Why I'm Going Where I'm Going

Just to give you some background information about why I'm headed to Cape Town before I begin my journey, I've copy and pasted my Statement of Purpose below. The Statement of Purpose is the essay I had to include in my application to be accepted into the study abroad program that I'm particiapting in. Happy readings!


Sarah Shaw’s Statement of Purpose

I sat in Chala Holland’s classroom as an 18-year-old woman, looking around at only a few familiar faces. The setting was typical of a high school classroom: desks, chalkboards, posters and art on the walls. The faint smell of sweat lingering on t-shirt collars after P.E. and freshly Xeroxed photocopies both loitered the air. It was eighth period, so even the sounds were distinctive and customary: students’ after-lunch chatter, the crumpling of an empty bag of chips, the ripping of a piece of paper from its spiral binding. It was the class that wasn’t typical. At least not for me. African American Studies, for a White female—a White anybody—was rather unusual.

Although I grew up in a very racially diverse suburb of Chicago, it was rare for me to be in a racially diverse classroom after the age of 12. The segregation in our town’s education system, when looked at blatantly, was irrefutable. “Honors” and “Advanced Placement” classes—levels 4 and 5—were dominantly White students, “Regular” classes—level 3—were dominantly Black students, and 1 and 2 level classes were almost entirely Black and other colored minorities. Being in Honors classes all four years of high school, I had never experienced being a minority in a classroom until I signed up for African American studies. It was in that classroom that my eyes were opened by a truly influential and inspiring teacher, Chala Holland, to the lives of the people that walked the same halls and lived in the same town as I did, but led dramatically different lives in major ways. Since my senior year in high school, I’ve continued to educate myself on issues of race by reading, taking relevant classes, and participating in active and lively dialogue with peers, professors and others educated—and some not so educated—on the subject.

Racial disparities, relations and institutionalized racism, in my opinion, are some of the most imperative and central issues our world faces. They encompass so much more than blatant racial discrimination and prejudice—but are relevant in issues of healthcare, policy making and reform, education, and our global markets. It is this umbrella of issues that truly fascinate, excite, and motive me to learn, connect, and advocate change. To study, observe, and further understand the veracity of this vast and broad issue in a country like South Africa, where Apartheid ruled into such recent decades, would be a truly intriguing and intellectually stimulating experience. I would feel both thrilled and privileged to live and learn in a city so rich with multicultural history.

Throughout college, studying abroad has been such a high priority that I’ve planned out my following four semesters—up until graduation—to make sure I am able to fulfill this aspiration. In fact, I am so dedicated to studying at the University of Western Cape that my next semester at the University of Illinois consists of four advanced journalism-specific classes required for graduation, which is two or three more than the usual course load for journalism majors. While at UWC I plan to take full advantage of the history and political sciences courses that can deepen my knowledge and understanding of the intricacy of race as a functioning system.

Moreover, I am confident that I will adjust to my new environment with grace and vigor because of my deep love for travel and fresh experiences. Having traveled all over the United States, and also to South and Central America and Europe, I’ve come to feel most comfortable in places where knowledge is aplenty and adventure seeps from new streets. I hold close to my heart the feeling of bold and brilliant inspiration and hopefulness I get from traveling. I hope I am fortunate enough to experience that same feeling in Cape Town come next January. Even more so, however, I hope to learn so much that is different: about the complexities of color in a racially profound world.