A Global Learning Medallion ePortfolio
About me
My name is Ana Martinez. I am a Fall 2020 graduate from Florida International University with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations, a second major in Women and Gender Studies, a minor in Political Science, and a Pre-Law Certificate. I have always been very passionate when it comes to volunteering and public service, which is why when I first came to FIU I knew that I wanted to belong to a community bigger then myself. Through my participation with Alternative Breaks, and later on becoming the co-President of Globemed  I became involved in the Global Learning Medallion Program (GLM). Through my participation in the GLM Program I have expanded my global awareness and perspective. After my graduation I will be attending to Law School. I look forward to applying all the knowledge and valuable skills this program taught me in my legal education, and later on, in my career as an attorney.
Involvement
Youth Development in Guatemala
In the Summer of 2019, I decided to join the FIU Alternative Breaks program as a participant. My fellow participants and I were very excited for our community service trip to Guatemala. I contributed to the overall success of the trip by being a pro-active member of the team and always being present during the meetings.
Prior to the community service trip we had to fundraise for the organization in Guatemala that we were going to help. This organization is "Maximo Nivel", it is located in Antigua in the heart of Guatemala. This organization works to create schools for the children of this impoverished community. Some of the fundraising events that I participate in include, tableing, canning, selling pastries, and volunteering at the county fair.
In Guatemala, we gave the organization donations that included medical supplies, toys, and clothing for the children. At the school, we aided as teachers and it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I learned so much from the community and their culture. This experience changed me and made understand the importance of xenocentrism.
Internship at SUMARSE
For my capstone project, I decided to volunteer at "SUMARSE" which is a non-profit organization in Panama City, Panama. SUMARSE is committed to lead Corporate Social Responsibility in Panama by creating awareness, strategic alliances, and training programs.
My role as a volunteer within the organization involved mainly performing administrative tasks such as;Â developing excel tables in order to organize the financials of the organization, communicating with customers via phone or email to confirm deliveries, scheduling appointments, managing office inventory, and interacting with the members in their membership renovation process.
my experience in SUMARSE was unparalleled. I learned a lot from the Panamanian culture in my time with them. Moreover, I gained experience by being able to participate in conferences were the members would present new projects that aimed to tackle global humanitarian issues. I was also able to participate in the making of the annual week devoted to Corporate Social Responsibility, which is recognized as the most important sustainability event at the business level in Panama.
Internship at SUMARSE
Global Learning
Courses
Sociology of Gender (SYD 3804)
This class was definitely one of my favorite classes throughout my years as an undergraduate student. We learned about social constructs and how gender roles are shaped by societal expectations. We learned about our own subconscious bias and how important it is to be aware of them in order to consciously and slowly deconstruct this stereotypes that are so deeply rooted in the idea of gender, identity, and societal structure. My favorite part of this class were the engaging discussions and how my fellow students and I were so vulnerable and open. I learned a lot from other students' ideas and embodied experiences. This class definitely made me a more mindful individual and it challenged some of my previous beliefs. For this class, my partner and I created a children story book that would encourage young girls to challenge this social constructs as well and become more interest in STEM which are fields of study generally associated with men.
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Contemporary International Problems (INR 3081)
In this class we examined world and regional issues and problems in a selected country. I did most of my research on Peru, which is the country were my mother is from and has always been a country that intrigued me. It was amazing to understand how the views regarding national security vary from age and gender. In this class, we wrote a paper were we proved just that. Overall, an amazing class to take in order to learn about national security and global issues pertaining national security around the world.
Introduction to Environmental Science and Sustainability (EVR 1001)
This class introduced me to scientific knowledge regarding the nutrient cycling, pollution, desertification, climate change, energy, water resources, and biodiversity loss. In this course I learned a lot about recycling and made me more conscious about the environment. Ever since I took that class I have been doing my best to reduce my ecological footprint.
Women, Culture, and Economic Development (ECS 2021)
In this class we learned about the role of women in the economics aspect of a society. The country I did most of my research was India because it is a country that I have always wanted to learn more about. This class examines the economics of a country through a feminist lens which makes it extremely interesting. I learned a lot about economics and how human development is the ultimate goal. This has been one of my favorite courses to take because it definitely placed me out of my comfort zone.
Tuesday Times Roundtable
The Tuesday Times Roundtable is an excellent opportunity to achieve Global Learning Medallion points, especially this semester were I was a full-time online student. The forums are amazing because you get to engage in very interesting discussions with professors and other students. In this section I will be discussing the event of November 3rd, the topic was Transgender Awareness week.
This was probably my favorite event throughout the semester. It was a very emotional and eye-opening event. I enjoyed listening to the different embodied experiences of my peers and I learned so much about the LGBTQ+ community. My favorite part of the event was when other students were discussing the appropriate behavior of an ally. I learned so much from what they said and I will definitely use this knowledge in my daily life. I was so grateful to be part of such an honest and vulnerable conversation. I truly believe that this event taught be how to be a better ally and how to become a better listener. Overall the Tuesday Times Roundtable events have given be the tools to become a better global citizen.
Reflection
Being part of the Global Learning Medallion Program has been one of the best decisions I made as an undergraduate student. Coming to Florida International University, as a Freshman, I knew that I wanted to learn more about the world. I grew up in a small town, Trujillo, Peru. I had not been exposed to other cultures, religions, and ideas before I moved to the United States of America. I believe that I used to be a closed minded individual that now values and appreciates the different perspectives and opinions of others.Â
Throughout participating in the Tuesday Times Roundtable events, engaging in Global Learning courses, and becoming a member of Globemed I learned about the interconnectedness of issues. Gender, culture, religion, and sexuality are social constructs that vary within societies. Each and every one of this issues affect one another, which is why it is important to understand them and learn how they affect each other in different cultures.Â
Becoming one of the Co-Presidents of Globemed really gave me the opportunity to engage in international and intercultural problem solving activities. Attending to the think tanks, were we would meet with other chapter members around the states and talk about our different organizations and our plans to help them, taught me how to think outside the box. Moreover, Globemed's philosophy of deconstructing the "hero" approach in volunteering, and using a more understanding approach instead; taught me how important it is to value and understand the actions of the members within a community. It is important not to be ethnocentric and understand that what might work in our western culture might not be the best in a non-western community.
I plan to attend to law school after my graduation. I will then use my legal education to improve public policy and help people with pro-bono cases. As a proud immigrant, I will always be respectful to different communities and will always do my best to become an ally. I would like to dedicate part of my time to volunteering with local organizations and be a proactive member within my community.