Submission Number: 168
Submission ID: 845
Submission UUID: 5c66834b-6a3d-467e-91b9-5710c2e1ccd5

Created: Wed, 03/30/2022 - 17:31
Completed: Wed, 03/30/2022 - 17:31
Changed: Wed, 05/07/2025 - 11:25

Remote IP address: 98.55.71.114
Submitted by:Anonymous
Language: English

Is draft: No

Flagged: Yes
Locked: Yes
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Ian
Soukup
He/Him/His
Littleton
CO
United States of America
80127
Computer Science
English (5), Spanish (3)
I have traveled to Mexico 5 times and actively attempted to use my experience in learning Spanish to communicate with native speakers in the towns I visited. Additionally, while I admit that this isn't an example of travel or studying abroad, I feel that it still prepared me for the Global Engineering RAP. I spend, on average, 4 hours a day at my girlfriend, Joey's, house. Joey, her brother, and her mom all immigrated from Mexico a year and a half ago and consistently speak Spanish with each other and me. They discuss their experiences in Mexico with me and Joey helps me to practice my Spanish. Additionally, when their relatives who don’t speak much English from Mexico travel to Colorado, I attempt to speak Spanish and hold conversations with them. We’re planning on traveling to their home city of Puebla in the summer, where I will practice applying my Spanish knowledge.
I find that I get along best with people who are friendly, outgoing, and studious. I'm looking for a building mate who's less into hardcore partying with drinking and drugs but instead prioritizes friendly, fun, and less extreme methods of socializing, such as playing a game, watching a movie, walking around Boulder, or making simple conversation. In fact, I would very much like to join or make a Dungeons and Dragons group while I’m at the Global Engineering RAP, as I find that it’s a very fun game and a fantastic way to make friends and form bonds. I'm hoping to get to know my building mates and make plenty of new acquaintances who I can go to for help when my courses or my life are tough, or when I need a good laugh at the end of a long day. I'm looking for someone that I can discuss with for hours and who can help me talk through any engineering quandaries I'm having. At the Global Engineering RAP, I’d like to look down the hall and see plenty of open doors leading to not just classmates, but friends.
As long-distance travel becomes more available to all citizens, the entire world will become more diverse and globalized. In the Global Engineering program, I will acquire invaluable communication skills, such as becoming more skilled in Spanish, which will be necessary in order to work with engineers from other parts of the world. Furthermore, in the US we’re very fortunate to be in possession of a surplus of wealth and resources. Not everyone in the world was born as fortunate as I was, so I feel that it’s part of my duty to use those resources to help raise the standard of living in struggling countries through innovation and problem-solving skills. Additionally, I grew up in a not very diverse community. The vast majority of my classmates were white and had been living in Colorado for most of their lives. In the Global Engineering Program, I’m hoping to meet an array of different and unique people who can give me new perspectives on life and who I can bond with. From a more short-term point of view, I'm looking for an engineering experience at CU Boulder that has more challenging coursework and a network of intelligent and friendly people who genuinely have a passion for engineering, truly changing the world for the better, and making their impact. I feel that I can contribute most to the Global Engineering Program with my personality. I'm a huge nerd, being into Dungeons and Dragons, video games, programming, and Batman alike. However, at the same time, I’m a very outgoing person with excellent social skills. I absolutely love making new friends and hanging out with old ones. One of my biggest strengths is being able to make people laugh and put them in a good mood. The best work, engineering or otherwise is done when the worker is happy and laughing. I feel that I can contribute to building this jovial climate in the Kittredge Central Hall and Global Engineering classes.
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