Assignment 18 Daryn Smith

1. Before I graduate high school, I would like to be able to speak conversational Spanish pretty fluently and have a basic knowledge of conversational Hebrew. As I am currently in Spanish four, I'd say this is a relatively reasonable goal or priority to have. However, my Hebrew skills are far worse than I'd like them to be, so I am going to have to find a way to fix that next year. It amazes me how much language connects people and I feel that the ability to speak multiple connections brings you so many opportunities and experiences that you wouldn't otherwise have. Spanish is becoming more and more common in America, and the ability to speak it can come in handy in many situations. I want to learn Hebrew partly to understand the kids I babysit but also because I have a connection to the language as a Jew.

2. My number one priority before I graduate college is to have befriended or become acquainted with someone from at least half the states and each continent except Antarctica. The experiences people have from different areas of the world, even of the country, are enlightening to learn about and understand. Such experiences can also give me an idea of where I want to live when I settle down somewhere, or if I want to settle down somewhere. I also think that bringing people together from different areas of the world in a casual setting can create unity that no law or treaty can come close to.

3. Before I die, I want to have traveled to every continent except Antarctica- it's too lonely there. I'm not sure how feasible this is mainly because of money, but it is something I have always wanted to do. Some of the places I am most eager to visit are Israel, Poland, France, and Japan. Israel because of its religious significance, Poland because my grandparents both lived there, and France and Japan because they are just cool. This goal of mine again goes back to the desire for knowledge of various experiences and situations. Different cultures interest me and experiencing them first hand would be wonderful.