Global Ties U.S. selected me to participate in their January 2020 Emerging Leaders Program. Through a series of workshops at the National Meeting on Citizen Diplomacy, the program focuses on empowering college students and recent graduates interested in the sector of citizen diplomacy. I was excited when I received the confirmation email, as I knew the trip would be extremely educational. I packed my bags; and before I knew it, I was in Washington, D.C.
I met the other participants, all young adults like myself, at an orientation where Global Ties U.S. shared the schedule for the program and we discussed what topics we wished to cover. The theme of the conference was Faces of Exchange and citizen diplomacy, exactly what we at Gulf Coast Diplomacy excel in! After the registration, I was free to attend a session of my choice. I opted to attend one focused on diversity so that I may apply what I learn to my work in reaching more people in Northwest Florida.
After the session and lunch, I attended a career panel where the Emerging Leaders could ask questions about how to plan a career path, and I discovered in the field of diplomacy there are many more options than one would see at first glance.
The day ended at a dinner hosted by the Chinese Embassy. It was exciting to be at an embassy. I dived into the activities, coming away with a Chinese calendar complete with my own calligraphy.
The final day of the program came, and I woke more excited than the first day. Before lunch, I was given the opportunity to greet and escort ambassadors to a luncheon. It was an honor to meet so many dignitaries and when lunch arrived, I found myself sitting next to the Ambassador of Cameroon. He and I discussed the importance of diplomacy and communication and I was able to ask him how his professional path led him to his current career.
After lunch, I went to the U.S. Department of State to engage in a diplomacy simulation focused on an international migration crisis. The experience was both fun and educational. Through it, I learned cooperation takes much longer on a global scale.
The final Emerging Leaders workshop came in the form of another career panel. However, this one focused on the U.S. Foreign Service. The day ended with a reception hosted by the U.S. Department of State. It was the fanciest reception I had ever been to. I was a bit overwhelmed but everyone was welcoming and I met some interesting people from all over the United States!
Sadly, the next day I had to say bye to Washington, D.C., and all the amazing people I had met. Through this trip I learned plenty of information, such as the importance of networking, and I made some lasting connections. I thank Gulf Coast Diplomacy & Global Ties U.S. for this wonderful opportunity.
