From Pennington, NJ

“I have always had a clear, defined sense of who I am and what I stand for, but at this stage in my life, I would like to have the opportunity to refine my sense of self, both academically and personally. Participating in the Global Seminar in China would surely provide me with that opportunity. I have been enthralled by the idea of studying in Asia since my freshman year of high school and would like to explore politics and economics in an Asian setting. This semester, I was enrolled in “Buddhist Thought and Practice;” visiting a Buddhist monastery would enhance my understanding of the religion, an understanding that has, to this point, been limited to the classroom. Finally, I would like to supplement the academic component of the program with an independent photography project. I am an avid photographer and would love to capture the juxtaposition between the urban and rural areas of China as a photography series.”