Greetings from the Center for Global Studies! My name is Emily Hicks, and I am the CGS’ new graduate assistant. I am starting my first semester in Penn State’s Teaching English as a Second Language Master’s program.  My hometown is only an hour from State College and I went to undergrad near Pittsburgh, so I’m a Pennsylvania girl at heart.  Yet, I also love travelling, and have had the privilege of traveling and teaching in Asia, Europe, and South America. The world is such a fascinating place, filled with countries and people groups whose perspective can enrich our own and give us great wisdom. I’m honored to be a part of an organization that seeks to educate Penn State and the surrounding community about the many perspectives to be found in our multicultural world.

This semester, I will be experiencing many new things. I will deal with the challenges of navigating a new city, adjusting to the workload of graduate courses, and getting to know many new faces.  As I settle in to my new role at the Center for Global Studies, I will encounter many new things I have never done before.  I am facing this new stage with both a sense of anxiety and expectation.

When I looked up the word “expectation”, one synonym I found was “hope”. For though I do not know what will happen this semester, I have many hopes. I hope to develop skills that will aid me in my future employment: writing, event planning, researching, and cooperation.  I hope to develop relationships with the amazing staff and interns I will have the pleasure of working with. I hope to develop my own passions while serving the needs of the Center. Finally, I hope to learn more about world events and other cultures through the speakers and events I will attend.

One thing I am certain of is this: I will learn many lessons and have many new experiences this semester.  I can’t wait to share them with you!