ABOUT ME
Hello, my name is Laura Estevanell, and I am a senior in the Honors College at Florida International University, graduating in Spring 2026.
I am pleased to share my Global Learning journey at FIU. This ePortfolio highlights the experiences and skills that have shaped my development as a global learner, reflecting both my academic and personal growth.
Connect with me on LinkedIn and view my resume to follow my progress and explore new opportunities together.
GL COURSES
1 / CPO 3010 Comparative Polit
This course explored major theories and methods of comparative politics, focusing on divergent political systems such as democracy, authoritarianism, and totalitarianism. A central theme of the course was globalization and its impact on domestic politics worldwide.
Through case studies and theoretical frameworks, the course emphasized understanding how these global trends can be explained, compared, and applied to real-world political outcomes and policy decisions.
It enhanced my ability to analyze and compare political systems and apply theoretical perspectives to real-world global issues and policy decisions.
2 / IDH 3034 - IDH 3035 Honors Seminar V
Taught by a practicing attorney, Professor Angela Puentes-Leon
This year-long course was designed to mirror the first-year law school experience, introducing core subjects such as Torts, Contracts, Property, Constitutional Law, and Civil Procedure.
A central theme of the course was understanding the structure of the American legal system and the expectations of the legal profession, while developing skills in legal research, writing, and advocacy through the Socratic method, case briefings, legal memoranda, and oral arguments.
It strengthened my critical thinking, legal argumentation, effective communication, and analytical reasoning, while preparing me for the rigor of law school.
3 / INR 4075 Int Prot Hum Right
This course explored how the international community began prioritizing individual and group rights, and the specific institutions created to protect them.
A core focus was examining how states reconcile human rights obligations with political and economic priorities.
As a result, it strengthened my ability to critically analyze global human rights issues, assess state behavior and policy trade-offs, and apply theoretical concepts to real-world cases and international challenges.
4 / REL 2011 Intro to Religion
This course explored Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, focusing on their teachings, practices, and contexts.
The course emphasized how religions shape beliefs, values, and global interactions, comparing traditions and addressing modern issues.
It strengthened my ability to critically analyze global belief systems, compare multiple perspectives, and evaluate how religion shapes social, political, and cultural dynamics worldwide.
ACTIVITIES
Below are three highlights from my time at FIU that showcase my passion for Global Learning.
Global Learning Student Board
As a Recruitment Coordinator for FIU’s Global Learning Student Board, I have had the opportunity to contribute to a university-wide initiative that advances global citizenship, intercultural understanding, and student engagement. In this role, I design outreach strategies, lead presentations, and coordinate recruitment efforts to connect students with FIU’s Global Learning programs. This experience has strengthened my leadership, communication, and public speaking skills while allowing me to promote programs that foster civic responsibility and global awareness across campus.
TTR: Instantáneas a dos voces: Stories in Counterpoint
I attended the Tuesday Times Roundtable. The session was a collaborative book presentation by Gerardo Piña-Rosales and Daniel R. Fernández, who used photography and storytelling to create meaning through a reciprocal exchange of perspectives. Each author interpreted the other’s photographs to construct narratives, highlighting the role of creativity, dialogue, and cultural interpretation. This experience not only deepened my appreciation for storytelling as a global medium but also sharpened my ability to analyze and engage with diverse media forms.
Sweets for Seniors with Abuelos Foundation
Through this Honors College service event in partnership with the Abuelos Foundation, I helped write letters to seniors in the South Florida community and assemble grocery bags for monthly deliveries. This experience emphasized the importance of community service, empathy, and the value of language in fostering meaningful connections across generations.
CAPSTONE
I completed a 12-week internship as an Administrative Summer Intern in the Sales Department of a travel agency specializing in charter flights between Miami and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. In this role, I optimized airport operations by streamlining documentation and coordinating between sales teams and airport staff, gaining firsthand experience in the intricacies of international travel logistics and tourism.
My responsibilities were divided between early-morning airport shifts and office-based administrative work. At Miami International Airport, I assisted with check-in and boarding processes for international charter flights, verified passenger information, and ensured smooth operational flow. Interacting with travelers from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds strengthened my ability to communicate effectively and adapt in a global setting.
During office hours, I supported the administrative and logistical side of operations. My initiative to optimize pre-flight documentation and proactively update passenger records streamlined communication and improved accuracy. By developing new tracking methods for group reservations and payment records, I directly improved operational efficiency and reliability. These responsibilities gave me unique insight into the importance of organization and attention to detail in managing international travel services.
This internship expanded my awareness of global interconnectedness, particularly within the tourism and travel industry. I gained insight into how travel relies on coordination across countries.
Overall, this experience strengthened my ability to operate in fast-paced, multicultural environments, improved my communication and organizational skills, and reinforced my interest in global industries. My motivation to be part of a system that connects people worldwide grew as I recognized how operational roles in travel and hospitality drive global interactions and create tangible value for diverse communities.
REFLECTION
As I reflect on my Global Learning journey at FIU, I recognize how much my coursework, activities, and internship experiences have shaped my understanding of the world. What began as an academic path in Political Science and International Relations gradually became something much broader: a way of better understanding how global systems shape our lives. Through this process, I have developed a stronger sense of global perspective, global awareness, and global engagement, all of which will continue to guide me beyond graduation.
Throughout my time at FIU, I learned that a global perspective is not simply about being exposed to different countries or cultures, but about actively considering viewpoints, values, and lived experiences that differ from my own. Courses such as Comparative Politics, International Protection of Human Rights, and my Honors law seminars challenged me to think critically about systems of power, justice, and governance across different contexts.
My global awareness was strengthened by seeing how closely local and international issues are connected. Through my internship in the travel industry, I gained firsthand experience with the operational side of international mobility, working with charter flights between Miami and Punta Cana and supporting a clientele spanning borders. That experience showed me how tourism, economic activity, and many other aspects are all part of larger global systems. Likewise, my participation in FIU events such as Tuesday Times Roundtable discussions, service initiatives, and campus programs helped me understand that global issues are not abstract, but present in our communities, in the languages we speak, and in the institutions we interact with every day.
Perhaps the most meaningful part of this journey has been developing a willingness to engage. Global engagement means more than learning about issues in a classroom. It means choosing to participate, contribute, and connect across cultural and intellectual differences. Through service events like Sweets for Seniors with the Abuelos Foundation, my work on the Global Learning Student Board, and my involvement in FIU programs, I learned the value of active participation and intercultural connection. These experiences helped me grow more confident in unfamiliar environments, communicate with cultural sensitivity, and contribute intentionally to my communities.
Overall, this journey has expanded far more than my academic knowledge. It has strengthened my confidence, sharpened my critical thinking, and broadened my understanding of what it means to be an engaged global citizen. As I pursue a career in international business and law, I know these experiences will continue to shape how I connect with others.