Submission Number: 462
Submission ID: 1598
Submission UUID: 05657bcd-a966-4154-87a3-ffd6be07a5e7

Created: Fri, 03/14/2025 - 18:11
Completed: Fri, 03/14/2025 - 18:13
Changed: Fri, 03/14/2025 - 18:13

Remote IP address: 2607:fb91:296:40e3:7cef:b742:4040:56e2
Submitted by:Anonymous
Language: English

Is draft: No
{Empty}
Nathanael
Rider
He/ Him/ His
North Tustin
CA
USA
92705
Civil Engineering/ Architecture
English (5), Mandarin (3)
Through various travel experiences, I have developed a deep appreciation of diverse cultures, learned how other people live, and in noticing these distinct ways of living I discovered my passion for civil engineering. My family and I have traveled for pleasure to Egypt, Dubai, Taiwan, and Mexico. As a child, I also had the opportunity to spend a summer in Jordan and another one in China because of my mother’s work with the U.S. Government’s refugee and asylee program. In these countries, I remember seeing unpaved roads, shared water sources, skyscrapers, and highways laid out in complex patterns. I became curious about how roads are made, how water gets into homes, and how buildings and highways are constructed. In high school, I participated in a community service project in one of the poorest regions of the United States - the Appalachian region in Kentucky. For a week, my construction team and I took measurements, laid down wooden strips, sheet metal, and insulated paper which replaced a rain-soaked, moldy roof for a man and his daughter who had been living in a cold house with water leakage for a year. These opportunities opened my eyes to the ways people of other cultures live. They helped me to see that I want to continue to travel in meaningful ways and make a difference in areas of need in other countries.
Global experiences can improve the field of engineering by broadening our outlook on different cultures and ways of life. During my trip to the Appalachian region, I noticed the stark contrast between the living conditions versus the luxuries of Southern California. I saw many homes in disrepair, witnessed people burning trash, and smelled the sewage in the creeks. I learned to prioritize the needs of the people we met, and it became important to me to do what I could to improve their lives a little. By working to replace a rain-soaked, moldy roof for a family that could not afford to, I realized I could make a difference in small ways in another cultural environment. In repairing a damaged roof, I also learned how to work around obstacles created by the rainy weather and engineer viable solutions as a team.
Exposure to other cultures and ways of life also creates an awareness and a sense of responsibility to global issues, such as the environment and sustainability. We live in an interconnected world and when one country decides to manufacture products that creates waste and damages our environment, other countries will eventually feel the impact of these choices. As industrial countries contribute to global warming and the melting of glaciers, the sea levels rise in other parts of the world. The poorer regions may not have the resources and abilities to cope with these changes. But engineers in some countries have innovated solutions to construct homes above water or generate sustainable power from hydro resources. Engineers can problem solve and creatively develop solutions to the issues, which is another benefit of global experiences.
Global experiences expose engineers to other perspectives/ ways of thinking and problem solving. Engineers perform a lot of their work in group environments on team projects. So, broadening their scope of understanding and approach to problems is not only beneficial, but can be the best way to work effectively.
Being a member of the Global Engineering RAP at CU Boulder seems like a perfect fit with my interests, goals, and dreams. One of the main reasons I decided to study civil engineering is because of what I saw in other countries. I want to be involved in designing, planning, researching and building infrastructure in areas of the world that most need help with this. I hope to work in an engineering firm or partner with government agencies or non-profit organizations to improve the living standards in developing countries because giving back to the global community is important to me. By joining the Global Engineering RAP community, I will be exposed to other like-minded people with similar passions and goals in careers and life. In the community, I will develop stronger problem-solving skills by collaborating with fellow students on global engineering projects or projects locally. What I can contribute to the community are my perspectives based on past cultural experiences, a commitment to integrate global impact considerations in my pursuit of civil engineering, and ensuring whatever work I do, addresses real-world problems that can improve the lives of people of other cultures.