I love learning. My idea of a relaxing afternoon is to curl up with a cup of good tea and read for hours. I get excited when I can apply something I have read or learned to everyday life. This is one reason I am so fascinated by rhetorical studies. People everywhere, regardless of their job, race, education, or political opinion, are influenced by the words of others. The way something is said—from as important as “I ask for your vote” to as mundane as “This sweater would look great with your eyes”—has a direct effect on the actions and choices of another. My desire to pursue a graduate degree in rhetorical studies is fueled by my drive to understand why certain words have a greater impact than others.
I am an aspiring chef. During my senior year of high school, I took a few classes at a local culinary school and learned to sauté, dice, carve, and caramelize like a pro. While I would never want to run a restaurant, I love trying new recipes and cuisines. I have far too many cookbooks and cannot stop myself from acquiring more. One of the most interesting books I have read in the past few years was about a former White House chef and the years he spent creating menus and recipes for multiple Presidents and First Ladies. I suppose my fascination with politics translates even into my love of cooking.
I feel most at ease when I am playing the violin. Classical music has a way of calming my spirits and putting life in perspective. When I am discouraged, I pull out Haydn. When I am excited about life, I pull out Vivaldi. When I am in need of an old friend, I pull out Bach. As I revisit passages I have played a dozen times before, I think about the composer and wonder what they were feeling as they recorded the notes for the first time. As I allow myself to get lost in the music, I gain perspective and find myself once again.
I love to travel. My dream vacation would be to spend three months in Europe. I would start in Portugal and drive through Spain, France, Austria, down through Italy, and end in Greece. While I would visit all the major towns and sites, my favorite stops would be in the little towns filled with normal people going about their daily routines. The hidden gems would surface as I experienced the local culture. I would record my journey in a red leather notebook and write down my observations, feelings, and discoveries. I would be sure to taste the local food and pick up a good cookbook for my collection.
I am passionate about adoption. When I was a sophomore in high school, my parents adopted a six month old baby boy from Vietnam. Although I had four younger siblings, my parents decided to welcome another child into our home. I traveled to Vietnam with my parents to finalize the adoption of my brother, Kyle Hien Platter. We toured the orphanage where Kyle spent the first six months of his life and saw hundreds of babies and young children waiting for a home and a family. It is a scene I will never forget. The week I spent in Vietnam opened my eyes to the overwhelming needs of so many children throughout the world. When my husband and I begin a family, we hope to have children through birth and adoption.
