What Does It Mean to Be a True Global Citizen?

By Anshul Nadendla           7/25/24

     To be a global citizen is to be an eclectic thinker. Too often, we become confined to our communal ‘bubbles’. A true global citizen is one who is willing to expose themselves to global perspectives that they otherwise would not have been informed about had they not taken the step out of their safe spaces. To be a global citizen also means to seek out global information and act upon that information. I have committed to being a responsible global citizen and diplomatic leader through my fervent passion for migratory studies. I have done so by exploring my interest in migratory studies across several regions, yet nevertheless maintaining a focus on migratory justice throughout. Last year, I wrote an extensive literature review on the maltreatment of Haitian migrants in the Dominican Republic. It was eye-opening to see how racial prejudice has resulted in societal and structural barriers that have inhibited the Haitian migrants & refugees in their pursuit of a better life. I also conducted field research on South Indian labor migrants who journey to the Gulf region. In my work, I spoke to Indian migrants who were the victims of ineffable abuse at the hands of Gulf employers, and I sat down with Indian government officials who facilitate this path of migration, including an Indian Consulate officer in Abu Dhabi. In my research, I uncovered the inhuman treatment of migrants and refugees abroad. Thus, my focus on migration has strengthened me as a global citizen equipped with the knowledge of transnational trends and the volition to act on these trends. In the future, I aim to further understand and analyze the reception and tolerance of legal migrants in their countries of destination and, understanding those trends, contribute to a more inclusive global community for all as a global citizen and leader.