The Paradox of Free Speech: Why Our Greatest Strength is Fading If you have been paying attention to the news nowadays, you can see how the power of free speech is declining. Heated discourse, personal attacks, and mistrust are rampant in American politics and society. This spillover was seen recently when the conflict in Israel and Palestine reignited last year, sending many university campuses into turmoil with frustrated students on either side. The proximity of these disagreements on college campuses ultimately yielded friction, but having an environment where diverse ideas can be easily transmitted is also a virtue. In America, we are lucky to have the right to free speech, but students can play a crucial role in ensuring the full power of free speech can be unleashed through genuine and empathetic listening. Even long after graduating from an International Baccalaureate Programme, the Learner Profile Traits of being an Inquirer, (Critical) Thinker, Open-Minded, and Principled are still at the core of who I am. The combination of a liberal arts education and a psychology focus allows me to continue to value and pursue understanding important matters, asking for the opinions of others with unique perspectives, and listening to them to understand and learn. Just like these early lessons positively contributed to my intellectual and personal development, the ability to express our thoughts freely accomplishes this too. By being more open-minded, we receive more input, and therefore our knowledge base grows broader, resulting in intellectual development. Similarly, by listening to different types of people, diverse opinions begin to shape one’s beliefs. Surrounding ourselves with people from different backgrounds allows for more unique connections and positively impacts personal and intellectual development. Free speech also plays a crucial role in advancing a specific aspect of intellectual development: critical thinking. There is a bidirectional relationship between free speech and critical thinking. By granting the right of free speech in a society, diverse ideas can be examined for their merit. At the same time, critical thinking is necessary for free speech to be effective. By exhibiting composure and genuine engagement, we can focus on what is actually said, think about it critically, respond, and further the discussion. Currently, critical thinking is not paired with free speech as often as it should be, which leads to people not feeling comfortable sharing their thoughts for fear of backlash. Effective use of free speech involves first thinking critically to step back and question what someone is saying before immediately responding or devolving into argumentation and derailing the conversation. The grave consequences of this misalignment are noticeable in the political world as now bipartisanship is harder to come by than ever. I hope to change that and alter the currently dangerous trajectory of declining respect for the principles of effective free speech. I care deeply about effective free speech on a personal and professional level. In my relationships and daily encounters, I always want conversation partners to feel psychologically safe, or that they will not be alienated or disrespected for sharing their opinions. Furthermore, actively listening and acknowledging their perspective, even if I disagree, ensures they will feel heard and respected and be more likely to continue the dialogue. I also seek to apply these psychology concepts in my professional involvements. As someone striving to work in Human Resources, I see empathy and listening as my most useful skills. I hope that my genuinely curious and inviting demeanor will always allow the people I interact with to speak freely and honestly. To protect free speech, the world’s greatest power, we must start with listening. Thank you for your consideration.

It is hard to imagine a world with no inter-country traveling. But not too long ago, this was the world's reality. With borders now opening up, I made studying abroad in my junior year of college a priority and promised myself that I would experience a new part of the world. This February, I am excited to be leaving the beautiful city of Boston and flying off to Germany for a semester abroad. The Katholische Universität (KU) was my top choice program because it perfectly aligns with both my academic and long-term personal goals. At Boston College, I am pursuing a minor in German despite completing the language requirement with French through AP scores. My reasoning for this is simple: I am intrinsically motivated to become fluent in German so I can pass down the traditions, morals, and language of the Swiss family I was born and raised by, to my future family and children. The KU internal BC program includes a four-week intensive language course at the Goethe-Institut in Munich. This remarkable opportunity for language improvement was a differentiating factor between KU and the other German-speaking programs I was considering. Furthermore, KU’s close proximity to Munich, Germany’s third-largest city and a hub for German culture and tradition, was another reason why KU ranked highly on my list. My current career goals include being a manager in the Human Resources department of a major corporation. I hope to positively influence the work environment by introducing new policies and programs and improve business outcomes with strategic people-oriented decisions. I recognize that my language skills are a differentiating factor as I seek opportunities in the workforce. Therefore, the opportunity to live in a foreign country, become culturally competent, and be immersed in the language seems like an experience that would be valued by employers for the new perspectives and skills I will gain. Global competency is the recognition of and desire to understand the complex world and society we live in. Though many cultures exist, globally competent individuals realize difference is something to embrace rather than ignore. Studying abroad provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students to explore a culture different from the one they are accustomed to and have normalized. In this experience, I will push myself to challenge existing beliefs about what is ‘normal’ or ‘good’ as I embrace a new culture and practices. This rare chance allows for world views to be changed as new learning occurs. I aim to practice my skills as a critical thinker and open-minded individual as I encounter different norms, beliefs, and practices from my own. In addition to the skill of newly acquired language proficiency, this adventure will provide me with professional skills and personal growth. In workplaces, it is necessary to adapt to new situations and overcome challenges or capitalize on trends. Living in a new country and environment for an extended period will allow me to adapt to unfamiliar contexts. Furthermore, as diverse workforces become common, all employees must empathetically embrace differences. I will practice this necessary skill by experiencing a unique culture and approaching it with an open mind and respect. By encountering differences, I can more easily relate to and welcome those who enter a work environment that may be different from their typical setting. I am thoroughly looking forward to this opportunity of a lifetime, and I would be extremely grateful for any support from the Combined Worlds Scholarship to help me actualize my dreams.