My Journey of Discovering Passion Through Global Projects by Parker

My Journey of Discovering Passion Through Global Projects by Parker - February 2025 Scholarship Essay

When I began my college search I had yet to learn about what I planned on doing for my career. With both of my parents being college graduates I felt it was almost expected of me to attend college and pick a suitable job for my degree. I reluctantly began looking at many colleges at my parent's insistence but whenever I got to the interest forms that asked for my intended major I needed guidance. For two years I feigned interest in college and thought very little about what I planned on doing for my career. That was until I joined Summit Technology Academy(STA).
The end of my sophomore year of high school came just as fast as the year before, but something caught my eye: a school program called Summit Technology Academy. A school made up of students from twenty-seven different schools in the Kansas City area, all attending unique capstone courses and pursuing careers they are passionate about. After discussing my passions with my parents we visited during the end-of-year open house to learn about the programs. My eyes wandered the list searching for a program that caught my eye. My eyes settled on a program called Summit International Studies Academy more affectionately known as Global Prep Squad(GPS). I read the course bio and was fascinated, I went up the stairs and into the classroom.
I was amazed to see students like me working and collaborating on international projects ranging from Zoom meetings with a school in Orebro, Sweden to coordinating fundraising of thousands of dollars to help women in Malawi, Africa buy hygiene products. I was hooked, I signed up and was notified that my application had been accepted. My junior year began and I walked into Summit Technology Academy knowing that I found a career path that interested me. Over the past two years, I have worked with my peers at Global Prep Squad, from sponsoring the building of tree nurseries in Malawi to hosting international guests from the International Visitorial Leadership Program sponsored by the state department, as well as coordinating events with our partners PMIKC, Rotary, and Global ties securing connections for projects across the globe.
At Wichita State University, I am excited to deepen my passion for international work by pursuing a degree in international business. My dream is to study at the sister school in Berlin, Germany, gaining firsthand experience in intercultural communication. With my PM Ready™ certification, I hope to eventually live and work overseas, potentially in Germany or Switzerland, and collaborate with organizations like Rotary, using my skills to organize and define projects to serve others.