During my time at Pitt, I was a member of the French and Arabic clubs. The goal of these clubs was not just to socialize, but to practice the target language while also learning more about these language-speaking regions of the world. Each club allowed for conversation that challenged perspectives and solidified others, while also fostering a love for the language and its people. Personally, I enjoyed these clubs because they gave me a chance to interact with people while using the language that was outside of a classroom setting. There were no expectations, and each member benefitted from the knowledge of one another. Language became a collaborative experience, rather than a competitive one.

I was also an English Language Conversation Partner with Pitt’s English Language Institute. I met with a student from ELI as per schedules permitted and we spoke in the target language (English). I enjoyed this experience because I not only got to make a new friend, but I got to interact with and learn about a new culture AND share parts about mine. This was one of the most rewarding experiences I had while at Pitt. You can read more about ELI here.

While at Pitt, I was a tutor with Keep It Real. Keep It Real pairs Pitt students with a local family in the Somali-Bantu community to take part in in-home tutoring. Each week, I would spend time with a family and help the children with their schoolwork. If they didn’t have any, we played! Before I really began tutoring, I thought I would be praised for doing something so noble and so selfless, but the reality was the exact opposite. I created a bond with the children I tutored, and the time I spent with them was purely a time of fun and playing. It showed me, and I hope them, that there can be moments between people and cultures that do not require a recognition of differences. People can exist and be happy side by side while enjoying the same things in life. For more information on Keep It Real, you can visit their website.