All
across the world the European Union has come to be known
as an organization of international cooperation, working
toward the benefit of all countries. Currently encompassing
27 nations across Europe, the European Union has the capacity
for greatness. By guaranteeing the freedom of the movement
of people and goods, the European Union maintains peace
and prosperity for all those involved. Even here in the
United States, although divided by an ocean, people can
still feel the effects of the Union. But perhaps even
more importantly than how the Union affects the U.S. is
how it affects the people within this country. For me
the European Union represents opportunity, learning, but
most of all hope, for a better tomorrow and a unified
world working towards that goal. The European Union offers
students like myself with the opportunity to visit Europe
through contests such as this in addition to a multitude
of other opportunities in my future. Other associations
such as the French Institute: Alliance Française,
work in conglomeration with the European Union to promote
knowledge about the world. Any future career choice that
involves dealings with Europe will most likely involve
the European Union as well and therefore will open more
doors for me in Europe. But despite all the possibilities
available through the European Union, it is we ourselves
that must choose to embrace them. Every occasion passed
must be seen as a learning experience for the future and
every occasion taken is a learning experience now. By
simply supporting education and hosting contests such
as these, the European Union offers bountiful learning
opportunities. Through these efforts learning is able
to transcend the boundaries of the classroom and permeate
into the real world. The real world is what matters and
what affects every part of all of our futures and therefore
the Union affects me.
Aside from the tangible benefits made available through
the Union, it also provides a key ingredient to the survival
of mankind since the beginning of time; hope. It gives
me hope that it is possible for different nations of many
different languages to come together for a single goal.
Although the European Union is relatively new to the world,
hopefully, in time, its influence will spread to other
nations and spur them to start similar groups if not join
the Union itself. Despite the physical distance between
the people of the Union and the people of this country,
ideals have no bounds, and can therefore be immediately
incorporated into our lives so that we may make the world
a better place.
