Alumni , Lebanon , Middle East and North Africa , Western Kentucky University
During my first week at Western Kentucky University (WKU), I received a message from a friend asking me if I was really actually at WKU because he was too. I met Charles back in 2015 in the athlete’s village of the Universiade (an international multi-sport event) in South Korea, and I saw him again in 2017 in Taiwan. And out …
Academic Exchange , Academics , Alumni , Career , Chatham University , India , Professional Development
The Global UGRAD experience leaves an indelible impact on each of our minds and urges us to keep following our dreams while working towards developing our community. The community service hours taught me the importance of caring and giving back to society. This inspired a group of fellow alumni and me to begin our own mini organization called the Glow …
Academic Exchange , Academics , Alumni , California State University - San Marcos , Central Asia , Community Service , East Asia and the Pacific , Eurasia , Guatemala , Iowa Wesleyan University , Kyrgyzstan , Latin America and the Caribbean , Lebanon , Lewis-Clark State College , Middle East and North Africa , Moldova , Saginaw Valley State University , Thailand , Ukraine , University of Arkansas , Western Kentucky University
This spring, Global UGRAD participants were invited to take part in a photo contest by submitting their best shots from the semester. World Learning received over 200 photo submissions featuring participants sharing their culture and exploring the United States. Among these, six winning photos were selected. The following winners were announced with a roaring round of applause at the End of …
Augustana University , Diversity and Inclusion , East Asia and the Pacific , Philippines
Dear God, we won’t ask for forgiveness just because we are not straight. My high school best friend is a lesbian. I got gay friends. My classmate is a bisexual. My idol in politics is a transgender, so am I. That didn’t make us different, so Dear God, we won’t ask for forgiveness just because we are not straight. They …
Kenya , Murray State University , Sub-Saharan Africa
My time as an exchange student was a period of many firsts. First travel out of my continent Africa and even my first flight. I couldn’t tell if I was more excited for the flight than the exchange itself. Most importantly I was living away from my family for the first time and I had no choice but to adjust. …
Academic Exchange , Academics , Diversity and Inclusion , East Asia and the Pacific , The U.S. Perspective , Vietnam , Wayne State University
To celebrate teacher appreciation week, World Learning interviewed Global UGRAD student Huy Thuc Ha and his professor Dr. Carolyn Campbell, regarding their experiences in the African American Studies course at Wayne State University. Huy is from Vietnam studying Industrial Management, and Dr. Campbell is a professor in the Department of African American Studies. Q: As an international student, what was …
Alumni , American University , Latin America and the Caribbean , Panama
In 2012, I made a decision that would impact my career path for the better. I was a second-year law student at Universidad Catolica Santa Maria La Antigua in Panama City, Panama at the time, and although I was enjoying my studies, I was eager to study abroad. I applied to and received the Global UGRAD scholarship, which granted me …
Academic Exchange , Academics , Alumni , Ball State University , China
Muchen Zhang, a senior at Pepperdine University in California, had dreamed of studying in the United States since middle school. “The U.S., welcoming and prosperous, is a huge stage with more jobs and high chances to make a fortune,” she says. Studying in the U.S. often allows students to be more independent and creative, which is part of the attraction …
Central Asia , University of Tennessee Knoxville , Uzbekistan
Being a Global UGRAD student gave me lots of opportunities to acquire new experiences, to learn lots of new things and to make a bunch of friends from around the world. All of these have largely happened during the time I’ve been attending my host university – the University of Tennessee Knoxville, which has become my second home. However, another …
Central Asia , Kyrgyzstan , Lewis-Clark State College
Last year when I was watching the Model United Nation conference in New York from “Opportunities Portal,” online, I could just dream of going to the United Nation in my little town in Kyrgyzstan. This year I received an amazing opportunity. While studying in the US, I had the opportunity to go to the Model United Nation in New …