When I first came to FIU, I wanted to be a philosophy minor. This was because I wanted to go into human rights research, and I thought that learning the philosophical context behind human rights would make me a better advocate. But the first class I took was World Religion during my first semester at FIU. It completely changed my perspective. This class, which is part of the global learning course selection, engages students in a way that allows them to learn about religions from around the world, their rituals, practices, beliefs, and more. This class shifted my focus from just philosophy to a different side of philosophy—one that comes from religion. I would have never found my true interest if I had not taken this global learning course.

A couple of months later, I attended a talk about the conflicts happening in the Middle East. Many students at the event mentioned they had to take pictures to submit proof for their global learning requirement. After asking some of the students around me, I learned that the Global Medallion program at FIU helps expand students' minds and allows them to graduate as global citizens. I immediately emailed the team and was able to join as a Medallion student during my freshman year.

Because of this, I was able to attend talks where indigenous tribes came together to speak about their differences and similarities. I also had the opportunity to talk to journalists, lawyers, and government agencies about their work. As someone who is completing a bachelor's in international relations, global learning might seem particularly targeted toward students in my major, since we connect with international issues. However, what was really eye-opening for me, especially when I became executive director in my senior year, is that global learning goes beyond those in international and political fields. It affects everybody, and we should all be more aware of our surroundings.

Being a global citizen doesn't just mean sitting in a classroom and learning about another country. It means being able to engage with and facilitate conversations and experiences with people from different places and perspectives than your own. The more students are equipped with knowledge about interconnected global issues and cultures, the better the environment will be for students to enter the real world and begin their careers.

As my time at FIU as an undergraduate comes to an end, I am not sad about leaving; I’m excited to see what the future holds. I’m excited to start grad school and confident that I’m leaving as someone who is much better equipped to handle and embrace the world around me.