reflection
“Challenges are what make life interesting. Overcoming them is what makes them meaningful”.
This quote is a pure reflection of my fructuous journey at the University of Florida. My list of rewarding challenges includes my global learning experience which has been greatly influenced by the UF International Scholars Program. It has encouraged me to analyze my global, cultural and social experiences, thus helping me gain a better understanding of myself and my values. One of the most rewarding experiences in my undergraduate career has been studying abroad in Viterbo, Italy. I learned a new language, immersed myself in a different culture and stepped out of my comfort zone and embarked on a journey. But most importantly I developed a greater sense of confidence and ability to take initiative.
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Through Campus Life events, I have increased my cultural awareness, intercultural competencies and gained knowledge of global issues. I’ve had the opportunity to interact and network with people from all over the world. I’ve learned about numerous problems and situations in Eastern Europe from fascinating speakers. For example, I attended a panel on war and medicine in post-conflict zones; I gained a lot of insights as the speakers not only focused on the advantages but discussed the disadvantages of working abroad in their respected fields. I have also engaged in multiple Peace Corps talks/panels where I have learned about previous PCVs’ experiences. From these panels, I have increased my intercultural awareness and acquired a better idea of what a Peace Corps volunteer does on a day to day basis.
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As a result of my international experience, I have developed a greater cultural understanding and world view. Although I have always been open-minded, traveling to other countries and learning about other cultures has exposed me to distinctive practices that I never thought were practiced differently somewhere else. For example, when I was in Italy and I was having lunch with a friend, I washed my apple and took a bite into it. My friend, Matteo, looked at me like I was crazy and seemed a little grossed out. He peeled his apple and told me how it is custom to do this. It was simple things like this that made me realize that a lot of things we do are influenced by our culture and society. Most Italians I meet used a fork and knife when eating their pizza. They also don’t mix the different plates; for example, you first eat your chicken or meat and then you have your spaghetti. Meal time is a time to socialize, engage and share with those around you. I found that the lifestyle was different compared to that of an American. Time is fluid. Nonetheless, I was able to adapt to a slower pace of life and have implemented it to my daily life. Now, I feel comfortable and I am willing to take on roles and tasks that I am unaccustomed to. I am more aware of the way I use and structure time and I am more capable of solving life’s day-to-day problems.
As a supplemental instructor for biochemistry at the Broward Teaching Center, I was able to integrate and merge my experiences abroad with my teaching style to develop a creative and productive environment. I tried to foster a flexible yet somewhat structure environment and tailored the lessons to the groups. I encouraged feedback, created and grades quizzes and assignments to evaluate if the students were learning and my teaching effectiveness. From my study abroad experience, I learned to be very flexible and open-minded. Sometimes things are not going to work out or maybe something that works for someone doesn’t work for another. Everyone is different and we all have different learning style and as a result it is very important to be inclusive and mindful of others. Having traveled to a country were things are not as structured and firm in terms of time, I learned to tolerate the ambiguity in a variety of situations. For example, when I had planned my first trip to Florence I made sure to coordinate every little detail such as making sure if the first train dropped me off at 10am, I could only book a second train to leave after 10am. However, I did not anticipate that the trains were going to run late and I would miss my second train. I used nonverbal communication and my best broken Italian at the time to figure out when the next train would leave and accommodate my plan.
One of my most humble experience has been volunteering with Medicine, Education and Development for Low Income Families Everywhere (MEDLIFE). We are a pre-health organization that aims to help families achieve greater freedom from the constraints of poverty by collaborating with the community, volunteering locally as well as internationally, and educating others. Last spring break, I had the incredible opportunity to travel to Cusco, Peru and volunteer at the mobile clinic. This was a very hands-on and engaging opportunity were I got to connect with the locals, work with health professionals to serve the needs of the communities and learn about the health care system. I absolutely loved working with MEDLIFE as they provide their service for free, carry out patient follow-up and work with the same communities every year. My passion for community development and service as well as my fascination with medicine led me to become the Service Director for the MEDLIFE chapter at the University of Florida. I was able to introduce a variety of service events and encompass the interests of various members
After having graduated in April 2017, I plan on entering the workfield as a CNA and furthering my knowledge and education. I plan on starting medical school in 2019 and pursing my dreams of becoming an International Doctor with a focus on international family medicine. I hope to integrate all my interests and skills to the best of my knowledge. I genuinely believe that the University of Florida and the International Scholars Program have prepared me for my future.
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