Julieta Rodrigo
My educational experience at Florida International University was enriched by the opportunities presented in the Global Medallion program. It immersed students into global perspectives, and I graduated with a sharpened ability to consider a wide variety of perspectives and points of view when making decisions that will impact others. Furthermore, I was able to tie in my theoretical background in political science with the contemporary issues we discussed in the program; in a globalized world, it is imperative that students possess an awareness of global events and understand how they are all interconnected. Lastly, I am graduating with a renewed desire to engage in global problem-solving, and am passionate about engaging people from different ethnicities and backgrounds in the improvement of our social circumstances.
The Tuesday Times Roundtables were effective in fostering student discussions on social entrepreneurship, sustainable development, business ethics and human trafficking, freedom of speech, state power, and popular events like the Olympics' Opening Ceremony or presidential election town halls. The majority of these lectures discussed a concept in a way I had never thought about before, and they all taught me something. Although we were all students in the same age group and attending the same university, it was fascinating to see all the different perspectives that students brought to the discussion, and I walked away from the lectures with a more profound appreciation for the diversity in our university's student body.
In Global Learning-sponsored events and courses, students were encouraged to broaden their views and allow other students' experiences to challenge their preconceived notions of issues of equality, racism, and intercultural communication. Although it is sometimes difficult to overcome selective learning, I learned that having an assortment of influences in your life makes us much more empathetic, intelligent, and productive in our respective fields.
The Global Learning program inspired students to engage in local, global, and international problem solving. For instance, students were frequently asked how they would react in certain circumstances, such as being a European leader during the Holocaust Era or being a witness to discrimination on campus. These exercises allowed us to understand each other's personal behaviors and grow in self-awareness of our own biases.
My plans after graduation are to pursue journalism, with a focus on international scientific correspondence. I aim to bring awareness to climate change issues affecting underprivileged and impoverished people in the nation and across the world. The knowledge I gained from the Global Learning program will help me better communicate with people from other cultures. I have a deeper understanding of the world's varying perspectives as a result of this program. I know I will surely use the lessons I learned in this program in my future political and journalistic career as I travel around the world and engage with different cultures.
In closing, I would like to thank Eric Feldman, all of the staff in the Global Learning department at FIU, all of my professors and mentors, and my fellow classmates. You have all molded me to be a more well-rounded person, and I am eternally grateful.
May the Global Medallion Class of 2017 change the world for the better.