Global Scholars Program Reflection

In the Global Scholars Program, I’ve learned the importance of stories as a mechanism for connection and understanding. Although I’ve participated in many history classes in my time at Poly, I feel that I learned the most in Facing Global Challenges because it provided the opportunity to learn about the past through personal accounts and expert-guided examinations. For example, Dydine Umurayama’s stories of her experience as a child in the Rwandan genocide revealed the most personal, awful, and deeply human parts of history that I would not have even begun to understand otherwise. Similarly, I appreciated our unit on fundamental international relations theories with Mr. Feldmeth and applying them to current and past events. Exercises like this were fascinating, and the depth went far beyond what any normal history course can provide.

I also appreciated how learning, even while at school, extended beyond the classroom. I was able to attend so many incredible events hosted by my classmates that exposed me to perspectives and issues I might otherwise never have encountered. Rushan Abbas’s presentation, for example, completely changed the way I think about my own role in global systems. Learning about the exploitation of Uyghurs, and specifically how many brands I interact with regularly are tied to exploitative and forced labor, revealed a side of nearly invisible current events that are far more urgent than most people let on. It genuinely changed some of my own habits and made me think more critically about consumption in a way I had not before. 

I was also lucky enough to host Aaron Fyke, whose talk on climate change and hope made me think about consumption in far different ways. His notes on geothermal energy, electric vehivles, and the steps required to decenter fossil fuels supported his final message that hope is motivational rather than complacent, which has stayed with me. It is only through this program that I had the change to engage with such an intelligent, inspiring figure like Mr. Fyke, and I have a strong feeling that his note that climate action is a part of every job field will seriously shape my future career path.

The best part of becoming a Global Scholar was participating in the Global Initiatives Program trips, and the fact that I was able to broaden my horizons, meet real people, and experience different cultures firsthand has absolutely influenced my future plans. I will be beginning my college experience abroad, spending my fall semester in Florence, Italy, followed by a semester in Buenos Aires, Argentina. With the knowledge I’ve gained from PolyGlobal, I know that I am more than ready to continue building connections and exploring cultures, now as an independent global citizen. I know that I still have much to learn, but I owe so much to this program, as it has taught me how to travel, engage, be curious, and seek understanding. I hope that one day I can return to Poly and tell my own stories and inspire someone in the way that all of the speakers and experiences that PolyGlobal gave me access to have inspired me.