Tag Archives: education

Comparing approaches to resources and sustainability in the US and Chile

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When I began college, I had many different interests and wasn’t sure which path I would ultimately take. The one certainty was that I wanted to spend a semester abroad. That dream came true this past year. While my time abroad brought its fair share of challenges, it was also one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

My original GLI Global Theme was Public and Global Health. However, once I arrived in Chile, I realized that the courses I had planned on taking either didn’t match my Spanish level or required prerequisites I hadn’t met. Because of this, I decided to pivot and change my global theme to Resources and Sustainability, which aligned much more seamlessly with the Biology classes available to me. This change opened up new perspectives that I hadn’t anticipated, and I became curious about the ways the U.S. and Chile approach sustainability topics, as well as the cultural or societal norms that inform those differences.


Living in Concepción was a huge adjustment. I was in a house with 11 other people from all over Europe and South America, and I quickly noticed how flexible things were compared to what I was used to. Punctuality wasn’t treated as rigidly as it is in the U.S., and classes often began 15–30 minutes past the hour. Scheduling conflicts weren’t resolved through an advisor, but rather directly with professors, which often meant classes could change from their original schedule. What first seemed disorganized eventually began to feel like part of the charm of life in Latin America—there was a kind of beauty and magic in the chaos.

It was also a big change to live in a coastal port city. Having grown up in the desert of New Mexico and studied in Montana’s mountains, I had always been landlocked. Suddenly, I was in a place with ocean air, San Francisco–style weather, and the beach only a short drive away. On the surface, this might not sound life-changing, but it shaped both of the Biology classes I took: one on plant diversity (which focused heavily on algae) and another on the genetics of marine organisms. Aquaculture plays a huge role in how Chile thinks about natural resources, and it was fascinating to learn about research on algae or vaccine development for salmonids, which nearly always came back to the importance of marine organisms as both a source of revenue and a local food staple.

This perspective was striking when compared to most of my Biology education in the U.S., which has emphasized conservation and protecting species from habitat loss and climate change. While aquaculture is certainly present in the U.S., the focus often leans more toward land and wildlife conservation. Observing this difference made me grateful for the education I’ve received, even though I am no longer a Wildlife Biology major, because I still hope to work in that realm. Conversations with Chilean students also revealed that their opportunities for research in wildlife biology are much more limited, often requiring a veterinary track first or pushing students toward fisheries and aquaculture. Still, Concepción is becoming a hub for cutting-edge research on how the environment affects genomes, and I had the privilege of learning from one of the leading experts in that field.

My semester abroad was also one of the most challenging things I have ever done. Beyond language immersion and academic differences, I navigated setbacks that tested my independence and resilience, including a two-month student strike and even a dislocated elbow. These experiences forced me to adapt in ways I never expected and gave me a new sense of confidence in what I am capable of.

Looking back, my time in Chile taught me more than I ever anticipated. It gave me new perspectives on sustainability, pushed me to grow as a student and as a person, and helped me discover my passion for education, advocacy, and community engagement. While I am still shaping my career path, I know I want to be a lifelong learner, an educator, and a voice for the environment. My semester abroad was a dream come true—but more than that, it was a turning point in how I see the world and my place in it.

Le meilleur semestre en Suisse!

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Bonjour, grüezi, ciao, hello! My name is Hannah Halvorson, and I spent 5 months this spring studying at the University of Fribourg in Fribourg, Switzerland. Fribourg (or, for the Swiss Germans, Freiburg) is located just 20 minutes from the Swiss capital of Bern by train. It is a medium-sized city with an old town dating back to the medieval era, on the border of French and German speaking Switzerland. Switzerland is an incredible country for many reasons, but its four national languages and small size contribute to its unique culture. My Global Theme is Culture and Politics, and I found Fribourg to be a perfect place to dive into that.

I explored my Global Theme in many ways. Most clearly, I focused on my Global Challenge. I wanted to find out what the global perception was of the USA, and specifically, of the American people, in this turbulent time. I took a class called “American Self-Deception and Self-Renewal,” and this was a fascinating starting point to answer my question. This was a literature class, so explored the ways Americans were presented in stories. Yet it also offered interesting commentary on the American lifestyle, and through conversations with my professor, I started to understand the impact that recent political events have had on the people of Switzerland. Another way I learned about global perception was through the friends I made, coming from countries all over Europe. I encountered several stereotypes about Americans through these relationships, some positive and others less so. The final way I explored my Global Challenge was by continuing my studies in French, both through classes at the university and immersion in the language in daily life. Learning about a different culture in their language deepened my experience in an unforgettable way, and I know already that I want to do it again. While studying abroad, I had the opportunity to experience other cultures as well, traveling to many surrounding countries throughout the semester. By visiting friends in their home countries, I got to see how families lived outside of the US, and hear their input on global events. Below are a few photos of these travels!

The cultural perspective I gained by exploring my Global Challenge will stay with me forever. Learning French and hearing about global events from my home country was valuable, but experiencing them in a new environment was something I think everyone should have the opportunity to do. Thank you, GLI, for helping make this experience happen!

Internship In Athens, Greece

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Hello! My name is Therese Solomon and I am majoring in Psychology with a minor in Philosophy. The theme I chose to focus on during my internship was technology and society. For my Beyond the Classroom experience I had the privilege to intern at IASIS Day Center. IASIS is an NGO that is focused on providing therapeutic and counselling services as well as psychosocial support to people who are in need. The Day Center is just one part of this organization’s goal to act both at the level of psychosocial rehabilitation and therapeutic programs as well as at the level of prevention and information on mental health. Before my internship I knew I wanted to pay attention to the use of data analysis tools and online mental health resources, to see whether these technological practices benefit the community of Athens. When arriving at my center, I learned more about my daily role and the opportunities I will have to grow in my studies.

IASIS gratitude lesson at retirement homes around Athens.

There were many different interns from all around the world including Australia, England, Italy and even many folks from the US, as well Greek volunteers. From this diverse group of people I got to learn so many different aspects of psychology. As a group of interns we would spend our time not only working on projects but talking about the different complexities about mental health and mental illness in our different countries and how it affects their society. It was fascinating to talk to all the different Greek volunteers about their experience in their education and how their society treats mental health.

Me and the other interns!

When looking into technology and society within the aspect of psychology and mental health especially in a cultural setting it was important to me to find ways that the community is benefiting from these technological advances. I had many conversations with the staff at the day center about outreach and how the community is learning about these services they’re providing to community members. I asked questions about how these people even have access to internet or online communication within the mental health realm. I did not get all the answers I was hoping to get. I did get a better understanding of how technology is different within their society. When it came to outreach, IASIS had many forms. I talked to a specific Greek volunteer who worked closely within the social media department, she worked on projects such as TikToks about mental health education. I was able to work with her and my other interns to create videos in English about stress relief and how to manage it better. Alongside social media the organization had many opportunities within the community to have their organization be seen by the public. They worked with different events to educate the community on mental health resources, one specifically I was involved in was alongside a blood drive and we were honoring people who had given the most blood. My role within that was to create activities to get people to come and learn more about the day center.

Art project

While this internship had many parts of learning and understanding mental health in a cultural setting. One aspect that has really grown my leadership skills was creating and hosting my own public group therapy sessions. These activities would start with questions focused around the connection of themselves to the art. As an example one activity I planned was making art out of foliage found outside. Before we started the activity I asked the service users questions about their experience in nature and how it made them feel and the benefits of being outside. These questions were to spark and form connections with mental health and the benefits of being in nature. While the language barrier was sometimes tricky we were always able to make it work and have meaningful conversations with each other. Coming into the day center every day and seeing the same people show up for group therapy sessions and seeing their faces light up and saying my name when I walked through the door always made me feel like I was accepted to be there.

Walk around National Garden.

The day center and all the connections I had made along this internship has been a huge learning opportunity for my growth and career. It was a gift to learn hands-on in another country about mental health and the practice around psychology in Athens. I am very grateful for everyone I have met on this journey and the learning that has come along with it.

My Journey in Building Connections and Developing the Website with the Global Leadership Career Accelerator:

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Hello! My name is Destiny Santiago, and I am currently pursuing a major in Business Management and Entrepreneurship with certifications in Entertainment and Leadership. Throughout my academic journey, I have developed a deep passion for understanding the lines of business while sharpening my skills in leadership and innovation. This has led me to the exciting opportunity of contributing to the “Global Leadership Career Accelerator” program. In this blog, I will share my experiences as designing a website/ working on social media marking for this initiative. Along with how collaborating with companies worldwide has been both challenging and incredibly rewarding. From the creative design process to the partnerships formed, each step of this project has shaped me as a future leader and ready to impact the global stage.

Missoula Fair grounds

Designing the website for the company “Nozscreen” was an adventure. From the very beginning, we envisioned a platform that could break down barriers and connect those from all over to come together and bond over a simple product such as sunscreen from around the world. It was exhilarating to work on a project that would empower not only myself but my other mentors from diverse backgrounds, that were offering the same tools and knowledge that was needed for all of us to thrive in the global business landscape platform. The adventurous part came with pushing the boundaries of our own as to not get to overly overwhelmed with creating an image that we wanted to please from both areas. We wanted users to feel like they were being taken on a journey through navigating the site. Dynamic pictures , and seamless transitions were taught to us and added to the website to keep the experience lively and engaging. We learned how to draw inspiration from cultures across the globe to our websites, in specific leadership challenges and in different regions.

Learning about the visuals of how a product looks

Working with other global companies such as Fenty, Nike, and Clear Water Credit Union. Part of this initiative was to challenge both website outlines and social media outlines. Each partnership was a result of research and communication, aimed at our leadership program with the strategic goals these organizations had. Which was a tremendous learning experience for me that I greatly enjoyed over time of this internship.

Social Media Perspective

The “Global Leadership Career Accelerator” isn’t just about professional growth to me it’s about how we can all come together to create a powerful movement in the business world. The social media aspect was designed with a theme in mind, ensuring that it is an inclusive space for learning, networking, and marketing across all platforms. Working on this project, I was deeply inspired by the impact we can have on shaping the future of leadership around the world just through technology.

As I reflect on my work that I have done in the “Global Leadership Career Accelerator Program,” I feel that the opportunity to help my understanding of business and leadership on a different scale. This project has not only been a powerful stepping stone of learning about collaborations and innovations. Every challenge, from designing a user-friendly website to forging meaningful partnerships with companies worldwide through social media, it has helped my knowledge and sharpened my skills. Moving forward, I am excited to continue building on these experiences, embracing new opportunities to grow and shape the future of global leadership. The journey has only just begun, and I am eager to further my knowledge and impact the world of business.