Reflection
Looking at everything that I have experienced in my time at the University of Florida, I realize that I grew in many aspects of my life that have equipped me for a successful career. A major part of that can be attributed to my participation in the International Scholars program that encouraged me to get in spaces that I possibly would not have explored otherwise. It is important to me that these skills and experience only grow and be put to good use in the career of my dreams. I aspire to become a lawyer one day and work in the area of International Law. In such a career, I will likely interact with people that have beliefs, languages, and moral standards that are different from my own so such an awareness will be essential to my success.
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Academically I have taken a number of courses that exposed me to new global perspectives. In my INR2001 class for example we looked at how international trade created a system of winners and losers around the world. While the Western world has benefitted from these transactions, it has left others without the opportunity to develop and in a stagnant cycle of trading cheaper raw materials for more expensive manufactured goods. In my URP3001 class, we looked at how gentrification in places like Nigeria creates a big poverty issue that deprives some to live in tranquility. These are just some examples of the tough questions we navigated in these courses. Grappling with these issues has made me a more conscious person. I learned that every action has consequences that sometimes we only become aware of, after the fact. Having such awareness will guide me towards being a more cooperative and collaborative person that is open to outside perspectives. I hope to take this with me in my career aspirations to become an International Lawyer and advocate for the voices that are sometimes absent at the negotiation table.
In Florida one normally gets to interact with people from all corners of the Earth. Coming to UF, I knew it would not be much different. Through being in Student Government and having to be the voice for the International Student body, I had to have the humility to put myself in their shoes. After speaking to many International Students, I realized that many of them felt lost on campus. They did not know about the ways to get involved or connect with the resources they needed. To combat this, I made an effort to create a network and send out newsletters with events and opportunities that could spark interest. Many also expressed that they missed different foods, so we did a potluck event where everyone got to share their favorite dishes. This job was a lot of fun but also taught me how to be a good listener. Many times it was not just a matter of listening to the words they were saying, but how they spoke about certain matters to truly decipher how they felt about it. For many of these students, it was difficult to open up to a stranger and speak about uncomfortable experiences they've had. It was my job to be approachable and to make myself available to be a resource for these students. I know that I was not able to fix it all for every student, but I know that I improved the circumstances for many of them.
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Another incredibly meaningful experience that I have had in my time at UF has been my volunteering with Children Beyond Our Borders. I was actually born in Argentina and migrated to the United States when I was ten years old. Moving was tough, but even harder was having to attend a school in a whole new language. Nira moved from Guatemala just 6 months before I met her. Being able to work with her took me back to my own experience and how challenging of a time that had been for me. I remembered coming home from school and just crying because I did not understand what was happening in the classroom. I thought about what a different experience it could have been if I had someone to help and support me during that time. That is what I did with Nira. I did my best to offer help with schoolwork, but also to encourage her and be her friend. She taught me how to be creative, patient, and always have a smile on my face.
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These are just little pieces of all that I’ve accomplished and learned. It was not always easy though. There have been times where I came to question who I am as a person and whether the beliefs that I hold dear are truly representative of who I am. I have been questioned on my political standing, my religion, my culture, and quite frankly, I think this is something that I will keep questioning for some time. For me, this program pushed me to become an open person. To be able to absorb from others even when I do not agree with them necessarily. It has taught me to listen to all sides and allow them all a fair chance before coming to my own judgments and decisions. Through all the introspection, I became stronger and more comfortable accepting who I am. I know where my standards and values are, and I am ready to advocate for them. Truly, I am grateful for all that I have learned and look forward to seeing where it will take me in the near future!