Taylor Parker
University of Florida
B.A. (magna cum laude) Jewish Studies, French and Francophone Studies , International Studies
REFLECTION
Experience--what does it mean?
As I recount my time as an undergraduate at the University of Florida, the various encounters that I have had with fellow students, cherished professors, and the lives of global inhabitants conveyed through the medium of cultural production have all shaped my understanding of global interactions. Experience may come by witnessing, trial-and-error of our own endeavors, or by hearing the testimony of others. All forms of contact in daily life, whether it be seemingly mundane or profound, constitute experience as we associate, assess, and negotiate our identities in an increasingly globalizing world. All of the opportunities that I have had the privilege to engage with during my collegiate studies- undergraduate research, studying abroad, campus involvement, and more-- have directly contributed to and developed the capacities I now seek to apply in my adult life.
Not all of my experiences have come by simple engagement: they have come by strenuous endeavor, and sometimes, failure. In hindsight, although I was very eager to get involved in various academic projects, I did not account for certain variables. I am an optimistic and tenacious person by nature, but in some of these experiences, my actions were sometimes guided by naive ignorance. The French Mentorship Program needed a team of willing individuals committed and comprehensive of its vision in order to serve UF and the local community longer than it has. I took on a thesis project while taking a full course load as an undergraduate, and then decided to study abroad to enhance my research. However, I had never been abroad prior to this exchange- despite my fluency in French and familiarity with the culture, I still could not have anticipated the stress of being in a foreign environment, nor the problems I could encounter there.
There was extended conflict with the housing arrangements during my studies in Reims, during which I was responsible for advocating for myself and two other students who did not speak French. In the meantime, it was challenging to adapt to the particularities of the French university system, especially with the pressures of my research obligations and my housing situation. In my naive ignorance and eagerness to dive into the realm of international scholarship, I did not account for the demands of acclimatizing to a foreign environment, nor did I comprehend the vast demands that research requires in order to be successfully and thoroughly completed. In my ambition, I over-estimated the responsibilities I could assume at one time.
While disappointing, the stumbling blocks that I encountered in my undergraduate pursuits have been instructive and ultimately invaluable. I have learned more about myself, my aptitudes, and the challenges I should anticipate when planning projects. I am grateful for the insights about how I can improve as student and a researcher, and how I can better balance conflict management with my personal responsibilities.
Lastly, my experiences have reaffirmed my passion for learning, and those who have contributed, supported, and made possible to the opportunities that I have had. All of my international and leadership experiences are in part due to outstanding, devoted, and encouraging faculty members at the University of Florida. My extraordinary mentor, thesis advisor, and professor; the faculty advisors for the French Mentorship Program; the undergraduate coordinators for the French department; faculty within the French department; study abroad advisors; History and Jewish Studies faculty; librarians at the Sciences Po Reims campus; professors at L’Institute d’Avignon; African Studies faculty and a wealth of other professionals have all imparted wisdom and guidance in my life. I would not be the student I am today without their genuine investments of concern and advice, for which I am eternally grateful. Their patience, generosity, and constructive criticisms comprise a significant portion of the experiences I have had and will have in my future.
