My love for the arts and humanities started from a very young age. Ever since I could comprehend the movie The Wizard of Oz or The Little Mermaid I was completely hooked. I loved acting, singing, painting- anything creative and theatrical and I was there at the center of it. Throughout my high school years I would get so frustrated at my home school because theatre and art were not a priority. I believe that Arts and Humanities get overlooked as insignificant. When really it shapes and cultivates our worldview and perception of the world around us all.

One of the reasons I believe that I am on this trip is to grow and expand my worldview on the arts and humanities here in Paris. it is important to learn other languages and learn the history and culture of another country. It shapes and molds you and changes the way you view a standard of living. I am investing my time into experiencing the history, culture, and people of France because each one has something to teach and share with me. I have a very complex and adventurous imagination and I love seeing buildings, ideas, or words that stir a passion inside of me.

On our first excursion we walked through this gorgeous garden and there were trees that brought my imagination to life. I kept visualizing graphics and drawings of these trees in a fairytale like movie or painting. Its those moments that you come upon a display in a museum or walk into Notre Dame and your heart flutters because you're so in awe of the excellence and time it took to create something so beautiful.

My time in Paris is preparing me for my major as a theatre teacher. It is developing my outlet for my imagination. These next four months are teaching me to take what I am experiencing now and portray what I am experiencing through theatre or art or communication. I fully believe that immersing yourself into a different culture teaches you communications skills that you never would have gained without being immersed into it. My career as a theatre teacher will be impacted greatly from these four months in Paris.

I am looking forward to learning the values and worldview's of people here. It is always important to be willing to learn and gain perspective from the culture around you when you live in another country. I am excited to see how this grows me and my worldview.