My time in the Dominican Republic has been the most influential and transformative experience in my life thus far both academically and personally. It has served as a compass that has helped to orient and guide me through the remainder of my academic career. The courses I completed abroad laid a foundation of cultural awareness and understanding that I have been able to build and expand upon in the global courses I have taken following my return. For example, in my Europe course, I was able to formulate and obtain evidence to support an assessment of the incorporation of renewable energy in Europe utilizing the skills I developed abroad to assess the social and economic factors influencing the decision (paper linked here). I continued to cultivate these skills throughout the semester, culminating in the completion of a research paper analyzing the complex political, economic, and cultural systems within the European Union, and how forces both inside and outside the organization are contributing to its demise (paper linked here). I have also recently conducted a research project regarding the relocation of the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh (poster linked here) that would have been presented at the 2020 American Association of Geographers (AAG) annual conference had it not been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

In addition to continuing to take courses and conducting research with a global emphasis, I have been able to apply these skills outside the classroom as a Peer Adviser in the Office of International Education. In this position, I promote education abroad and work with students who are looking to embark on an international journey of their own. Through my own global experience I am not only able to relate to their concerns and worries, but also encourage them to overcome them and widen their perspective and cultural understanding.

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Although my experience abroad has had a large effect academically, the development on the personal level has been even greater. I have always been a quiet, reserved, and introverted individual, and because of this many people were shocked by my decision to spend a semester abroad. Although this aspect of my personality hasn't changed, my self-confidence and willingness to push myself out of my comfort zone and try new things has increased tremendously. Furthermore, when I observe an element of another culture that differs from my own, I don't immediately dismiss it as weird or strange, but acknowledge its difference and appreciate it for what it is and what it means to the people of that culture.

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