Education

I value the importance of education. Curiosity is an essential part of being human, and I believe it is important for us to embrace curiosity and our desire to learn more. What fascinates me is that education does not stop after you graduate high school or college. There are times when I find myself looking up miscellaneous facts about calculus, chemistry, or a book that I wish we read in my British literature class but didn't. I read through AP and SAT exam prep books just to learn more about these subjects (and at times often wonder what it would have been like to take more advanced classes).

For the longest time, I wanted to be a teacher. History enthralled me the most because there are many ways to connect the past, present, and future by examining economics, primary sources, historical documentaries, and learning how to understand how previous events shape current policies. I always preferred European history because of the continent's unique cultural developments. I enjoyed public speaking and jumped at any opportunity I had to deliver a presentation. Challenging my peers to think critically was invigorating because it was as much of a challenge for me as it was for them. I wonder if teachers experience this on a daily basis.

I am also aware of the fact that children in particular are very impressionable. Anyone can call him or herself a teacher and impart "knowledge" to someone else. What exactly are we teaching each other, especially the younger generations? Now that I'm legally an adult, I often think ahead to when I have children. In addition to a standard curriculum of math, science, English, and physical fitness, I want my kids to know that it is okay to be different, to embrace individuality, to treat everyone else with equality and respect, and to embrace differences of opinion. I want my children to be aware that there are multiple sides to every issue, and I would encourage them to examine each argument and come to their own decisions.

Going into television, I realize that I have the power to educate and entertain, to shape and to alter. Storytelling gives me a platform to impart my views and opposing opinions, to showcase the real emotions of real people in real settings, to fixate on the interplay between personalities and philosophies, and to ignite debate over controversies. Reactions will vary, but it is my goal to force audiences to think about their lives and to reflect on reality and even the "What if?" scenarios. If teachers have the power to influence students in classrooms, then I also have the same power as a teacher in a visual medium to influence my audience, my classroom.

This is part of an ongoing and exciting adventure.