How Global have I become?

How Global have I become?

I would like to start with an honest statement; when I first started my Bachelor of Global Studies at University Pompeu Fabra, I had no idea just how much my world was about to expand. The concepts of "interconnectedness" and "globalization" were words I knew, but I couldn't have truly imagined how deeply I'd come to understand and feel their importance. What began as a degree choice turned into this incredible personal adventure, completely opening my eyes to the importance of connecting concepts and theories with real life experience. It's not just that my academic view changed; my whole way of seeing and engaging with the world shifted, building this truly global perspective right into who I am.

Knowledge and Competencies: My academic journey, which in fact started with International Studies in Oslo, truly found its stride and blossomed at UPF. It pushed me way past what I thought was possible. The Global Studies curriculum didn't just dump facts into my head, it sparked a much deeper, more nuanced understanding of global issues. I can vividly remember how, the more I learned and the more projects I did, I was surprised how one theory is connected to another and how it all made sense. During my studies at UPF, I was actively participating in diverse extracurricular activities, internships and courses. In my portfolio I have added especially meaningful projects to me connected to Business, Economics, Russian language, History, which highlight how I developed a sense of engaging into complex, interdisciplinary topics, pushing myself to connect ideas that seem totally separate, besides learning how to collaborate in group projects. I have gained practical skills I've built to connect different pieces of information and tackle global challenges responsibly. It's been a journey of constant learning and adapting that has just exploded my intellectual horizons.

Experience and Internationalization:

The international side of my education has, without a doubt, been the most defining part of my growth, truly giving me an understanding of how vital global collaboration is. Furthermore, my Erasmus semester in Brussels was a period of cultural immersion. It broadened my European perspective in ways I never could have predicted, forcing me to figure out new academic and social landscapes all on my own.

My internship with BCDSN, focusing on monitoring fundamental political freedoms in the Western Balkans and Turkey, provided invaluable hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of regional dynamics. Add to that my fluency in Serbian, Norwegian, English, and the incredible journey of lettering my Spanish to an advanced professional level (C1), in addition to the challenge of picking up elementary Russian (A2), and intend to learn some basic French during my Eramus, this whole experience has given me this unique cultural and linguistic lens through which I see the world and understand new languages based on my prior knowledge. It’s a perspective that genuinely helps me connect with people and ideas across borders, shrinking distances that once felt huge and making me feel so much more comfortable in diverse settings. Being actively involved in Model United Nations (MUNs) and the UN Association of Barcelona, and attending big events like "Enlargement Day" in the European Committee of the Regions as well as the event on Female Genital Mutilation in the European Parliament, was a direct window into the exciting world of international diplomacy, collaboration and governance. It is where I found my voice, learned how to negotiate, observe and understand the art of building consensus. As a Global Youth Ambassador for the humanitarian organization "28.Jun," I learned how to help shape the global work of a leading humanitarian organization, a role that truly resonates with my values and strengthens my commitment to global causes.

Looking back, my time at UPF was not just about following a curriculum; it was this continuous, organic process of becoming truly international while discovering my own interests and topics I genuinely burn for. I didn't just learn about the world; I actually lived it, letting its complexities and the absolute necessity of collaboration shape me in profound ways. My progress isn't just measured by grades or certificates, but by a much deeper understanding of how global systems work, by gaining these crucial interdisciplinary skills, by the invaluable hands-on experience I've had in international affairs, and by a truly personal transformation into a global citizen. Ultimately, I feel I have genuinely become a citizen of the world, prepared not just to observe its challenges, but to actively engage, innovate, and contribute to its evolving narrative.

E Portfolio Tea Djordjevic

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