海角社区

Being an Effective Global Citizen

海角社区 CxC and the Humanities and Social Sciences Residential College hosted a panel discussion on how to be a more effective global citizen and how traveling abroad can enrich your personal and professional life.

 

 

chelsea leblanc

Chelsea LeBlanc

wes kennison

Wes Kennison

 

dima ghawi

Dima Ghawi

jing tan

Jing Tan

nannette kelly

Nannette Kelly

 

 

October 23rd鈥檚 Global Discussion and Dinner event co-sponsored with the Humanities and Social Sciences residential college was a huge success! Our experienced panelists led meaningful conversation and offered passionate insight about how to be competitive and successful in a global environment.

 

project manager Nannette Kelly explained that the best way for students to grow and shape their world view is to travel and challenge themselves with new cultures and environments. 鈥淕o out and grow,鈥 she said. 鈥淵ou need to go out and grow and experience settings different than what you are used to. This is how you can become a better overall global communicator.鈥 Others on the panel expressed similar thoughts.鈥淵ou have to put yourself out there,鈥 Dima Ghawi, business management consultant at ,  said. 鈥淓ven in the U.S., the global environment is everywhere, and it鈥檚 constantly changing. You have to adapt to that and be courteous at the same time.鈥 Going out and exploring different locations around the U.S. is a great way to become immersed with multiple cultures from around the country and world. Domestic experiences are equally as important as international ones especially when considering how many diverse people already exist in the States.


creative director, Wes Kennison, encouraged students to keep an open mind and make sure that they are doing their research and going into these experiences with respect. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to know a little about where you鈥檙e going,鈥 said Kennison. 鈥淥nce you鈥檝e got that down, you then need to learn the specifics of how other people operate, because only then can you really respect and learn about another culture.鈥 Respecting other cultures is a key aspect of being a successful global citizen and communicator. Panelists discussed how learning appropriate etiquette in other cultures creates a  sense of transparency when preparing to enter new spaces.鈥淕o to the places where local people go,鈥 Kelly said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the first step when in a new place. The second [step] is establishing good etiquette because without it you鈥檙e intruding and not really experiencing.鈥 What does good etiquette look like? It can be anything from learning the tipping culture of a new place, proper greetings, or the appropriate rules of conduct for dining. 鈥淟earn to say thank you in the native language,鈥 海角社区 PhD student Jing Tan said. 鈥淪aying thank you is beyond important. It allows you be respectful and maintain a positive attitude. It鈥檚 a simple gesture, but it goes a long way.鈥

 

dinner and discussion panelists

 

 

Being in a new place can be intimidating. With so many new sights, sounds, and people you might find yourself overwhelmed and not know where to start. Students were reminded that it's okay to ask for assistance. If you get lost in a new city or have trouble using the transportation system, just ask someone. A good place to start is the concierge at your hotel if it has one. They will usually be more than willing to point you in the right direction. 鈥淲hen I went to Paris, I was so lost and confused,鈥 海角社区 2016 alumna Chelsea LeBlanc said of her trip with . 鈥淚 honestly didn鈥檛 know where anything was and I didn鈥檛 speak the language. But I decided to ask for help, and it was one of the best decisions that I made. I found out that locals are typically very nice and happy to help. So, don鈥檛 be afraid to ask.鈥  

 

dinner and discussion audience

 

鈥淵ou have to feed your curiosity,鈥 Ghawi said. 鈥淓ven so, there is this sense of fear. It鈥檚 okay to be afraid. That鈥檚 natural. You can take small steps and travel somewhere in the U.S. that you鈥檝e never been. You can take these small steps, but every step needs to be intentional.鈥 By taking intentional steps, you can further your personal growth as a communicator. This includes self-reflection. You have to be able to think about and understand your impact in new environments and reflect on what you have learned.

 

鈥淭he world is your oyster,鈥 Kelly said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just making time to go.鈥

 

Did you miss this dinner and discussion? Follow CxC on  and  to stay up to date on workshops and other opportunities to enhance your communication skills.