Skills
Initiative Taking
Through my many experiences in life, I have learned the importance of taking the initiative, but I never truly understood its importance until I studied abroad. Everything was my choice, the travel, the school, the food, everything and it was very easy to let all of these amazing opportunities slip between the cracks. To not waste my limited time, I tried to do as much as I could, most of the time by myself. I didn't stop myself from exploring just because I had to do it on my own and I am glad that I took that initiative.
Teamwork
I learned teamwork through my involvement in my high school's marching band. Throughout my four years there, the concept of working together to create something beautiful was drilled into me. Through music and performance, we supported each other, each part coming together to create a masterpiece. This activity showed me how, no matter how insignificant one part or piece feels, it all comes together to form a piece of art. I attached a short video of one of my favorite performances.
Leadership
Leadership is something that I learned during my time at the University of Florida. Specifically, in my biochemistry course. In that course, we were placed in groups that would remain the same for the entire semester and given small projects and assignments to complete together. Naturally, in search for a sense of order, we created a dynamic within the group where I was deemed the leader. As the leader, it was my job to lead discussion, plan meeting times, and delegate who did what. Even though this was a difficult job, I am forever grateful for the valuable lessons that it taught me.
Public Speaking
In my opinion, public speaking is not just talking in front of a crowd, but speaking to people in general. Meeting new people and navigating those relationships is a battle within itself. I experienced this battle firsthand while exploring the streets of Paris. In a foreign country with a foreign language, as a intermediate speaker, I was terrified to open my mouth beyond saying "Bonjour" or "Merci," even simple tasks like ordering at a restaurant became daunting obstacles. Over time, I conquered this fear and, in some cases, I became the one leading a conversation. This instilled a newfound confidence in my public peaking abilities that I continue to use to this day.