Global Student Profiles

Matt Becker

Graduate Student in International Affairs, Global Pathways Certificate: Area and Regional Studies. From January- July 2009, Matt went abroad to Zagreb, Croatia to study the language at the University of Zagreb with Florida State University's International Program. Being the only American in the student dorms, he learned a lot about different cultures/countries, and different peoples views on the United States during his time there. His experience was, overall, positive and he's grateful for the chance he had to participate in such a global eye-opening experience. "I had a great time living and interacting in a new and different society."

Dual Economics and International Affairs Major, Global Pathways Certificate: International Development, Junior. In the summer of 2009, Dustin Daniels went to Rwanda with Florida State University’s student organization Global Peace Exchange. While in Rwanda, he served as a project manager for the university team and helped start an English Language Research Center for the local students. The Center was equipped with a television, computer lab and resource library. “I learned the skills of planning and community outreach as well as fundraising in Tallahassee. The most rewarding part of my time abroad was seeing the local students put the knowledge we shared to use and start their own outreach projects in their own community.”

Sophia Khawly

Nursing Major, Global Pathways Certificate: Global Issues, Senior. In the summer of 2008, Sophia traveled to Turkey with the Tolerance and Dialogue Group at Florida State University. During her visit she worked on intercultural and interfaith issues. Once she learned basic Turkish and she was able to communicate and break some stereotypes of Americans while breaking her own of the Middle East.

Rachel Lubitz

International Affairs Major, Global Pathways Certificate: Human Rights, Junior. In March 2008, Rachel spent a week in Jamaica with Florida State University’s Beyond Borders doing volunteer work that included painting an infirmary at a school for the deaf and playing with the children. She also was quick to pick up some of the local dialect, which was a mix of English and Creole. “This experience heightened my respect for other cultures, increased my desire to travel and learn more from people from other countries and showed me to appreciate what I have here in the United States”.

Ariel Wheeler

International Affairs and Media Communications Major, Global Pathways Certificate: International Development, Senior. In the Fall semester of 2008, Ariel went with Florida State University's International Program to London with an internship with the Parliament. Throughout the experience she took away practical experience in the working world of politics. She enjoyed working with the constituency correspondents and learned that she wants to work closer to people with their day to day problems rather than on a strictly national level. "This experience taught me that Americans don't learn much about other forms of government and that our education isn't as worldly as it should be." Since the internship and time abroad, she has changed her focus to a non-profit legislation rather than just government/political.

 

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