Submission Number: 36
Submission ID: 301
Submission UUID: f4f274cf-7fe9-4949-b743-dfc0f7b90dbf

Created: Wed, 04/14/2021 - 23:00
Completed: Wed, 04/14/2021 - 23:00
Changed: Tue, 05/06/2025 - 10:17

Remote IP address: 99.184.248.49
Submitted by:Anonymous
Language: English

Is draft: No
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Benjamin
Deak
He/Him/His
Encinitas
California
United States
92024
Computer Science
English (5), Spanish (3)
The summer after my freshman year in high school, I was selected by my city to be one of three student delegates in an international sister city program with the city of Amakusa, Japan. I travelled to Amakusa, attended cultural events, and made presentations at the local high schools. While I enjoyed the sights, sounds, and local cuisine, the best part was living with a host family and becoming immersed in their daily routine. The following summer I was able to reciprocate by hosting a japanese student from Amakusa, which allowed me to view my own culture through fresh eyes.

During my sophomore year, I also participated in a direct student exchange with a high school in Bilbao, Spain. In the Spring I hosted two high schoolers from Bilbao and had a wonderful time sharing my world with them. Then in Summer I traveled to Bilbao to stay with the family of one of my new friends, eat well, see some amazing sights, and practiced my Spanish.
In college I hope to meet a diverse group of people with an open perspective on life, people who come from an array of backgrounds and bring their own particular viewpoints to a conversation, but who are also open to learning and experiencing new things. I would like to mix with people who are willing to reconsider their world view, even if — after doing so — they simply land back where they started.
I would like to be part of the Global Engineering RAP at CU Boulder because I would like to explore how what I learn in the College of Engineering can be applied to better my community and world. Science recognizes no geographic boundaries, and I am excited to explore the ways in which international collaboration will expand engineering knowledge.

With regard to how I will contribute personally to the Global Engineering RAP, I believe that my love and appreciation for international exchange will contribute to an environment that encourages the learning of new things and a willingness to reach outside of one’s comfort zone. If I had to choose one take-away from my exchange experiences, it would be the humility that comes from realizing there are a vast number of ways to live and no one culture has all the answers. Finally, I hope to study abroad while at Boulder and expect these experiences to enrich my contribution to the Global Engineering RAP as well.
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