Ava is an alumna of the 2024 Arabic Summer program in Amman, Jordan. She currently serves as a NSLI-Y Alumni Representative for Virtual Engagement and is from Kansas City.

Two teenage girls stand outside an art museum in Washington, D.C.
Alumni Representatives Ava (left) and Sophie (right)

My experience studying Arabic in Amman, Jordan during the Summer of 2024 was incredibly enriching, both culturally and linguistically, inspiring me to further my role as a global citizen. The Alumni Representative Workshop in D.C. was an impactful opportunity to develop my skills, and I felt that each day encompassed a distinct Alumni Association goal.​

Friday – Connect​

Icebreakers, anyone?! Friday evening was our time to connect with fellow alumni reps, share our experiences abroad, and learn more about different NSLI-Y programs. Connecting with other students who spent time studying abroad was surreal; we bonded over a shared experience and, likewise, created a forum to learn about each other’s respective host cultures, languages, and the nuances of our time on-program. Keeping in tradition of having immensely competitive Kahoots and a late-night boba run, the first day of the workshop encouraged us to think broadly about events we intend to plan this coming year, ensuring they encompass all facets of the NSLI-Y experience. Meeting alumni from an array of programs built a strong sense of community and established the foundation for events that would be meaningful for all alumni.​

Saturday – Learn​

Our Saturday began with an opportunity to learn! Our Leadership Session with Amy Fisher Bruey walked us through a unique leadership exercise. Using a Cartesian coordinate system, we separated into four quadrants based on responses to a series of questions. Instead of thinking about our leadership styles in terms of complex characteristics, we were assigned North, East, South, and West. Running through scenario-based​ ​simulations in groups of like-minded leaders, we reflected on the experience and compared our methodologies. I enjoyed learning strategies to uplift different leadership styles and understanding how other leaders can facilitate those approaches. Our session focused on how we are all leaders and showed us methods of working well within diverse teams.​

We also explored the plethora of language programs, opportunities, and alumni resources offered through the government. Learning about the different events we can organize and having a crash course on social media equipped us with the skills to effectively host outreach initiatives and utilize technology to further language learning. In the spirit of education, Atlanta Rep Sophie and I explored the National Portrait Gallery and ended the day learning about D.C. monument on a frosty, group trolley tour!​

Sunday – Serve​

Sunday got the creative juices flowing with ways we can serve our communities as alumni. Our morning consisted of a roundtable discussion to brainstorm potential events, bounce ideas about community outreach, and reflect on our workshop experience. We worked through the process of planning an event with second-year reps and discussed potential ways of scaling up our ideas. It was an incredibly insightful session, especially for first-year reps like myself, to familiarize ourselves with the logistical details needed to bring an event to life. ​

Monday – Grow​

Courtesy of inclement weather in Kansas City (aka enormous snowstorm), I had the opportunity to spend an additional day exploring virtual events with fellow Virtual Rep, Graham! From Instagram Takeovers to Balderdash on Zoom, we grew our digital toolkits and considered new ways of creating engaging forums online. Spending the day experiencing virtual engagement inspired me to think creatively about using technology to reach alumni and encouraged me to apply the skills I learned in the workshop to facilitate a broader sense of community through digital forums!​