Blog Post #3 - Fermín Gallardo - Global Citizenship

 

  • What does it mean to you to be a global citizen? 

  • To be a global citizen to me means to make oneself as informed as we can on the world we live in here on earth and beyond. For example, to make oneself informed of what's happening in the news around the world. Being a global citizen to me could also mean to live not as a tourist, but also like the locals when visiting another country. Doing this would involve another important aspect of being a global citizen, which is not being afraid to get out of your comfort zone. I do realize that this may sound a little cliche, but I would also like to mention that being a global citizen should also require a general understanding of the geography of the earth such as being able to identify the location of some countries on the map. Another thing that I would like to bring up is showing courtesy and respect for the environment. We humans share planet earth, and so we must practice things like sustainability so that there are still enough natural resources for the next generation of humans. I would also say that being a global citizen means always respecting others, no matter what cultural background they came from. 

  • Do you consider yourself a global citizen? Explain.  

  • In my personal opinion, I wouldn’t consider myself to be a global citizen. In fact, I believe that there are still major areas of improvement that I could address before being able to achieve the standards of what it means to truly be a global citizen. For example, I feel that I am still very unaware of how other cultures operate in other countries and even of other cultures within the US, since I have always been very immersed within the culture that I was raised in. In addition, there are also times when I remove myself completely from the news cycle, and I therefore become clueless as to what's going on around the world. As someone who has a passion for foreign policy, I can only stay uninformed of world events for so long before I start to get really anxious.  

  • What responsibilities do you have beyond the borders of the U.S.?  

  • So, some of the responsibilities I carry beyond the borders of the US are that I must start doing my part in helping create a more plentiful world that has more resources for all, such as helping in preserving the environment. One way that I have already started doing this is by raising my own bee farm. At my house, we already have installed two man made bee hives which currently produce honey for us. With this mind, we are also keeping alive a species that the world relies on for pollination of our food crops.  

  • How can you become a better global citizen as a result of this trip? 

  • As a result of this trip, becoming a better global citizen is something that has become an objective of mine. After having studied abroad, I now want to chase more experiences like visiting new countries and creating memories with friends and family. In addition, I would also say that I would want to learn more about how currencies abroad operate. Another thing that I would also like to mention is learning to remind myself of the local norms when traveling abroad the next time I travel. 

Comments

  1. Melissa HancockJune 1, 2026 at 9:28 AM

    Hi Fermin, your definition of global citizenship is really interesting. I liked that you included geographic literacy because that is something most people overlook entirely. Knowing where countries are on a map sounds basic, but it is foundational to understanding global events and I think it says a lot that you included it. Your bee farm is also genuinely surprising since it is such a concrete and personal example of acting locally with global consequences in mind, which is exactly what the "think globally, act locally" idea is about. I wrote in my own post about how I do not fully consider myself a global citizen yet either, and I think there is something valuable in the two of us being honest about that rather than performing a confidence we have not earned. Your point about removing yourself from the news cycle resonated with me too. I do the same thing, and I think the anxiety you described when you stay uninformed for too long is actually a sign that you care.

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