Coming from the rural area of Denmark, Tennessee, I never thought I would receive the opportunity to travel out of the country. My name is Fatelia Avery, and I had the honor and privilege to travel to Costa Rica in 2018 while a senior at Bethel University in McKenzie. I was a first-generation college student, and thanks to the Global Studies program, I am now the first in my family to travel out of the country while in college.
Traveling as a means of education gave my career and personal life a whole new outlook. I had the opportunity while in Costa Rica to engage in various service-learning projects including volunteering teaching English curriculum at the after-school program and volunteering at the animal rescue center. Personally, being a part of these activities, allowed me to expand my knowledge and appreciation of the culture, as well as seeing Costa Ricans experience American learning. Second, this traveling experience reaffirmed that I enjoy volunteering my time to something bigger than myself and my own personal hobbies. I felt as though I was contributing to a greater cause.
On the career end, I was fortunate to have my Global Studies experience as a course for college credit. I conducted an individual study entitled The Global Issues of Sex Trafficking. During my time at Costa Rica, I was able to speak to with individuals about health resources that were available specifically for women. Being involved in Global Studies allowed me to discuss the effects of global education in interviews as a law school admissions candidate. I used the insight from Global Studies in my personal statement law school admissions essay. I received feedback that my study abroad experience contributed to making me a well-rounded candidate for admission. Specifically, when discussing my application, the law school admissions counselor of my alma mater University of Mississippi School of Law positively referenced my recommendation by Bethel Global Studies Director and Global Citizen Adventure Corps Co-Founder Stacie Freeman where she discussed my service learning abroad.
I can absolutely state that travel service learning changed my life. It opened up a world that I never knew existed and felt was out of reach. As a young black woman, I realized how important it is to address the lack of diversity within traveling abroad. Increasing diversity will give others the opportunity to see that it is within their grasp to travel abroad while learning many lessons. I now proudly serve on the Global Citizen Adventure Corps Board and actively help ensure more young people receive scholarships to cover the cost of travel. Specifically, GCAC has begun many efforts to increase the representation across the board. I will be forever grateful to GCAC for allowing me to be a part of a movement that has given me access to so many opportunities and the ability to meet so many different people and learn from their journeys as well.