From Students to Global Citizens! 🎓

I grew up in a tiny village in the countryside of Switzerland, where everyone knows everyone by sight, by name, by kids, by vehicle, or by their pet. The same children were in all of my classes for years, and there wasn’t much diversity, if any at all.

Fast forward to last Tuesday evening; I’m holding a BBQ with fellow students from Equador, Columbia, Uruguay, El Salvador, and Ticino, switching languages between German, Swiss-German, English, and Spanish.

How come? Becoming an exchange student has been my plan early on. At the age of 13, I tried everything to convince my parents to let me spend a year abroad and, luckily, succeeded! Going abroad taught me countless things, whether about the American culture or about my own. Being an exchange student made me aware of my cultural values and biases and encouraged me to leave my comfort zone. It set me up with future opportunities and left me with life-long memories. Traveling is powerful and challenges us to view the world with different eyes. It opened my eyes and my heart.

Yet, traveling does not just have an impact on yourself; simultaneously, it can leave the visited destinations affected. You choose if you create value for locals and touch other people’s hearts.

This is where the concept of “global citizens” comes into play!

The Concept of Global Citizens?

You can think of global citizenship as the idea of humans being citizens of the entire world rather than citizens of one independent nation. Global citizens believe that their identity exceeds physical borders — moreover, they feel a sense of responsibility for the broader community.

Eight citizen characteristics citizens living in the 21″ century will need ( by Cogan, John J., and Kubow, Patricia Kristine):

1. The ability to look at and approach problems as a member of a global society.
2. The ability to work with others in a cooperative way and take responsibility for one’s duties.
3. The ability to understand, accept and tolerate cultural differences.
4. The capacity to think in a critical and systemic way.
5. The willingness to resolve conflict in a nonviolent manner.
6. The willingness to change one’s style and consumption habits to protect the environment.
7. The ability to be sensitive toward and to defend human rights.
8. The willingness and ability to participate in politics at local, national, and international levels.

“This is a tall order and it will require several generations to move into a new mindset.”

To me, this perfectly resembles the attitude of exchange students and digital nomads; it’s an extended view of identity and is distinguished by inclusivity and interconnection. It challenges us to look past ourselves and makes us feel that we belong not only to our birth state but also to the world as a whole. It invites us to take accountability for what’s happening around us and reminds us that our actions have an impact.

Learning about Global Citizenship

Every student should be equipped to be a global citizen, have the skills to succeed in our globalized world, and take care of our home, planet earth. The future should not resemble the past. The possibilities our diversified and globalized world offers us are gigantic. Yet, so are the challenges. To create the kind of world we aspire to live in, we should be entitled to education and experience that equips us with the expertise, skills, and values needed to embrace these opportunities and challenges. 

To learn about global citizenship is to experience our world’s people and cultures. Studying abroad, hosting exchange students, working overseas, participating in international classes, having discussions with foreigners, and asking questions there are various ways to do so. 

But even if you don’t have the chance to physically do such things, you still have the possibilities to take part. Today, we’re connected in previously unimaginable ways. We dissolved physical boundaries, cross borders, and climb walls. Technological development is leading global citizenship and allows us to become actual global citizens, both socially and as a workforce. You choose to be connected! The international community is right there.

Today, I’m still a resident of the same tiny village. I’m still in touch with the same people from school and am still known by name by the other villagers. But over the years, I had the chance to create new friendships across oceans and borders, enlarge my worldview and network. Due to my English skills acquired during my high-school exchange year, I’m now participating in an international master’s program in my home country, engaging in cultural exchange every day. I got to a point where I don’t have to physically leave Switzerland to experience cultural exchange but can bring it into my living room, just like I did last Tuesday. (But obviously, won’t stop traveling.)

Some people actively embrace their functions and responsibilities as global citizens within our increasingly connected environment. While others favor never to acknowledge the interconnectivity of our world, remaining in their domestic bubbles.

And well, if I can give you one piece of advice: try to be the former. 🤎

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Thank you for reading my third blog post! If you’re interested in reading about why Gen Z will become the next wave of digital nomads or how offsetting flights can make a difference check out my other two posts! 

Also, don’t forget to comment down below what you think of the concept of Global Citizenship!