Submission Number: 187
Submission ID: 876
Submission UUID: 9b1dd4e9-acaf-420d-97c7-e07752561f16

Created: Sat, 04/09/2022 - 05:20
Completed: Sat, 04/09/2022 - 05:20
Changed: Sun, 05/18/2025 - 12:17

Remote IP address: 128.138.129.163
Submitted by:Anonymous
Language: English

Is draft: No

Locked: Yes
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Matthew
Loecke
He, Him
Windsor
CO
United States
80550
Environmental
English 5, Spanish 3
I had the amazing opportunity to travel to Africa in 2018, on a medical mission in Zinga, Tanzania, helping with my parents in a small clinic. Here, I assisted with prevention education and with physical therapy for kids and adults suffering from cerebral palsy, various neurologic disorders, and other debilitating conditions. I was exhilarated by the trip and helping kids with physical therapy. However, I was even more impacted by what a lack of infrastructure/resources looks like in a third-world country. It made me wonder why the lack of permanent personnel? Why the lack of facilities compared to those in the United States? What about work on education and prevention? Why such a staggering amount of permanent disability? This experience gave me a more global perspective on how a degree in environmental engineering could help serve communities both locally and across the globe.
Additionally, through my travels with USA Wrestling to Ukraine and Sweden, I was immersed amongst the best leaders and athletes in the world. I witnessed athletes setting the highest goals, and achieving them through diligence, hard work, and grit. I watched coaches create the most positive culture by listening attentively, developing specific training regimens, utilizing particular match strategy, as well as, understanding ways to motivate each individual athlete. In this environment, every person was shown dignity and respect. As a result, these coaches were able to unite a team of individuals from different backgrounds and different beliefs towards a common goal. From this experience, I realized how important it is to drive a positive culture and be a positive leader in everything I do. I have already implemented many of these leadership skills in my life, but I plan to continue to implement these skills as an engineer, a community leader and within my own family someday.
No matter where I have traveled, whether Thailand, Mexico or even Machu Picchu in Peru, my eyes are always open to new possibilities, my perspectives are refined, and my view of the world around me expands. By being exposed to different cultures, different people and different experiences, I am inspired to be an engineer, working with people who strive to make change and positive impact around the globe. Specifically, I believe I will bring an open mind, innovative ideas, enthusiasm, and a strong set of leadership skills to the Global Engineering RAP.
In the summer of 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, I was stuck in the house feeling bored and without purpose. After being out of school for a few weeks, my parents and older brother coerced me into taking a job on a cement crew. Already upset about having to work, I showed up and realized not only did I have to work but it was HARD WORK ALL DAY LONG. Not only that, but I realized every person on the cement crew was completely different from me. I was working alongside individuals who had fled from horrible conditions and spoke English as a second language. Wow, was I out of my element! Little did I know, by the end of the summer, the guys on the cement crew would be some of the most inspiring people I would ever meet and the best "teachers" I ever had. They taught me to take advantage of every opportunity I am offered. They taught me how lucky I am and how grateful I should be for living in a country like the United States, where opportunities abound. They taught me that initial judgements really don't matter. They taught me the value of a career and what that means for my future and my future family. They taught me what it takes to really work hard and continue to work hard toward seemingly impossible goals. They taught me what acceptance and friendship looks like. And, most important, they taught me how to find joy in each day despite difficult circumstances. The lessons I learned from my summer on the cement crew inspire me still each and every day to strive to be my best no matter who I am with or what the situation.







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