On the rivers of change

East meets West: Rivers of Change was inspired by the economic difficulties that challenge people in every country. Michigan is known across the United States for being a state on the decline. India has been known as a third world country beginning to show economic growth, even though the general population hasn't experienced the benefits of the recent growth. These two vastly different places have a common theme, the people. People under stress, adapt and learn to survive despite the odds. Rivers of change comes from the physical symbolism that people have in common. A river is pathway and a constantly changing force that always adapts. The bridge between all people is that they are full of hope, as am I. I haven't had a great deal of documentary work. My Bachelor of Science degree is in Archaeological Studies. I spent my college years dedicating myself to archaeology, but splitting my time between terrestrial and underwater. I had experimented with film in broadcasting class in high school. The interest took the back burner when I went to college. After, graduation when I started at a national marine sanctuary. I came in contact with film crews coming into the heritage center and I learned I could join my two interests; archaeology and film. Now, I have ambitions to go to grad school for screen media in archaeology. I want to save television from reality programming by bringing back reality, real topics. It is my goal to expand into childrens' programming as well. As a kid I was inspired by Jacques Cousteau and now I feel I've made it full circle. My brief projects include; rural oral history for Norwegian American heritage, assisting in creating promotional footage for kayaking adventures, Museum support staff providing public assistance for web submissions for a "Live Dive" broadcast, and distant broadcasting for education programs through heritage center. In multimedia, I have contributed to a project journal on the museum of underwater archaeology website and great stories for AmeriCorps. This scholarship is the prefect marriage of my interests. The chance to go to Australia and interact with Yolngu Aboriginal addressing the issue of cultural heritage and environmentalism is similiar to enthnoarchaeology. Interacting with modern ethnic people to learn about traditional ways and draw similiarities between old solutions and new problems. The maritime activities aligns with my maritime archaeology interests because underwater archaeology is more than shipwrecks. Like the people highlighted in my submission, I have adapted, making my own opportunities in life on a penny budget. To me, this scholarship would be everything.