Going abroad without stepping foot out of Pennsylvania.

Just a few weeks ago (Oct 25-Oct 27), I was granted the opportunity of being a part of something amazing. I, as well as 39 other Penn State students took part in the Global Engagement and Leadership Experience....otherwise known as GELE. GELE is a weekend conference in which 40 Penn State Students (half from the United States, and half international students) come together and talk about leadership on a cultural and global level (that's the most basic rundown I can give).

Got to culture them on the 'Jump On It' dance, haha! ;)

Not only was it fun, but I can honestly admit that it's topped my entire Penn State experiences. I've always had a curiosity for learning about other countries and cultures; however, I never had an experience where I could fully delve into it. Here at Penn State (UPark most especially), we pride ourselves on being a very diverse campus. On the flipside, although we may have people coming from all over the US and world, for the most part, people remain segregated. Many people (can't say everyone) stick to what's familiar, fearful of venturing into the unknown.

My roommates!

GELE allowed us to come together from different sectors of campus (most of us would rarely run into each other before this experience) and talk about these fears. In a safe environment, we were allowed to ask "the stupid questions" that we otherwise wouldn't for fear of judgement. We were allowed to dispel many of the stereotypes and stigmas that plagued our societies and cultures. But most of all, we came together to work towards creating a Penn State that allowed everyone to feel comfortable and proud of who they are, no matter what corner of the world they come from.

We laughed, we bickered, we explained, we cried, we shared. We had fun. We gave pieces of ourselves that we were proud of, and gave others permission to go out and pass out our pieces so that one day, people will realize that  our 'differences' are not so different after all. We all essentially have a drive to strive for greatness and want our culture to be perceived as the best. What causes conflict is when we believe that our own culture is the greatest, and try to impose it on others. If people can learn to understand that every culture is unique in their own way, there is no one 'GREAT' race or religion, except that of the human race as a whole; we can begin a new path of global peace. When people stop letting the fear of the unknown stop them from interacting with people who they perceive as different, then can we tackle the stereotypes and stigmas that ignorance creates. We need to start small.

In the end, we are all amazing people. We all have the power to lead humanity to greatness. We all face fears and doubts. We all want to share what makes each and everyone of us different from the next person. We all have to combat with negativity and hate that is bred from those who illicit selfishness and greed.

We must always remember that each and everyone we meet has a story to tell. We all in our own have struggles that we must face. The more we allow positivity of others and their life journeys to flow to us and give hope, the more we can bring strength to others who are in need. As said before, we need to start small. Small pieces eventually fit together, thus creating a large picture.

Through my experience with GELE, it gave me a chance to not only actively think about bringing about change, but to actively go out and work towards it. I addressed (some of, hah!) my fears, and I also understand that I alone cannot bring about global change. Each person that I interacted with in GELE has entrusted me their stories, and it is my job to go out and share them with others. I understand that each person I interact with, whether for a couple of days or for the rest of my life, I am bringing change to them. With love, positive attitude, my own cultural understandings, my mind. They can then go off with their own positive interactions, and continue the chain links. When you look at it this way, bringing change does not seem so daunting after all.

"Remember, each one of us has the power to change the world. Just start thinking peace, and the message will spread quicker than you think." -Yoko Ono