To Understand Others is to Understand Yourself

Have you ever had an experience that completely changed your perspective on life? Well, that’s exactly what happened to me when I took a leap of faith to join the NMGZ Community on a trip to Atlanta, Georgia.  Being immersed in an environment of various business professionals who all provided exclusive insight into how their businesses operate while encouraging cultural exchange led me to have an even greater appreciation for diversity. This experience allowed me to explore different cuisines, fashion, and lifestyles with other business-minded participants from the NMGZ community.  The way this trip was structured allowed me to thrive in the face of the unknown while unlocking parts of myself that I never knew existed.

As a native of Albuquerque, New Mexico with limited exposure and humble beginnings, I did not know what to expect when presented with this opportunity.  I imagined classroom settings where we would listen to various business professionals with not much interaction between fellow participants. I was proven wrong very quickly!   Networking with business professionals while enjoying a sophisticated dinner at a 5-star restaurant was just one of the many eye-opening experiences during this trip. These business professionals genuinely wanted us to share and exchange our ideas of what we believed could enhance their business. Overall, it was refreshing to be amongst like-minded and highly driven business students with the same appreciation to build a community under one shared goal of the future of business for Generation Z. This experience reassured me that everyone can work together seamlessly as their most authentic selves.

I will forever be grateful to the NMGZ organization for encouraging me to take this leap of faith. When you are told that thirty other students from all around the world will also be attending, it is easy to let uncertainty in your abilities rear its ugly head. Below are some of my insights based on my experience and what helped me tap into the person I am after the trip.

1. Open to learning other people’s backgrounds and cultures.

Coming from a different background with not much cultural diversity, and then being in one room with so many different cultures can sometimes feel awkward for an individual. Being open to learning where other people come from or what their culture means to them broadens perspective and enriches personal growth. I was exposed to different ways of life and viewpoints that challenged and encouraged me to think more critically and creatively. Learning about other fellow students’ cultures enriched my life experience by introducing me to new traditions, foods, lifestyles, and ways of thinking that I had never encountered.

2. Understanding you don’t need to be similar or like everyone else.

Understanding that everyone is so different and unique on this trip while still believing that you belong is important. When I finally understood that I didn’t need to be similar or like everyone to create connections it allowed for a more inclusive, diverse, and enriching social environment. Embracing differences leads to personal growth, expanded perspective, and the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with a wide range of individuals.

3. Be Yourself.

When you’re around so many students who articulate themselves well, are intelligent, well-spoken, and have a sense of being an alpha personality, it can be hard to feel as if you belong with that caliber of people. Once I learned to just be myself, despite whether I truly felt I belonged, I met the other side of these people: open-armed, empathetic students who were just as eager to hear my story as I was. You belong.

In summary, being open to understanding others fostered my experience by gaining self-awareness, developing a deeper sense of empathy, challenging assumptions, recognizing commonalities among our differences, exploring my identity, and building meaningful connections. By understanding others, we ultimately gain a deeper understanding of ourselves. To understand others is to understand yourself.