Week 5 - How PIQs are evaluated

​“I’m not ready,” I muttered. I was 9, and my parents shipped me to Iraq to serve local humanitarian churches and orphanages. I had no voice in these yearly mission trips; the year before I was sent to Turkey. I was missing school, but my parents decided it was for the best. Like any child placed in a new environment, I was reticent at first, unwilling to interact with the Kurdistan community we visits. They looked unusual, spoke an alien language, and lived in drastically different conditions compared to the US. I struggled to adapt to another culture. But overtime, I grew acquainted with the carefree lifestyle of rustic Iraq. Once I came back home, a barrage of homework welcomed me. My absences accumulated and it was difficult for me to stay on top of my schoolwork. My parents and teachers expected me to be exceptional in school when I was spending most of my time preparing to travel in and out of the country. I was told to work on my English skills while learning and entirely new language. Similarly, I had to master mathematical formulas as I picked up how to convert US dollars into Dinars. But worst of all, I never knew when I would be sent off on another mission trip. This seemed like a barrier at first. I couldn’t dedicate my time or effort in school, and it showed in my grades. I couldn’t understand why I needed to excel in school if my parents also wanted me to be an active missionary. My motivation to shine academically slowly diminished. The same dying flame was rekindled, however when I realized that my shortcomings allowed me to refine my study habits and problem-solving skills. Adapting to new environments is a way of life. I wouldn't consider myself nomadic, but I am prepared to serve in a new location - the Unibersity of California.