by Calvin Lien, Global Ambassador from United States
Leadership is a skill that needs to be taught, not inherited at birth. Despite developing leadership skills throughout college, no experience can compare to GELE. The weekend I spent at Bald Eagle State Park turned out to be an invaluable and ineffable one. We participated in various activities that prepared us for becoming better global leaders in the real world.
At the beginning, GELE seemed overwhelming. I was given little information about the conference and that truly frustrated me. I always like to be prepared. In a way, I was out of my comfort zone. I learned that it is okay to be uncomfortable. The wonderful GELE facilitators even emphasized that we needed “to get comfortable with being uncomfortable” at the beginning of the conference. That quote stuck with me the entire duration of GELE. In that three-day span, we held multiple discussions about diversity, complex cultures, global awareness, and leadership. I quickly became comfortable in my environment and bonded with my fellow future global leaders in the process. Reflecting back, I was surprised by the effort I put into the conference. I would have never imagined myself to be as active as I was. Through active participation, I learned so much from the activities that we did at GELE. These skills will undoubtedly come in handy after graduating from Penn State.
Apart from self-growth, GELE also made me a better global leader. I deeply care about diversity and global awareness, which shows why I am part of the Global Ambassadors program at Penn State Harrisburg. At GELE, I had the opportunity to meet new people from different backgrounds. Opportunities like this are priceless. This was a chance for me to learn more about other cultures and to become more aware of them. The GELE facilitators emphasized the need for empathy and humility in order to become a global leader. I learned that we all are ignorant to some degree, but more global awareness will only minimize our ignorance.
GELE will be an experience that I will never forget. I am forever grateful that I was chosen to be a part of it. The skills and connections that I gained helped me grow as an individual and a global leader in the future. The GELE experience makes me a proud Penn Stater, and I wish for everyone to experience it if they can.