As a student, you hear it in almost every department, from business to communication to political science and almost every class in between. The world today is interconnected and it is more important than ever before to be a global citizen. No man is an island and the countries and peoples of this world, whether surrounded by water or land, are woven together through all tools of communication we have at our disposal.
The need to understand different cultures, religions and political structures is immense and arguably getting more important every day as the advent of new technologies come more frequently and faster than imaginable. This is why The Loquitur commends the senior communication Convergence project for their attempt to do what is definitely hard but incredibly necessary for students of this generation.
Cabrini wants to create a community of students who are well-rounded in academics but also committed to being global citizens. As the world continues to progress and the barriers between countries are broken down, we need to understand the importance of being tied to others.
Facebook can help start a revolution, Twitter can put you in contact with someone across the world and Skype can allow you to communicate face-to-face with them from the comfort of your own home. As students, we have the great opportunity to start practicing and valuing this type of communication about international issues in a supportive learning community. Think of the advantages students will have after developing these skills. Apart from bringing new knowledge to those around them, they can take those skills and knowledge into the workplace. The ability to question other cultures, religions and political views is just as important as the willingness to learn about areas outside of our bubble in the United States. Without a question, knowledge cannot be gained and without knowledge, we cannot grow as humans and the developing world will remain in conflict and disparity. Building peace between countries starts from an understanding and understanding starts with connecting and communicating. As it says in the front-page article about the senior Convergence project, not being afraid to make connections with people around the world is a lifelong skill of a global citizen.
Whether it is going on a study-abroad trip, participating in a project like this or just making an effort to take classes or educate oneself about international issues, students today need to make the effort. With social media like Twitter and Facebook, learning about news and development in other countries is as easy as picking up your phone. Luckily, we are at a school that directly assists us with our endeavors and stresses the need to break down our comfort zones and expand our horizons. Working globally can start working in your own community with people stemming from different cultures and backgrounds. Education and action are the keys.
Everyone has a story, whether they are from the United States or the Middle East. While we may have very different lives, we have the same human emotions and components. Therefore, how different can we be? As the senior Convergence project shows us, making personal connections can be done.
