Reflection

My time at FIU has been punctuated with experiences that have pushed me far outside my comfort zone. It is because of this that my understanding of the world and my perception of my place within it has changed. I have had many experiences that have prompted this. I volunteered as an English Tutor via Paper Airplanes and learned so much about what life was like on the other side of the world thanks to conversations with my student. I learned that although his life might be different from mine in a lot of ways, we still have so much common ground. I have also fine-tuned my empathetic abilities and social awareness.

Through my global learning courses, I was able to craft my global perspective. My Global Climate Change class first introduced me to the interconnectedness of everything. I learned that the world becoming warmer did not just affect sea levels, but the geographical range that mosquitos could inhabit. And along with those mosquitos come all the illnesses the harbor. In my Pandemics, Immigration, and Health Disparities class I learned about the importance of public health and how viruses do not believe in borders. I also learned about how global trends, such as access to cheaper foods, can cause pandemics of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and obesity. My Myths, Rituals, and Mysticism class taught me about how the definition of what was strange or common was, quite subjective. I learned how people use their beliefs to navigate through the world. This knowledge was then framed in the modern context, as seen in the Masterpiece Cakeshop vs. Colorado Civil Right Commission essay.

My Capstone Experience as the Advocacy Lead for UNICEF UNITE Miami taught me a lot about stepping up and representing people both locally and across the globe. Through this position, I learned about the brick and mortar of grassroots advocacy, and also advocacy on the national and international level. There are many individuals in the South Florida community who are either undocumented or on Temporary Protective Status (TPS). I was honored to have represented these individuals in my community in a meeting with one of the District Directors of Senator Rick Scott, where I lobbied on behalf of the Dream Act and presented real personal statements from FIU students. This experience has made me a better public speaker because I now know that sometimes, you must bite the bullet and speak up. Not because you want to, but because someday, you might have to do it on behalf of someone who is incapable of speaking up for themselves.

As a graduate, I plan on using my experience navigating the political arena to not only advocate on behalf of my patients and colleagues, but to make real changes to health policy in the United States of America. Furthermore, I would like to continue my work with UNICEF and support the organization in whatever ways I can as I progress in my career.