Blog Post #3 - Luke Dunphy - Global Citizenship

To me, being a global citizen represents making positive contributions to the globe in all facets of life. This corresponds to my personal moral code that guides my actions and aspirations to have a net positive impact on humanity. While I currently am not having a major positive impact on the globe, my studies are an investment into my potential to create real change in the world for the rest of my life. I really do believe that my path through TCU is building me up to be a true global citizen for my future.

My career aspirations are limited only by the need to have a great positive impact on the world. I believe that I can fulfill this achievement in engineering through many pathways, including pursuing the advancement of sustainable energy in the United States.


This trip has contributed to my growth as a global citizen by broadening my worldview, further educating me about the issue of climate change, and proving that significant positive efforts can be made to bring about a more sustainable future.


I am fascinated by the interconnectedness of the European Union, as it was a subject I was uneducated about prior to this course. The level of cooperation among the sovereign European states with vastly different cultures, identities, and needs is surprising for someone coming from the United States under the current administration. Previously, I was more skeptical of great international compromise because of its cons towards national interests, however, I now see the pros of strong international ties and decrease in conflict because of it.


Comments

  1. Leah BurchamJune 1, 2026 at 2:22 AM

    Luke, I appreciate your mention of “all aspects of the globe”. I focused on environmental benefits in my response, but this trip has had a more comprehesive analysis of global citizenship than I expected. Obviously, we have focused on sustainability and energy, but many of our guest lecturers have emphasized the importance of holistic transition. Through your academic background in engineering, you have brought a different perspective to our group. It is interesting to think about the unique career pathways before each of us; I agree that our education at TCU is setting us up to be global citizens, each in our own individual way.

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  2. Cass WheatleyJune 1, 2026 at 2:27 AM

    Such a good point Luke! I like how you described that while we may not have made much of a global impact yet, our studies are preparing us to positively affect change. Sometimes it can be overwhelming to think about how we are simply university students and don't yet have the power to make a significant impact on the global community, but we have to remember that this is where many change makers started! The background stories of the guest speakers and international leaders that we have interacted with on this trip have reminded me that you can start anywhere and become an influential global citizen. By getting an education, we are already developing the knowledge and perspective needed to understand and respect other cultures.

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