STUDENT DIPLOMAT ESSAY COMPETITION
You are invited to submit compelling stories that articulate how your
undergraduate international experiences have helped meet the United
States' need to understand global situations and compete in the
global arena. NAFSA: Association of International Educators and
Abroad View: the global education magazine for students are hosting
an essay contest for a chance to become the next Student Diplomat.
Please send your essay showing how your study abroad experience has
changed you as an individual and as an American, contributed to
global mutual understanding, and further shaped your worldview.
Competition Entrants Are Required to Address One of the Following
Questions:
1. SHAPING YOUR IDENTITY: How has your study abroad experience
influenced the way you view yourself as an American in the world?
What lessons did you learn about being an American?
2. FOREIGN POLICY: Based on your study abroad experience, how do
you think study abroad impacts U.S. national leadership and foreign
policy? How does it promote mutual understanding with other countries
and cultures?
3. COUNTERING ANTI-AMERICANISM ABROAD: How did your study abroad
experience help to counter anti-American sentiments abroad? How did
your encounters as a U.S. citizen abroad contribute to the
development of cross-cultural understanding and dialogue?
Eligibility: The Student Diplomat Essay Competition is open to
individuals who have had an undergraduate study abroad experience,
whether they are currently enrolled through an accredited college or
university or have studied abroad since spring of 2002.
Terms: All submissions will be considered for publication by Abroad
View, and NAFSA: Association of International Educators. The winner
will be awarded a cash prize of $150 and an STA Travel voucher worth
$300.
Guidelines: Essays should be 1000 to 1400 words. The deadline for
entries is November 1, 2006. Earlier submissions are welcome, as they
will be reviewed on a rolling basis. All essays must include the
following to be considered: Full contact name, complete contact
information with e-mail address, college or alma mater, and your
study abroad program along with the year you studied abroad. E-mail
your essay to studentdiplomat@nafsa.org. If you have questions or
need further information, please send an e-mail or visit
www.nafsa.org/studentdiplomat.
The following questions are intended to help guide your thoughts as
you write your essay addressing one of the three contest questions
for the Student Diplomat Essay Competition.
DESIRE FOR DEEPER UNDERSTANDING: If your decision to study abroad was
based on goals to learn firsthand about other cultures and global
issues, consider whether the experience met your objectives. How did
you develop a deeper and more nuanced understanding of your host
country, world region, America? How did your location influence your
study abroad experience?
IMPACT ON YOUR CAREER PATH: Is there a connection between your
experience of studying abroad and your career choice or
organizational, community, or leadership involvement? Please be
specific.
AWARENESS OR APPRECIATION OF YOUR IDENTITY: How were you perceived as
an American when you first arrived in your host country? Did this
perception change over the course of your stay? Did living in a
foreign country help you to see America in a new perspective, and
how? Were there certain rights, opportunities, or services you took
for granted and now value more, or less? Please consider specific
examples or anecdotes. How did this shift in perspective affect you?
"A-HA" MOMENT!: Was there a particular experience, break-through, or
defining moment when you became comfortable in your host culture and
became aware of your connection to America, the world, and your host
country?
CIVIC INVOLVEMENT: Did you participate in local political affairs or
take part in an international campaign or movement while abroad? Did
this influence you, and how? Do you feel you are better informed
about politics and government affairs in the United States because of
your experience abroad? Has it encouraged you to become more or less
involved in civic participation in the United States?
BEING AN AMERICAN AMBASSADOR: Did you engage in discussions abroad
with people to whom you had to explain U.S. policy? Through your
interactions, how did you contribute to their understanding of
"America?" Did your study abroad experience make you more aware of
or help you to understand U.S. foreign policy?
WORLD CITIZENSHIP: In what ways did your experience shape how you see
yourself as a world citizen? How did it inform your worldview? What
values did you gain from studying abroad? What lessons will you carry
forward?