Global Engagement

Global engagement is a topic that should be more openly discussed. Being engaged in the community around you is a vital concept that everyone should be involved with. Knowing more about the world around you can only help you to become more aware of what’s going on and what you can do to help.

I’ve done things in the past to become more globally engaged; at the time I didn’t know that’s what it was called. I’ve become an advocate for animal rights and informed people of endangered specie and what people can do to help the voiceless. I’ve volunteered and donated much of my time to help different people’s rights groups to voice their needs and get the community invo

lved in a bigger picture. Being globally engaged feels good.: it only helps, never harms.

People can become globally engaged so easily. Attending an international lecture or a cultural event in your community can make you more aware of the world around you. Taking advantage of the ASU Study Abroad program offered to ASU students is another great way to get involved globally.  But you don’t have to do something as intense as going to a different country to get a feel for what it’s like. You can do something as simple as watching a foreign film or going to an international restaurant. Putting yourself out there and experiencing other cultures is an easy way to know what types of things are going on in the world around you.

The Vice President for Global Engagement at ASU, Anthony (Bud) Rock, says “The experience of international students on the ASU campuses is enriching for all. We have much to offer these students. Our students and faculty, in turn, gain vastly broadened global perspectives through this engagement with cultures from around the world.” 

Entrepreneurship/Creativity

An entrepreneur is simply a risk-taker. They are the ones who are willing to think outside of the box and accomplish a task they set their mind to. An entrepreneur is a great leader with lots of creative ideas. They work in teams or individually to get things done. At the ASU Global Business and Leadership School, entrepreneurship is a hot topic with lots of resources for students to explore.

I know that I have the entrepreneur spirit in me. Since I was little I was always creating things and seeking new ventures. When I was approached with a problem I saw it as a way to improve. I loved getting criticism, and I still do. Knowing how others perceive me and what I can do to get better can only help me in the long run.

Ideas, creativity, innovation and risk: these all are a part of who and what an entrepreneur is. In Mark Casson’s Book The Entrepreneur: An Economic Theory, self-knowledge, imagination, practical knowledge, analytical ability, search skills, foresight, computational skills, communication skills, delegation skills, and organizational skills are qualities that an entrepreneur possesses.

I think that so many people possess many of these skills naturally. You do not have to be the best speaker or have an amazing analytical ability. But if a person possesses a few of these traits and really sets their mind to a task, they can be considered an “entrepreneur.”

The business schools offered at ASU are thriving and growing at an exponential rate. Everybody wants to get their hands on the piece of the pie and succeed in their field. Entrepreneurship opens the eyes of individuals and gives them the ability to become the leader of their own destiny.

Academic Integrity

Integrity in any part of your life is important. Honesty and responsible conduct are used not only in a school setting, but in everyday relationships. Our world would fall apart if we were not honest about what we did. I know so many times people lie about little things thinking it won’t affect anyone. But if you get in this habit, soon enough you will apply this behavior to the big things that will make a difference in your life or someone else’s.

When you become a student at ASU, academic integrity is part of the code of conduct. It is expected that you approach all of your work with academic honesty and integrity. You must respect other student’s work and be honest in all course assignments you do.

According to Tricia Bertram Gallant, a professor in higher education, … “integrity is multidimensional, shaped by many more forces than the actions of the student body, and that colleges and universities should attend to integrity at all these levels.” She suggests that integrity is a very important topic for colleges to stress. ASU does a fantastic job when describing academic integrity and the expectations of all of their students.

My thoughts on academic integrity are simple. Just be honest with yourself. If you can stay true to yourself, then it is much easier to be honest with the rest of the world. If you’re like me, you have a guilty conscience. I can’t do something that I know is wrong and not let it affect me. My beliefs come from much more than just the norms society has. I also believe that being honest stems from my upbringing and my faith. Lying in school, to a friend, or in any other situation is not something I would be proud of. If I didn’t work for it, why would I be proud to say I “achieved” it when in my head I know I really didn’t? 

Diversity

Our world is full of diverse people. We are all different from one another in the way we look, dress, talk, and think. We can relate to one another based off of a certain interest or a certain physical characteristic, but that does not make us the same in all other areas. When we hear diversity we often think of a diverse group of people based on race, ethnicity, age or gender. But what if we had a group of people that were all Caucasian, descended from Germany, were all 46 years of age and female. We may look at this group as being the same. We would classify them as all being white, German, middle-aged women. But when we take a closer look we can see the differences. One may have blonde hair and two others are brunettes. Five may have blue eyes while only three have hazel. Two may be mothers while the rest are childless. Some may be Christians while the others are not defined. All of these differences define who they are as individuals. Not only does the physical aspect of a human portray who they are, but beliefs, events and circumstances all shape our diverse communities.
When we are young we live in a controlled environment. The house we live in is chosen by our parents. The school we go to is chosen by our parents or the boundaries of the school district. The classes we take are limited to required courses with a few electives. College offers diverse surroundings and opportunities for anyone who attends. We meet people who, like ourselves, have branched away from the comforts of childhood and ventured off into the real world full of diversity. At ASU there are students from all 50 states and from 141 different countries around the world. There is such a diverse group of students in each classroom. Because of this we are able to learn and grow and be subjected to different cultures. Our eyes are opened to different ideas and beliefs and give us a better understanding of the world. In a research done by Ernest T. Pascarella , Marcia Edison , Amaury Nora , Linda Serra Hagedorn , Patrick T. Terenzini, the percentages of different cultural populations is ever-increasing. They state… “…it is likely that future college graduates will be challenged by a society that is increasingly diverse in terms of race, culture, and values. It seems reasonable, therefore, to be concerned with identifying the ways in which American postsecondary institutions engender in students a greater openness to racial, cultural, and value diversity.”

Green Living: Sustainability

Probably one of the most important things that people in today’s world need to focus on is the world itself. We are over-using so many resources that we are sure to permanently damage the earth. The world faces so many challenges that could be solved by “going green.” Climate changes, water and food, population growth, and exhaustion of natural resources are just a few of the issues the world faces today.

We are the problem when it comes to climate change. With the use of so many deadly fuels and other chemicals, we have really damaged the earth. Because of the climate change, we are also experiencing loss of animals and their natural habitats. The climate has affected our food supply as well as other natural resources we are dependent on.

Food and water is another issue that the world faces. We are short on water and short on natural food. We have damaged the earth so much that much of our ability to grow many crops has failed. Water is scarcer than ever in many dry regions. There is also an issue with the use of water bottles. We use so much plastic and don’t recycle our water bottles enough, which damages the planet.

The population growth has increased immensely in the past 50 years. The population in the U.S. as of April 1st, 200 was 281,421,906 according to the U.S. Census of 2000. Today the population of the U.S. is already at 305,234,309. That is an incredible increase of people and is definitely not healthy for our earth.

The exhaustion of natural resources is probably the number one issue of the world. The use of oil and water are always growing and the supply cannot keep up with the demand of the world. If everyone were to cut back on their oil-use, there would be that much more for tomorrow.

Success at ASU

Many of us have invested a lot of money and time into our college career. We've worked over-time at our jobs, pinched pennies during the summer, and turned down movie nights with our friends just to save that little extra for college. We've applied for scholarships, grants and student loans in hopes of keeping a little money in our pockets. We've stayed up all hours of the night, missed family dinners and missed a few parties to stay home and study. All of these sacrifices have been made in the name of education. With all that we as students invest in college it seems to me that it would be a waste to not end your college career as successful as it could be. There are so many valuable tools and resources for us to use in order to ensure success at ASU West. With free tutoring programs, student study groups and countless electronic and paper resources it is almost impossible not to succeed. Everyone at ASU West is provided with the same tools that can help guide them to success; it's up to the students to use them.

Along with these different resources offered to ASU West students, there are also skills that a student must exercise on their own. Managing your time is an essential part of being successful in any setting. As stated by Myron H. Dembo in his book Motivation and Learning Strategies for College Students: A Self-Management Approach, "One of the most important factors influencing the attainment of goals is the efficient use of time." Having an agenda for the day, week or month is a great way to make sure tasks get done on time. Without knowing what needs to be worked on and when it is due is a sure way to perform poorly in your college courses. 

Another skill that can be extremely helpful to a college student is the ability to make priorities. Prioritizing what is important can relieve stress on a student. When there is a class project due that is weighted higher than other assignments, make sure you give yourself enough time to complete each step in the assignment and not rush through it. Having priorities will ensure that you get done what is important, thus relieving yourself of the heavy burden of a weighty project. Many times we forget to focus on the big project and then stress ourselves at the last minute. Having a clear conscience and a mind at ease is an emotionally healthy choice for college students. 

Using the resources ASU has to offer, managing your time and prioritizing are keys to success as a college student. But at the root of all of these tools is your commitment to your education. Without the initial interest and motivation behind your education, nothing can be accomplished. Showing up to class, asking questions and being involved in class activities is a whole different type of college success tool. A truly dedicated student has the drive and stimulation to do great things with their education.

Possessing the interest, the knowledge of resources, time management skills and the ability to prioritize your tasks is a sure step in the direction of success at ASU West.

Beginnings

For the first post I'll do what everyone else will do and introduce myself. My name is Lindsay and I'm a freshman at ASU in the school for Global Business and Financial Leadership.