What the World Needs Now

what the

WORLD needs now

At a time when all our various differences continue to spur so many fissures, fears, and conflicts in our country and around the globe, Georgetown Visitation is empowering students to build bridges. Here, young women learn that every human life has dignity. They learn to embrace and celebrate diversity, and that our differences help us grow to become better people and stronger groups. They learn that they have a responsibility to bring these values into the world and nurture them.

Our alumnae take this commitment seriously. In a time of troubling headlines and disturbing discourse, our graduates are working in so many varied ways to promote understanding and respect, whether on the community level or a global scale. Here, in their own words, two young alums share their stories of daring to embrace difference, and they discuss the reasons we all should do the same.

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OVER S EA S

Catherine Paul ’09 Makes Friends in Malaysia On the morning before I graduated from Fordham University, I was having coffee with my family and the university president, Reverend Joseph McShane, S.J. We reflected on my time at Fordham, my undergraduate degree in psychology, my upcoming year with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC), and my ambition to pursue graduate studies in social work. Father McShane listened attentively and then asked, “And why haven’t you applied for a Fulbright yet?” So, upon graduation, I began the application process. With the loving support of my family and friends and assistance from Fordham’s Office of Prestigious Fellowships, I submitted my application for the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Program. I am proud to say that I was accepted by the Fulbright U.S. Student Program and that I have spent

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this last year living and working in rural Malaysia. As an ETA, I was placed in Jengka, Pahang, a small, primarily Malay-Muslim town surrounded by palm and rubber plantations and thick jungle.

My roommate and I had the privilege of being the first Americans to live in Jengka, and we were welcomed with open arms. We fielded all Americarelated questions, from the hysterical (“Your eyes…so blue, so beautiful…

Are they original?”), to the nonsensical (“You and Taylor Swift…sisters? Can she eat rice like you?”), to the heartbreaking (“America…9/11…are you afraid of Muslims? I am so sorry. I hope you feel safe here.”). For many in my community, my initial presence symbolized the unknown; I came to Jengka as a non-Muslim, unable to speak Bahasa Melayu, and from a country that has not had the most amenable relationship with the Muslim world. However, over time and with open-mindedness and respect, we grew in love.

My students, fellow teachers, and neighbors shared their homes, food, and lives with me, inviting me to learn about Islam and to participate in religious holidays and traditions. As the only non-Muslim in my school, I decided to fast during Ramadan as a sign of respect, but also to learn more about Islamic traditions.

However, I barely made it a week before the teachers at my school decided I “looked so terrible and was too weak”

Nothing could have prepared me for the love, generosity, openness, and absolute hilarity I encountered this year in Malaysia. and began leaving meals for me in my

year, I was a teacher, friend, sister, and

office, though they themselves were

auntie. This year, I learned every Taylor

fasting. During Eid, my mentor,

Swift lyric and discovered that monkeys

Norafidah Osman, invited me into her

are the worst kind of house pest.

home with her entire family and hosted

This year, I learned how the differences

me for the first two and holiest days of

and challenges that arise in cultural

the holiday. In the subsequent two days,

immersion are beautifully enriching.

I was generously invited to 17 more

This year, I am certain I learned more

houses for 17 more home cooked meals.

than I taught.

I have never felt so welcomed or so full!

Moreover, my community welcomed

Since arriving home in early December, I have been so homesick

me to share my own religious and

for Malaysia that I have decided to

cultural traditions. At my school,

return. I am planning on living and

SMK Jengka 18, I designed my own

working in Kuala Lumpur for four

social justice-focused curriculum and

months (and surprising my community

organized several English language

in Jengka!) before I begin my Master

programs, including a Women’s

of Social Work in the fall.

Empowerment workshop. Though

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I was frequently met with “Miss, are you sure?” as I conducted my lessons, I watched my students practice compassion and acceptance even when they did not agree with me.

I was constantly met with the same tolerance, respect, and understanding that I endeavored to live. Nothing could have prepared me for the love, generosity, openness, and absolute hilarity I encountered this year in Malaysia. This year, I learned that fish is a breakfast food and that rice should be eaten three to six times a day. This

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O N T H E S E S H O RE S

Katrina Fludd ’04 Inspires Young Leaders to Embrace Diversity While at Visitation, I became obsessed with diversity and inclusion. It was the first time I was “the only” in some cases, and this shaped my experience. Not only did I experience culture shock and realize that I was different— I also realized that we all are different in infinite ways. This idea and people’s reactions to it fascinated me. Visitation helped me explore these topics across history, religion, science, art and more.

I grew curious about business as well.

I began to recognize it as an important pillar that deeply influences our lives and drives our future.

I chose to study this fascinating subject matter on both the undergraduate and graduate levels at Babson College, where I focused especially on entrepreneurship.

The global experiences I’ve had in the process—on campus near Boston and in places like South Africa, France, and China—have given me insights, skills, and relationships that all come together in my current role. As the school’s Manager of Multicultural Programs,

the work that I’m doing now shapes the

conversations. Questions like “What

educational experience and overall

does being an entrepreneur from my

perspectives of the talented business

background look like?” and “What

students here—students who, in turn,

are the patterns of exclusion that we

will shape our rapidly growing and

experience?” help us look at diversity

changing world. Empathy and

differently and help us move forward.

understanding are a crucial part of this equation.

This past year was uniquely challenging as I questioned whether the needle had moved even farther away from inclusion on college campuses. I even doubted my own career. But I was reassured by fresh leadership from students across the country who realized that they didn’t need permission to act and affect positive change. I see my role as helping spread this momentum. I want to empower other leaders to inform decisions about resources, planning, and action in a way that builds more inclusive communities.

The faith that Visitation nurtured

All of us around the globe can

in me has been the foundation of my

learn more about one another through

life and career. I would encourage all

workshops, trainings, and fun events—

of us in the Visitation community to

good places to start the conversation.

constantly reflect deeply on our mission

But here, we try to go a step further

of educating women of faith, vision, and

with our students. They need very

purpose. What do we know and believe

tangible and relevant tools to help them

about different cultures around us and

understand diversity and promote

why? Do we see our beliefs and values

inclusion in their lives and careers.

reflected around us where we worship,

This means I’m often asking lots of

live, work, and play? Do our intentions

different questions about how to

match our impact? If not, how is our

bring people to the table and foster

purpose aligned with action towards

dialogue—especially for students

reconciling these gaps?

who feel they do not belong in the

I want to empower other leaders to inform decisions about resources, planning, and action in a way that builds more inclusive communities.

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