Recently I took a class titled "Truth, Justice, and Human Rights in Argentina." This was a summer course in which I got the opportunity to travel to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Within this trip, many legal issues popped up. Each and every one was interesting, as their politics differ from the politics we experience in America. They are trying to obtain a democracy, but have struggled with dictatorships for decades. A large political issue we learned about in this class included universities. The current president, Javier Milei, has taken a harsh approach to remedy the economic issues in the country. This has hurt many citizens, and university students are a big portion of those affected by this presidency. Milei has enforced budget cuts in many areas. This has caused universities to lose a majority of their governmental funding, which affects each aspect of the schools. Janitors and professors go underpaid or unpaid, students are left paying more than they can afford, and the buildings are left in a state that makes learning difficult. We explored one of the universities on this trip, and it was quite different from the university I attend. This building was covered in graffiti, as the students have the freedom to express their beliefs, but only in this particular school. The classrooms were hardly big enough to accommodate the students that attend, the technology was nonexistent, and there was no heating. I cannot imagine wanting to pursue higher education and being forced to push through all of these obstacles. I already face obstacles in my education when it comes to affording the university, but these students suffer even more. These budget cuts may be under the disguise of fixing the economy, but it is clear what the real goal is. With an undereducated population, citizens are easier to control. They do not understand what is happening, and a smart president could maintain control of the entire population with hardly any fight. This is clearly Milei's goal, but this is not stopping the citizens. Many people still fight to obtain higher education, and speak out against the wrongdoings of the government. For example, in Argentina's most recent military regime, thousands of activists went missing due to the military members torturing and killing them. Because of this, citizens protested, and still do today, asking for answers. Another part of this class included us witnessing an actual protest, which opened my eyes to the variety of politics. These people just wanted to be heard and gain their rights back, but the police showed up and turned a peaceful protest into a violent occasion. While there are definite alignments in Argentina's political world to America's, I believe that experiencing the whole world of politics is important for everyone. We only see a snippet of the world from America, but traveling can open people's eyes to the protests, regimes, and harshness that many other countries experience. I have learned about many legal issues here in America, but none of them have opened my eyes and changed my perspective nearly as much as being in Argentina and experiencing first-hand what their political world is like. I intend to pursue other travels to open my eyes further, and I thank you for the opportunity to gain help in these experiences.

I am a freshman in a four-year university plan with a major in Political Science. Before coming to college, I was unsure of what I wanted to major in; all I knew was that I want to make a difference. I have always aspired to be an attorney. When I came to my college, the University of Nebraska at Kearney, I found a large community of people on similar tracks. The Political Science department has become like a family for all of us. This major is a stepping stone that will prepare us for law school. Throughout my first year as a political science major, I have become more confident that this major is perfect for me. My classes consist of intellectual conversations and debates, and it is impossible not to learn something new in each class. As I mentioned before, this major is a stepping stone for me. Through majoring in political science, I will be more prepared for law school. Additionally, I will have a better understanding of the people I am trying to help. My goal is for my help to be as far-reaching as possible. I do not want to stick to one community; rather, I would like to help as many communities as possible. This would not be achievable without political science. This major gives me insight on the world. I can better understand relationships, struggles, and issues that occur worldwide. Without this understanding, I would be stuck in one area. I would not be able to help others, because understanding is crucial when helping others. I know that I need to put myself in their shoes, and look at their situations from a place of empathy rather than judging. No community reacts well to a stranger coming in and trying to completely change their lives, but if that stranger lives with them and gently shows them benefits of different ways, they are more likely to respond better. Along with understanding other communities, I can better understand mine. Political science has offered me a new perspective. Another benefit I have gained includes critical thinking skills. These are necessary for any issue beyond surface-level, which is a majority of the issues I may face when trying to help people. All in all, political science has changed my brain and will continue to do so. I have grown more in my one year of political science classes than I did in the four years that I attended a high school that lacked political science education, and I am beyond grateful for the opportunities and lessons I have had and will continue to have throughout this experience.

I am a passionate person. I always put an effort into my grades, and it shows with my A average. I have competed in many sports during high school, as well as other extracurricular activities, but my favorite has always been Speech. Speech has helped me grow as a person, as well as learn a lot about myself and others. I also put in an effort to be involved in my community. I volunteer whenever possible, especially to help kids. All of these activities have helped prepare me for college, when I will go to college on the Pre-Law route. In college, I will work hard in my classes and I intend to participate in community service as well. I want to give my time to others, especially the less fortunate. My devotion to others has gotten me to start thinking: what kind of charity would I start? What would it relate to and help? There are many options and many charities I would like to start. I’d like to help animals, kids, and people. There are many options, so picking just one is a difficult task. I do intend to start a charity in college, though. Since I will be a college student, I will not have a lot of extra money. This means that my charity would have to start cheaper and get help from others. After much debate, I have decided that I would like to start a charity that feeds the hungry. To accomplish this, I would need a lot of help, but I am willing to do whatever it takes. I will host food drives and even events that encourage people to donate whatever they can. I want to provide many forms of food. When possible, I’d like to make warm meals or at least sandwiches. If that is not always an option, I will provide cans of food to shelters. I’d also like to assemble backpacks with blankets, water, and food for the homeless that cannot afford these items. I want to help people get on their feet, especially if I have the time and money to give. Not only would this charity help others, but it would also help me and the people that donate. I would not start this charity just to help me, but this would help me feel that my extra time and money are helping change the world. Anyone that donates would feel prideful of their generosity, because they are helping change someone’s life. The main goal is to help the less fortunate, but this, in turn, would help everyone involved. The world is a treacherous place; this is unavoidable. While this charity would not fix the world, it would take us one step closer to helping the world. People help people, and this could lead to a domino effect that eventually gets most or even all homeless people on their feet. My main goal in life is to help people, and I believe that this charity would be a great approach to that.

Love is important. Love shapes the world. Along with love, kindness shapes the world. These two qualities help people grow relationships and lives. Love and kindness keep our world spinning. These qualities are crucial, and often work together. Love is kind. Taking that bird with a broken wing from the side of the road to the vet so that this bird can continue its life. Helping the elderly carry their groceries into their house so that they can eat properly without getting hurt. Calling your parents to check up on them when they miss you. Standing up for your friend who is getting judged for how they do things. All of these actions show how love is kind. Kind love can change lives, and even save them. Many people do not believe in love or being kind. People believe that they only need to care about themselves, that others don’t matter, that others don’t deserve their love. While you don’t have to love everyone, you can still show your love to everyone through actions. These actions can help others more than you’ll ever realize. Showing your love helps others to believe that they matter. You could do something as small as smile at a passing stranger, and that action might talk them off the edge. Just because these actions seem small and insignificant to you, they can change a person’s entire life. Many people have heard the phrase, “It costs zero dollars to be kind.” Some people scoff when they hear this phrase. But this phrase is not fully accurate. Being kind can actually pay. Showing your love can cause a butterfly effect. If you compliment a stranger’s outfit, they’ll be touched. Then this person might want to make someone else feel touched, and will compliment another stranger. This will keep spreading, until a large group of people are complimenting each other. Some people rarely get compliments, causing them to be insecure. By showing your love of someone else’s outfit, you can entirely change how people see themselves. Love is kind. Love is important. Love should be shared. The world we live in can be dismal. Any person can show their love in many ways, but not many people actually choose to show their love. One person can change this. One person can spread love worldwide. I aspire to be one of those people, one of the people who spread love. I used to worry that I would not make a difference in our world. I am just one small person, so how could I? But as I got older, I realized that with how dark our world is and how important love is, I can make a difference. That difference may be small, but it also may grow and spread all over the world. Now that I understand how love is kind, I show my love however possible. I give my friend’s parents chocolate every time they allow me to stay in their house. I help clean my house so that my mom doesn’t have as much on her plate. I offer my teachers help when I have extra time in class. I smile when I pass strangers. These are all small acts, but I have witnessed how they have made people feel cared about. I don’t feel put out by doing this, but rather rewarded. I love the feeling of making others witness how love is kind.

“I am most definitely a Gryffindor.” “Well I am obviously a Slytherin; they are evil.” The Hogwarts houses have quite a stigma attached to them. Most people aspire to be in Gryffindor, equating it with bravery, boldness, and being “the best.” Slytherin, on the other hand, is often unfairly characterized as inherently evil. Hufflepuff is perceived as full of soft-hearted individuals, while Ravenclaw is considered the house of nerds. Unfortunately, these stereotypes overshadow the unique qualities of each house. The truth is that there is no single “best” house, and Gryffindor is not the only house with admirable traits. Slytherin's students are known for their cunning, which does not inherently make them evil. Hufflepuffs are simply considerate and loyal, while Ravenclaws are diligent and value education. Although I can identify with aspects of each and every house, I have gotten the same two on every test for years: Slytherin and Ravenclaw. I can see how I get both of these houses, but it is my true belief that I belong in Ravenclaw, and I will strive to demonstrate my Ravenclaw characteristics. Education has always been my top priority. My pursuit of academic excellence began as early as kindergarten, with the goal of becoming valedictorian firmly in my sights after one of my classmate’s parents planted the seed in my mind. This ambition is not about proving that I am better than others; it is about showcasing my hard work and determination. I lack natural athletic talent, struggle with math, and have a foreign last name in my small town. I want to show that against all odds, I can still prove my worth, inspiring others to overcome their challenges. Learning is a passion of mine. After responsibly, completing homework, I eagerly dive into rabbit holes of knowledge, whether it is exploring my fascination with stars or delving deeper into school subjects. If I could be a perpetual college student without going broke, I would embrace it wholeheartedly. Education defines my life. When I learn, I put in the effort to grasp complex concepts, actively participate in class discussions, and seek out debates and discussions to maximize my learning potential. Additionally, reading has been a hobby of mine since I was young. I remember the stack of various books beside my bed. One night, I was reading past my bedtime by the yellow light of my nightlight, which was something I did often. My stepfather was about to shower, so he was making sure none of us kids needed to use the restroom. I was caught, and my mom finally figured out why I had a stack of books as tall as me by my bed. While this was not my proudest moment at the time, this moment is a glimpse into my love of reading. Don’t tell my mother, but I still often read when I should be getting to bed. For these reasons, as a passionate learner, I believe that I should be sorted into Ravenclaw-a house that, in my entirely unbiased opinion, embodies the best qualities of Hogwarts.