I am.. Global Citizen

I have lived in Idaho my whole life, yet identifying as an Idahoan still does not feel natural to me. I live in our Red State’s Blue Capital, Boise, but it is even hard for me to get behind all that this city is. To be a real Idahoan, you are outdoorsy. You ski, ride your ATV’s, pack your…

The Blue Marble and the Global Imaginary

The “Blue Marble,” “Earthrise,” and the “Pale Blue Dot,” each one a photograph of our planet Earth (taken from successively further distances), are striking and dramatically beautiful.

To Belong.

I identify most as a national citizen. What this truly means differs from person to person. In my case, an American citizen on paper, I spent the last 14 years living in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. My parents, however, come from Ethiopia, which has allowed me to grow up immersed in it’s beautiful…

Why Not Global?

Being asked which citizenship I identify myself with, I started to struggle with the definition of global citizenship. Do we have a standard for global citizenship that once people fit all the requirements they can consider themselves global citizens? No, being a global citizen is simply realizing…

Ancillary #2: Chocolate, Computers, and Anime

After a long day of online classes, my Zoom-fatigued brain guides me to my pantry (US) for some much-needed chocolate (Switzerland). I hop onto my computer (China) and watch The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. (Japan). When this essay is uploaded to…

My Journey to Global Citizenship

Throughout my life, I have been fortunate enough to travel nearly half the globe. As a child, I vacationed to Mexico, Canada, Panama, and a host of other countries, but no matter where I went or how long I was there I felt like a tourist. As a young Jewish teen, I…

How Being a Local Citizen Helped Me Find My Identity

Growing up in America, I always battled with myself and my place in the world. While I was constantly surrounded by different people and cultures, I did not feel like I truly belonged anywhere; it felt like, by trying to incorporate…

American Dissonance

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the Dis-United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under Trepidation, divisible, with liberty and justice for some.

Such is the pledge in a world reflective of our present, one that distorts…

Once a Houstonian, Always a Houstonian

I identify as a local citizen of Houston, Texas. Primarily because I was born in Houston and…

Can One Truly be a Global Citizen When the Largest Problem They Face is Here at Home?

Becoming a global citizen: what I learned in Singapore

When I was a 12-year old, I moved to Singapore from Japan for my father’s job. In Singapore, there are 4 official languages that symbolize the co-existence of multiple cultures: Tamil, English, Malay, and Mandarin Chinese. In a country…

Embracing my Roots

I am from the countryside of California, a small town full of good running trails, lakes, rivers, and oak trees. Two hours from the California coast and redwoods, one hour from the mountains and snow, half an hour from the capital. I’ve travelled all across my state — to the northwestern…

When Niche is Enough: Finding Security in Identifying With One’s Own Ethnic Group

I choose to predominantly identify as a member of my Filipino-American ethnic-group as a result of many factors that exist on different levels — the personal-social level, the community…

Aspiring Young Scholars: Be a Global Citizen!

I identify strongly as a global citizen, for if not, I won’t be attending college program here at USC, in the United States, as a Chinese international student in the first place. I speak for global citizenship as a direct beneficiary of which.

Inspired by Diversity

Living in Singapore for 18 years, I have witnessed the strength of diversity. It took several races and language groups coming together to build the country from scratch into a leading economy. The diverse groups present in Singapore are able to integrate harmoniously because of the sheer…

My Duo-National Citizenship

Over this past week, I have been introduced to the theme of globalization. Although not having a concrete definition that properly highlights all of its values, globalization can best be described as the growing interconnectivity of a global community. It’s so-called counterpart…

My National Identity and Why I Chose It

I think I am more of a national citizen rather than a global citizen. I do have traveled to some countries, met people of different races, and paid close attention to international news. But looking at things from a global perspective couldn’t make global…

Fried Chicken and Rice

Popeye’s Fried Chicken (the spicy, bone-in variant, in particular) and plain, steamed white rice is a timeless staple in the menagerie of Miguel Mercado food combos. One could say it’s the closest thing to achieving perfect harmony on Earth — juicy, succulent chicken wings complimented by…

Why I identify as a global citizen

This question of whether one identifies nationally, ethnically, or globally really depends on how it is interpreted. When I first read the question, I immediately knew I considered myself a global citizen, but that is because of the associations I made with the phrase…

My Steps to Be a Citizen of the World

In today’s over-connected world, we’ve seen an increasing demand for global engagement. Therefore, global citizenship seems to have become a buzzword. Lots of people are proud of identifying themselves as global citizens, so do I.

Countries Can Be Global Citizens Too

For me identifying as a global citizen is necessary. Being a citizen of the United States is coupled with a great deal of privilege, therefore it is vital that the U.S thinks beyond it’s nation to be able to use this privilege to help foster a better environment…

National, But Not Selfish

As globalization is on its way, I still preserve my national identity. According to most people, nationalism is a…

Freedom Discovered Through the Global Mindset

Succeeding an extensive and frankly embarrassing amount of internalized debate on the subject matter, I have finally reached an identity with which (I think) I can find comfort: my mindset is largely that of a global citizen.

Where’s the Fire? California.

California was on fire in August 2020.

Clarity as a Global Citizen

Global Citizen. A grandiose product of our ever-so increasingly interconnected world. It means to care for those we do not know personally but are responsible for and to benefit the world collectively. Though there are naysayers who say that globalization destroys the…

Think Global, Act Local

Identifying myself as a sort of nationalist is difficult because of all the negative connotations that the word has picked up in recent years. Many people when hearing the word “nationalist”, they think of someone who sees their country as unparalleled and looks down on other countries…

Identity Crisis… or not

When I was first asked the question, “Do you see yourself as a global citizen or do you identify more locally?” I answered with the latter; mainly because I had little idea of what it meant to be a global citizen, up until recently.

Why am I a Global Citizen?

Why am I a global citizen? The whole concept of deciding whether you are a global or local citizen is very hard to wrap your mind around. To add to this there are many other factors that and options that are an option including race, ethnicity, state, or country. I believe I am a…

The Reason Why I am a National Citizen

I identify myself as a national citizen. Specifically, I see myself as a Chinese citizen.

The reason why I have such belief is that my country and my culture have helped me to developed my self-identity. I was born in China, and I have…

Why I am a Global Citizen

Growing up in Southern California, I have been surrounded by people with different backgrounds my entire life. I have grown up with family friends and relatives who are Japanese, Indian, African American, Mexican, Salvadoran, Arab, etc, and I have come to the conclusion that all…

A Desire to Think Globally

When I was younger, I loved to move. Whether it is through walks around the neighborhood or plane rides across the world, I always loved moving around, and I still do. I never understood that restlessness as a child, but now I can see that this was the beginning of my desire to…