I remember a moment in one of my under-graduate classes, when students near me were talking about a professor they believed to be biased. That day, the professor of the class e-mailed me asking for a meeting in her office. I was nervous because I had no idea what she wanted to talk about. When I sat across from her, I was surprised to discover that the meeting was about her. Specifically, she wanted to know what she could improve on as a professor. It turns out she had overheard the students and assumed they were talking about her. Any objective observer of her class would dismiss a claim of bias outright. She was an extraordinary professor and as impartial as they come. Nevertheless, she genuinely considered the claim with a humility that is quite rare. That moment has always stuck with me as emblematic of the type of thinker I aspire to be. One that lives up to the principles of humility, critical thinking, and self-scrutiny. I only had one class with her, but she had a lasting influence on me.I am lucky to be a product of my influences. Whether they be scholars, artists, family, or my teachers, I have been able to grow over time, particularly in my field of study, because I knew how to recognize and be open to positive influences. While this openness to influence has helped me grow, training my capacity for independent thinking has proved equally important to my development. Both have helped me cultivate the skills that guide my current research and work in the field of peace and conflict. This may also explain my interest in my field, which, at its core, revolves around the study of human relationships, beliefs, and emotions. I was and still am fascinated by what shapes human emotion and belief. Understanding this affords me a deeper understanding of conflict, ideology, and the vast array of social patterns and phenomena that inform all questions in the social sciences. My fascination with these questions led me to explore complex systems in my graduate studies, focusing on how cognitive-affective structures impact belief systems and the implications for individual and social reconciliation. It is important to me that I put my education and experience to use. I am thankful for any opportunity I receive to do so. With my interdisciplinary background, I am also happy that those opportunities can come in many different forms and in many different areas.