Reflection

My journey at Florida International University, especially through the Global Learning Medallion and Millennium Fellowship, has transformed the way I see the world—and my role within it. Each experience has pushed me to grow beyond my own assumptions and to engage with global issues not as an observer, but as an active participant in shaping solutions. Through coursework, leadership, and community involvement, I have come to better understand the power of empathy, education, and collaboration.

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Developing a global perspective has meant learning to pause and truly consider the lived experiences, beliefs, and values of others—especially when faced with complex, emotionally charged issues. In classes like Comparative Politics and Authoritarians & Democrats, I came to understand how political systems are deeply shaped by history, culture, and identity. During my work on the “Finding Home Away from Home” project as part of the Millennium Fellowship, I was challenged to design educational tools that honored the stories of immigrants and their children. This meant confronting my own biases, listening more than I spoke, and acknowledging that what works for one community might not work for another. Developing this perspective has made me more thoughtful, compassionate, and effective in my leadership.

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Through my coursework and professional experiences, I’ve deepened my understanding of how local and global issues are tightly interconnected. Whether learning about international refugee crises or working with immigrant communities in South Florida, I’ve seen how policies made across the globe ripple into the lives of people in my own neighborhood. Issues like displacement, inequality, and migration are not abstract concepts—they are deeply human, and they impact families, education, and opportunity. I now approach every issue with this layered awareness, understanding that context matters and that solutions require both local insight and global vision.

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Global engagement, to me, means showing up. It means being willing to ask difficult questions, sit with discomfort, and take action even when the impact may seem small. I’ve done this as a Millennium Fellow and Campus Director, leading workshops, hosting community conversations, and building connections between people from vastly different backgrounds. I’ve also engaged through academic research, fellowship programs, and civic leadership training. Each of these experiences has helped me become more confident in my ability to contribute meaningfully to international and intercultural problem solving.

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As I prepare to graduate magna cum laude with a degree in International Relations, I feel more equipped than ever to pursue a future rooted in service, diplomacy, and global justice. Whether I enter graduate school to study international affairs or work with organizations that support refugee resettlement and human rights, I know that my foundation in global learning will guide every step. But more than a foundation, this is a commitment. A call to action for myself—to keep learning, to stay engaged, and to never stop listening to the stories that shape our world. I want to continue building bridges across cultures, advocating for those on the margins, and using my voice to amplify solutions that center dignity and equity.

Becoming a global citizen isn’t a title—it’s a lifelong journey. And I’m just getting started.