As Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” and being a student at FIU has more than increased my belief that that quote is the key to change. FIU has provided me the opportunity to travel to the mountains of New York and the tropical rainforests of Ecuador. I have learned so many things which have given me so many opportunities that I will forever be grateful for. As a graduate of FIU, I can say that I have no regrets in all the experiences that I have done these past two years. Below I will reflect on how certain paths I took led me to become a global learner and how these paths have peaked my interest in learning about cultures, being aware of the importance of diversity, and how much communities can come together through service.

 

     Now let’s talk about some of the global learning classes I took. They included myth, ritual, & mysticism, science and religion, global diversity, earth ethics, and world religions. The two most impactful global learning courses to me were myth, ritual, & mysticism and science and religion. My first semester at FIU I took myth, ritual, & mysticism this was the class that started it all for me. I learned so much about different cultures and how magic and mysticism play a big role in different parts of the world. I did not know there could be so much diversity around the world and how I was missing out on all of this knowledge. Another course, Science and religion, gave me so much to think about. I always thought science and religion were two totally separate entities, yet they have so much in common. Both subjects seek to find the truth and both follow a certain model. This concept was one that I was not aware of. Being a biology major, I was always taught that science and religion are totally different. For instance, Medieval Islam played a crucial role in modern science because they were in Cordoba, Constantinople, Damascus, Jerusalem, Mecca, Isfahan, and Baghdad. There was a wide range in that area that spoke Arabic. They were encouraged to seek knowledge wherever they could find it. Possessing knowledge was proof of their superiority.

 

     An experience unlike any other that FIU provided me was Alternative Breaks. My time with alternative breaks might have been one of the parts in my education that made my heart as happy as it could possibly be. I really enjoyed spending time with the young adult staff assistants at Camp Ramapo. They were so eager to work during our workshops and they’re happy attitudes just made my experience over there even better. Realizing how they take any disabilities they have and own it and just try their hardest to succeed in their own way really opened my eyes to how I should be perceiving my life. Helping the staff assistants with improving their relationships with peers, experience new things, and showing them what a supportive environment should feel like. With this experience, I gained friends that I never would’ve thought, gained experiences to help the lives of others, but also gained experiences that will have forever changed my outlook in life.

    

      Going to Ecuador to study abroad was my favorite learning experience of all. I never would have thought I would learn so much in one month. I had the chance to live with people from all around the world and the chance to stay with the Waorani and Quichua people in Ecuador. These are people I have learned about throughout my religious studies minor and I was so happy to come in contact with them. Going to a country that is so biologically and culturally diverse was literally the best of both worlds. I got my dose of nature, animal, culture, and language all in one summer. I do not think I can put into words how amazing it was to see how nature comes together with the people I stayed with and how they care about the environment in such a way that it made me want to be more aware and care for the environment. Learning about their cultures really impacted me in realizing how different cultures are present throughout the world. Having the opportunity to open up my horizon by seeing this gives me a privilege unlike any other.

 

     Being a global citizen has made me a better version of myself. Not only have the global learning experiences above helped me become more aware but also my involvement on campus and in our community added to my experience. Sometimes we are trapped in a shell and we have no idea how to get out of it. FIU has helped me with that. I can now say with certainty that I can be a global citizen that will try to understand others, help them, and be an advocate for people and things others might not know of. All of these experiences will be carried with me for life. Thank you, FIU!