The Desert Outdoor Center at Lake Pleasant in Peoria was the site of the annual Global Leadership Retreat, a three-day seminar that offers a variety of workshops geared toward broadening cultural dialogue and perspectives among students from the Maricopa Community Colleges. However, for the eight GateWay Community College students who attended, the retreat became a wonderful learning experience and unique opportunity for self expression.

"The students at the Global Leadership Retreat always surprise me in where they take the entire experience," said Raeann Nuñez, coordinator of student services in GateWay’s International Student Office. “Not only do they interact with people from various countries and explore their cultural background, but they also form lasting relationships with those individuals."

The retreat, which was held in October, brought together 77 international and domestic students from across the district and centered on the theme of "Building Trust for a Better World." According to Nuñez, one of the most exciting activities was "Ideal Country;" students were separated into groups and created what they considered to be their “ideal” society, whether it is a utopia or a more realistic nation. Subsequently, simulated conflict was established between rival countries in an effort to help students identify different communication styles and learn effective conflict management.

In addition to the planned workshops, the retreat also included a "cultural night," where students could present their own unique cultural traditions to the other attendees. For Dajana Zlaticanin, a political science student at GateWay, this event opened her eyes to a whole new world.

"Cultural night was an amazing experience; I discovered so many things I did not know about African culture, Indian culture, and other places from all over the world," said Zlaticanin, who moved to the United States from Montenegro three years ago. “It taught me that we have to be open-minded and flexible to other cultures."

"It was great because the kids defined themselves and their cultural heritage through singing, dancing, and all types of creative expression, and it was especially fun to watch other students join in and participate," Nuñez said.

However, the retreat was not just limited to international experiences. A requirement of the program is that each college must include an equal amount of international and domestic students, which gave Walter Norman of Phoenix the chance to enjoy this adventure of a lifetime.

Norman, who is studying business at GateWay and plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in supply chain management at Arizona State University, jumped at the offer to participate when it was recommended to him by the college’s director of Financial Aid, Suzanne Ringle. As a result, the entire weekend provided him with a deeper understanding of what it means to be part of the global community.

"I took away the self-realization that life is not just about me because there is a great opportunity to meet new people and learn about their perspectives," he said. "And when I looked around, I really noticed there are just as many similarities as there are differences."

Nuñez hopes every student shares a similar experience during these retreats. And with its continued success, she is already looking forward to next year.

"This was the culmination of the hard work of so many people. From Follet Corporation, who donated $100 in bookstore gift cards, to the college chaperones and engaging guest speakers, it really made the whole trip a worthwhile outing for the students," she said. "I honestly can’t wait to do it all over again next fall."

For more information, visit the International Student Office online.