Didn’t you graduate already? And other musings
As I write my first introductory blog post, I’m approaching the home stretch of my undergraduate career at Northeastern. Well, kind of. A linear path to graduation isn’t really expected at a school with such diverse undergraduate experiences. 48 hours after I walk the stage at TD Garden, I’ll be walking aboard an aircraft headed to Tel Aviv, Israel. Rather than a relaxing post-grad vacation, this four-week excursion is the cherry on top of a challenging, eye-opening curriculum as an International Affairs and Middle East Studies major at Northeastern. If you’re wondering why I chose to challenge myself in the final days off college, there are two answers. The short and simple answer is because I have to. As a Middle East Studies concentration, it’s mandatory that I spend a certain amount of time physically in the Middle East, be it study abroad, co-op, or dialogue, in order to have a more dynamic grasp of the region. That’s not really the answer I’d like to highlight though. I’m choosing to engage in the Israel-Palestine Dialogue because I believe education doesn’t end the moment you receive that coveted piece of paper at graduation. Rather, it’s an ongoing process shaped by life experiences, and the Multiple Narratives Dialogue is a perfect example of that.
The conflict in Israel and Palestine is something I’ve learned about extensively through my undergraduate career. However, no matter how much you read about something, nothing compares to a physical encounter. My goal for these few short weeks is to walk away with a more nuanced perspective on the conflict and a better understanding of the methods and approaches that are being used by various groups to mitigate the violence. I’m excited about the dialogue because I’ll be able to reach this goal not only through a traditional classroom education, but also through field trips, meetings, and excursions with locals. That said, I’m walking into quite a controversial topic, and it’s easy for things to get heated quickly. I’m a little nervous about how these tensions will manifest and how best to address them when they do. Thankfully, this is something my professors have already noted, as they’ve strongly encouraged keeping an open mind throughout the program. Although I don’t know my classmates yet, I’m excited to hear from a diverse group of people, both within my group and in Israel and Palestine as a whole.
