The Chamber of Commerce of Bethesda is guided by the principles of “providing opportunities for exposure, connections and growth.” A product of this vision, I feel that my experiences with Bethesda have given me exposure to the world, provided me with connections to others, and helped me grow as an individual. Moving to Bethesda at age seven with my mother, it was a new beginning for us as we left our friends and family behind. Located in close proximity to Washington D.C., Bethesda offered us a world of opportunity, with a stronger education system, better work opportunities, and a chance to become more cultured. From my own experiences, I strongly believe that had I grown up elsewhere I would be a different person. Where one lives plays a major role in their life outcomes; nurture therefore triumphs over nature. Thus, it is extremely vital that no matter where one lives, they take advantage of the opportunities surrounding them in their environment.
Living in Bethesda offered me one of the highest ranking public educational systems in the nation, and was truly the place that I grew as a person, and made connections. According to Forbes.com, “the percentage of advanced degrees in Bethesda is more than five times as high as in the entire U.S.” As a matter of fact, the very first school I attended was a “Blue-Ribbon” elementary school recognized nationally for its academia. In the words of my mom, “I knew that moving to Bethesda was the right choice because its schools were unbeatable.” Throughout the rest of my educational career I continued to go to high-ranking public schools. Studying in such an academically driven environment had a strong impact on my desire to go to get good grades and go to college. In high school, the academic competition got even more intense. From the get go I was told to get involved with extracurricular activities and take challenging courses in order to get into a “good school.” All of these factors shaped my high school career. I joined the debate team, took two college courses, three AP courses, ran the Habitat for Humanity Club, and did a law internship all during my senior year. These opportunities helped me become a better educated person and also offered me the opportunity to learn from the real-world work environment. I took full advantage of my resources in Bethesda, from the classes offered in my school, to the surrounding internship opportunities, and it got me to the place I wanted to be, at UNC.
Located near the capital, Bethesda offers bountiful job opportunities in the public as well as private sector. My mother and I took full advantage of these opportunities, making valuable professional connections. When my mom first came to Bethesda she started as a receptionist for a medical practice but today she is the operations manager for four offices and now does the firing and hiring. Living so close to D.C., she was able to find a large practice right outside of the city whereby she could easily metro into work everyday. As for myself, I got the opportunity to work with a law firm that gave me the opportunity to meet other lawyers, and gain invaluable experience. Despite the competition for jobs and internships in the area, living in Bethesda taught us to have a competitive edge that could set us apart and also taught us the importance of making connections.
Although census records state that Bethesda’s population is 85% White, the high school I attended was extremely culturally diverse and helped me become better exposed to the outer world. I found it very easy to make friends with people from many different backgrounds and ethnicity in my school. In fact, my high school made it a point to display different cultures, featuring a Hispanic heritage assembly, Asian heritage assembly, and Black assembly each year for the students to become more knowledgeable about other cultures. In addition, due to Bethesda’s rather liberal tendencies, I became better cultured in that I became more aware of global issues such as the environment and advocacy for homosexual rights. Also, being so close to the city offered me the opportunity to visit nearby museums, art galleries, shows, concerts, monuments, and historical landmarks. These culturally enriching experienced have contributed to my accepting nature of others today.
Where you grow up greatly determines the person you become. The connections, exposure, and personal growth I have gained from living in Bethesda crafted my personality today and prove that I am a product of the Chamber’s expectations. Every town has its disadvantages and advantages. For Bethesda, the competition and societal expectations sometimes make living there a challenge but in order to succeed in the place one lives in, it is important to look for the advantages of the area and adapt to the disadvantages as my family did.
Works Cited
“About the Chamber.” Bccchamber.org. Bethesda-Chevy-Chase Chamber of Commerce, 2010. Web. 21 Nov. 2011. <http://www.bccchamber.org/content.asp?pl=507&contentid=507>.
“Bethesda CDP, Maryland.” Census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau, n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2011. <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&pctxt=fph&_lang=en&_sse=on&geo_id=16000US2407125&_state=04000US24>.
Detwiler, Jacqueline. “In Depth: America’s Most Educated Small Towns.” Forbes.com. N.p., 5 Jan. 2009. Web. 21 Nov. 2011. <http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/02/educated-small-towns-forbeslife-cx_jd_0105realestate.html>.
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