“My dream for the future is…”

My dream for the future is to create a career that channels American ingenuity to address world issues. I’d like to start by updating the way aid is given. Rather than mostly giving successive donations that provide short-term relief to Third World regions, I’d focus on helping devise ways to develop long-lasting, self-sustaining economies in these areas. Donations should catch groups of people if they slip, not hold them a few inches above the ground. America is home to the best minds in the world and can use its spirit of innovation to restructure and improve the efficiency of foreign aid.

Somalia is an example of a country that could benefit from long-term, self-sustaining solutions. Unfortunately, international aid worsened the violence there because competing militias fought over food, medical supplies, and other necessities. In addition to sending basic aid, America could use its expertise to help jump-start a new industry, such as silica mining. Somalia has an abundance of sand which contains silica that can be refined into silicon. This substance is used in many commercial products that are in high, stable demand, such as solar panels and electronic components. Somalia would benefit from foreign investment, job creation, and international trade. In the future, I hope to connect organizations, companies, and individuals in new ways to solve major world issues and work on site to accomplish these goals.