Study Abroad Application

I love adventure. The anticipation of what will happen next, not knowing what to expect. I see the TAP as an opportunity for another adventure in my life. My university experience has provided me with many opportunities for adventure and growth. As an executive on two SU clubs, I have learned how to set realistic goals for a group and assign reasonable tasks for myself. My volunteer position with Into the Streets has given me the opportunity to work alongside Calgary's homeless people and has allowed me to become a more open minded and empathetic person. By participating in extracurricular activities at the university, I have learned how to play squash, and how to fold origami roses, how to skate backwards and how to stop but I have not yet gone abroad!

I am applying for the Term Abroad Program because I know that sometimes a classroom is not the best classroom. I love the idea of studying and travelling in another country. Conventional classrooms act as middlemen in my learning, keeping me at a distance from realizing my full potential, and stifling my personal growth. I want to be immersed in my study both mentally and physically. I have read and heard a lot about others going abroad, but I want to experience it for myself.

I have always wondered about my family's diverse cultural backgrounds, and how that has influenced my view of the world. I was born in Calgary, my parents were born in Vietnam and my grandparents are from China. Last year, I had the opportunity to travel to Vietnam and meet with many relatives for the first time! It was shocking to see how different life was for them in this amazing country. One experience I will never forget was the first time I had to cross the street. I was advised on how to do so before I arrived, but at the time I did not think this advice was at all necessary. The moment I stepped out onto the street with my luggage in the middle of rush hour traffic I realized how wrong I really