International Scholars Program Reflection
My first year in college was the most difficult, challenging, and transformative. I went to a university out of state where the student population was at least 50,000 and I knew no one. To add onto these challenges, my family moved to Mozambique and I wasn't able to see them for a whole year. It was rough when other students were spending weekends and holidays with their family and friends. I started college by participating in a summer engineering transition program but by the end I knew engineering was not for me. This started a yearlong battle with my mom because she wanted me to stay in engineering. This was devastating because my mom has always been there to support me. This experience pushed me to fight for myself, my beliefs, and my goals. In the end, I successfully convinced my mom that geography would be the perfect major. Ever since the switch I have formed friendships and professional relationships with professors, and other undergraduate and graduate students.
Since I no longer had to be involved in engineering organizations I had the ability to be involved with organizations that were more meaningful and interesting, like the Geography Club and UF Rotaract (which is Rotary for young adults). My involvement with both organizations led me to become heavily involved and gained leadership skills where I worked my way to the position of President for both organizations. During my time as the President of the Geography Club I learned about failure. At the end of my presidency, the organization had not grown in membership and none of the club officers were involved with the club anymore. At the end I had to evaluate myself as well as the time and effort that I put into my position and decided that I would not continue as President and quit my involvement with the Geography Club. This past experience helped me prepare to be the President of UF Rotaract which has been more successful than previous years by scheduling guest speakers, workshops, service events, and collaborative events with student organizations and other Rotaract clubs. From this experience I gained management skills and realized the importance and power of networking. One of the biggest things I learned is that people want to help and that all you have to do is ask. My two biggest achievements are the creation of a training manual for club officer and chair positions as well as establishing a permanent international project for the club. I look forward to continuing my involvement with Rotaract after graduating from UF.
I have also been able to develop my skills and experiences towards an international career. My first internship was with the US State Department as a Public Affairs Intern for their Embassy in Mozambique. This was my first time abroad as an adult and this experience pushed me out of my comfort zone and gave me the confidence to be able to go out on my own. Being in a new work environment was very overwhelming and I was trying to figure out what I was supposed to do and find creative ways to fill my time. From this internship I learned more of what I don't like. I learned what it felt like to be in a job that was not a good fit for me and experienced a poorly managed internship program (this was the first time that HR was managing the program) but through this experience I feel that I have more knowledge and confidence to step out of my comfort zone to make an internship a more valuable experience. During my time in Mozambique I was able to travel to different places in the country and learned more about the culture and people. I also got to experience what a normal 40-hour work week where work was only done at the office. During my internship I was able to spend time with the Ambassador during official work events and he invited all of the interns from the embassy to have lunch with him at his house. One of the events that I got to attend with him was an awards ceremony for Mozambican teachers who had earned a certificate for teaching English as a second language. Later that day I learned that the Ambassador was originally invited to meet an important official at the French Embassy but had opted to attend the award ceremony instead. During the event I could see the gratitude and awe that the teachers had because the US Ambassador had chosen to attend their event. From this I could tell that the Ambassador truly wanted to serve his country in the best way possible in the form of public service and that the biggest impact in the job might not be meeting an important official.
These experiences have helped me start a career in international development. After graduation I will be joining the Peace Corps as an Urban Agriculture Trainer in Senegal. I look forward to using my experiences, skills, and connections to develop projects that will be successful. I also look forward to future journeys, going out of my comfort zone, and an increased time for relaxation and personal growth.
Since I no longer had to be involved in engineering organizations I had the ability to be involved with organizations that were more meaningful and interesting, like the Geography Club and UF Rotaract (which is Rotary for young adults). My involvement with both organizations led me to become heavily involved and gained leadership skills where I worked my way to the position of President for both organizations. During my time as the President of the Geography Club I learned about failure. At the end of my presidency, the organization had not grown in membership and none of the club officers were involved with the club anymore. At the end I had to evaluate myself as well as the time and effort that I put into my position and decided that I would not continue as President and quit my involvement with the Geography Club. This past experience helped me prepare to be the President of UF Rotaract which has been more successful than previous years by scheduling guest speakers, workshops, service events, and collaborative events with student organizations and other Rotaract clubs. From this experience I gained management skills and realized the importance and power of networking. One of the biggest things I learned is that people want to help and that all you have to do is ask. My two biggest achievements are the creation of a training manual for club officer and chair positions as well as establishing a permanent international project for the club. I look forward to continuing my involvement with Rotaract after graduating from UF.
I have also been able to develop my skills and experiences towards an international career. My first internship was with the US State Department as a Public Affairs Intern for their Embassy in Mozambique. This was my first time abroad as an adult and this experience pushed me out of my comfort zone and gave me the confidence to be able to go out on my own. Being in a new work environment was very overwhelming and I was trying to figure out what I was supposed to do and find creative ways to fill my time. From this internship I learned more of what I don't like. I learned what it felt like to be in a job that was not a good fit for me and experienced a poorly managed internship program (this was the first time that HR was managing the program) but through this experience I feel that I have more knowledge and confidence to step out of my comfort zone to make an internship a more valuable experience. During my time in Mozambique I was able to travel to different places in the country and learned more about the culture and people. I also got to experience what a normal 40-hour work week where work was only done at the office. During my internship I was able to spend time with the Ambassador during official work events and he invited all of the interns from the embassy to have lunch with him at his house. One of the events that I got to attend with him was an awards ceremony for Mozambican teachers who had earned a certificate for teaching English as a second language. Later that day I learned that the Ambassador was originally invited to meet an important official at the French Embassy but had opted to attend the award ceremony instead. During the event I could see the gratitude and awe that the teachers had because the US Ambassador had chosen to attend their event. From this I could tell that the Ambassador truly wanted to serve his country in the best way possible in the form of public service and that the biggest impact in the job might not be meeting an important official.
These experiences have helped me start a career in international development. After graduation I will be joining the Peace Corps as an Urban Agriculture Trainer in Senegal. I look forward to using my experiences, skills, and connections to develop projects that will be successful. I also look forward to future journeys, going out of my comfort zone, and an increased time for relaxation and personal growth.