A New Generation of Global Changemakers

This post was written by YV intern Stephanie Arzate

Hello everyone, my name is Stephanie Arzate, and I am the newest intern at Ashoka’s Youth Venture. I am a freshman at Georgetown University’s School or Foreign Service where I plan to major in Culture and Politics. At first glance I might not seem like the most cosmopolitan person out there but when you look a little deeper you can see where my heritage truly stems from.

My light complexion and grey contacts have fooled many over the years. Most people discover that I am not Caucasian after a simple phone call. Once the phone rings, I will pick up and have a quick, fast paced conversation with my mother discussing my whereabouts – in Spanish. As soon as I hang up, I often find those in my company dazed and perplexed. “You speak Spanish?”

Indeed I do, yet I have been mistaken for being Lebanese and Irish, German and Spanish. Once, while I was on a trip to Guatemala, my group leader asked me if I was French even after he heard me speaking Spanish. Another time, after I missed the bus, a Turkish taxi driver said he had decided to give me a ride because he thought I was Muslim. Both of my parents hail from Iguala de la Independencia, a small town in Southern Mexico and the birthplace of the Mexican flag.

Growing up, I was often bothered by the confusion of my background but as I grew up, I began to see it as an asset. The ambiguity behind my cultural background has given me the ability to immerse myself in the dozens of cultures that I love the most. My style is nothing short of worldwide glamour. I’m often wearing my handmade huipil, the traditional attire for Guatemalan women, or sporting my Nepali and Indian purses.  I am not only Mexican, or American, or Mexican-American, but a citizen of the world.

From the moment I stepped foot into the YV offices, I was immediately fascinated by all the global artifacts that filled the corner of everyone’s offices. The walls are filled with pictures of Ventures from around the world, showcasing the different cultures of Washington, DC and abroad. Because of this I am extremely excited to be a part of YV. Venturers understand that they are a new generation of global citizens and seek not only to help their local community but to make an impact that transcends numerous borders.