By Tadelech Mengesha

How long were you in GES and what was your favorite part?

I was in GES for three years (sophomore through senior year). My favorite part was by far the people I met and the friendships I developed. The people in GES became some of my closest friends at NU, and both the staff and the delegates were among the most driven, passionate people I’ve ever know. Aside from that, I also just loved throwing down at Ethiopian Diamond each year and seeing which delegates could boogie.

How did your specific committee last year affect your experience?

I was a co-chair for Delegate Development. This impacted my experience because we didn’t have a team, so it was a little tougher to get to know staff, but it did mean I got to know my co-chairs and the delegates super well. It was also a cool experience to find 30+ mentors from outside of staff–which included interacting with a lot of Kellogg students, NGO leaders, GES speakers, and GES staff alumni–I really enjoyed that part of the experience. I liked DelDev because it involved critical thinking and also getting to know a diverse group of people.

Did your experience with GES influence your educational or career choices? If so, how?

GES made me a lot more interested in the international sphere and definitely influenced my choice to double major in Anthropology and International Studies. I am currently working at a non-profit in Chicago, and though it isn’t related to international development in any way, GES definitely fueled my energy and desire to work in the public interest sector.

Did you gain or develop any skills throughout your involvement with GES?

I gained many skills with leading a team, planning and organizing a conference, matching mentors, and learning some basic skills about dealing with matters in a professional way.

What did you take away from GES?

Many friends (all over the world), some great contacts to a variety of organizations, passion and desire to be a “change maker,” and a better understanding of a wide variety of pressing global issues.

How did GES prepare you for trips abroad and immersion in a new culture?
I studied abroad in Bolivia and GES prepared me to be more culturally aware while I was there. I think GES trained me to not just look at the social problems in Bolivia and think I inherently knew how to solve them as an outsider. GES taught me to really listen to the Bolivians who were working to solve these social issues and learn from their experiences, frustrations, challenges, and successes. It taught me that everything is more complex than it seems, but it also gave me the conviction that social issues like water sanitation, rural education, and maternal health really can be addressed through innovative, creative solutions.