In high school, the most I knew about the global world was the history of World War II, that the Middle East was not as stable as the United States, and the simple fact that there were many countries beyond the United States. I had little to no conception of global governance, international affairs, or diplomacy. I grew up and attended school in Crystal Lake, Illinois where there was little to no emphasis on the global world beyond extravagant vacations. I had a vast language education in Spanish and intensively spoke it at my job, but there was no connection to the global world and what it meant to be a global citizen. 

 

When signing up for my freshman year courses, I began to realize there was much more out there than just American government, Through Political Science and History course descriptions, I realized I would be learning about institutions from around the world. Within my first few weeks of classes, I had been introduced to the world beyond the United States and joined the Model United Nations Team on campus. From this point on, International Studies was in every corner of my life and I was always trying to make global connections or ask how a certain scenario would be different in a global context. I had declared an International Studies major by the end of my first semester in college and made a commitment to be a Global Scholar. 

 

With my International Studies major, I chose an international emphasis in Political Science. This allowed me to intertwine my political science knowledge and my international knowledge. The courses I was able to choose and take because of this, made my academic experience unforgettable. One of the first global courses I took was a 100-level course, “Introduction to Comparative Politics”. This class had such a profound impact on me, as it was the first time I learned about governments besides the one I personally interact with. This course provided me with the foundations of the United States, European Union, China, Russia, and Mexico. Additionally, for my emphasis, I took courses such as International Political Economy, Latin American Politics, Western European Politics, European Union Politics, Modern Middle East, Modern World Literature, and International Politics. The skills I developed in these classes are monumental to the student and human I am currently writing this, in comparison to who I was as a freshman student. Some of the skills I am most proud of are my multidisciplinary understanding of global processes and relationships; recognition of political, economic, and cultural influences on societies; development of cultural awareness and sensitivity; theoretical and factual knowledge of countries, subregions and regions; advanced written and oral communication skills, and university-level Spanish language studies. While this is only a short-list of skills I have obtained, the International Studies major transformed me into a global citizen and well rounded human and active participant in society. 

 

When reflecting on my growth as an International Studies major, I credit a lot of my intensive learning experiences to the Model United Nations Team I was on. Through this, I learned the importance of negotiations, diplomacy, and international cooperation. This team is unique as there is an emphasis on the developing world as we would each year, take on an African, Latin American, or Caribbean country while learning about present-day international issues the United Nations attempt to solve on a daily basis. From these perspectives that are drastically different from my everyday life experiences, I was able to expand and apply my knowledge and perception of the international world. Through my time on the team, I researched topics such as Weapons of Mass Destruction, Global Public Health, and International Development from an African country perspective. 

 

Overall, my performance as an International Studies student is one of my biggest accomplishments. With a 3.644 International Studies GPA and overall GPA of 3.65, I have demonstrated my dedication to my studies and passion to be a  global citizen. My experience has led me to have the graduate school goal of attending a Masters of Public Health with a certificate in Global Health program. After this, my dream is to work for the United States Department of Health and Human Services or a development company where I can be a logistical coordinator for public health development around the globe and have a unique focus on Health Security.