Submission Number: 20
Submission ID: 265
Submission UUID: fdc5fe50-54fe-4ae6-a012-ef065550992a

Created: Sun, 03/21/2021 - 16:06
Completed: Sun, 03/21/2021 - 16:06
Changed: Thu, 05/08/2025 - 13:44

Remote IP address: 162.211.35.27
Submitted by:Anonymous
Language: English

Is draft: No
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Kieran
McCarthy
She/Her
Geneva
IL
United States
60134
Chemical & Biological Engineering/Minor in French
English (5), French (3)
Over the years, my interest for foreign affairs and travel has grown tremendously. My love for discovering the world began at a young age because my mother shares the same passion. Since I was young, I have visited Mexico, Dominican Republic, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Canada, and French Polynesia. During my time in these countries, I practiced my French as well as tried to learn the countries' native languages. I immersed myself as deeply as possible into these countries' cultures and tried to adopt their customs while visiting. I have learned how to adapt quickly to different types of people and environments. In addition to my foreign travel experiences, I volunteer for an exchange student program called AFS-USA. Over the two years I have been a part of it, I have met teens from all over the world. This program has given me opportunities to learn about the reality of different cultures and religions from teens my age's firsthand experience. I feel that creating relationships with so many different types of people has opened my eyes further to the diversity of the world. I have also hosted a summer exchange student from France. Over the few weeks she was with us, I learned so much about how to break through language barriers and about French culture. I recognize the benefits to mutual understanding of different life experiences and the way the world's leaders can use it to foster peace. I have always been extremely grateful to have these opportunities, whereas I recognize that others with similar passions do not have the financial means to experience the same things that I have. I feel that my travel experiences, relationships with AFS students, and my hosting experience has prepared me well for the Global Engineering RAP.
I want the person that lives down the hall from me in the Global Engineering RAP to be their own person. Personally, I think individuality is the greatest challenge to maintain. Non-conformity is something I strive toward every day. I believe that through each person expressing their individuality, the world can become a more understanding and well-rounded place filled with many interesting individuals. In addition to that, I would like them to have the same passion for learning as myself. With this similar quality, I feel we could work as a team to achieve some amazing goals. Communication and openness to conversation are more qualities that I would like to foster in the program. Willingness to communicate and discuss without judgement help all parties involved learn different perspectives. Diversity, especially in this program, is extremely important. The people living near me must have an acceptance of all types of diversity. As I mentioned before, one's uniqueness and diversity is what makes this world such a beautiful place. I would like them to be optimistic and team-oriented. In this world, everyone needs a friendly face to greet them. I would love to be around people who love people. I believe that the innate love for one another can help us to succeed in ways beyond what is possible without that empathy. Overall, I would want to live down the hall from someone who has a strong sense of self and is unafraid to stand up for themselves, but also has love and understanding for those around them. A group of people like this can accomplish great things.
I want to be a member of the Global Engineering RAP because it speaks deeply to my goals as a future engineer. Throughout my childhood, I have been extremely privileged to grow up with all the resources I ever needed. I recognized that many others are not as lucky. I started volunteering to help those in need often. I found my sense of identity in helping others. I believe that everyone deserves access to food, water, health, and shelter. The basic human needs are things that should always be accessible, no matter the circumstances. In the future, I want my career to be centered around helping this become a reality, not working for an exploitative business. Through adequate researching and development of these aspects of society, I truly believe that these global issues can begin to improve. I am extremely passionate about these subjects and I would love to help my peers work toward the solution. This program combines everything important to me: service, learning about different cultures, engineering, and equality. I feel my heart is deeply rooted in being a part of the solution to these structural and systemic inequalities that impoverished people face daily.
This community will contribute to my training as an engineer by giving me a more well-rounded experience. I believe it will help create ideas and conversations that I will then later use in my engineering career. The environment I will be placed in will be one that further encourages solutions. I will have the opportunities to achieve many of my goals by being surrounded by people who share the same goals. I believe this community will supplement my education in a variety of ways. I am excited to see the holistic approach that it has to offer.
I plan to contribute to this community in every way possible. I will use my leadership and communication skills I have developed from officer positions and involvement with people from around the world to encourage conversations and lead projects toward solutions. I will use my passion for these subjects to spread the word and continually support the message. I will display empathy and understanding toward my peers, which I believe is a wonderful way to create an environment where everyone succeeds.
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