The class taught me to avoid generalizations and monolithic perspectives of Japan, as Tokyo quickly came into stark contrast not only to rural Japan but also to other major cities in the nation. Through living in the city with a host family and having opportunities to explore Tokyo in addition to Hiroshima and Kyoto
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During the summer of 2020, not only did I learn more about China’s left-behind-children situation and music therapy, I also learned more about myself as a person and have also been challenged to find more opportunities to create social impact.
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In Summer 2019, I worked with the Yale International Relations Association and Pegasus-Alpha Partners Education on a cultural exchange program. Through the Model United Nations Education program in the Yale International Relations Association, we partnered with a local organization to teach middle school students from throughout China Model U.N. skills.
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Living in the U.S., I, as well as many of my peers, see other countries, especially those outside of North America and Europe as extremely foreign, cultures that are almost incompatible with our own. Spending two months not simply attending a study abroad program, but working and living as an adult in a country that seemed worlds away from my own made me realize how alike we all are to one another regardless of the thousands of miles and arbitrary borders that separate us from one another.
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After the mid-March breakout of COVID-19 in Spain and my rushed, multi-layover, 23-hour journey back to the United States, I did not know when I would again be on an airplane. And yet, in the beginning of August [2020], I was on my way to South Korea, seated one seat away from the next passenger. While the risks of traveling are significant during these uncertain times, my grandfather was very sick and my family was unsure of the next time we would get to see him, so we made the decision to visit.
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I was thousands of miles from home for the longest period of time I’ve ever been away from my family. Although I struggled at times with this distance, by the end of the program I was glad to have taken on the challenge of actually leaving home (not just going to school one hour away.)
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The first message I saw when I landed at Seoul Incheon International Airport came from a loud, in-your-face billboard. Bubble letters spelling the text “Welcome to Korea!” sprawled across a picture of BLACKPINK, a famous Korean pop (K-pop) girl group.
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Part of traveling means taking an unexpected path. In fact, the root of the word “travel” means “travail” — a sometimes laborious and even painful effort. Traveling shouldn’t just be a prescribed, smooth-sailing itinerary.
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My decision to focus on the experiences of Americans came as a result of heightened awareness and attention to U.S – Russia relations, yet there was little scholarship on how education programs in the modern era can act as a tool of soft diplomacy for fostering cross cultural awareness and understanding. My research specifically hoped to answer: How do American English teachers in Russia balance their dual roles as classroom teachers and cultural ambassadors?
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For two weeks [in 2019], I had the opportunity to volunteer at the St. Gregory Catholic Hospital in Buduburam Liberian Refugee Camp. I am Nigerian-American, however, I have always wanted to experience health care in at least one African country. The opportunity to do so was presented to me through A Broader View Volunteers, a non profit organization that allows volunteers to explore a new country while also taking part in meaningful service work.
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Through this experience, I learned what makes a good class. A good class is accessible to anyone, responsive to feedback, and leaves students with something tangible. As I explore leadership in this new capacity, I’m excited to further dive into the world of education.
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I believe that the work I was doing in Turkey was incredibly impactful and my hope is that I will continue to find future opportunities that allow me to make positive differences in the communities that I work with. As I move into the future, I hope to share these lessons that I have learned and serve as an advocate for science and higher education as a whole.
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