My undergraduate record highlights my passions and interests, which emerged, grew, and changed during my four years at the University of Colorado. I gravitated toward the study of cultures, politics, and peace and conflict studies. As a junior, I was fortunate to be allowed to enroll into a senior seminar course focusing on peace and conflict studies through the lens of geopolitics. I had never taken a course like this before and I am proud of the A- I earned. The amount of reading coupled with practical knowledge necessary to stay afloat was astounding. The level of critical thought the professor required of you is something I didn’t know I was capable of until taking this class. This was, by far, the most interesting, intellectual, difficult, …show more content…
I excelled in the class while learning, engaging with, and retaining the ever-expanding information. The following semester, General Astronomy: Stars and Galaxy, was offered in my dorm, providing the opportunity to learn from the head of the Astrophysics Department in a small class setting. My classmates began to ask for my help outside of class for tutoring so they could try to understand the material. My professor saw this and my affinity for astronomy, recommending me for a unique program that gives undergraduate students the opportunity to be a teaching assistant in small lab classes which expand upon the 300-person lecture class. This program includes working with the professor and graduate students, teaching your peers, attending a seminar in the School of Education to gain further knowledge in teaching and learning styles (Special Topics: Undergrad Science Learning), while being paid by the university. I vastly enjoyed my time in all areas of this program. The ever eloquent Carl Sagan said it best when speaking about “The Pale Blue Dot,” “It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever