Living on the Poverty Level: Lessons Learned From Not Getting Paid on Time

It was good that we were all here together when it happened. The light jokes about stealing food out of the office refrigerator and hoarding the bagels and cream cheese from the earlier orientation made the situation more manageable. Making light of not getting paid on time by  hashing out witty puns between us was our way of dealing with a  a pretty messed up situation, according to all of us. I think at one point I even said I wasn’t going to eat for the rest of the day because I had like 7 bucks to my name.  Underlying all the discourse back and forth was a obvious sentiment that we really didn’t have to go to the extremes we were mentioning. In the back of our minds, we were very well aware that we had someone out there to fall back on, and the feeling of uncertainty would be shortly lived.  I know in the back of all our minds,  we are also very aware that there is someone out there who experiences that reality, that feeling of uncertainty, on a daily basis, and they don’t have any sense of what a safety net is.
I live on the poverty level, by choice. As an AmeriCorps VISTA,  a federal national service program fighting poverty , and as a part of my year of service at the Georgia Center for Nonprofits in Atlanta GA, I took an oath at PSO training to live on the poverty level in order to connect more closely to the individuals we serve, and to have a deeper understanding of the lifestyle that’s lived by the people we have committed a year to assist.

I think I am a pretty reflective person, always trying to look a little deeper into situations that happen around me and thinking of the implications of its aftermath . After getting paid 4 days late, and having a mini freak out, I actually came to the realization that in the big scheme of things, that although there was a technical screw up with the payroll, AmeriCorps actually fulfilled its mission even further and inadvertently immersed  its VISTA members into understanding how life is for the millions of people who live in poverty in the U.S. on a daily basis.  Inconsistency in pay, and basic needs are nothing new for the individuals who live in poverty.For those individuals, life is full of inconsistencies. Inconsistencies with shelter, food, warmth… basic needs that are pertinent for survival, personal, and physical growth. Just some stats…

More than one in every four Georgia children – 28.8% of our children – now live in food insecure households. This is up from 28.3% last year. The USDA defines food insecurity as the lack of access to adequate food resulting from the lack of money and other resources. (Feeding America, Map the Meal Gap: Child Food Insecurity 2011. Data released June 2013.) 

From 2000 to 2010, the number of poor individuals in the Atlanta metro suburbs more than doubled, growing by 122%. (Source: U.S. Census, cited: http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/the-avenue/posts/2011/09/22-metro-poverty-berube-kneebone)

10.9% – more than one in every ten senior citizens in Georgia – are living in poverty. (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Profile. Data released Sept. 2012.)  

I am a part of these demographics, but only for a year. I have the choice to walk away from this life and possibly never return(depending upon circumstances, you never know) .  Everyone does not have that choice or those opportunities. In these past 4 days of not receiving  pay on time,   I have gotten just a small glimpse into the constant “pins and needles” emotions that are experienced from not having a weekend that is financially stable,  let alone a day, or an hour, that is monetarily inconsistent, but I have gotten only that, a glimpse. I cannot imagine what people who live through this have to go through nor will I falsely promote that I know what they experience. I still have a safety net. The only thing I can give is my understanding and hopefully through the personal growth I experienced during this situation, I am able to continuously work for the change of systems, stigmas, and infrastructures that perpetuate poverty and all things associated with it.   I can only do what I can in my power to bring awareness,understanding and resources.

Things Learned and Confirmed 

• Poverty does not equal lazy.
• Contrary to popular belief, it is not always by choice.
• Constant inconsistent structures and lack of education on poverty only perpetuate the sentiments behind it.
• Individuals who live in poverty are not poor people. There is a difference.

I can help, but I vow chose my words wisely, and not act like I know what it feels like, because I don’t. I get to go home and eat. Others can’t. So thanks AmeriCorps, you scared me for a bit, but because of your mix-up, I grew a little more, and your goal was still continuously fulfilled.

And a word to all the AmeriCorps VISTA members out there and service members around the world, Nelson Mandela sums this all up pretty well,

“Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. Like Slavery and Apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings. Sometimes it falls on a generation to be great. YOU can be that great generation. Let your greatness blossom.”

Peace. Love. Understanding.

Story Tellers Series: Passionator Yasmine Fofana

In the latest (and long awaited) installment of the Story Tellers Series, I introduce to you YasmineFofana, an individual dedicated to changing this world in every possible way. I have been honored to correspond with her, tweet with her, and connect on various levels. She is truly an individual after my own heart’s desires. A relationship that began on LinkedIn has blossomed into a beautiful international friendship and I am so excited to share her story with you.

Sometimes coming from a background unrelated to the nonprofit sector can be both rewarding and challenging. Most of the individuals I’ve come in contact with make the decision to switch sectors because of self fulfillment, the need to be in a position to ignite social change, and to see it played out on a daily basis. Other times, it can be because of an amazing experience working with an NGO or volunteering. Whatever the case may be, there are a number of things that go through a person’s mind as they are thinking about altering directions. Yasmine has graciously agreed to share with us her hardships and successes with being a young “sector switcher.”

YasmineFofana, born and raised in Ivory Coast from Guinean, Senegalese, and Malian parents, was immersed in thinking globally through her various experiences.  Living abroad in the United States for 6 years and attending Mansfield University of Pennsylvania bolstered her experiences and pulled her even closer to the nonprofit sector and serving as a global citizen.

Staying in the United States for about 6 years represents one of the most incredible experiences I’ve thus far. Indeed, I had to chance to meet so many other “cultured creatures” and live in a cross cultural setting with more than 80 ethnically diverse students in the International House, in Harrisburg PA. 

After obtaining a Bachelors in Business Administration, International Business concentration, she moved back home to Cote d’Ivoire. She has always had an innate motivation to act as a global citizen, and being at the heart of conflict caused her to come in contact with NGO’s on every level.

I was 14 years old when my native country suffered from a political coup, then followed 12 long years of a tense political situation that ultimately degraded itself into a civil war in late March-early April of the year 2011.  My interest for the nonprofit sector really started while in College and during my post graduate years while engaging myself in volunteering activities within small institutions dedicated to the cause of refugees and more specifically their integration into their new community.

After witnessing the political coup firsthand, and the negative impact that came afterwards, then shifting her environment and volunteering, she was able to see how nonprofit organizations directly influenced the outcome of lives that were torn apart by the same situation she experienced. Through that discovery, her interest grew.

The nonprofit sector therefore seemed to offer countless opportunities for people in need, refugees from war. I felt as if I could DO something. As time went by, I also started to have the recurring feeling that something was lacking in my for profit experience…

Yasmine’s top priorities in her professional career are to ensure that she is at her “spiritual, social, and financial peek. These three elements are what I need to balance out my life and keep going.”

Even though her business management degree did not set the clear path into the nonprofit sector she “aspired to switch into the sector, while looking forward to the great challenges ahead.”

Now that I have introduced Yasmine, check in soon as she shares the criticism she received from her family when she decided to switch sectors, her favorite “career quote,” and her success in finding a job with a nonprofit organization.

I promise it will come in a timely manner 🙂

Story Teller Series, Passionator Natasha Molina

Sometimes the road observed in front of us, the one we think we know, actually turns out to be a completely different path leading to an unexpected destination. Unintentional occurrences tend to be the main influence on how we turn out as individuals, and those “experiences” serve as testing sites that make or break our preconceived notions of life itself. All so often, a relationship is formed with a particular outcome in mind, and then ends up flipping upside down and in turn, fosters a passion we never knew existed within ourselves. Personal exploration and a deep evaluation occurs. Natasha has experienced first hand, that those “aha” moments turn into life long passions. 

The first installment of the Story Tellers Series comes from an interview with Natasha Molina, a young nonprofit professional dedicated to the belief that everyone deserves the access to education. Natasha shares with us the beginning of her career in service.

“I do not remember ever thinking that I was going to be a person of service.”

Even though the notion of helping community was around her on a daily basis, it didn’t quite catch on.“As students at Loyola University of Chicago, we were taught the importance of giving back to the community. I kept hearing the motto everywhere but it didn’t really sink in while I was in school.”

After graduation from Loyola University, her job hunt began. It served to be a lot more difficult than anticipated.

“So I looked for a job like most recent graduates and hoped I could get something in technical writing.  I graduated in December of 2007 when the economy seemed to be imploding.  I would get interviews only to hear the company was starting a hiring freeze the next day.  I sent out at least 10 applications every day for months to no avail.  Only then did I think about going into service work.”

We never know where experiences will lead us but we know we belong in that exact moment once it arrives. Coming in contact with AmeriCorps volunteers on campus spiked an interest in Natasha, and she immediately threw herself at the opportunity  to serve and embrace “a passion she had never felt before.” At that moment, she caught the fever and finally digested and embodied that school motto.

 The once unclear phrase she heard during her collegiate years has become the very quote she abides by on a daily basis.

“GO FORTH AND SET THE WORLD ON FIRE.” 

That was her aha moment. She became a Passionator. She found herself  teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) to recently displaced refugees with Literacy*AmeriCorps in Pittsburg, PA.”The more I learned about the tragedies and situations my students endured, the more I felt called to start finding solutions.” Natasha knew she wanted to actively assist in solving the immediate needs of her clients.  Its one thing to know who you are and the specific characteristics you possess. It is another to utilize those skills into meaningful tools for change. She took that step and understood that she had specific assets to offer.

“I realized that I am a person that makes others feel comfortable.  Something about me makes them feel safe and I realized what a gift that was.  I knew then I needed to use my gifts to change as much of the world as I can manage. I really wanted to take the fire inside of me and blaze a path of social justice. “

Natasha has proven that the most rewarding sacrifice is using one’s inner talents to uplift other individuals. Through the art of communication and service, true magic occurs between humans. Because we lend ourselves out for service, we subconsciously encourage one another through genuine indirect empowerment. The end result of lending yourself is learning even more about who you are before the process ever occured.”I think for every time I helped a family, found them services, helped them communicate, and helped them find jobs, they taught me to believe that I have the power to make change” says Natasha. We are all animals of experience. Natasha’s involvements have led her here. Being an active change in her community and increasing hope within the lives of individuals on a daily basis.

 “My college instilled the knowledge and AmeriCorps awoke it in me, I will go forth and set the world on fire.”

_________________________________________________

Natasha Molina

Natasha Molina is currently the Education Coordinator at The Bridge of Pittsburgh.  She served two terms with Literacy*AmeriCorps before beginning her career.  She resides in Pittsburgh,PA with her son and oddly large collection of books.

 STAY TUNED FOR PART 2 OF NATASHA’S INTERVIEW AS SHE DISCUSSES HER STRUGGLES IN THE NONPROFIT SECTOR AND HER ADVICE TO UP AND COMING YOUNG NONPROFIT PROFESSIONALS. 

I Want To Tell Your Story:Story Tellers Series

I think the best intro for this post can be summed up by Salman Rushdie’s quote

Who what am I?

My answer: I am the sum total of everything that went before me, of all I have been seen done, of everything done-to-me. I am everyone everything whose being-in-the-world affected was affected by mine. I am anything that happens after I’ve gone which would not have happened if I had not come. Nor am I particularly exceptional in this matter; each “I”, everyone of the now-six-hundred-million-plus of us, contains a similar multitude. I repeat for the last time: to understand me, you’ll have to swallow a world.

One thing that fascinates me is the impact and influence of a person telling their story. I truly believe that real life experiences shape our personalities, who we are, what we become, and the legacy we leave behind for future generations.

Through personal difficulties and real life examples of people making a difference, one can gain insight, obtain a sense of empowerment, and associate a person with a story.

We are so unique and special. All of us have something that makes us tick. We all have those “aha” moments, and the moments that make us love the life we live.

I am going to start a series on my blog highlighting people and their stories, sort of like a young nonprofit professional StoryCorps. I want to know what makes them tick, what gives them passion, and what the overall goal of their life is.

I want to highlight the unknowns. They won’t be famous or well known. You won’t know them, and they probably won’t know you. I need the ones that are in the background volunteering, the ones mentoring high school students, the individuals who are at a crossroads in their lives. I want you.

I need the individuals who will stop at nothing to get to where they want to be, and have the passion to make change happen in their prospective environments.

I will probably do a series of about 5-15 people, I have not fully decided yet. It depends on how many people want me to pick their brains.I want to introduce you to some sector changers, some global citizens, those humanitarians, those young nonprofit professionals just trying to make their way in life, just like me. Through our stories, we can empower each other to continue making a difference. I have your back and I know you have mine!

Please email me or comment if you don’t mind me digging around and highlighting you in my blog!

Email: breauna.hagan@gmail.com

I am excited to introduce you to some amazing people. Stay tuned.

Dirty Hands=Clean Futures

I have been gone for a while. Between work, studying for the GRE, and my statement of purpose, its been hectic, but I have finally found some time to say a little something. I saw this image on pinterest and it spoke to me! It comprehensively showed what I am mentally going through at this very moment.

Sometimes it will not be easy. It will get a little dirty and a tad bit monotonous, but it will be amazing in the end.

So many times I think about my future and I wonder if I will really be able to make a difference without being burnt out first. There is no doubt that I have passion, and sometimes I don’t think its enough, but for me think its enough to get me started.

The future is full of possibilities, but they won’t ever be tapped unless we are all willing to open up the dirty filthy doors, struggle through the mud, and finally swim through the swamp. There have been plenty of times where I felt as if my passion and vision for my life is bigger than what can actually manifest, but I continuously think positive and have an optimistic outlook. The future will not be changed unless people are willing to tackle the tough situations and the not so pretty situations. If all the problems in the world were simple and could easily be dealt with, they would not be called problems and we(the passionators, the world changers) would not have any place in this world.

So EVERYTIME I get a little weary in my career goals and aspirations for my life, I will definitely be taking a look at this picture for some encouragement.

I will no longer try and find fault in my passion. It is who I am. Its apart of my being. I accept it with open arms.

Doing Good Doesn’t Always Feel Good

 

Raising your hand and making that great commitment to volunteer doesn’t necessarily mean smooth sailing and happy thoughts. 

Doing good sometimes calls for me to feel icky, and uncomfortable, but in the end,  its giving me the affect I wish to have. 

Recently, I was an intern at the International Rescue Committee, an international  resettlement agency that has an office in the Atlanta area. When I started, I was excited, and ready to learn. After a couple of days, I realized that it was a hard job. Not so much the workload, but the mental and emotional questions that spring up in your mind on a day to day basis. Witnessing firsthand the difficulties that these refugees had to go through, their mental states, and how I was basically a liaison between them and the resources available for the individuals was sometimes very overwhelming for me. If I didn’t care, and wasn’t thorough in my research, they could be losing out on some important resources available to them. When I left the office, I had even more questions than when I started.

I know I was helping the lives of these newly arrived families, but I wanted to do so much more. 

Whenever I am a volunteer,I am  provoked and challenged to look inside myself and  examine my own stance on issues I care about. I always try to go into an opportunity asking myself what I can learn, instead of what I can do.

Sometimes I believe volunteers or individuals in the nonprofit sector go into a situation thinking of themselves as the “savior helping the unfortunate.” That mindset should be totally done away with. Whenever that train of though is diminished, you receive the best rewards, learning about yourself.

Volunteering itself is not bad whatsoever, it is the intentions behind it. Only the person involved in the act of volunteering will be able to answer that for themselves.

I am a relationship person. I love developing deep relationships with amazing, caring, like minded individuals. When I volunteer, I tend to get a little too attached and never want to leave! Building those lasting relationships allow me to really connect to my cause and reiterate why I do what I do.

So is volunteering rewarding, amazing, and eye opening? Yes, but at times, it can also be uncomfortable and gut wrenching.

In the words of Johannes Reinier Scott “Doing good means sometimes feeling bad.” BUT, in this situation, feeling bad, isn’t such a bad thing. It opens up communication, wonder, curiosity, questions, and enlightenment.

Whenever I am volunteering, and I hear the stories of abused children, mistreated refugees, or at risk teenagers, I feel vulnerable, connected, and attached. When I get to that point, I am so much more effective because it hits my heart, drives my passion, and manifests through my actions as a volunteer.

 

 

 

What do Dr. Seuss, Anne Frank, and Gandi Have in Common? Me!

So, yes, I have been guilty of it too, making New Year’s resolutions that go as far as February 1st and are remembered again sometime around Christmas. So, I have decided to turn over a new leaf,well…just a little. Since this year, and my blog are about my emergence and hopeful success  into the nonprofit sector, I have chosen 3 quotes to really highlight what I will strive for this year as far as my career, and personal life are concerned. I am a hugeee quote person and believe sometimes the least amount of words declare the most impact and substance. Here are my favs for the upcoming year!

#1) “How wonderful it its that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” -Anne Frank

Such beautiful words from an amazing soul.

When I first read this quote, my mind literally went into overload. It is amazing how deciding to change the world, embarking on a new challenge, or creating change happens in a split second. Every positive development came from a second of understanding, and a realization that something needed to be done. Situations and lives are altered by  mere moments of actualization in each of our lives on a daily basis. It is wonderful and exciting that we live in a world where improving it takes nothing at all. Whether it be a simple smile, or a tight hug, to giving millions of dollars to a charity or creating your own nonprofit, all of it works intricately in helping progress and mend our broken society. This leads me to my next tried and true quote. This one is my staple.

#2) “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” -Mahatma 

First off, Gandi is one of the “poster boys” of social change. His words and legacy has reach millions and millions and it a true legend.

Since participating in Model United Nations in 8th grade, this has been MY QUOTE that I try to live by. Mahatma’s words were under my picture in my high school year book, as well as the footer in all of my emails, and resounds in my mind every time I wish to pursue social change.

Think about it,just think for a second. Think of a situation, an action, something that you want to see changed in the world. Now BE that change.

Now think if everyone did that! Do you see where I am going with this?

If you wished there were more mature positive mentors, BE a mentor, if your passion is fashion, create a line of eco-friendly clothes, if you want to end  ethnocentrism, BE that teacher that provides the knowledge in order to help it be eliminated.  Throughout this year, my goal is to consistently be that change. Something that I do this year, may reach one , 15, 99, or 1000 people, whose to say. That’s why for me, its so important to be on that mission 365 days a year. You just don’t know how many people you may impact.

#3) Today you are you, that is truer than true, there is no one alive who is youer than you.” -Dr.Seuss 

JUST BE YOU!!!! Realizing your worth and how you wish to make a mark on this world is the best thing you could ever do for yourself. Understanding that someone’s opinion can be asked or not asked, taken or not taken. It’s your life, live it up, and make your mark. When I decided I wanted to major in international studies, people asked me “Sooo, what are you gonna do with that?”  “Can you make money?” “So you majored in traveling?”

I had to know and be secure with myself that that was the path I was willing to take. Once I was sure that it was my passion and my mission to pursue that area of study, I had blinders on. I was true and real with myself, and firm in who I was. Everything about it resounded, and I had to do it, no matter what. I must continue that attitude into the new year. I am me, and you are you. We all have something amazing and sacred to give out, we just need to be bold, and DO IT. Thinking through what we want out of life catapults our mind into altering our environment for that change to take place. Let’s make it happen. I’m prettttyy optimistic at this point!  I’m rooting for you, can you root for me too??

Around the Caribbean….in 7 Days? Not Exactly

So I just got back from a cruise on the Freedom of the Seas, provided by Royal Caribbean. It was great to leave my little cubicle and travel the seas on a massive boat. Other than the fact that I was sea sick for the first day and a half, I must say, it was a good little break from it all. The wind in the ocean and the fresh inhales I mustered into my lungs were a wonderful in itself. So I had the pleasure of visiting the most touristic Americanized parts of Jamaica, Mexico, Grand Cayman, and Haiti. The only thing authentic I experienced was the land and the dirt on the ground where the place inhabited. Everything built on top of that was the commercialized version, basically an Americanized twin. In the future, when people ask me the places I’ve had a chance to visit, I know there will be a brief hesitation in me answering as far as adding these countries to my list. Nonetheless, my feet touched the sand so does that make me a person who has been to another country, I mean really been there?

This raised a question in my mind….my difference between the experience and just visiting.

The whole time I was in these different exotic places I was wondering what was over that mountain, or a couple of miles away I was missing out on. I was questioning what village or town was there right beyond the vendors and what was afar that I wanted to learn and understand.

By the way, I hated being called a tourist, but at that time, I guess that was the role I was playing.

Throughout my lifetime, I know I will want to travel even more.From now on I want to try and make sure that my money and time is spent in learning about the history, culture, traditions, and history of the people I embark upon. The beginning of the end of ignorance is an increase of knowledge. Visiting all those places made me want to do nothing more than to learn about the environment I was in. I definitely decided to mentally categorize my experiences vs.my visits

My experiences= living with a family in Costa Rica, eating the food, walking to the marketplace, dancing to the local musicians in the nightclubs, taking con mi madre sobre “pura vida”, trying out my Spanish with the locals while they snicker and my inverted words, watching the Tico children play soccer in the empty lots, riding on a horse through the rain forest,oh and did I mention delicious, fresh food?

Working with an orphanage in Honduras, seeing their beautiful faces while  trying to remember their names,meeting interesting people trying to make their mark on the world, going to high schools and sharing with them about my eagle pride (Georgia Southern University) and how they can become apart of it, going to local restaurants and listening to a mariachi band, visiting a banana plantation, helping students learn English in the school I was helping to build….ahhhh

My visits: landing in Jamaica and watching locals do traditional dances for us, buying a really cute bracelet, spending time with my boyfriend and his family, going to Haiti and trying some of the traditional beer and food, taking a tour in Cayman Islands, and last but not least being well rested and getting some much needed attention while on the cruise ship in Mexico.

Both have their perks and I definitely don’t knock going to resorts, or cruises. I will probably do it again just to get away from it all.But I have the heart of a Cultured Creature. That only sustains me for a while.I want experiences that will last me a lifetime. Be a global citizen. Learn about your neighbors.

 

 

 

 

Highlight the Beauty…

 

IF WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF LIFE AND OF ONE’S SITUATION, WE TRY AND FIX IT FROM AN ALREADY DEFEATED MENTALITY(LOOKING AT THE CUP HALF EMPTY). IF WE TRY TO FIND THE BEAUTY AND WORTH IN THINGS, IT PUSHES US TO PRESERVE AND HIGHLIGHT THAT BEAUTY, AND IN TURN MAKES US FIX THE SITUATION FROM A POSITIVE PASSION DRIVEN OUTLOOK……WHAT AM I SAYING??? HERE’S AN EXAMPLE

MINDSET #1 FOCUSES ON THE NEGATIVE,  FOR INSTANCE, POVERTY: THE MINDSET IS TO TRY AND CHANGE THINGS FROM LOOKING AT THE POVERTY SITUATION AS BEING THE BASE AND ISOLATED ISSUE. THE MINDSET DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE EFFECT IT HAS ON THE PEOPLE, JUST THE ISSUE ITSELF.POLICY MAKERS AND LAW MAINTAINERS CATER TO THIS MINDSET. THEY ONLY SEE THE ISSUE, NOT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE, SO THEY CREATE POLICIES THAT HAVE NO REAL RETENTION AND NO ACTUAL REALNESS FOR THE PEOPLE THEY EFFECT.

MINDSET# 2 FOCUSES ON THE POSITIVE…SUCH AS THIS: THERE IS A BEAUTIFUL CULTURE HIDDEN BY THE OVERPOWERING CIRCUMSTANCE OF POVERTY.BECAUSE OF POVERTY PEOPLE CANNOT SEE THE BEAUTY OF THE INDIVIDUALS IT ITS AFFECTING. THEREFORE YOU FIGHT THE POVERTY BECAUSE YOU WANT TO BRING OUT THE BEAUTY OF THE CULTURE, NOT BECAUSE YOU WANT TO JUST GET
RID OF POVERTY. THE REALIZATION OF THE BEAUTY BEHIND THE CIRCUMSTANCE GIVES ONE A DRIVING PASSION TO FIX THE PRO
BLEM FROM A POSITIVE “CUP HALF FULL” STANDPOINT OTHER THAN IN
ITIAL MINDSET WHICH ALREADY FOCUSES ON  DISAPPOINTMENT.

LOOKING AT THE BEAUTY THAT IS AFFECTED BY THE SITUATION FIXES IT FAR MORE QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY THAN TRYING TO ISOLATE THE PROBLEM ITSELF. 

BEHIND EVERY PROBLEM IS A HUMAN, BEHIND EVERY HUMAN IS AN EXPERIENCE. CATER TO THE LIVES IT EFFECTS NOT THE PROBLEM.

My Global Citizenship

Gravitating towards international news, volunteering for  international nonprofits, wanting to personally make change in society, loving travel, enjoying other cultures,eating exotic foods, hugging EVERYONE, being an advocate for multicultural education ….my symptoms of being a global citizen.

 

In college, I majored in international studies. Solidifying my major and deciding that international studies was the perfect fit for me was the best decision I have ever made in my life. I will try not to go on and on about how college students needs to experience an international studies curriculum, or sign up for some international affairs classes, but I truly believe its a must for the world we live in today.

When I was younger, I always looked at the world from an outside-in perspective. I would envision myself high above the atmosphere looking in on every country, every community and every person while thinking, we are all connected in some form or fashion. I knew there was a world outside of my community, that I wanted to learn about. I did not know at the time that my mindset was of a global citizen.

Being a global citizen encompasses a transformation of thinking, learning, and growing. Being a global citizen means realizing that through life experiences, humanity is connected,transformed and shaped together. It is an understanding of tolerance that surpasses the boundaries of ethnicity,  religion, culture, and tradition on all levels.

Through becoming a global citizen you are enraptured in noticing social injustices and are compelled  to make a difference in the lives of your fellow humans. You see social issues from a clear perspective and realize that it can generate into being an issue all of us face,or an issue that is detrimental to society as a whole. Personally, I feel that if I am not working towards some type of social change, my citizenship will be revoked!

It is the realization that what happens to one does and can happen to all.

It is the universal conclusion that although our lives may not ever entertwine, our human connection for each other serves as a catalyst to promote the change and awareness that needs to take place.

From policy, to law making, from advocating,to servitude, we make the difference.

Being a global citizen is not just an action, it is a mindset, and a mentality. There is a conviction that pushes you to do good, and that conviction is stronger than any social injustice we are facing in our world.