2008 Gaia Community Scholarship Responses [for a better place].

What's your purpose?

I am willing to take an opportunity to experience Federico Fellini’s quote, “A different language is a different vision of life,” by studying foreign languages.  

What do you love, and how do (or will) your actions demonstrate this?

I am an upcoming freshman at the University of Connecticut. I will be focused on a major in Middle Eastern Studies to pursue in a career with the government. I have previously taken four years in Spanish, three years of French, and my first year in Mandarin Chinese. Now, in my future college education, I will continue Mandarin Chinese and my first year of Arabic, the language of Darfur. The love of languages and the inspiration of Federico Fellini's quote have changed my heart in many ways. I am aware of the genocide occurring in Darfur and I take it to heart when I see innocent individuals suffering from a lack of daily meals, showers, and qualities of life that they should always have the opportunity to cherish. When I am finished with college, I will be able to utilize their language to help communicate and spread peace to these unique people. I would love to start a group and provide them with donated food and support. As I progress in my studies and in the future, I am also willing to teach teenagers the Arabic language and promote cultural awareness in high schools to cause a rising epidemic that could change a part of the world forever.

My ideal job has always been to travel to foreign countries, utilizing my foreign language skills by helping their children with education and inspiration. The families will have support from my heart with generous donations and moral guidance to live a much happier life. If my days were in severe weather conditions, I would find many ways to help support them to get through the rough times. My family would have been left in America, but I believe that there’s always another family that I could influence the term, “quality time,” together. I would love to understand a culture by experiencing the reality of what happens on a daily basis, rather than to read articles from books or websites. When I became a Student Ambassador in my high school by traveling to Spain with a group of classmates, I knew this was my future ambition and I must go back to it as soon as I can. The beautiful architecture, the diversity walking around, and the ethnic food had my senses working as fast as a telephone company. I would love to experience what Federico Fellini’s inspirational quote was and I would further educate myself and others to experience that, “A different language is a different vision of life.”

Living Darfur (Official Music Video)

"If I am not for myself, who will be for me?

If I am not for others, what am I?  And if not now, when .... ?

- Rabbi Hillel