Refelction
Four years passed by in a blink of an eye and time adjusting to living in the United States because I had spent my entire life up to this point living and attending international schools overseas. As a freshman, I had a hard time adjusting to FIU, I didn't know anyone, I was alone in Miami; my family living on the other side of the world; and attending university at one of United States 'top ten largest universities; opened many doors. Reflecting back, I can definitely say I checked off a lot of things on my FIU bucket list. I joined a sorority called Phi Sigma Sigma which opened many door. Through Phi Sig I was selected as Homecoming intern, Relay for Life marketing intern, student programming council member, American Marketing Association member and participated in Alternative Breaks. I was very involved on campus my freshman and sophomore years. Towards my junior year, I decided to study abroad in Valencia, Spain, which later brought me to become and International Student Ambassador. Not only was I involved on campus but I pushed myself to find an internship and job. Every summer I would go back to Bangladesh, because that was where my family lived at the time, and worked at the American Embassy. I also was an intern at the Adrienne Arsht Center which helped me develop my marketing career but also exposed me to the performing arts. Through the global medallion program, I selected courses that had a global perspective. Some of those courses were part of the business track my favorite being international marketing, where I learned how different companies have to cater to different markets. For example L'Oreal sold whitening creams in Asia because that market believes fair skin is beautiful. I also took world religions my freshman year which I got to learn all the relgions around the world.
The global medallion program may seem like a checklist of things to do but it has a deeper meaning, it broadens student’s horizons. The medallion program has so many events and opportunities that I wouldn't have known of without being part of it. Some of the point system activities that I participated in was the coffee hour at the International Student office. I really liked attending this event because every coffee hour is a different country, a student is incharge of bringing cofee from their country and present a powerpoint. The students who attend learn about the country and a little bit about the student. This is a great way to learn more about different countries and meet students. I really thought this activity was one of the most impactful because I learned something new about a country I wasn't familiar with.
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The four years that I have been a FIU student has taught me that the more work you put into something, whether it’s an organization, or a class is what you will get out. It is important to push yourself, get to know as many people as possible, join as many organizations and step out of your comfort zone. Without these organizations, courses and experiences I do not think I would be the well-rounded, smart, global woman that I am today.