Blog Post #3 - Kevin Scifres - Global Citizenship
Being a global citizen is something we should all strive to be, especially as it is part of TCU's mission statement. We are called to be "responsible citizens in the global community" not only during our four years on campus, but throughout our lives. But what does it really mean to be a global citizen? I believe it means recognizing your place as a citizen of the world, regardless of international borders. A global citizen understands our deep interconnectedness and remains aware about a diverse range of global issues.
Personally, I don't consider myself a global citizen based on these ideals. I admit that I often fall victim to an individualistic mindset that prioritizes my own country. I see the many problems that currently exist within our borders and question why we should devote so many resources abroad when we have not solved our own challenges. That being said, I can still be a global citizen while wrestling with these questions. As long as I remain open to growth through my studies and travels, my perspective can continue to evolve. I believe it is important to immerse oneself in different cultures and experience the many ways people live around the world.
This trip has presented us with a unique opportunity to experience not only the beautiful architecture and rich history of Central Europe, but also its people, culture, and public policies. These latter areas are often where the greatest opportunities for learning exist. A hallmark of a global citizen is recognizing the potential for growth wherever they go. For example, while waiting in a subway station in Vienna, I noticed a recurring news bulletin playing on a screen. It featured the United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, along with a brief segment about another foreign leader. I realized that Europeans were consuming world news and political updates while engaging in an everyday activity like waiting for a train. In the United States, we would likely be bombarded with advertisements for fast-food restaurants, vacation packages, or the newest iPhone—and that assumes people are even looking up from their personal devices. I found it refreshing that people were using this otherwise idle time to stay informed about global affairs.
Another moment that shaped my understanding of global citizenship was meeting the German winemaker in Freiburg. He played a significant role in developing wine industries in other countries because of his passion for the craft. In many ways, he was a winemaker without borders, and I got the sense that he took great pride in helping emerging wine industries succeed. It was fascinating to witness this firsthand. I had often heard of organizations such as Doctors Without Borders helping thousands of people around the world, but it had never occurred to me that the same spirit of international cooperation could exist in professions like winemaking. His story demonstrated how expertise and passion can transcend national boundaries and contribute to shared communities across the globe.
To conclude, I would like to offer a few simple reminders that can help us become better global citizens each day. First, be observant. Pay attention to the small details and differences that stand out from what you consider normal. Second, ask questions. Stay curious and do not be afraid to hear perspectives you may not like. Third, keep an open mind. Cultures, customs, and ways of life will differ in both large and small ways, and those differences are not inherently good or bad. By following these principles, we can all take meaningful steps toward becoming better global citizens and fulfilling TCU's mission of responsible engagement in the global community.
Hi Kevin! Great observations. I really liked the reminders you gave at the end. I think it is definitely important to keep an open mind about other cultures and customs. Disequilibrium is actually the way that we learn! (from an education major). When we experience something strange and then make sense of it we have learned something new. I also noticed the advertisement signs in the underground, it was definitely not what I expected. Another thing I noticed is that people don't often have their phones out when waiting or walking around, so their attention is more focused on the world around them.
ReplyDeleteKevin, I totally agree with your definition of a global citizen, and that we are inherently bad at disregarding boarders. We identify heavily with our nationality and especially in America have that sense of pride about where we were born or grow up. I think a better definition would be not disregarding those international boarders when acting, but taking them into account and thinking critically about their importance. I believe global citizenship needs more responsibility on an equitable scale, not equality. I also enjoyed our winemaker guy and how he introduced his experiences around the world and bonded people together over a shared activity. I think Europeans are much more involved in their politics on a global scale since the EU is a huge part of their daily lives and tourism involves locals to merge with millions of different cultures all the time. In America we have news coverage that aims to get clicks resulting in massive bipartisanship unlike the multiple parties in the EU which focus more on national issues, and less boxing people into specific party ID and pinning them against one another.
ReplyDeleteHey Kevin! After having read your blog post, I can definitely say that we are on the same page when it comes to the definition of a global citizen. I also wanted to bring up an interesting point you made when you mentioned the Marco Rubio news bulletin. This was something that I also did see when we were in Vienna. When I saw the news bulletin, it also did catch my attention, but I couldn't figure out why. But your observation about such a news bulletin not being common in the US because of the consumerist culture, it all made so much more sense to me. So, I'm really glad you brought this up. I also noticed that you don't consider yourself a global citizen. This is something that also can resonate with.
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