Written by: Ethan Davila, Caminos al Futuro 2019
Hi, my name is Ethan Davila. I’m from McAllen, Texas, a small city just a short drive away from the US/Mexico border. The bustling metropolis of Washington D.C. is very different from the peacefulness of my hometown. However, I adjusted quickly, and I now love the city and the GW campus. Even though we have only completed one week of our Caminos al Futuro journey, it feels as if we have been here for much longer; we have bonded with each other and become more experienced navigating the city.
Today, we visited the headquarters of The Common Application, which facilitates more than 5 million college applications each year. Looking out of the window of the high rise office building, I saw the thriving city where politicians and businessmen rush down the sidewalks. They looked as small as ants from where I was, but they all play a huge part in making sure our country runs well. This sight inspired me to become like them: a leader in my community.
At the Common Application’s headquarters, we met several executives who shared their stories with us. It interested me that many of them worked in fields different from what they studied in college, and all of them held many different careers throughout their lives. For example, a manager within the IT department studied political science in college. The executives gave us vital advice about what companies look for in potential applicants, and what looks favorable on an applicant’s resume.
Visiting the headquarters also made me realize how helpful the Common Application is, and how it will allow me to send my application to dozens, even hundreds of institutions with the click of a button. This also made me realize how hard I must work to create the best application that I possibly can. However, I am confident that the staff here at Caminos al Futuro can help me create an excellent application!
Ethan Davila is a Caminos al Futuro 2019 scholar. Ethan’s views are her own and not necessarily reflective of the Cisneros Institute.