My name is Melanie Korner. I graduated from Florida International University with a Bachelor’s in Psychology, and Minor in Sociology. I was born in Venezuela and raised in Miami. I am half Venezuelan, half Romanian, Sephardic and Ashkenazi. Being myself a cultural melting pot, having parents from different parts of the world, and growing up with a cornucopia of cultures at home and around Miami, I have always been interested in global learning and activism. 

     During my undergraduate career, I volunteered as a student leader and mentor at a youth leadership movement (Maccabi Tzair Miami) - dealing with global issues and peace in the Middle East. In addition, I studied abroad on Semester at Sea - traveling to Bahamas, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Greece, Turkey, Morocco, and Portugal. Moreover, I served in leadership roles in ShalomFIU on Campus, HillelYAD on Campus,  and co-founded and led a Challah for Hunger on campus - a charity organization that donates to world hunger organizations and Darfur refugees. I also attended international leadership seminars in Mexico, Uruguay, San Diego, and Florida; and worked at as a Behavior Analyst Assistance with children with behavioral problems and special needs.

     Through FIU, I have been lucky to experience many opportunities to learn with a global perspective - not only in classes or through lessons, but through activities offered on campus and  interacting with our global community on and off campus. My many different global experiences have allowed me to widen my global perspective, understanding, awareness, and involvement. Having been fortunate enough to study abroad in so many different countries, experience a multitude of different cultures, and being involved with ShalomFIU & HILLELYAD, and attend many international conferences has allowed me to expand my understanding and awareness of global issues. Furthermore, these experiences have allowed me to learn more in depth things I learned in my classes because I was more able to personally connect it to my experiences and bring together my knowledge from outside the classroom in.

     Additionally, having an active awareness of global issues has always been a passion for me; I have always found it important to be a citizen of the world though being informed about global issues and doing something to better them. However, throughout my life and studies at FIU, I learned that it is not enough to just be informed - but that I must be active in bettering the world and work on informing others and get them, also, passionate about global issues/learning through activism.

     Moreover, having grown up in Miami - a cultural melting pot (and a very vocal community), I have been lucky to have been exposed a variety of cultural and global issues - ranging from immigration and emigration, to poverty, to middle east peace, and gender differences throughout the world. However, through many of my classes I have been able to keep up-to-date on global issues and what we can currently do to better deal with them. In addition, I have been able to study global issues through different perspectives - psychological, environmental, gender, and cultural. Thus, widening my abilities to understand and fully incorporate all the different aspects of a global issue. 

      Futhermore, participating in and learning through the global learning program, has reminded me how important it is to be well informed and active on a global scale. Moreover, it has reminded me of one of my passions, which is working to better global issues and life around the world. All I have wanted through my life was to have  positive impact on Earth and on people, and through global learning, I will be better prepared to help others and leave a positive impact.

      Thus, the combination of my many global experiences and global learning in the classroom, has made me feel empowered and aptly prepared to face global issues and the real world head-on. Thanks to global learning at FIU, on campus, in classrooms, off campus, and around campus, I will be able to hit the ground running, ready and energized to make the world a better, more understanding, and peaceful place, and leave a positive impact on the world. Moreover, I look forward to continue learning about the world, its continuously changing global issues and staying updated.

      Remember, be the change you wish to see in the world. There is an old saying that asks - which would you rather be in boiling water ? - an egg, a carrot, or coffee. The egg hardens from its harsh environment; the carrot becomes soft and weak; but the coffee not only impacts its environment, but also takes in its environment and becomes one with it, instead of letting the water change its essence. The coffee, thus, joins the water and changes it- adding to its flavor, depth, and richness, and even going outside of the pot and changing the aroma of the outside environment. So I choose to be the coffee, having a positive impact on my surrounding and my even further global environment; I choose not to harden to the issues or become weak and pushed by hardships, but to grow and better myself and others' situations (and help more people do the same). Choose to be coffee ( or tea if you prefer ;) ). Have a positive impact. Be outside yourself. Immerse yourself. And grow with the help of others.

     Now graduated from FIU, I hope to always be a part of our wonderfully global community and always remember the lessons and experiences I received, through my collegiate career. I don't know what the futures holds for me just yet, but I hope to continue my studies and global awareness and help others.  I hope to meet inspiring people and inspire others; I hope to teach and be taught; I hope to help. I have always said, I don't know what I want to be exactly, but I want to be a positive impact and influence.