When I embarked on my global "journey", my perspective was completely different than what is it now. Although I did not realize it, my classes, the events I was attending, and the people I was interacting with expanded my world view, teaching me to be a more empathetic, knowleagable, and well-rounded individual. For that, I am eternally grateful to FIU and the opportunities it has gifted me.
I've come to find that at the base of global learning is empathy and human connection. A "global perspective" is defined by FIU's Global Learning Program as "The ability to consider others’ unexamined assumptions, conceptions, and beliefs when faced with a complex problem." It is said that to love someone is to know them. We cannot "know" the whole world, but we must love humanity and our future enough to make an effort to understand. That effort is conscious. It is sitting down with those you disagree with, questioning the assumptions you have carried your whole life, and being willing to adapt and grow when faced with new perspectives. In my field, it is essential to annalyze complexities through global perspectives. When interacting with different cultures and lived experiences, one must be objective, empathetic, and open. My experiences at FIU have exposed me to a global perspective by teaching me to question where my information is coming from, consider the experiences that I am applying to my analysis, accept critisism, and be willing to discuss with others. Particularly, my study abroad to Argentina and my internship at CAIR made me realize that I often (and inevitably) analyze problems through a Western perspective. That is not inherently "wrong", but expanding my perspective is beneficial to reaching a more well-rounded solution.
Global perspective is tied to "global awareness", or the "understanding of local and global issues and how they are interconnected". For example, during my internship at CAIR, I was exposed to problems surrounding immigration and our domestic frameworks. Yet, many immigrants and refugees struggle due to global problems. Many of the individuals that I were working with were from Central America, where gang-violence and unstable markets impact citizen's wellbeings. Others were from places like Syria, where a year-long civil war tore apart civil society and political frameworks. Understanding their stories made me more empathetic to the work I was doing. At the same time, it exposed me to some of the incongruencies within domestic systems. First, problems like economic declines and conflicts cause migration, but our understanding of global issues structure our domestic applications. For example, securitization is the idea that "political" issues can be framed as security threats. When we perceive immigrants as security concerns, it causes us to impose stricter immigration laws domestically. I learned this through interactions with professors like Dr. Gamarra.
To understand these perspectives, it is essential to be committed to "global engagement", or the "willingness to engage in local, global, international, and intercultural problem solving". My time at FIU has taught me that you must seek opportunity. You may be sat next to a student from Venezuela, or Kazakstan, or Egypt, but unless you extend a hand you won't know their stories. This is a gift. Engaging with different global perspectives and problems can only broaden your horizons and make you a more well-rounded person. My experience with the Minister of Industry and Commerse allowed me to see the problems that the Dominican Republic is facing. By seeing the way his administration is going about solving them, I am equipped with the tools to manage a similar situation if I am faced with it in the future, similarly to the knowledge I was able to apply during LACCAPALOOZA.
Going forward, I hope to work in international law and diplomacy. Although my chosen carreer is closely aligned with global learning, anyone can benefit from a similar curriculum. The pursuit of knowledge is essential to growth and development which is beneficial in all aspects of life. For example, I have learned communication skills, self-awareness, and interpersonal interaction through this process. My internship taught me how to communicate with diverse people; my study abroad forced me to be self-aware and question my preconcieved notions; my roles as a student leader allowed me to collaborate with members of the community as well as effectively lead a passionate group of students. I hope to take these skills into my professional life knowing that FIU has prepared me for whatever problems I may face.