There I was, sitting in my sophomore English class when Mrs. McCoy walked up to the front of the room and made the announcement that would change the trajectory of my life forever. One of international proportions! Up until this point, I was dead set on moving to Hollywood and becoming an actress (that went well…not!) See, I was raised by a single mother who worked tirelessly just to make ends meet due to my father suffering from severe mental health issues. As a result, the idea of visiting other countries and learning languages was something I could never even fathom. But that was about to change. “Class, I want to introduce you all to Maki, our foreign exchange student from Japan!” Immediately something awoke in me and my eyes dashed over to her with intrigue and curiosity. Naturally, I befriended Maki, and as our friendship grew, so did my utter fascination with our cultural differences. I was enthralled, so much so that I learned the language and was given the gift to visit her in Japan for a month; her family’s thank you for our friendship. While I initially traveled to visit with an old friend, I knew little of the pivotal impact immersing myself in a new, Asian culture would have on my life. Now it's my dream to work for the Department of State in the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Japan in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. I attend Portland State University where I am pursuing my degree in International Relations and Japanese and plan on studying abroad at Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka, Japan. This will grant me the unique opportunity to, as an African American ambassador, get one step closer to destigmatizing and empowering an underrepresented population by promoting peace and equality through cultural exchange programs. Although I am determined, there are some obstacles that I face within my family and own community. In the African-American community, studying abroad is seldom discussed, let alone actualized. Going overseas is even looked down upon, as many harbor apprehension of foreigners and traveling to unknown places. I face uncomfortable opposition due to this, however, I desire to be a role model for individuals like myself; an outlier, someone not bound by repressive ideologies, as I was the first in my family to step outside of the United States. I found beauty in opening up my mind and encountering new ways of living: interacting with new people and learning their customs. Being awarded this scholarship will not only help me but help uplift those in my community because I hope to start a scholarship program and non-profit organization for young boys and girls of color to study abroad in Asia. I believe that exposure to different cultures is a powerful tool for change; one that I hope to see within my own family one day. That being said, I yearn to continue on this path of establishing mutual understanding and unity, especially among African Americans and Asians. So many problems in society reflect a lack of understanding and fear of others. In a world that is moving more heavily toward globalization, an entire population needs to be in the conversation about foreign policies that have a direct effect on them. Our voice is our power. With the generous support of the Douglass M Hamilton Memorial Scholarship, I as a person of color can achieve my dreams to not only diversify the field of International Relations but be a part of sowing the seeds of mutual exchange that bloom into fruition.