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Garrett Dearden

Garrett Dearden

Boren Scholarships

University of Maryland, College Park

Arabic

Languages

What inspired you to apply for the Boren Awards?

Applying to Boren was a natural decision as a ROTC cadet since I knew I wanted to begin my service after college. Boren provided a great opportunity to fund my capstone year abroad in Morocco with the Arabic Flagship Program.

What were the memorable highlights of your overseas study?

Learning to surf in front of a 850 year old Kasbah at sunset in Rabat, living in an apartment in downtown Meknes, participating in an internship to learn how to craft Moroccan Mosaics, watching the sun rise over the Saharan desert, fishing with my host Dad on a river trip, and coaching a Moroccan little league soccer team.

How has the Boren Awards experience influenced your career path?

Boren allowed me to better serve my soldiers in the Army by allowing me to develop greatly as a person through my year abroad. The experience of living in a totally different world then what you grew up in was profound impactful on my life. Having a high level of language ability also allowed me to help partner nations during our military training exercises. Nothing creates a connection with our allies quite like being able to speak their same language at a global professional level.

What tips would you give others applying for the Boren Awards?

Put substantial thought into your essays for your application because they allow you to express yourself, goals, and ambitions more than just an application form can. Boren will allow you to create lifelong memories that many Americans will never have the same opportunity to experience.