We sampled diverse cuisines, from traditional Szechuan Chinese to Italian fare in SoHo, and visited numerous cultural neighborhoods. Witnessing the daily challenges faced by residents provided valuable insights. Our visit to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum was particularly impactful, offering a poignant and eye-opening perspective on different cultures, religions, and experiences. If I had the opportunity for further international travel, I would choose Japan. Often described as a futuristic city with incredibly efficient public transportation, Tokyo showcases incredible engineering feats. Japan’s diverse landscapes and vast spectrum of cuisine, architecture, and art represent a compelling intersection of rich cultural heritage and innovation.
At its core, engineering thrives on diverse experiences and perspectives. I attend a high school home to a diverse student body where 22% of the student population have a primary home language other than English and where there are over 20 languages spoken in the halls; around half of my close friends are the first in their family to be born in the U.S. or are bilingual. Growing up alongside friends with different backgrounds has taught me the power of collaboration and the necessity of considering varied viewpoints when addressing challenges, preparing me to thrive in intellectually demanding environments.

For instance, teamwork was vital when completing an interdisciplinary project where I collaborated with peers in the different sciences. We studied how the Denver Aquarium implements the concepts of physics, chemistry, and biology in their technologies and functions. For instance, my contribution as a physicist helped the group understand how aquariums use glass to make exhibits more immersive by shaping the glass panels. Through this project, we gained valuable insights from each other and developed more assertive communication skills. My future goals as an engineer go beyond obtaining a job. They include a desire to contribute meaningfully to my community while realizing my personal and professional potential. As part of developing technologies or processes that serve populations or volunteering my expertise to organizations, true fulfillment is a balance between professional achievement and helping others. I envision a path marked by continuous learning, innovation, and collaboration of ideas that will leave a lasting positive impact.
People with my personality type (ENTP) are often described as knowledgeable, curious, and possessing a playful sense of humor—a remarkably accurate description. My interests are diverse, encompassing music, sports, food, the outdoors, vibrant cities, and, most importantly, relationships. Throughout my life, I've cultivated deep connections with friends, classmates, teachers, and coaches, all of whom have significantly shaped my personal development and understanding of community. Whether organizing a poker night for the baseball team, performing complex arrangements with my jazz choir, or engaging in lively discussions about Slaughterhouse-Five with my English classmates, I've consistently enjoyed contributing to various communities.

For this next chapter in college, I seek a unique experience and am eager to maximize my learning inside and outside the classroom. While my primary focus in high school was STEM, my International Baccalaureate education challenged me across all disciplines. This comprehensive academic foundation has equipped me to tackle complex problems, engage in interdisciplinary inquiry, and develop strong critical thinking skills. The Global Engineering Residential Academic Program particularly resonates with my goals of community building, fostering partnerships, receiving mentorship, and addressing real-world challenges.