Melissa Arevalo

March 8, 2023
Global Citizen Essay
Around the globe, students are tested and acknowledged for their intellect. However, in
ASGL, students are also constantly put in situations where they use learner profiles, ranging
from collaborating in groups to presentations. ASGL has students practice these learner profiles
subconsciously as its mission is to make its students confident in their ability to contribute to
worldwide society. The vision of ASGL is to have its students grow to be global leaders and
develop skills as they step out into the world. These skills consist of being knowledgeable, being
principled, and many others that help prepare for their future.

In ASGL, being a global citizen is very complex; in which you must strive to change the
world, no matter how big or small. Even showing a bit of compassion to the world is enough to
be a global citizen as kindness can change the world; as shown by Malala Yousafzai. Malala
knew that it was unfair for girls not to have the right to education and strove to make a change.
However, this wasn’t easy as the Taliban used extreme measures to prevent any form of
revolution. This didn’t stop Malala because she was a risk-taker and fought for the right of
Pakistani women to obtain an education A risk-taker is someone who faces uncertainty, or in this
case hazardous circumstances, with determination. Malala had taken the risk of defying the
Taliban by advocating for women’s right to education, which led to the Taliban shooting her
when she rode a bus home. Even after she was sent to a hospital outside of Pakistan for being
shot by the Taliban, Malala didn’t quit; continuing to prove that she’s a risk-taker. Malala
could’ve died that day, and the trauma could’ve stopped her attempts, but she was also caring.
Someone who is caring commits to what they’re doing as they strive to make an influence that is
beneficial to the world. Malala didn’t back down after the Taliban’s violence toward her because
she knew the extreme value of obtaining an education. Malala was aware of the tremendous
positive impact she was making and knew she couldn’t stop, making her a prime example of
what a global citizen is.

When I first entered ASGL, I was extremely timid and had a hard time communicating
with those around me. I became very anxious whenever I was at social events. Due to this, I
isolated myself from my classmates and never got the chance to know anyone. Through ASGL, I
came to learn how important communication can be in various circumstances. During group
projects, I was compelled to speak, as I knew that I couldn’t help my team succeed if I didn’t
elaborate on my ideas. I knew that even in clubs outside the academic environment I needed to
speak to have my voice heard. I would eventually put myself in positions where I needed to
speak, such as being president of the book club or even the leader of a group project. Placing
myself in these positions has made my confidence rise and my ability to commute ideas stronger;
which formed me into a communicator. A communicator is someone who can express
themselves with confidence and can collaborate effectively in groups. Not only has being a
communicator helped me share my ideas, but it has allowed me to have stronger connections
with my peers, creating friendships that I didn’t have before. By learning to share my voice, I
also learned to hear others. When I founded ASGL’s book club, I knew that I couldn’t only think
of myself. This book club is a place where all opinions are allowed to be heard, and it has taught
me to be open-minded as people have other perspectives and ideas that may create a grand
solution. During my time at ASGL, I’ve learned that being open-minded also means putting
people’s emotions first. When making a solution there are various factors, feelings, and beliefs
included. This made me sensitive to other people’s backgrounds, such as home-related issues, to
understand their points of view. Being a communicator and open-minded has contributed to my
growth as a thinker. A thinker is someone who can think critically and creatively to come up
with solutions that are both logical and ethical. When I learned to communicate and heard other
points of view, it allowed me to have various options to consider when making a decision. I’ve
learned to think both logically and ethically. I’ve thought logically when deciding how to best
save time or the easiest way of getting something done by considering all the factors involved.
These factors could include difficulty, the amount of time left before it’s due, and how long it
would take me to finish the task. Considering all this helped me come up with solutions that I
believed were logical, but I knew that I had to consider more than just logic. Thinking ethically
has made me realize that although a possibility may work, it isn’t morally right to the person
included, overall helping me narrow down to a solution that works for everyone. I believe these
skills will help me be successful in the future as I will be able to speak to those around me and
come up with great solutions that benefit everyone.

As my education journey ends its chapter in ASGL, it will continue as I enter college.
Although this will be a new start, I am no longer the same person when I started high school. I
am no longer the timid little girl who hid and avoided social interaction. I am someone who puts
others before myself and can use that to think of answers that’ll not only benefit me but also the
people around me. I’ve come to be reflective each time I use these learner profiles, meaning I
see how my use of them has impacted the world around me and how I can make room for
improvement. If I hadn’t become reflective, I believe I would have never grown as a person,
much less hope to make an impact in the world around me. I plan to study mechanical
engineering as my career and hope to one day make a difference by contributing to our
knowledge of the universe. Without ASGL’s guidance in learning to be a communicator, I
wouldn’t be able to have meaningful conversations with my companions on important topics. If I
didn’t grow to be open-minded, I wouldn’t be someone who was thoughtful and considered
points of view that weren’t mine. If I haven’t become a communicator or open-minded, I
wouldn’t have improved my skills as a thinker, and I wouldn’t have had the crucial ability to
make precise decisions with multiple circumstances in mind. If I’m not reflective on my career, I
won’t be able to realize my mistakes and I won’t ever rise from my pedestal. Studying these
learner profiles has transformed me into a person I can trust with my future.
 Learner profiles are a part of my daily life and they’ve made me more aware of the world
I live in and how I can impact it with particular skills. Being globally competent is crucial for
students as it teaches them skills that’ll help them contribute to society later on in life. These
skills can teach them to be balanced as it can help them be globally aware, and mind the
wellbeing of others when making decisions. It also helps them connect with the people around
them, especially later in life. As a global citizen, I have benefited from practicing the learner
profiles to break out of my shell. I’ve been able to make friendships and learned of the situations
that make people struggle. With it, I became more empathetic with the people around me. With
those people in mind, I’ve used these skills to analyze events and later reflect on them to see how
I’d improve. ASGL was a significant impact on my life, as it not only helped me grow as a
person; but also made me a global citizen who’s eager to make an impact in the world.