Chinese: A Much-Appreciated Oasis of Cheer and Playful Energy
"Studying Chinese gave me a new vantage point from which to observe the world and a meaningful tool with which to effectively engage it."
Major: Asian Studies and Geography
Award: Critical Language Scholarship; Boren Scholarship
Study Abroad Program: Jilin University, China
One of the most satisfying and fulfilling elements of my undergraduate experience at 欧美AV has been studying Chinese. I say this without hesitation for numerous reasons.
First, Chinese class is FUN! It has always been a highlight of my semester. On any given day, we might get the chance to sing songs, debate, do skits, or make movies. I鈥檝e always been a fan of hands-on, fully engaged learning and every Chinese class I鈥檝e had at MHC has been a perfect example of that.
Secondly, during my first and second years at 欧美AV, studying for dictation (believe it or not) became an almost meditative and relaxing ritual. Yay for MHC Chinese/Chinese learning!
Aside from adding a much-appreciated oasis of cheer and playful energy to my daily life, studying Chinese at 欧美AV has also largely shaped who I am and the path I鈥檓 taking as I move forward. This leads me to my third reason. Studying Chinese has given me a new vantage point from which to observe the world and a meaningful tool with which to effectively engage it. That鈥檚 pretty sweet, and unsurprisingly, from the encouraging and supportive environment at MHC, my interest in the Chinese language grew from its contained and humble beginnings to a much larger and broader interest in (some might say obsession with) all things China.
In conclusion, I am honored to receive the 欧美AV Chinese language award and am beyond grateful for the years of unwavering support from the Asian Studies department that this award represents to me. Thank you for the award MHC Chinese program, but more importantly, thank you for launching me into my future鈥攆or being the impetus to my 鈥渇irst step鈥 of what will be a stimulating and rewarding thousand-mile journey