Oct 24, 2018
BTE Student Stories
Josephine was a student ambassador from Auckland, New Zealand, at ABTS 2018 in Lisbon, Portugal, where she earned a digital badge in Intercultural Fluency. Here’s what she had to say about BTE and her experience at ABTS:
My Favorite BTE memory is…
My favorite BTE memory is when we all went to a very traditional restaurant in Portugal, where we were greeted with so much culture—music, people, and food. We danced, laughed, smiled and I guarantee each and every one of us had the time of our lives that night.
To me, BTE has meant…
To me, BTE has meant so much. I remember being so afraid of the future and feeling so alone and doubtful, but this program has opened my eyes way more and comforted me in knowing that you’re never truly alone.
The most important thing I will take away from BTE is…
The most important thing I will be able to take away from BTE is the significance of self confidence. Don’t ever doubt yourself and what you can bring to the table. It was a routine to hold in what I truly feel and what I truly think, but I found that being able to look at yourself in a positive way does wonders.
I wanted to come to ABTS because…
I saw attending the ABTS as a way to develop more as a person. Being able to go to Portugal and attend the ABTS was going to be a phenomenal experience where who I am and what I know would certainly be changed forever. I wanted to take a risk and challenge myself so that when I did overcome this challenge, I could look back and say, “I did it!”
Thanks to my time in BTE and at ABTS, in the future I will…
Thanks to my time in BTE & ABTS, in the future I will be more open not only to different views or opinions but also the barriers like culture. I used to be afraid to and stay in my own shell, but BTE has cracked that shell for me. It has allowed me to embrace the variety of diversity and differences out there.
***
We are proud to award Josephine a digital badge in Intercultural Fluency for her work at ABTS 2018. She showed improvement in skills allowing one to work with people from other cultures. These are:
