For Georgetown:

I believe most of us are born anthropologists and naturalists. Nothing comes more naturally to children than observing, probing and provoking adults or centipedes. As I have lost none of my childhood fascinations, my early antics have blossomed into passions for social and natural sciences. And Anthropology makes combing these interests into something tangible and tantalizing.

Childhood travels offered me the opportunities to appreciate the unique charms and idiosyncrasies of many cultures, but I want to probe deeper. Seeing how the Japanese would bow instead of kiss twice on the cheeks like the French do to bid farewell whetted my inquisitiveness. I want to know how cultures, traditions and rituals develop. Why is ancestral worship so dominant in Chinese culture and so rare in the west? Why is patriarchy the dominant social form while some of the advanced economies seem to be drifting back towards matriarchy? Will globalization completely homogenize traditional cultures? An education at Georgetown can provide me many of the answers. Though Anthropology is my predilection, East Asian studies, Economics, and World History will also help me gain the breadth and height that is essential to obtain genuine insights.

If I am fascinated by the past, I am equally troubled by our future. As I am alarmed by the downsides of unfettered technological changes, I am even more enthused about the upsides of judicious scientific progress. I am an ardent student of the sciences, who is mesmerized by the beauty of number theories and the mystery of special relativity. I admire the dedication, imagination and creativity involved in the discovery process. These are the things I want to experience myself by taking advantage of Georgetown’s curriculum and inspiring environment.

Even though Anthropology is something I know I want to pursue, there is still so much more I want to learn. Georgetown College’s liberal arts curriculum gives me that opportunity and the freedom to explore. More importantly, Georgetown’s political proclivity and physical proximity to Washington DC make lectures and seminar by world leaders on campus frequent events. It is one thing to read books and yet another to rub elbows and be inspired by seasoned leaders likes the Clintons, Michael Bloomberg and President Obama.

While the curriculum provides insights into the past, the eminent speakers offer insights into current affairs and future trends. With technologies and economic changes galloping forward in unprecedented rates, our cultures and societies will see wholesale transformations. Could cultural evolution keep pace? Would this historical change be the cultural equivalent of the globalized financial crisis? To me, these are Anthropology as much as they are International Affairs. Georgetown is the school that offers me the breadth and depth, the knowledge and inspiration I need to tackle the challenges and opportunities offered by the future. These are the reasons I want to attend Georgetown.