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| Robert Gassman Class of 2018 |
As I prepare to finish my undergraduate experience at the University of Louisville, I have thoroughly contemplated what this next phase of life will have in-store for me. After four years of preparation, education, and domestic and international travel, I have made the decision to teach English language in Taiwan through the State Department’s Fulbright Scholars Program. In a time of increasing American isolationism and a retreat from global leadership, I have chosen to be an ambassador of American culture, and a small piece in the burgeoning international education community. While it is not easy to venture out from my home of 22 years, and live in a place 7,700 miles away, I believe the value of international exchange and education will prove to be a mutually beneficial experience for myself and my students.
My position as an international educator places me in two roles: teacher and student. Proficiency in English is a central component of social mobility and educational opportunity for students in Asia today. While I will be providing the skills of mastery of the English language to my students, they will provide me with an utterly different worldview from what I have been exposed to in Kentucky. Beyond person to person exchange and learning, I will have the opportunity to learn from the Taiwanese society. Taiwan is home to one of the world’s most affordable healthcare systems, most efficient energy distribution, and is one the most egalitarian developed economies. Living in such an environment will undoubtedly impact my own perspective, and I plan to bring the knowledge and broaden perspective back to the United States to make our nation a better place.
Beyond the broader benefits of being involved in international education, I first and foremost hope to be a valuable asset to my students in Taiwan, and to improve their confidence and ability in the English language. I hope to be the best ambassador of American culture that I can, while also hoping that the seeds of interaction that I sow will be a contribution to the cross-cultural understanding of a globalized world, and lead to a more respectful and peaceful order in the 21st century. I thank the University of Louisville and the McConnell Center for nurturing and preparing me to live as a global citizen.
Robert Gassman, of Louisville, Ky., is a senior McConnell Scholar studying political science, Asian studies, and history.