Reflection

Reflecting on my time in Gainesville, my heart becomes full of gratitude. I am the first woman in my family to pursue higher education and graduate with honors. Growing up, my mother instilled into my head that my education should be my highest priority. I’ve been granted the privilege of growing up in the United States and having access to resources that helped me become successful. I earned my Associate’s degree at 18 years old, then my Bachelor’s at 20. I’ve spent countless nights studying and dedicated hours of hard work into making my dreams a reality and setting an example for my family here and in Colombia. I wanted to represent myself and the Latinx community as hard workers who thrived even in the toughest of situations. 

 

While I pursued academics, I also found myself wanting to participate in intercultural experiences and to observe cultural events at the University of Florida. I had already decided by the time I applied that I wanted to major in Anthropology and gain a deeper understanding of the diverse cultures around the globe and to sincerely become culturally aware. I grew up in a predominantly Latinx and White suburban area, but I had limited encounters with those from other backgrounds or ethnicities. I grew up watching traveling documentaries and I realized the world was much bigger outside of my little bubble in South Florida. I was fascinated by what I considered strange and foreign, which intrigued me enough to want to experience those “oddities” first-hand.

 

My first international experience at UF was with the English Language Institute on campus. It was my first semester at UF and I felt overwhelmed by all of the club advertisements I encountered every day, with none catching my eye. I started to look online on how I could partake in something with an international focus that was fun and engaging. No luck. It wasn’t until I overheard some classmates talking about the Conversation Program in my Cultural Anthropology class that I finally found something promising. I followed up the next day by applying through an email and the next thing I know, I’ve been paired with an exchange student from China.

 

I was so nervous because I knew very little about China and absolutely no Chinese. But, it turned out to be one of the best experiences in my life because it set me on a path to becoming a true global citizen. My partner and I met regularly for coffee and exchanged tidbits of information about our own culture and slang. We were so different culturally, but we became the best of friends. I realized that my fears were unfounded because there are universal things that exceed language barriers. My experience was so positive, that I continued to volunteer at international student socials, accomplishing 60 hours in one semester. I was inspired to get in touch with my own Colombian culture and finally visit for the first time in my life. Reconnecting with my roots and seeing the homeland of my mother filled me with a sense of pride and purpose. I became more motivated than ever to involve myself with efforts seeking to promote global unity while protecting the unique identities of every culture. I was able to grasp a better understanding of myself and what I value in my life. 

 

My next international experience stemmed from my time as a Conversation Partner. I discovered that the ELI also offered part-time positions as a language assistant. It was an opportunity to teach a class of fifteen students, from all over the world and varying ages. I applied and was soon accepted. I took on a leadership position and was in charge of organizing, maintaining, and lesson planning every day a new topic for the class. I learned how to adapt to my students’ cultural differences and I led multiple successful semesters. My experience here motivated me to seek more international experiences outside of the U.S. I ended up applying to study abroad in South Korea as I befriended many international students from there and I was intrigued by the culture. 

 

My life abroad was just so incredible, but also difficult. I was in a completely foreign country, where I didn’t speak the language, I looked very different, and the unspoken customs took time to adjust to. But, I didn’t let this overwhelm me. I discovered my own voice and took the initiative to find a way to adjust as quickly as possible. I was thrust into a new environment, but it improved my tolerance of ambiguity in a variety of situations. I gained a new sense of confidence in new situations and I didn’t let my worries hold me back from experiencing culturally rich activities abroad. This trip fostered a new sense of adventurousness and passion for immersing myself in foreign cultures.
 

The International Scholars Program transformed my interest in other cultures into tangible experiences, developed my global citizenship, and shaped my professional ambitions. The various requirements of the International Scholar program reinforced one another and broadened the horizon of possibilities for my undergraduate experience.