Geography and your life by Parker

Geography and your life by Parker - August 2017 Scholarship Essay

Why is Kaliningrad an exclave of Russia? Which countries have more than one capital? What historical events created the etymological dispute of Myanmar? These questions are not just for trivia night, they are important facts that help us understand history and hopefully the future. Geography, more than just the nomenclature of mountain ranges and rivers, Is advantageous for understanding historical processes and predicting results in the future. Everyone should have an understanding of global surroundings and why things happen.
I would love to teach a class on geography and the effects it has on the world. Such a class would empower students to walk through the rest of their lives with a more complete picture of the world and an understanding of why certain things have come to be as they are. From geopolitics to business, marketing to finance, or even just in everyday conversation people should have some understanding of how geography comes to play an important role in our lives, society, and relationships.
For example, if you understand how WWII ended and the cessation of the province to the Soviet Union occurred, and how then the dissolution of the Soviet Union led to countries like Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine, you can see how Kaliningrad was made into an exclave due to its geographic location. The strategic province is now very important to the current Russian state. The geography of the world is inexorably intertwined with historical events yet distinct in the sense of its effect on the world. Nearly everything can be partially or wholly explained through the lens of geography. Those interested in anything global and historical could benefit from this class.
In a second example, knowing that certain countries have two capitals can be beneficial. One such country is Sri Lanka which has a legislative capital and and commercial capital. Knowing this fact could impact certain businesses which may wish to locate to a commercial center in Sri Lanka to sell their goods. Understanding the world and the interactions of nations that produce landmarks cities and states helps us to better navigate through our lives. The repeated colonizations of Sri Lanka because of the climate for growing spices led to the creation of the city of Colombo which would later become one of the capitals of Sri Lanka.
The analyses of maps whether they be political, economic, physical or other is important to realizing the patterns of our world. Being able to discern why things are happening and how to use them to your advantage necessitates an understanding of culture,of people, and of history all of which can be explained through geography. I believe this class would be beneficial and I would relish the opportunity to teach it.