Gabriel Exposito
Global Exchanges & Global Citizenship Certificate Student
Bachelor's in Political Science & International Affairs

Gabriel Exposito, political science and international affairs double major and Global Citizenship Certificate student, completed his Global Exchange at Soongsil University in South Korea in spring 2019.

When asked why he wanted to complete a Global Exchange, he said, “I wanted to study in Korea because of the history and the geopolitics in the peninsula. South Korea and the United States have been close allies since the culmination of the Korean War. As such, all developments surrounding the future of East Asia will have to take the Korean division into account. In the midst of my application to the program, the nuclear talks with North Korea broke down and this further inspired me to study in a land divided by war, yet manages to be so prosperous.”

As an exchange student, Exposito was able to challenge his comfort zone. “I opted to live off-campus while I studied in South Korea, meaning that there were no students who could quickly help me in case I needed something,” he said. Being able to cope on his own is important to Exposito. It took developing patience with himself and others to accomplish the feat.

Global Exchanges allowed him the opportunity to not only expand his capabilities individually but to get to know the culture of South Korea better. “I chose to live off-campus because I would get to know the South Korean culture and society without the sometimes-sterile aid of university guides,” Exposito said. While most FSU exchange students live on campus abroad, he is one of the few to brave the world on his own. For him, it is the more exciting and purposeful way to study abroad, and Exposito believes he is better for it.

Global Exchanges is an exciting and culturally immersive opportunity for FSU undergraduates to live, learn, and explore another culture as an exchange student at a partner university. Students who participate in the program can pay their FSU tuition, take classes toward their major earning FSU credit, and use their financial aid. Students can choose from 45+ partner universities worldwide and stay abroad for 1-2 semesters at a time.

Global Exchanges is an exciting and culturally immersive opportunity for FSU undergraduates to live, learn, and explore another culture as an exchange student at a partner university. Students who participate in the program can pay FSU tuition, take classes toward their major earning FSU credit, and use their financial aid. Choose from 45+ partner universities worldwide and stay abroad for 1-2 semesters at a time.

“This was an extremely humbling experience,” he said. Many FSU Global Exchanges students are amazed by how much personal growth they experience while studying abroad through this program. In addition to completing a Global Exchange, Exposito also participated in the Global Citizenship Certificate, which helps undergraduates develop a deeper knowledge of global issues and intercultural communication skills through a combination of academic and co-curricular activities.

Exposito was selected to address his peers at the Global Citizenship Certificate's graduation ceremony to share how the experiences he acquired through the certificate program, particularly his Global Exchange in South Korea which served as his GCC sustained experience, inspired him to serve in the Peace Corps in China after graduation. “GCC students, our work, dedication, and curiosity have led us in the direction of the future,” Exposito said. “Our world is getting smaller and it is now easier than ever to visit, study, or live abroad. For me, the path to becoming a global citizen began when I participated in a year-long exchange in South Korea, where I was also able to travel to Japan and China… My year abroad inspired me to join the Peace Corps, where until 2022 I will be involved in teaching various subjects at universities in Central China. I want to bring disadvantaged people some of the opportunities that many of my childhood friends still do not possess. I have been put in a tremendous position of privilege by immigrating to the United States from Cuba, and I want to do my part in helping developing communities succeed. Our journey as global citizens will be judged by future generations, not by whether we made travel accessible to a privileged few, but by whether or not we made the world fair for every human."

FSU’s Global Exchange program can help you gain international experience and connections that will advance your future career and worldview. FSU students who are interested in enrolling in a Global Exchange program can visit globalexchanges.fsu.edu to learn more or email goglobal@fsu.edu to request an advising session.

If you've been on a Global Exchange and would like to share your experience with the FSU community, fill out this 20-minute questionnaire and prepare to upload photos from your exchange.