Learning in GSP never ends. . .
People are defined by their values, which are the strongest indicators of their moral character. Throughout my life, I have believed and committed to this concept. Loyalty, honesty, and open-mindedness are values that are important to me, so I gravitate towards people who share these values. Although I believe that it’s important for me to form bonds with people who share similar values, I do acknowledge that different principles can arise because of the diverse student body at Michigan, and more specifically in the Global Scholars Program. What I notice most about Michigan's representation of diversity is background, including upbringing, culture, and future goals. Over the semester, I've discovered I'm a better version of myself because of the diverse personalities I've met and cultures I've encountered through the Global Scholars Program. Thus, I have gained a greater sense of motivation and inspiration, and I have become more open-minded as a result of different viewpoints.
AlA-210 quite simply, re-shaped who I am as a learner, teammate, and leader. The lectures and cg’s exposed me to new topics and pushed me to think differently about a variety of political and world events. As a student, I remember learning the term cultural intelligence and not really understanding it. The importance of cultural awareness wasn't apparent to me at first. After talking with more people, I realized that cultural intelligence has a great deal of potential and is essential. The importance of this became apparent to me, especially as I think about a future career in finance where I will work with clients from different countries and backgrounds. A simple greeting or cultural norm can make a big difference when setting up a good first impression and conducting business. To further this idea, the University of Michigan is a school with a lot of diversity, and a lot of the time, we work with students our age from various cultures. A positive experience for everyone can always be achieved by following communication norms, appropriate gestures, etc. Specifically, I've never tired of the conversations I've had in GSP. There is always something new to learn, whether it's in the dining halls, lectures, or CG. Most of the people in my other classes have similar backgrounds and hold similar beliefs, so my classes are rarely filled with such diverse discussions. Through conversations like these in GSP, I'm able to gain a global perspective on various topics. Since becoming enrolled in GSP, I've found myself paying more attention and listening more carefully as a result of becoming more aware and attentive.
As a CG group, our backgrounds, experiences, and cultures were all very different. Our team activities helped us build an intercultural perspective when we utilized our strengths to benefit our team. When it came to discussions, I used to be insecure and didn’t share as much. I know, however, that in future teams I'll be more inclined to speak up and engage others in conversation because I know that cultural differences often lend themselves to innovative ideas. The entire Global Scholars Program provided me with a strong foundation to navigate the real world and develop my identity further. As a student, I am excited to continue to GSP in the Winter Semester and continue to contribute ideas and perspectives from different cultures.
Kiana Yin