This summer, I had the opportunity to visit China with my older sister. Before this trip, my travel experience outside the U.S. was mostly limited to visiting my home country, Afghanistan. Going from that to visiting a country like China, where there is often misinformation about what it is truly like, was eye-opening. As an aspiring engineer, I was amazed by the number of electric vehicles and the incredible high-speed trains that were smooth, fast, affordable, and comfortable. These types of trains don’t exist in the U.S. and experiencing them opened my eyes to what engineers can create. I saw the breathtaking skyline of Shanghai and climbed the Great Wall of China. I was immersed in a culture very different from the U.S., where people wore UV-protective clothing, spoke a language I could barely understand beyond “xiexie,” and ate foods I had never heard of.
This experience opened my eyes to the advancements in engineering and technology beyond the U.S. while helping me appreciate a culture I wasn’t familiar with. The people were kind, and I valued the lasting impact China had on me. From the preservation of history and culture to the remarkable technology, I learned the importance of balance. Preserving these things defines what makes us different from others and allows us to build pride in who we are and what we have accomplished along the way. History and culture teach lessons for the future, while progress shows what humanity can achieve. This trip also helped me better understand what it means to be a Global Citizen Scholar by showing me how cultural appreciation and global awareness are just as important as innovation and progress.
China inspired me to explore new areas of engineering, especially those focused on sustainability. Electric cars and bullet trains prove to be far more environmentally friendly than the U.S.’s current reliance on gas-powered vehicles and lack of solid public transportation. I want to pursue engineering that values sustainability and forward thinking, applying these lessons when I look for co-ops that align with these goals.
Huda Khan's University Honors Learning Portfolio 