​        While I did experience culture shock when I moved here to the United States from the Philippines, nothing could compare to the exposure to the cultural diversity that I experienced during my time here at FIU. Through my academics, social interactions, enriching events and activities, volunteer work, and involvement in organizations, I was able to see positive changes in my global awareness, perspective, and engagement as a result of my active participation with Global Learning at FIU.

        The act of service has always been a passion of mine, and I made it a priority to be involved in on-campus events and organizations at the onset of my undergraduate career. My desire to fuel my passion was precisely how I became involved with the organization called Alternative Breaks. I joined as a member and loved my experience so much that I came back as a Site Leader for the next two years after that initial trip. Those impactful experiences have enriched my global awareness by teaching me with great humility that it is not enough to know about the matters of the world, but to see how they are all interconnected. Alternative Breaks was a wonderful avenue for me to learn and experience first-hand the social issues present in the world today. The social issue we addressed in Nicaragua was Health, hence why we went there on a medical brigade in order to provide both medical and dental care services to those living in rural and impoverished areas who do not have easy accessibility to these healthcare services. The social issue we addressed in Guyana was At-Risk Youth and Youth Development, hence why we spent our time educating students at primary schools and the children at the local orphanage. Thus, not only did my global awareness improve, but so did my global engagement. By learning about the social issues and addressing them by problem-solving and developing plans to find solutions, I have seen an enrichment in my global engagement at an international level. Global engagement, however, is not limited to an international level as it can also be the willingness to engage in problem-solving at a local and intercultural level. As important as it is to extend a helping hand internationally, it is also of importance to address the social issues present within one’s community. This is why I became involved with on-campus organizations such as Golden Key and Ignite the Future. They have allowed me to address social issues, like education, and eagerly serve those within my community.

        My involvement in these organizations have led to a change in my global perspective, which is learning to accept the thoughts and ideas of others, and not just my own, during any decision-making. This change was most evident due to the Global Learning courses that I have taken at FIU. The Global Learning coursework has not only broadened my scope of understanding about the importance of others’ perspectives, but it has also improved my own skill sets, particularly those I’ve learned through my leadership opportunities. One leadership competency that I’ve greatly improved on was communication. Effective communication requires teamwork as every member involved has to be actively engaged in order for information to to flow seamlessly within the group. Whether it was working on group projects for a class or organizing a team to go on a international mission trip, effective communication is pertinent in order to ensure that goals are achieved in a timely manner. Another leadership competency I’ve improved on was understanding group dynamics. A group is comprised of members with individual thoughts and ideas. Thus, as a leader, I have learned to maintain a good balance of knowing when to move forward and motivate others to partake in the movement, but to also know when to step back and encourage others to take initiative in making effective decisions. By understanding the dynamics of my groups, we have been able to accomplish our goals more effectively and efficiently as everyone’s contributions aligned with their individual strengths and capabilities.

        Upon graduation, I aim to continue my duties as a global citizen by partaking in volunteer work through local community service and international mission trips. I also hope to extend my reach as a global citizen through my academics by widening the scope of my global perspective by way of my coursework and interpersonal communications.