Alumni Update: Cristian Posadas, Honduras
Ever since I came back, things were not the same for me here in Honduras. To be honest, at the beginning I felt weird and out of place because I’ve just had the best experience of my life and learned so many things that most of the people around me don’t really understand. Sure they have an idea of some things about international experiences, but it’s not the same if you haven’t lived it. I became a more open-minded person and it made me feel more secure with myself. Global UGRAD taught me that if you can dream it, you can achieve it with hard work and perseverance. So, I decided that more than just telling my story to people, I had to motivate them to apply to this kind of program if they want to go abroad, or just believe in their dreams because it really is possible to achieve them.
As my history in Global UGRAD shows, I am a very active person when it comes to sports, so couldn’t write this post without giving you an update about it. I am still part of the swimming team at home, and I showed them some of the many games I learned while I was in Arkansas and Washington D.C. and they loved them. I went to a competition where I won three gold medals, so you can be proud of me!
At some point I started feeling like I needed to do something more because I became more active in my community after coming back. I got an invitation to be part of an organization called CISV which is worldwide and their purpose is to expose teenagers to different cultures so that the stereotypes are defeated in an early stage of life. I totally loved the idea because I know how having an international experience can change the way you see the world. I got involved in this and I was part of my first regional camp which I enjoyed so much because I know I’m giving something good to my society by preparing these future leaders. I got selected to be part of an international camp in the United States in June of this year, so I’m looking forward to this experience as well. Finally, I’m going to graduate this year on September 26th. Before doing so I have to do an internship, which I’ll be completing at one of the biggest banks in my country because the chancellor of my university gave me a direct recommendation which I am so thankful for. It feels like it was yesterday when I was just a freshman who had no idea he was going to be part of the best family in the world which is Global UGRAD (obviously). Once a UGRAD, always a UGRAD!
Cristian Posadas, 2017-2018 Global UGRAD student from Honduras studying at The University of Arkansas