Global Learning Courses.
Oceanography - OCE3014
By far one of the most invigorating classes that I took at my time at Florida International University would be the course of Oceanography. I found this course to be extremely and profoundly vital to my understanding of the world today. While they were very moving and saddening documentaries that were required as part of the material for the class, I found the stories behind the documentaries and the realities of today's world to be eye opening. Several different topics, such as shark fin soup as a delicacy worldwide, along with the mass coral reef bleaching events that are also occurring were highlighted throughout this course. I found some of the information to be hard to digest and process, however this grim look on the reality of the state of our waters, fauna, and our planet really helped to open my perspective and my horizons further than my own backyard.
Myths, Rituals, & Mysticism - ANT3241
On the other hand, the course of Myths, Rituals, & Mysticism was another eye-opening experience and development throughout my academic career at Florida International University. This course gave me a more holistic and spiritual look into anthropology and the science and understandings behind culture and mankind. This course enforced and reflected the importance of understanding cultural differences and respecting those who may view life and our experience on this planet through different lens. I worked on several different projects both in collaboration with my fellow peers and also on my own through investigation. One of our big assignments included the breakdown of simple symbolism used throughout our everyday and the multiple meanings that can be found in more than a single culture. I felt very knowledgeable and comfortable in my awareness on diverse cultures found all around the world after this course.
By far one of the most invigorating classes that I took at my time at Florida International University would be the course of Oceanography. I found this course to be extremely and profoundly vital to my understanding of the world today. While they were very moving and saddening documentaries that were required as part of the material for the class, I found the stories behind the documentaries and the realities of today's world to be eye opening. Several different topics, such as shark fin soup as a delicacy worldwide, along with the mass coral reef bleaching events that are also occurring were highlighted throughout this course. I found some of the information to be hard to digest and process, however this grim look on the reality of the state of our waters, fauna, and our planet really helped to open my perspective and my horizons further than my own backyard.
Myths, Rituals, & Mysticism - ANT3241
On the other hand, the course of Myths, Rituals, & Mysticism was another eye-opening experience and development throughout my academic career at Florida International University. This course gave me a more holistic and spiritual look into anthropology and the science and understandings behind culture and mankind. This course enforced and reflected the importance of understanding cultural differences and respecting those who may view life and our experience on this planet through different lens. I worked on several different projects both in collaboration with my fellow peers and also on my own through investigation. One of our big assignments included the breakdown of simple symbolism used throughout our everyday and the multiple meanings that can be found in more than a single culture. I felt very knowledgeable and comfortable in my awareness on diverse cultures found all around the world after this course.
Tuesday Time Roundtables.
The GlobeMed initiative presentation found in one of the Tuesday Times Roundtable sessions, through the Fall 2020 semester, for me was the most impactful. It was really special and invigorating to learn that Florida International University had been working with low income and at-risk children found in the country of Guatemala. Through their partnership with EDELAC, or Escuela De La Calle, homeless and at-risk children are being houses, clothes, cared-for, and taught at this one-stop location in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. Over 160 students are living and learning at this location in Guatemala through the partnership of our students at Florida International University. It was very impactful to know that even through a pandemic, our students were reaching further and farther beyond our own borders and still showed true concern for learning outside of the classroom and even outside of the United States as global learning students. I thought it was exceptional that even through low budgets and fundraising due to the pandemic, students were still volunteering to help teach classes and donate what they could to help the children and workers of this facility.
Academy of Leaders (AOL) Initiative.
I had the honor of participating with the Academy of Leaders initiative at the Florida International University MMC Campus during the Fall 2020 semester. During this program, we focused on 4 main components and also took the Myers-Briggs personality assessment, which helped us to better gauge our individual traits, with the ultimate goal of becoming better student leaders. They four concepts included, “model the way, challenge the process, inspire a shared vision, and enable others to act.” This comprehensive semester-long program inspired me to learn more about myself, which in turn helped me to effectively and efficiently communicate with others and learn my preferred conflict resolution style. I was able to network within my Academy of Leaders, or AOL cohort and I continue to keep in touch with those peers today.
Student Leadership Experience.
During my time at Florida International University, I also was able to serve on the executive board for Tau Sigma National Honor Society for transfer students. Although I started serving as Social Media Chair, eventually, I would be elected to the position of Vice President. While holding this position, I was able to learn and demonstrate my competency of the eight learning objectives intended for student leaders at Florida International University among many other valuable skills. These competencies included communication, civic responsibility, group dynamics, interpersonal interaction, learning and reasoning, personal behavior, self-awareness and development, and finally, strategic planning. I am very proud and pleased of my time spent as Vice President and for the valuable lessons and abilities learned through my experiences as a student leader.
Capstone Internship.
For my capstone experience, I chose to work with the Church World Services Broward County mentorship program, which was considered a virtual internship for the spring 2021 semester. This specific organization works with global refugees that are new to the United States of America and are partnered up with mentors, in order to work on specific topics that will lead to thriving and success in today’s world. Some of these topics included academics, professional development, resume building, social networking, and career expansion. Participants of this program come from different countries from all over the world seeking to assimilate to a new lifestyle and culture that is found within the United States of America’s melting pot. I had the pleasure of working with two mentees that were both from diverse backgrounds and age groups. I helped with tasks such as resume building, academics, and even English lessons. My internship involved a minimum of five hours of communication and interaction per week with my mentees. During the pandemic, I also helped with technology use and app configuration with my mentees, along with the usual tasks that would be involved within the mentorship program