Looking on the manifestations of the globalization, which is taking place in the world today, it can be seen that most of the attempts are taking place on the level of states and economies. Being a participant of this globalization direction on a personal level, is a great responsibility and still a challenge to overcome.
As a foreign student studying abroad, becoming a global citizen is specifically important, where the experience of overcoming the existent cultural obstacles and differences can be seen as the first step of having knowledge of the world and valuing diversity.
As a Persian born in Iran, I think the differences between the east and the west can be seen among the main factors that promotes keeping a gap between the nationalities and the emphasis on the citizenship of countries. In that regard, in my perception, being a global citizen is maintaining the balance between preserving my culture and tradition and learning and respecting the culture and the tradition of others. In that sense, I believe that there is no better way of understanding and appreciating a foreign culture more than a personal experience gained through living abroad.
Being a global citizen is specifically important, where despite the official end of racial and ethical discrimination, a substitute of ethnic stereotyping can still pose the same threat. In this digital era people tend to acquire their information only from digital sources, and thus I must admit that I also can fall under the influence of the images that portray others.
In that regard, the ability to study abroad is like acquiring information form the first hands, and raising knowledge that is free from biases and prejudices. Studying abroad programs is like a certificate that I will be able to constantly adapt to new ideas and circumstances, and thus I will be ready to participate in the transformation that will be needed through my whole life and career.
Being a global citizen means that I will be perceived by my qualities, and being welcomed everywhere, I will be able to help people with the knowledge that I will acquire. From such perspective, nursing as the choice of my major is my first step toward being an active participant in changing other people’s life.
Applying for studying abroad program will help me attain the status of global citizen by receiving the opportunity to evaluate my beliefs in a new way, and take a look at the educational area in which I am interested from a new perspective. Gaining the skills of intercultural communication will help me obtain a deeper understanding of my values and a wider world view.
Every person might assess the meaning of being a global citizen individually, and I think that there is no right or wrong answer in that. From my perspective being a global citizen is, first of all, living in a world which is limited only by my skills, qualities and the boundaries that I set to my self. In that regard, I hope that with the help of the knowledge and experience that I will gain from the program, I will be able to set new limits, goals and challenges.