Reflection

When I first enrolled at FIU, I did not know what kind of person I wanted to be yet. I welcomed college as an opportunity to develop my interests and to do that, I knew I had to be involved. I did not know anything about what FIU had to assist students interested in global affairs. Global learning was one of the first things that I took part in aside from my coursework. I started by reaching out to students who are a part of the program, and I was eventually introduced to Model United Nations. Through that, I became a part of a group of like-minded students who demonstrated the resources FIU has to offer for students interested in global affairs.  By my senior year I was able to participate in FIU's Fly-In Series, Global Learning, the Model United Nations Program, Peace Corps Prep, Alternative Breaks, and various internships that have further developed my role as a global citizen. 

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One of my favorite courses that I have taken is Developing a Global Perspective. I was truly excited to take this class because I understood the importance of having a global perspective through the Global Learning Program and my chosen field of study. This course introduced me to what it really means to build a global consciousness and the value of global pedagogy. From then on, I have been using the strategies I learned from this class in my daily habits. I have been working on building this perspective since my freshman year, and in turn, my global awareness has also developed. I recognize that at the end of my college experience, I have achieved my aim of gaining a global perspective, yet I know that there is always more to learn.

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Global awareness is extremely important to me, as demonstrated by my research and engagement on numerous issues. Analyzing the world's interdependent nature has always been a big part of my studies at FIU. I appreciate researching global issues on a greater scale, as can be seen, in my research projects the 4 E's of Good Governance and Refugees in Sub-Saharan Africa. Sustainable development, I believe, plays a significant role in this interconnected aspect, which is why I have placed such a high priority on it. I wish that more people understood the complexity of international relations. It is critical to educate the next generation, but as the world evolves, I have made it a point to incorporate global consciousness into my teachings.

 

I have learned that being a global citizen means more than just having a global perspective, it also means global engagement. A person can gain perspective and awareness on global concerns, but what matters most is being a change maker. I value solutions in general, as proven by Model UN and the conclusions of my research policy ideas. Debating is simple, and recognizing problems is even simpler, but genuinely making a difference in the world proves to be the most difficult task. My Carnegie Internship taught me that if each person dedicates themselves to changing the world, we can improve our circumstances. With the help of FIU, I have been able to feel the gratification and progress that has resulted from taking efforts to be an active global citizen.

 

As I reflect on my college years and my role as a global citizen, I am grateful to have accomplished so much in the past three years. Despite having experienced extreme highs and lows, I believe I have had an impact on the world and have grown as a person. As I managed my different interests within my broad major, FIU's Global Learning department has been the most helpful and encouraging. It is critical to become a global citizen and to inspire others to do the same. Instead of only getting a degree, I believe I was able to accomplish even more than I had anticipated. As a recent graduate who will now be entering the professional workforce, I intend to continue to advocate for global learning and broaden my worldview as a lifelong learner.
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