When I grow up, I want to be a rock star and have a pony and a castle. Since my preschool years, my ideas about what job I would have “when I grow up” have changed almost every week. From doctor to lawyer to teacher to FOX News anchor, my career aspirations changed and were shaped by my personal experiences and the incredible people I came into contact with. Currently, my largest and most enduring professional interests lie in foreign relations and diplomacy. Two experiences over the past two summers have distinguished a diplomatic career from any other profession in my mind. The first was living in Washington DC for a month as a Senate page with forty intelligent, enthusiastic, and unique teenagers. It has been an incredible privilege to see our nation's senators in action – debating, discussing, being interviewed, representing their constituents – and an honor to meet and see powerful people and their staffs working together to build and maintain America's framework. . Initially, this experience developed my interest in politics, but later I realized that the aspects of research that I enjoyed most were living in the city of Washington, DC and meeting many exceptional people from from diverse backgrounds. These two interests pointed me toward the goal of eventually working for the State Department. That summer, I realized how much I enjoy discussing issues with people who have unique mindsets stemming from their unique backgrounds and interests. It developed in me a desire to try new things, to diversify and test the limits of my comfort zone. The bright, outgoing people around me made me want to work harder and improve. After calling, I knew I wanted a job that required all of my effort, engaged many of my interests, and middle of paper...... attend the meeting, listen to me, and participate. After none of these expectations were met, I realized that I first had to work to meet the expectations and earn the respect of the board so that they would trust me and want me to lead them. I have a lot to learn about leadership. and I want to learn. The McConnell Fellowship Program provides the ideal environment to develop leadership skills while gaining a well-rounded education and building strong relationships with other scholars focused on developing the same character traits. As I research colleges, fill out applications, and search for scholarships, I am overwhelmed. by the number of degrees, programs and learning experiences offered, but the McConnell Scholars Program seems to be the best choice for me because of its influence on a trait I want to develop more and more: leadership..