<p>I am studying International Law with the hopes of proceeding into a government career. I love a good debate regarding politics and enjoy meeting people from all over the world. I am a huge fan of the outdoors and am very interested in other cultures - I am minoring in Russian! I've always considered myself an old soul and love all things rock n' roll.</p>

<p>I'm a Senior studying English at IUB and will graduate in the Fall. A few things about me: I've played and studied music all my life, I enjoy the company of close friends, and I love being outdoors in the summer. Looking past graduation, I'm planning for a journalism career so this opportunity is great for me.</p>

<p>I’m 21 years old and just starting to explore the world outside the United States! Currently I attend Sarah Lawrence College as a junior studying Sociology. I’ve always enjoyed a good book, story or adventure and plan on collecting many new stories while I’m abroad. I cherish empathy, kindness and good listening. I’ve experimented with art, style and writing and am always looking for new ways to express and explore myself. I firmly believe that understanding yourself also means understanding your context and the world around you and I am looking to continuously do that through travel. As an IES correspondent I hope to provide content that both tells a story about the places I’ve been and show chases a my perspective as someone whose black, LGBTQ and disabled.</p>

<p>My name is Amaya Marcella Aguilar Diaz and I am a Junior Music Education Major studying at Texas Christian University. I am actively involved on my campus by singing in the University's choral ensembles, Concert Chorale and University Singers, and by singing with the Reformed University Fellowship's music ministry as well as TCU's Opera Studio. I also serve the TCU community by being a second year Resident Assistant in King and Wright Halls.</p><p><br>Growing up, I always loved sharing my story through singing and writing poetry. This gift carried on through my college life. One of my poems, "Life without You", was used in one of TCU Concert Chorale's programs and even inspired a fellow student, Kyle Barker, to write music to her words. I also used this poem as inspiration to find the joys of life by taking videos every day for a whole year, editing them into monthly compilations, and posting them onto my personal facebook account. I wanted to share the joys of my life with friends and family and remind people that despite all the hardships, life is still beautiful and we have the pleasure of living in it!</p><p><br>My hope is that I can continue using my words and my art to touch people's hearts, help the world to see my life through my eyes, and to move others to love one another more.</p>

<p>I enjoy taking pictures, exploring, spending time with family and friends and I love animals.</p>

<p>I am a sophomore in college studying scenic design. My favorite things are art, music, and animals. I write for my college newspaper, usually as a theatre critic or comedian. I'm really excited to study abroad because I love meeting new people and experiencing new cultures!</p>

<p>I am a junior in the Integrated Business and Engineering (IBE) program at Lehigh University, studying chemical engineering and finance. At school, I am the President of the Chi Phi Fraternity and enjoy participating in service opportunities, such as tutoring local middle schoolers or leading recruitment for Dance Marathon to raise money for CHOP. I also enjoy snowboarding and traveled to the breathtaking Stowe, Vermont this past Winter. I have a passion for nature and currently intend to focus on alternative energy with my ChE degree.</p>

<p>Hi, I'm Maya! I'm a Health Sciences major at Saint Louis University and am studying to be a physician assistant. I have a passion for people, and here at SLU I am a resident adviser, co-president of pre-PA club, and am involved in many service organizations promoting diversity and community engagement in the St. Louis area. I love hammocking, roller blading, hiking, and reading!</p>

<p>My name is Akina Obata and my major is Art and Design with a concentration of Animation and Film Media at North Carolina State University. I have been formally educated in photography and film, and I enjoy photography and photoshoots! I often practice my photography skills almost daily and love designing visual narratives.</p>

<p>I enjoy reading novels, one of my favorite authors is James Patterson because of his ability to capture and keep the reader’s attention for the entirety of the novel. Currently, I am reading " Becoming", by former FLOTUS Michelle Obama. Her book is inspiring because of the authentic storytelling of Michelle Obama's life. Some of my other interests are Chinese language and culture. Chinese phrases are descriptive extended metaphors that are beautifully crafted. Throughout my matriculation in middle and high school, I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to study Mandarin for 6 years. Some of my long-term goals are to become proficient in Chinese, understand the culture holistically, and travel extensively throughout China. This summer, I have an amazing opportunity to study abroad in Shanghai, China and start accomplishing these goals. Another one of my interest is cheerleading. I started cheerleading at the age of five years old. Cheerleading was my way of showing school spirit and staying actively engaged with my peers. I decided to retire from cheerleading prior to attending college, so I could focus on pursuing my college degree and other collegiate activities.</p>