I
love to travel and meet and experience different people and
cultures. I was an 18-year-old freshman at the University of
Hartford in Connecticut when the September 11th terrorist
attacks occurred, and, like most Americans, I was greatly
affected by the sight of the Twin Towers crumbling in New
York City. I remember sitting in my dorm room the rest of
the day unable to take my eyes off the incredible events
unfolding before me. So I decided to do something about it;
I completed the rest of the school year, took a break from
college life, and went to serve my country in the United
States Army as an infantryman. I spent a total of four years
in the Army including two one-year deployments to Mosul and
Baghdad, Iraq. It was certainly a difficult time in my life,
but I came back to America with a newfound sense of maturity
and a new outlook on life. It was my first time traveling
outside the United States and my brief exposure to the
cultures in Iraq left me wanting more.
With over a thousand students from so many different
cultural backgrounds all learning together in the American
liberal arts system, AUP impressed me immediately as the
right place for me to further my interest in politics and
international law. What could possibly be a more amazing and
dynamic place than AUP for someone interested in studying
politics? The fact that only about 40% of AUP’s
undergraduate student body are American citizens makes me
feel privileged to hear the perspectives of people from so
many different walks of life. I feel every young American
citizen should have the opportunity to study here in such a
diverse and multicultural environment.
I came to AUP to experience a new culture and learn a new
language. I was also very much attracted by AUP’s
international atmosphere and its strong International and
Comparative Politics Department (ICP). I have found that the
French stereotype does not always ring true. I have also had
the experience of living in one of the world’s truly
greatest cities. And unlike at many large universities in
the United States, at AUP you’re not just a number. The
smaller classroom environment allows you to get to know the
other students and professors on a deeper level, truly
enriching the college experience.
AUP’s diverse environment can be summed up as a
multicultural melting pot of students and professors
gathered together in an attempt to gain a better
understanding of life in an increasingly interdependent
world. In the ICP Department, this experience affects me
directly by allowing me to hear the political opinions of
people from all across the world, an experience unique to
such an international institution.
If you have ever been fortunate enough to have a class
with Professor Susan Perry, then you just might be persuaded
to become an activist, a lawyer, or both. With her guidance
I have decided to continue my studies by going to law
school.
Through the help of the internship office, I was able to
land a great internship working for an American
international lawyer in Paris. It was not your typical
internship experience in that I found myself on a daily
basis working side-by-side with my employer on high-profile
international disputes, using the knowledge I learned at AUP.
It was truly an amazing experience and one that has
solidified my intent to go on to law school upon graduation.
Using my knowledge in both international politics and law, I
would ideally like to be an attorney for a large
international corporation, enabling me to continue to
explore the world.
My favorite neighborhood in Paris is the St. Michel area.
With its tiny alleyways lined with every type of food
imaginable and its location near the Seine and Notre Dame,
it is easily one of the most charming areas of this city.
But Paris is also home to some of the world’s premier world
institutions such as UNESCO. With its countless museums to
its long and storied history, Paris has more than been the
perfect backdrop for my academic experience here at AUP.
I would say what is most of value at AUP is its truly
international atmosphere. I so much enjoy hearing the points
of view of people from all over the world and having a
chance to try to understand many cultures and backgrounds.
This kind of atmosphere, along with its ideal location in
one of the world’s greatest cities – and its talented
professors – make AUP one of the most diverse and unique
institutions of higher education in the world. |
