The Change Agent(s)
Goedemorgen! Boris please be aware that that we do not speak Dutch.....
Het interview gesprek is een vervolg op de examenlijsten en de antwoorden op vragen die op papier + een essay opgestuurd moesten worden.
45 minuten are you ready Boris!?
Vraag 1
I believe that an interdisciplinary program would be a perfect fit for me since I am someone with many interests. There are countless benefits to an interdisciplinary approach, one being that there is a boost in creativity from looking at a topic through many different lenses and scopes. Being able to approach a subject in many different ways helps me to sketch the bigger picture, and I would like to have even more ways to look at global matters. An interdisciplinary approach will also greatly motivate me to pursue and strengthen my knowledge in different subject areas. Regarding the pathways of studies integrated in the program I am drawn to the “law in an international context” major, because I have observed an increase in complexity of global situations and the roles of the various laws and values of each country involved.
Vraag zoveel verder
Trusting Authority
For most of my life, I was taught to respect authority and not second guess anything someone with experience or power had to say. There was no disputing the fact that teachers, parents, older siblings, and doctors all had more experience living and that they would always be correct. However, there was a turning point, a moment that led me to have a slight bit of doubt in the words of authority, and which in the end, taught me a valuable lesson. That the words of authority are not always what they seem.
At one point in class, my teacher was telling us about history. I didn’t think twice about it, but as I reviewed in my head what he had said, I had a feeling that something was missing. It was a new feeling for me and only happened because I coincidentally researched the topic the night before. I began to doubt if what the teacher was saying was correct. After class, I showed my teacher that I had different information and he confirmed that he had made a mistake. That statement would stay with me for a long time. The image I had about authority always being right, was shattered.
Similarly, for a very long time, I thought that news publishers always were right, that their articles were written by trained journalists who were dealing with nothing but the truth and reality. To me, it was self-evident that any company that would cover a story, that they would accurately analyze and display it. However, I think that this is not always the case, since I have learned that news outlets can be influenced by outside factors, shaping information in their favor. This has been exponentially increased through social media where everyone can present a story from their point of view and claim it as reality.
These examples changed the way that I thought about believing everything that people with more knowledge than me had to say. I became more independent and aware, doing my research if It was something important to me and my view of the world. I learned a lot more; I was more invested in what I was researching and being taught at school. I also discovered that it is beneficial to have already formulated an idea or meaning about something before you are instructed and exposed to someone else’s; this allows you to create your own beliefs and values, but also enhances learning since you can see topics from many points of view.
I think is very important to be aware, be curious, research, and doubt things. Throughout one’s childhood, there are many things that you learn, either through exploration and interest or by being taught by someone else. I never second-guessed what authority had to say, but once I did, it opened a new stream of thoughts for me; that what authority shares, is not necessarily always what it seems.
Gallery
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