International Scholars Program
Reflection
During my three and a half years here at the University of Florida, I have become a global citizen through internationalizing my college experience. This was done primarily through my enrollment and completion of the International Scholars Program. Overall, my international coursework, Spanish language learning, and participation in a study abroad program in Mexico helped me to think critically to interpret global and intercultural issues and communicate effectively with members of other cultures. Of these experiences, I would have to say that learning the Spanish language has proved the most valuable. However, I have grown a lot in other ways as well, especially by getting out and taking risks and trying new things.
By far the most inherently valuable component of my international education has been my Spanish language learning. I began studying Spanish in the 7th grade and continued through high school, where I eventually attained a 7 on my IB Spanish exams (the highest possible score). I could have stopped there, quit while I was ahead, but I decided to pursue Spanish at the collegiate level as well. I knew that it would be more difficult, especially combined with the rest of my college courses. However, with a lot of time and hard work, I was able to finally earn my minor in Spanish, with consistently high grades too.
I think that Spanish language learning has benefitted me the most since it is a lifelong skill, and an especially useful one in today’s global culture. Although I don’t know if I’d ever consider myself fluent per se, I have definitely made strides in the past three and a half years. I think above all, the most meaningful and impactful part of my collegiate Spanish education has been learning to communicate effectively with members of other cultures. There is so much more to communication than language, such as nonverbal cues and countless cultural idiosyncrasies. Thanks to my Spanish language learning I can now effectively communicate with so many more people, and I have a much greater appreciation for different cultures.
Of course, there are several other ways that I have grown as a scholar and as a person throughout the duration of my time in the International Scholars Program. A lot of this growth came from the international coursework that I elected to take. My first experience with international education was my freshman Fall, when I took GEA1000: Geography in a Changing World. This was the course which first got me interested in geography as a field of study, because it opened my eyes to how globally-focused the subject can be. The course was essentially a survey of geography and different cultures around the world, with a focus on global issues. The course material definitely taught me a lot and helped me to think critically about global and intercultural issues.
The other main international course which helped me to grow a lot was SPN3520: Culture & Civilization of Spanish America. This course, taught in Spanish, provided me with the bulk of my knowledge of Latin America and got me interested in studying the region further. Not only did the class greatly improve my Spanish because it was conversation-intensive, but it also peaked my interest in all things Latin America. Understanding certain cultural norms and how Latin American culture differs from ours in the United States has vastly increased my intercultural understanding. Furthermore, my professor, Doctor Hind, studied in Mexico, so much of the course focused on Mexican history and culture. This background knowledge assisted me greatly when I made the decision to study abroad in Mexico myself.
Studying abroad is easily one of the biggest risks I have taken in my college career, and honestly in my life. It was not an easy decision to make, both due to the cost of the program and the prospect of getting so out of my comfort zone. I know people always talk about how life-changing and worth the money studying abroad is, but I never really believed it until I went. I studied abroad Summer B, 2018, in Merida, Mexico, and it was honestly so eye opening. I had never actually traveled outside of the United States before, so it was a huge decision for me. Getting completely out of my comfort zone and going to live in a foreign country for six weeks was definitely a big risk. Overall, I think the biggest challenge I had to overcome was finally putting into practice all of the Spanish I have learned.
Getting thrown right into a Spanish-speaking country was a huge culture shock, and the language barrier was especially intense. At first, it was very difficult for me to understand my host family because their accents were so new to me. However, within a couple weeks my Spanish improved tremendously; I would even say I was nearly fluent by the end of the trip. My biggest obstacle in learning and using Spanish has always been my confidence in speaking, which study abroad really did wonders for. In fact, one of my proudest moments was getting up on stage at a university in Izamal (UTC) and speaking Spanish to a large crowd of Mexican students. My Spanish-speaking confidence must have also improved my overall confidence, because I typically wouldn’t even do that speaking in English!
My experience in the International Scholars Program over the past couple years has truly been amazing. I think it is especially vital today that university students from all backgrounds seek to internationalize their education. Whether it be through study abroad, learning a foreign language, or even just taking courses with an international focus, the benefits are amazing. Not only have I grown academically and professionally through my international experiences, but I have also matured a lot as an individual through taking risks and learning to communicate more effectively about global issues. My critical thinking has improved dramatically, as well as my problem-solving skills, and I am much more confident (even with the Spanish language) now. As a result of my time in the ISP here at UF, I feel much more prepared to go out into the world as a global citizen and start making meaningful changes.
