Albert Einstein has this great quote that says: “A human being is part of a whole, which we call “the universe,” a part limited in time and space. space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separate from the rest – a kind of optical illusion of his consciousness. » This illusion, I have observed, is very common in the United States. Most people seem stuck in their little bubble of forgetting, completely unaware of the strengths and experiences of people who aren't immediately connected to their own lives. People seem to forget, myself included, that our actions not only affect our own lives, but also have a profound impact on the rest of the world; the lives of people we may have never met. Thinking about the bowl of cereal I eat every morning, it blows my mind when I try to imagine how many people it took me to get that bowl of cereal. The farmers who grew the grain, the workers who operated the machines in the grain factory, the truck drivers who brought the box of cereal to my local grocery store; they all allowed me to have breakfast. Most of the time I don't really consider this whole process, probably because I don't have to. I live in this invisible bubble where I only worry about my daily insignificant disasters, and I don't have to think about these connections. I want to study abroad because I want to break this bubble of ignorance and I want to know what is happening elsewhere. I want to break down my sense of entitlement and privilege and find out what's going on in the lives of other people who don't live the same way I do. Growing up in the United States, I was accustomed to a life of luxury. However, life is not like this everywhere, and is in fact very...... middle of paper ......ch like the Latino immigrants in my hometown. An individual's story is not a separate entity, as most people like it. believe. An individual story is part of the larger narrative of humanity. Each voice has a unique perspective on major global issues such as capitalism, which affect various countries around the world. It is crucial for me to learn how these voices contribute to the international dialogue, not only because they will help me in my professional career, but because they will also empower me as a person. By breaking the egocentric bubble of my lived experience, I will force myself to be aware of the realities of others, not just my own. As Einstein explained, “Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by expanding our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and all of nature in its beauty.” Mr. Einstein, I accept the challenge.