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Submission Number: 110
Submission ID: 459
Submission UUID: 0f1b843f-63f1-4ecb-a6ad-664034e8bf1e
Created: Wed, 05/26/2021 - 23:51
Completed: Wed, 05/26/2021 - 23:51
Changed: Tue, 05/13/2025 - 08:40
Remote IP address: 71.229.189.134
Submitted by:Anonymous
Language: English
Is draft: No
Flagged: Yes
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Philip
Szeremeta
He/Him
Denver
Colorado
USA
80220
Aerospace Engineering Sciences
English (5), Spanish (3), Ukranian (1), Russian (1)
I have been lucky enough to see a few different parts of the world. To start, I have been to different parts of Europe. My family is from Ukraine, and I visited the village my mom's side of the family comes from when I was 12. It was a small rural hilly countryside. When my grandma lived there they lived without many of the amenities I am used to. They had no running water, AC, electricity, or internet. Even when I was there life was still slower and the amenities were more megger compared to what I took for granted. Contrasting different parts of Europe with my life in America has given me an appreciation for the privileges I have in comparison to Eastern Europe. I was shocked that most Europeans do not have AC and that it is not seen as a need during hot summers. I also see the differences in the cultures of countries like France, Spain, and the U.S. Being very consumerist has benefits like large grocery stores with ten peanut butter types, but it seems much easier to get around a city like Paris, even in comparison to N.Y.C. Spanish town life is much slower, yet everything seems to still get accomplished. These experiences have shown me that American life is not the only way to live. Pulling from different cultures is beneficial; everyone has different correct perspectives.
I have also been able to see parts of South America. It again had different cultures, even from Spain, but it also tested my Spanish in a way class barely prepared me for. I thought my Spanish was decent, and that three years of Spanish class would have set me up for success in Chile. I was not completely wrong, but I was still mistaken. There was no way I could read signs rushing past us in the car or understand people talking quickly around us, things I easily took for granted in America; however, when we went to a bakery, I was able to order a raspberry cheesecake thinking it had strawberries in it. All in all, not the worst outcome. Improving my fluency has become a goal of mine due to this trip, and any opportunity I can take to better myself in that way is a boon.
From seeing countries that are comparatively less affluent than the U.S, I want to work on implementing engineering solutions around the world. From seeing the state of roads in some countries, I can see why starting with solving climate change is not feasible for the people in the actual country. I have seen the importance of trying to be proactive while still solving problems that are afflicting a community in the modern day, and I think that the RAP will help me understand how to solve those types of situations.
I have also been able to see parts of South America. It again had different cultures, even from Spain, but it also tested my Spanish in a way class barely prepared me for. I thought my Spanish was decent, and that three years of Spanish class would have set me up for success in Chile. I was not completely wrong, but I was still mistaken. There was no way I could read signs rushing past us in the car or understand people talking quickly around us, things I easily took for granted in America; however, when we went to a bakery, I was able to order a raspberry cheesecake thinking it had strawberries in it. All in all, not the worst outcome. Improving my fluency has become a goal of mine due to this trip, and any opportunity I can take to better myself in that way is a boon.
From seeing countries that are comparatively less affluent than the U.S, I want to work on implementing engineering solutions around the world. From seeing the state of roads in some countries, I can see why starting with solving climate change is not feasible for the people in the actual country. I have seen the importance of trying to be proactive while still solving problems that are afflicting a community in the modern day, and I think that the RAP will help me understand how to solve those types of situations.
My ideal roommate or housemate would need to have two qualities: being able and willing to communicate effectively and not wanting me to be unhappy. The second idea is obvious. Few situations exist where two people can cohabit an area when one wants the pain of the other; however, it is important to establish because some people do not realize they want to bring others down, and that they have an insecurity they need to work on. If both people are willing and able to communicate effectively, any problem can be solved. If I am annoyed that my roommate is too loud when I am trying to go to sleep, we can find a solution without anyone taking personal offense to the situation. If a person down the hall does not like something I said, they can talk to me about the situation and show me what I was missing, so that I can become a better person. As long as everyone in a group of people maintains those two traits, I think they can coexist in a dorm and face most external pressures effectively.
If I were unrestricted to choose as many character traits as I could think of, then in addition to the aforementioned traits, I would want a curious and determined person with a sarcastic sense of humor to dorm with. I am consistently asking questions, and I have found that those who do the same know more of my answers. Two curious people can delve much deeper into a topic because they both want to see how far down the rabbit hole they can travel. When paired with curiosity, determination allows a person to achieve any goal because they will work until they succeed. This combination always inspires me because no situation leaves them without a course of action. Either you can learn more or work harder. This constant push for me from a roommate would allow me to achieve the most out of my academics. Finally, sarcasm comes as a second language to me. When used with tact, it can make for funny, harmless jokes. Having a person that shares the same sense of humor would only serve as icing on the cake for a roommate.
If I were unrestricted to choose as many character traits as I could think of, then in addition to the aforementioned traits, I would want a curious and determined person with a sarcastic sense of humor to dorm with. I am consistently asking questions, and I have found that those who do the same know more of my answers. Two curious people can delve much deeper into a topic because they both want to see how far down the rabbit hole they can travel. When paired with curiosity, determination allows a person to achieve any goal because they will work until they succeed. This combination always inspires me because no situation leaves them without a course of action. Either you can learn more or work harder. This constant push for me from a roommate would allow me to achieve the most out of my academics. Finally, sarcasm comes as a second language to me. When used with tact, it can make for funny, harmless jokes. Having a person that shares the same sense of humor would only serve as icing on the cake for a roommate.
Learning about different conditions around the world and how they impact an engineer's job was not something that I had deeply considered, even when I was applying to college. I did not internalize how a project would be very different if the infrastructure was poor or the prerequisites for a project were not in place. After learning about the RAP a few months ago, this idea has shown me why goods and services are different in other countries. Even when I go to the store, I can see how the logistical complexity needed to supply every item would not be possible in a country without the internet. Slow communication is not something that had crossed my mind as a potential obstacle to any project. Seeing how low exposer to the RAP allowed me to change the way I see the world makes me want to dive deeper into it. Meaningful discourse from people with diverse perspectives helps everyone that participates in the conversation. Having discussions with my peers and professors about problems that I have not had exposure to will allow me to change my point of you and allows others to see problems from another's perspective.
When I was three, I spoke three different languages. I lost the ability to speak Ukrainian and Russian because I did not use them, and it is one of the few parts of my life that I wished were dramatically different. I already wanted to continue developing my linguistic skills in college, so I feel like that part aligns perfectly with my goals. I want to participate in the group language dinners because it will not allow me to forget what I learned in the classroom because I will be using the language on a semiregular basis.
When I was three, I spoke three different languages. I lost the ability to speak Ukrainian and Russian because I did not use them, and it is one of the few parts of my life that I wished were dramatically different. I already wanted to continue developing my linguistic skills in college, so I feel like that part aligns perfectly with my goals. I want to participate in the group language dinners because it will not allow me to forget what I learned in the classroom because I will be using the language on a semiregular basis.
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