The U
of L UFHRD 2016 Conference and trip to England has come to an end. As we all
acclimate to time zones, work, recovering from our shared respiratory ick, and
settling back into our everyday routines, I thought it fitting to look back on
our journey (#gettingterrieyed).
Before the trip, I read
a timely quote that I thought would be useful to employ for the trip
and class: "Expectations are premeditated resentments," unknown
author. So, I went into the trip trying to stay open to the
experience, stay curious to what would be presented, and be present as the
experience unfolds. Having said that, I did remain hopeful for a few
things, if the opportunities presented themselves: to learn as much as I could
in the process, gain a better understanding of what it will take for me to work
internationally, be of service to the group, and develop
further discernment for where I need to focus after the graduate program
is complete. Each of those goals were met with many more bonuses and unexpected
outcomes!
9 people, 9
personalities, 9 different backgrounds, experiences, understandings,
approaches, viewpoints, and opinions. It could have been a disaster, but
instead, we not only became a team (#pinkiesout), but we became a team of
leaders: assisting, supporting, influencing, guiding, modeling, caring for,
stepping up, stepping back, and sharing plenty of laughter (#douglife,
#wherescarlos) with one another. We learned not only about each other, but also
each individual learned more about themselves. We went in as 9 strangers and
left as 9 friends from having shared moments, memories, and accomplishments
together. Learning, development, leadership, and organizational
citizenship--fitting for a group of Human Resource and Organizational
Development (HROD) graduate students--as well as representation for the
University of Louisville took place... by the way, the British pronounce it,
"Haech" ROD, not "aech". There were at least 5
presentations given on cutting edge research from U of L HROD faculty and 7 U
of L students making international connections. #teamworkmakesthedreamwork
We continuously
discussed globalization. The world is getting smaller via technology and travel
opportunities (such as ours), but there is still so very much to learn of one
another so that we can seek to understand and learn to accept. We met many
people from all over the world (Portugal, Saudi Arabia, England, Spain, South
Africa, Greece, and Korea to name a few) and made friends along the way. The
opportunity for global networking, learning, and professional connection was
amazing. Along the way, we were touched by people asking us about and showing
compassion for issues that were taking place in the USA while we were abroad
(US Presidential candidates, the death of Muhammad Ali, the death of 49 and 53
wounded in the Orlando Pulse nightclub shootings, the sentencing of Brock
Turner).
Author, Mark Nepo says
that, "Today, being a global citizen requires the courage to stay truthful
about our existence and the courage to be touched and shaped by the faces of
humanity we meet and help along the way." I think we did just that!
In Peace,
Katie Ryan Fotiadis
#pinkiesout