How studying English changed my life and set me on a path towards diplomacy

Type :Personal Essay

Countries :Hungary

Since the first day of elementary school, English language, and the culture of English-speaking countries have been playing quite a significant role in my life. I loved English so much that it was no wonder that I would continue my language studies. I chose the bilingual education at Ady Endre High School, Debrecen where I study Math, History, Geography and British and American cultural studies in English. Studying in a bilingual class was a turning point in my life. It taught me a lot and prepared my mind to be able to understand others and the world around me better. The world opened up for me and as I have been attracted to the culture of the USA since first being able to talk with a native speaker, I have never stopped searching for newer and newer opportunities to please my desire to meet and understand these people and generally, the world around me. I was happy to host American and Swiss students and widen my boundaries by exchanging ways of lives with people from entirely different cultures and backgrounds. By the time I started high school I had already known that I was interested in way too many things and giving up on any of them was not my cup of tea. I was always looking for newer and newer challenges, I enjoyed stepping out of my comfort zone and when I found a new thing that enchanted me, I did not rest until I had got the most out of it. Bearing all this in mind, it is no surprise that when I saw the recruiting advertisement of the New York Academy of Sciences’ initiative 1000Girls1000Futures, a unique program collecting the most passionate and inspirational young ladies from all over the globe, I did not hesitate to apply. Thus I became a mentee and got a wonderful mentor who I have kept in touch throughout the program. I think one of my wildest dreams came true when my essay about today’s superheroes of STEM, featuring Ellen Stofan, a NASA scientist and astrobiologist, was shortlisted for the finals. This is how I won a trip to New York, to the GSA Summit at the headquarters of the NYAS. During the conference I could present my research poster about water scarcity, meet my mentor and meet the true superheroes of our time, who are willing to take action in order to change our world. These students from all over the world taught me many things about science, cultures and that you can have friends even thousands of kilometers away from you. Because of the great variety of subjects I am interested in, I can adroitly mix my experiences from different backgrounds to create creative and innovative solutions. I used this during the event of the Borderless Youth Forum, tackling gender based violence, while working together with peers across the globe. And this is how I became a mentor at Invisible School. I found that the best thing I could possibly give away was my knowledge and empowerment. Therefore I am teaching disadvantaged youth and I have a mentee, who I teach Math to. One of my favorite teachers used to say that “there is no such thing as a stupid kid, there are only slow ones”, which eventually became my teaching philosophy. I adore my student’s passion to become better and better, she devotes her free time to solve more and more problems. My student developed her curiosity for learning during the time we spent together and I am so proud of her, as I can really see how she is growing from lesson to lesson. I encourage her to dare to dream, because what she has imagined is also something she can achieve. My childhood dream to become a princess has been changing. I am interested in international relations and global studies as it is truly the combination of everything I love. I have always been eager to discover more about the world around me. I was always taught that hard work will pay off and that one has to dream big and take challenges in order to meet new aspects of life, grow and experience. I have always tried to live my life this way and on my way I have seen truly incredible things. I grew up to be interested in so many things from wars and politics through Science to History. I have realized that there are far more important things in life than pride, jealousy or money and that what we see is only a small fragment of the whole. Diplomacy requires a complex knowledge and view on global affairs and a mindset to see something in details and as a whole at the same time. In today’s world everything is connected. As a young adult I feel responsible for the future that I hold the key in my hands to. We, youngsters, are the ones that are capable of changing the world anytime if we set our minds to it. I would like to represent those whose voice cannot be heard in the darkest times and issues most people fear to talk about. All barriers and obstacles can be removed when the right person speaks at the right time, because one voice can change the world and I would like to have that kind of an impact on this world.