I have always been passionate about discovering the way people connect on a global scale. My passion stems from my upbringing: born in an impoverished but developing Zambia, raised in a predominately white and affluent neighborhood in Massachusetts, and currently living in the southern United States. My experiences, from culture to economics, have been diverse and drastically different, but inspired me to pursue a more progressive and open-minded community. I started with an interest in domestic affairs, but my curiosity...

A sticky-note on my bedroom wall quotes, “If giving leaves you feeling empty, you’re giving too much to the wrong person.” In my case, the wrong is in doing community service that leaves me unchanged. While I appreciate volunteering for events sponsored by my school, it wasn’t until this summer that I felt the sincerity of service. I originally traveled to Zambia to meet family and learn about my culture, but took a major detour: I started volunteering...

My experiences, from culture to socioeconomics, have been diverse and varied, but inspired me to pursue a more progressive and open-minded global community. My mixed childhood from an impoverished Zambia to affluent suburbs along the New England coast all the way to Texas has influenced my interest in international relations. When I volunteered in Zambia in June at a half-way house for boys, I met children who had been trafficked and separated from their families. Since then, I’ve known...