Katelyn Hakinson

Global Citizens Have a Global Mind

Taking a second language or taking diversity classes has always been a requirement in
school for me. Without these requirements, I would have never taken even one of these classes or
even thought about it. I never saw the value in them. I would always think: maybe I will never go
to a Spanish speaking country, so why would I need these classes? I had no global citizenship
skills. I was missing the whole point of why these classes are important. After taking Intro to
Honors, my viewpoint on having a second language and learning about diversity has changed,
and now I strive to develop my global citizenship competency by taking language and diversity
classes, doing service learning, and attending cultural events, in order to bring me closer to a
global mindset.
To begin developing by global mindset, I first had to know the steps to get there and
where I started. What I learned in Intro to Honors, according to Bennett is that the steps to a
global mindset can be broken into two stages: ethnocentrism and ethnorelativism.
Ethnocentrism referring to the experience of ones own culture as central to reality (Bennett,
2004). The three steps in in ethnocentrism include denial, defense, and minimization. Denial is a
result of believe ones culture is the only real or true one. Defense is looking at ones own
culture thinking it is the only good way to live and minimization is viewing ones culture as
universal. In order to develop ethnorelativism, one must start to recognize their own culture and
be culturally self-aware. Once recognized, individuals go through the three steps: acceptance,
adaptation, and integration. When acceptance is reached, the individual see their own culture as
one of the equally complex worldviews. Adaptation differs because the individual is able to
experience another culture with perceptions and appropriate behavior of the culture. Lastly, the

most difficult step to accomplish, integration, is when the individual is able to switch between
two different cultures, in other words they have developed two cultural identities (Bennett,
2004). Where I believe I stand in these steps is probably in between defense and minimization. I
know I have looked at cultures and looked at mine as superior but I see the differences in culture
unlike individuals in the denial step. I also see similarities in cultures, which makes me think I
am leaning towards the minimization step; however, I know I fail to experience culture as a
context.
Knowing where I stand in developing my global mindset allows me to focus on how I can
completely reach the next step. After going to Bollywood Night in the CSU, I was able to notice
similarities and differences in their culture with my American culture. All the activities at the
event reminded me of things in my own culture. For instance, henna reminded me of tattoos and
the music was similar to what I listen to. Going to more cultural events like these allow me to
fully develop the minimization step.
To further my global mindset into the acceptance step, I am taking service learning. I
hope I am able to work with a culturally diverse group that will help me to see that other cultures
experience things differently, and allow me to see that the individuals I work with are just as
equal as individuals from other cultures. I also want to experience culture as a context in order to
see that behaviors, values, and beliefs are affected by the context in which one is socialized in, so
that I can grasp acceptance completely.
The last step that I could see myself achieving is adaptation. Through my Spanish classes,
I plan on learning about appropriate behavior and perceptions of the Spanish culture, not just a
new language. I already learned a little about cultural behaviors and how their culture is
different and similar to my culture. Through this class I want to be able to see the world through

someone elses eyes and broaden my beliefs and behaviors instead of exchanging them for what I
already know and do. The problem with that is that I can see myself struggling to stay to true to
who I am and that is why I dont see myself reaching the integration step no matter how hard I
try. In order to develop integration, I would have to spend lots of time immersed in a whole new
culture and create a second identity. While I have been thinking about studying abroad, that will
not be enough to integrate me, it would only further my language and cultural competency and
help me develop other steps towards a global mindset.
Overall, I believe that a global mindset is the best way to develop my global citizenship
competency in both language and culture during my time at MSU, and I now see how important
being a global citizen actually is. Understanding the steps to a global mindset and where one
starts is crucial in developing a global citizen. I believe being able to understand and live with
other cultures will get someone far in todays society.

References
Bennett, Milton J. "Becoming interculturally competent." Toward multiculturalism: A reader in
multicultural education 2 (2004): 62-77.