Congratulations to our May 2023 Graduates

Our student workers are an important part of the Global Training Initiative team. We are thankful for everything they have contributed to the team and wish them the best of luck after graduation.

Starr Ivey

College of Humanities of Social Sciences

What was your role in the GTI/with the GTI programs?

Programs Intern and ESL Instructor

What did you enjoy the most about it?

The camaraderie with coworkers and the travel adventures with the students who were amazing! Also, the experience of teaching ESL and the learning that I encountered as a result.

What were some of the challenges you had to overcome?

The challenge was making sure I was prepared and present for my students in every class.

What did you learn about your own culture and/or your cultural competence?

I need to travel internationally more often! I prefer to experience other cultures first-hand.

What are your plans post-graduation?

To teach EFL abroad (beginning in the Middle East).

Ayele Kuevidjen

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

What was your role in the GTI/with the GTI programs?

DCC Facilitator

What did you enjoy the most about it?

I enjoyed meeting and learning from students and staff worldwide. I also enjoyed sharpening my cross-cultural communication and cultural competence skills.

What were some of the challenges you had to overcome?

I had to overcome the fear of making mistakes.

What did you learn about your own culture and/or your cultural competence?

I have learned that cultural competence is a journey that never ends. I’ve learned the power of cultural humility on this journey.

What are your plans post-graduation?

I plan to become a diplomat and I hope to promote cross-cultural communication and cultural competence.

Isabela Latorre

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

What was your role in the GTI/with the GTI programs?

Social Media and Communications Intern

What did you enjoy the most about it?

I enjoyed getting to be creative and making fun and artistic graphics for the social media pages.

What were some of the challenges you had to overcome?

The challenges I had to overcome were balancing all of my responsibilities being a senior.

What did you learn about your own culture and/or your cultural competence?

I learned that cultural competence means engaging with and asking questions when you are unsure about something from another culture. Also keeping a sense of humor about all the little quirks we each have in our different cultures is also really nice for creating intercultural connections.

What are your plans post-graduation?

Gap year, then Law school

Sofia Lee

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

What was your role in the GTI/with the GTI programs?

I was a Front Office Assistant.

What did you enjoy the most about it?

I would have to probably say that my favorite thing about working at GTI was the people I got to work with, and the students I was able to meet. Everyone on the staff is extremely friendly as well as knowledgeable and passionate about what they do, which for me made the experience enjoyable. My favorite event I was able to attend was an NC State soccer game with a group of Colombian students.

What were some of the challenges you had to overcome?

Honestly, I am not sure! I never felt very pressured or felt that any tasks that I had to do would be undoable. There were several things that I was unsure I would be able to finish in time, but I knew my colleagues are very understanding and would be understanding and even offer guidance or help if I struggled with anything.

What did you learn about your own culture and/or your cultural competence?

I knew before working at GTI that I was proud of my culture and heritage, but it is nice to be in an environment where one’s culture and diversity are constantly celebrated. In this workspace, we see people from around the world (and the country) working together and I think that is very special! I was also sponsored by GTI to complete the Developing Cultural Competency program, where I was able to video chat and work with students from around the world.

What are your plans post-graduation?

Starting in August I will be working as a high school college advisor in an underserved community about 35 minutes north of Raleigh. The school is about 1/4 Hispanic, so I am excited to be able to use my Spanish more. I plan on working here for 1-2 years before attending university again to obtain my Masters in Social Work. I am not sure exactly what I will do within the field at this time, but working with and helping others is something I am extremely passionate about and I know it will be a good fit for me. I am looking forward to the future!

Marissah Waggoner

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

What was your role in the GTI/with the GTI programs?

Programs Intern

What did you enjoy the most about it?

Overall, I enjoyed all aspects of my internship with the GTI. I enjoyed working with different GTI partners and interacting with the staff and students. I learned new things about other cultures by participating in these programs and interacting with people from diverse backgrounds. One of my favorite programs I got to work on was the 2022 Ryugaku program. I had the chance to be an ESL teacher for students from Japan and assist with trips and activities for the program. By working on different projects through GTI, not only did I feel like I was doing meaningful work, but I was also able to learn more about myself and develop my personal and professional skills. Even though I was working as an intern, most of the time, it never felt like I was “working” because I enjoyed everything I did so much.

What were some of the challenges you had to overcome?

As a senior about to graduate, one of my biggest challenges was time management. However, the staff at GTI was very understanding and accommodating to my priorities with coursework. Other than time management, while working as one of the ESL teachers for the Ryugaku program, this role was my first experience managing and presenting in a classroom. Initially, I was nervous about public speaking and formulating effective ESL lesson plans. However, by working with another co-teacher, GTI staff, and the students, the environment quickly became comfortable, and I enjoyed every minute.

What did you learn about your own culture and/or your cultural competence?

Overall, I learned a lot about patience, effective communication, and understanding when working with people outside of your own culture. The most current program I am working on is an English teaching training program with over 100 teachers from Azerbaijan. By building those cultural competency skills, I could effectively communicate with the participants and distribute fair attendance grades, such as understanding religious practices or national holidays in Azerbaijan that prevented them from being 100% present in the class sessions.

What are your plans post-graduation?

After graduation, I plan to move to Japan and work as an Assistant Language Teacher for the JET Program. The JET Program is a chance to work as an English teacher and represent the United States as a cultural ambassador to Japan. I will be in Japan for a year. When I return to the United States, I will move to Arlington, Virginia, to work as a business technology solutions analyst for Deloitte in the Government and Public Sector.