Those short vacations taught me much about the world, human nature, and especially about myself. Through witnessing so many unique walks of life, I have grown into a much more confident because I have seen my reflection in so many different faces. Many cultural differences lie between cultures in European countries and the American way of life. I have never felt completely European nor completely American and questioned my own place for some years. However, with maturity, my experiences abroad gained new meaning and I stopped seeking one, set identity.
People are far more alike than they are different.
I grew up in Denver and graduated from Cherry Creek High School, not a very diverse place. Many freshman find it difficult to make the transition from an essentially homogeneous high school to a large University because it can be intimidating to achieve a sense of belonging in such an immense crowd. I am inspired at CU because past experiences have shown me how amazing it is to learn about somebody that has lived a completely different life. Often, through putting forth the effort to understand others, you learn even more about yourself. I understood that through my five week experience in France this past summer.