From Drive to Obsession
When I decided to take my first Chinese class, I was very much so a typical freshman. I felt inspired to learn and be curious about the world, but at a loss on what I really wanted to do. The future felt fickle and the concept of what it means to make a difference, looked more complex then ever.
As a result, I felt driven to try as many new things as possible and push myself to see what I was capable of doing. With this mindset, I ended up signing up for a Chinese language track. Unbeknownst to me at the time, taking Chinese became more than just learning a new language. My class became a gateway to learn about the cultural layers that exist in China, how language is shaped by tradition, and the far-reaching impact of globalization.
These discoveries transcended into an obsession for me to learn and understand things that I know nothing about. To study abroad in Shanghai felt like a perfect opportunity to do just that. In addition, I felt that studying abroad would accomplish what I originally sought to do when I signed up for Chinese: Challenge myself. As much as I love to do that, learning Chinese literally has been the most difficult challenge I’ve given myself. Part of me is afraid to fully immerse myself in a language that can feel extremely daunting to learn, but I am also extremely excited to learn from the people I meet.
From the reactions I’ve received from people when I share that I’m learning Chinese, to the way China is depicted in American news, I have always been deeply intrigued by how China is perceived. As a country that has an enormous impact on the world, I feel that China deserves to be understood on a deeper level. It is my hope that throughout my time abroad, I will be able to meet as many people as possible from all walks of life and learn their viewpoints on different issues. Along the way, I hope that I can share my stories to people back home. Most importantly, I hope I get to eat dumplings everyday.
