Prologue to GLEA: Defining the Reasons

   Looking at the timeline of my life, the people in it, and what I valued in my narrative before starting my chapter at Florida State University, the term “Global Citizen” would find no spot in my character profile to rest its case. Growing up, I found myself in the most natural state possible to a human- surrounded by people who looked, spoke, and thought like me- or at least they were all willing to conform to do so. I lived in a very, tiny town in the rural panhandle of Florida in ignorance of the problems and diversity of the world. I was barely ever exposed to life outside my sheltered pocket, and when those times did arise, I was never one to “embrace” it by any means of term. I was content enough to merely understand it, thinking that knowledge makes you a “competent” being.

    I provide all of these quote marks, not as a negative implication of the words they capture, but as a reminder that the manner in which we think is something that is unique onto ourselves. These words mean something different to all of us. It should not be our goal to create a common definition, but rather, to understand the ‘what’ and ‘why’ of the definitions of one another. Sometimes, the information conflicts with what we know, but most of us would never throw out our former thoughts completely. We build on them. We layer them. We create this dynamic thought pattern that is based on no specific fact or event. It is multi-dimensional and has no beginning or end- the beauty of our minds.

    The relevance of these thoughts to the rest of my blog may not be transparent to you as of yet, but I think the realization of ideas such as these is how I’ve come so far from my entrance to college just over a year ago. As a leader, it’s important to find not only what you value but why you value it. Therefore, I hope it will all make sense now when I say that my #1 motivator in everything I have done and one of the values I hold closest to me is education. I value the war against global ignorance. This includes every level of human existence- cultures, races, languages, economic classes, ethnicities, occupations, social groups….Anywhere that humans draw an invisible line is one that I try to cross through cultural understanding. I think the world has figured out how to put thoughts into actions, however, putting action into your thoughts might be a more ground-breaking concept. As I mentioned before, we build layers upon layers of thought patterns as we reinforce or build our new ideas of the world. It is each of our jobs, as a Global Citizen, to be willing to backtrack. Sometimes, we are wrong. Sometimes, we are fed incorrect information. Sometimes, our view of the world changes.

     It is important to be willing to rebuild your sphere of thoughts within your mind. Your foundation, or values, may remain the same, but how you think of and interpret those values can always change. It’s important to continuously re-evaluate your current stance, and your progression in the past and for the future. Be willing to re-string directions of layers in your web of intricate ideas. Maybe strands will be shortened, lengthened, cut, strung, tightened, or loosened. The point is that we have to continue growing. There is no stability in society. I truly believe that if you aren’t progressing, you are atrophying.

   Take risks, ask questions, and always actively think. Break down the barriers that you have unconsciously built for yourself and be willing to uncomfortably explore the unknown.

“We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.” –Anais Nin

Welcome to my blog of GLEA, Global Leadership and Environmental Action, a service project I had the honor of implementing with my peer Mariam Meparishvili in her hometown of Gori, Georgia. What follows was partially inspired by my thoughts, such as the above, but this program was created for all minds who think in every form. 

And with all generously funded service projects comes our disclaimer:
"This project was made possible by an award from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State, through a program administered by IREX (International Research & Exchanges Board). None of these organizations is responsible for the views expressed herein."