The definition of a hobby is an activity done on one’s leisure time. Whenever I’m not working or attending school, I am dancing. It can be at a studio, while waiting for the bus, or even at the super market. I started attending a dance studio at a very young, and when I was fifteen, dance transitioned from a hobby into a passion. An activity that went from something that I enjoyed doing, became something I fell completely in love with. I am extremely passionate about my artistic expression to the point that I decided to add it as my second major. I love dance beyond anything in life; I love every scope of it. What I love about dance is the creativeness and detail that goes to every choreography, production, or performance. I also love improvisation and what emerges from a completely unchoreographed situation. There is something about improvisation that is allows a person to show vulnerability. Vulnerability is something that we don’t observe often as social media has taken over and made us develop this twisted perception on reality. I am passionate about dancing because it is real, it contains emotions, and it is a unique way to feel present in the moment. I love dancing everywhere at any time. I believe dance is a manifestation of emotions, a way to express certain ideology and beliefs, and a way to enjoy life. To me dancing is a way to be more present in reality and a way to enjoy and release through corporal movement. My most amazing creations have occurred when I felt the most intense emotions; sadness, happiness, or frustration. Dancing is a way to release or express any and every feeling that arises and cannot be contained. Dancing to me is more than just a major or a hobby, dancing is my absolute passion and something that I will forever be grateful to pursue in an artistic manner.

It is rare that your school’s principal is also one of your teachers, but this was the case on my junior year of high school. One of the most impactful educators in my life was my high school principal and Art History teacher, Ms. Janet. Ms. Janet was an educator that did not only inspire me on a daily basis, but also shaped me into the student, citizen, and person I am today. Ms. Janet had visited many museums and galleries throughout the world that would help her teach art history in a very interesting and exceptional manner. Ms. Janet made me fall in love with art, its beauty, and its history. She would also explain art beyond the textbook; She aided her teaching practices by describing art pieces from her own point of view and from what she has personally seen and learn. She was also an amazing mentor as she would always push us to become better and more applied students. She was always strict on deadlines, polished our grammar, and made sure that if we were contributing to the conversation, we knew what we were talking about. It was hard to get a ‘congratulations’ out of her, which always made me want to keep doing better. She would only congratulate you when you truly amazed her. She has positively impacted my life because she expanded my knowledge not only by teaching but also by motivating me to widen my perspective and points of views. She taught me to question, to care, and more importantly, she taught me that human relationships are one of the most important things in life. Academia, knowledge, politics, it is all important, but family and the care and respect we have to one another is what really matters in life. She will forever be someone who inspires me to keep learning and keep spending time on things that matter and things that feed my knowledge and soul. My drive to go to college began when I started learning about the different college options that existed in California. When different representatives from universities came to my high school and spoke about their given college, I would be so intrigued in what that university would offer and the majors that existed. Prior to these college presentations, I had no idea of what going to college meant, or the differences between a state school, a private university, etc. Since my parents did not attend university, my knowledge about universities was almost nonexistent. I always knew that my parents wanted me to attend a college, it was expected of me to at least pursue a 2-year associate degree. When I learned about the University of California system, I knew automatically that I wanted to attend a UC, despite any economic limitation. When I began learning about the different majors that existed such as political science, international relations, public affairs, global studies, etc., I was automatically inspired to pursue high level education. I was also motivated because my parents did not get the opportunity to pursue education at a four-year university. I want to break this pattern in my family where higher education is not an opportunity or option, and I also want to inspire my younger brother to also pursue high education. I have always had a huge drive to do everything with passion and determination, therefore I am excited to graduate university with a double major in Political Science and Dance.

I was born in San Diego, California, United States and raised in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. I went to school in San Diego, California, starting in middle school. From a very young age, I began noticing differences between a first world country like the United States and a third world country like Mexico. The juxtaposition of these two bordering countries allowed me to gain a wide perspective on the different lifestyles that people lived and the different struggles that each city faced. This inspired me to study International Relations and learn how interactions between countries affect not only the political aspect, but the social and cultural approach to life. Being raised with two different cultures, two languages, and in two different countries made me further question how other countries interact. The study of other cultures and nations allows us to gain a self-awareness about our priorities as a country, cultural values, and different approaches to political, socioeconomic and environmental issues. On a personal level, the study of different cultures helps us understand and learn why specific countries and regions act the way they do concerning political and social decisions. Global exploration allows the United States to gain awareness not just on approaches, but on different cultural norms that exist in different countries. Being able to understand different perspectives, offers the United States an opportunity to reevaluate our practices and determine what is working, what needs improvement, and what can be improved. Even though there is a lot of culture and religious diversity in the United States, it is not the same to study a culture within the United States. Having a first-hand experience abroad allows you to live the way people from that country do. Experiences abroad allow you to go beyond your comfort zone where you are in unfamiliar territory, leaning everyday as you go, about the different practices and cultural norms that you may have never been aware existed. Learning about different cultural practices allows an individual to become more adaptable and socially aware. It also allows for al lot of problem-solving skills. The study of other cultures allows us to become more respectful and acceptable towards differences, and it overall expands our minds beyond what is “normal” for us. “Normal” for some countries may be completely foreign to others, such as social practices, priorities, or values. This creates a culture shock whenever people from different countries travel. By traveling and exploring, and by always respecting a countrie’s norms, we are able to create an amicable global interaction. Global exploration and the study of other cultures, nations, and regions allows us to revalue oneself, and become the best version that we can ever be.