Global perspective and intercultural maturity are two areas which I believe best develop through time and the different things you experience in your life. What you learn along the way affects how you view the world and other cultures around you. These can also be developed in the courses you take that help to expand your knowledge on the world you live in. For my core courses, Psychology and Sociology were probably the two most important classes I have taken that helped to enhance my global perspective and intercultural maturity. While two different courses, they both helped me understand the differences of people and cultures. In Sociology, a lot of discussion took place involving the socio-political issues of the time. Along with these debates came research into different issues around the world and how to properly conduct and perform studies on these topics. It was very focused around statistics and trends when it was not about social issues. This helped my global perspective by exposing me to the issues not only in just our own country but worldwide as well. It also helped me to understand the struggles that many different cultures face in our world but not just the struggles, also the uniqueness in the difference of culture. Psychology was another class that helped my intercultural maturity and perspective. When most think about psychology, they expect plenty of studying about mental illness. However, this class was much more than that. A lot of the class was focused on the differences in cultures and how it changes people’s mentalities. It also covered historical psychological studies and the advancements they brought to society. This information was helpful to learn because it showed me patience. Not everybody views the world in the same perspective and their life experiences tend to dictate how they handle situations.
While these courses were helpful in teaching me about the world around me, my life experiences have also been instrumental in shaping my global outlook and cultural perspectives. As a child of a Mexican immigrant, a southern mother, and one amazing southern stepfather, I was raised surrounded by both a Latin culture and a southern culture. Being raised by two different cultures I was able to understand early in life that people come from all different backgrounds and that it is okay to be different. I also grew up in a very rural area, but once I became older, I began working in the city and was introduced to many different people from all different walks of life and was able to adapt to the quick city life. My upbringing and where I live now are two of the biggest factors in shaping my views. This is important because it directly correlates to how I make decisions and interact with others. I believe my upbringing combined with living in a more populated area have made me more understanding and accepting of the many types of people I will encounter in life. It also influences the decisions I make in life because of the values I was raised on. I was raised to work hard and stay focused on my goals in life and each decision I make should reflect that.
All of this has also prepared me for my chosen profession. I aspire to be a Medical Laboratory Scientist. I am currently a Medical Laboratory Technician which is the main reason I moved to the city, and in doing this job I have discovered a passion for science in healthcare and wish to continue by advancing my degree. Some of my courses like Biology and Chemistry showed me that I have a passion for science and lab work and I believe pursuing this degree is the right career choice for me.
References:
Global Perspective Inventory (GPI):
Its Purpose, Construction, Potential Uses, and Psychometric Characteristics
Larry A. Braskamp, David C. Braskamp, and Mark E. Engberg
Global Perspective Institute Inc. Chicago, IL 60611 August 2014
Jason R. Harshman. Encyclopedia of Diversity and Social Justice. Rowman & Littlefield, 2014.