Scholarship Q and A's

1) What is your purpose?

My gift to the world is to spread compassion. What my pockets lack in depth, my heart compensates for in size.

2) What do you love, and how do (or will) your actions demonstrate this?

My heart lies in nature. Shakespeare said it best in Trollus and Cressida when he wrote, "One touch of nature makes the whole world kin." Whenever my world seems to spin out of control, I can always count on a long hike outdoors to slow everything down. I always feel refreshed and ready to take on the world after a day of backpacking, hiking, cycling, climbing or even a long run. Like many, I donate money annually to organizations like the National Park Service; however, more importantly I show my love by trying to preserve the pristine outdoors. I feel that even though we do not always have money to spare, a person can make a difference through their actions and by setting aside some of their time. My first job was working for the state ecology department picking up trash around the area.  As much as people criticize such occupations, it was one of my favorites. I felt like I was doing something productive, and to this day, it beats any one of my regular 9-5 jobs. Even though I no longer receive pay to clean up an area, I always keep an empty plastic bag in my hydration pack in case I run into any litter. On top of being the "garbage lady", I have planted trees and helped restore and mark trails so others can enjoy them as well.

3) Write your ideal job description.
My ideal job would be traveling around the globe to underdeveloped countries. I can picture myself helping those in less developed areas start up their own businesses. This would include coaching others in the ins and outs of starting a company to showing individuals how to set up an online business in order to reach more customers. While this is probably not the normal "dream job", I feel that this type of job is what I was born for. Growing up in the same area my entire life, I had never traveled or seen the horrible conditions in which others live until I joined the military. When Katrina hit, I was stationed nearby in Texas. I saw only a small portion of the aftermath as hundreds of families crossed the Texas border homeless and looking for refuge. Shortly after this, my unit deployed to Iraq. Convoying to our base in central Iraq from Kuwait, I passed numerous hovels, kids without shoes, and cows who were so malnourished that I could count their ribs. After witnessing how others live, I chose a degree in International Business as a launching point from which to create a career dedicated to enhancing international relations and the global situation of all peoples.