“It’s a small world after all
It’s a small world after all
It’s a small world after all
It’s a small, small world”

The words of the iconic Disney song ring true for more than the fun ride at Disney World (Though let’s be honest, getting that song stuck in our heads is not exactly everyone’s definition of fun…). And while Disney certainly impacts children of all ages across the globe, it may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of “global perspective”. That’s okay, a Disney connection is not the first thing I think of, either.

Global perspective can come from more than just studying abroad or doing service trips in a third-world country. What I have found is that we can learn about the other 7 billion that share our home in some of the smallest, and often most surprising, places. For me, that was highlighted by two of my classes: PSYCH 212H (Developmental Psychology) and PSYCH 441 (Health Psychology).

“It’s a world of laughter, a world of tears
It’s a world of hopes and a world of fears
There’s so much that we share that it’s time we’re aware
It’s a small world after all”

We often identify ourselves from where we’re from, by the culture and traditions we follow, and the language we speak. Ask your friends sitting around you in class who they are, and (other than their name!) they’ll probably rattle off their heritage, hometown, and so on. In high school the answers probably weren’t very diverse. At Penn State if you asked the same question, one of the common identifiers someone will use is most likely either “I’m from the Philly area” or “I’m from the Pittsburgh area”. The same goes for Wawa versus Sheetz preferences, sports team loyalties, and dialect differences. What I’ve learned is that there are an infinite number of attributes people can say to identify themselves. But there are even more characteristics that also define who we are, and some can go unnoticed unless pointed out.

PSYCH 441 taught me that some things we consider simple, such as method of exercising and diet, can vary greatly even between communities, let alone across the world. Sickness rates, medical treatment methods and beliefs, and even child safety practices span a wide spectrum of possibilities. What we consider “modern medicine” here in the US and overall widely accept, is border-line shunned in some areas of the world. Similarly, Americans aren’t well known for being fond of a fried insect-on-a-stick, but in another part of the world that insect-on-a-stick is a delicacy. Some ethnicities are more susceptible to certain types of diseases over others, and while some cultures may be fitness-junkies, others play pride in leisure. So many different options, so many combinations, and so many outcomes! What PSYCH 441 showed me is that while health is a universal topic, there is no one “right way” to approach it. There is merit and problems with each method, with each having its own followers. Maybe the person next to you knows a better way to get rid of the unfortunate pimple that always seems to show up on picture day, and maybe you can share with your friends your fail-safe technique for getting rid of a nasty headache.

Everyone has their own different and unique perspective of the world around them, and by sharing them we can come to better understand this large green and blue ball in space we call home and the people with whom we share it.

“There is just one moon and one golden sun
And a smile means friendship to everyone
Though the mountains divide
And the oceans are wide
It’s a small world after all“

While some traits that define us differ vastly across the world, some of our most innate actions and tendencies can be universal. No matter where you go in this world, a smile is always seen as positive, and tears are always seen as negative. We greet people when we meet them, and we say goodbye when we leave. The method might vary slightly, but the principles and beliefs are very similar. The same can be said for childhood. PSYCH 212H focused on development up through the teenage years, and learning about how children around the globe are raised was truly-eye opening. Because cultures value different traits and personality types, the methods parents use to teach their children how to walk, talk, eat, and socialize may differ, but underneath it all are the united goals of wanting their children to succeed, to be healthy, and to be happy.

And at the end of the day, though we live in different places and speak in different ways, and some of the things about our lives are different than others’, we are all people just the same. We are all friends, children, loved ones, united in our journeys on this giant living planet we call Earth, and that really puts things into perspective. It may be a big planet, but it can feel small when you really think about what makes us different, and what makes us the same.

“It’s a small world after all
It’s a small world after all
It’s a small world after all
It’s a small, small world“