U.S has been greatly contributed to the development t of East Timor in so many different sectors included education for more than a decade now. Education is one of the important assets for a country that still under developing like East Timor. For the past years, there are many Timorese students included myself have been granted the brilliant opportunity to develop their academic capacity and able to experience the advance and higher education in U.S through different scholarships included USTL. The USTL scholarship has been played such important role in contributing to shape the development of our country. There are 2 of my best friends who now actively involved in shaping for a better in East Timor.
As a one of the newest country in the world with such a vast diverse cultures, East Timor is not widely recognized by so many people. By having Timorese students in U.S through this scholarship program, this would allow us as students to introduce and sharing about the existence of East Timor as well as sharing the diverse cultures we have in Timor. Through the international events organized both on campus and off campus, the local students and the communities who are not afford to travel abroad could just learn and explore the country through us.
For the past 2 years, I have been joining and participating in so many different activities both in on and off campus. In my first semester in U.S I participated voluntarily at the Kid’s Mud Olympic organized by the Christian Church in Wheeling, West Virginia. I helped organizing the event and team up with my roommate to accompany a group of kids during the event. It was such a great opportunity for me to be able to involve in such a positive community event. I also spare my team during normal semester period and even during the holiday at the Salvation Army to help those people who in need in the community here in West Virginia. During the flooding time, I involved in the university volunteer team to help the affected family in the rural area here in West Virginia. As Music is my passion, I used my talent to help entertain others. I have been part as a West Virginia University National Anthem Singer for almost a year now, singing National Anthem at the College’s Athletic events as well as singing to the old people in the Nursing Home.
Being granted to be studying here in USA is such a life changing experience to me. Although, I have been living in different places before but being here in USA has its own unique offers to myself. As I always amazed by the advance higher education here in USA, how diverse the country is and especially to understand and learn how people really liberated and value the democracy in this country. These have impacted me the most to be able to fully understand and hopefully to bring some of these values back to implement in my country.
As a political science students, we required to write and interact a lot in the class. The thing that I learned from being in my class for the past 2 years is, people really respect and value your opinion. Most of my professors and classmates are really helpful and respect of whatever opinion you have without underestimating yourself. This has been something that I impacted me personally.