As a student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and Communication, I think making connections with a wide variety of people and looking at the world with an open mind is crucial to developing your professional and personal self. I have participated in multiple study abroad trips to fuel my curiosity of what lies beyond the borders of my home, and it has made me better appreciate the differences that we all carry. My international interests bloomed in my high school Japanese classroom, and from there I wanted to explore other regions of the world. After deciding I wanted to major in International Studies, I began studying Korean and Chinese civilization, as well as looking at crash courses of a variety of countries histories and customs, and I became more interested in broad human interaction, especially in how an increasingly globalized world has changed the way humans interact and connect with each other. This led to me selecting Communication as a dual major, and I found that I particularly enjoyed the fine details of doing research as well as the collaborative process of group work that often accompanies projects. It can be tedious and time-consuming, but seeing all of your hard work come together to create a polished product is so rewarding. I hope to apply the research and analytical skills I have acquired through my college journey in a way that helps organizations feel better prepared for what’s in store for tomorrow and make great connections along the way.