5 Things I’ve Learned: Hannah Rosenwinkel

Hannah Rosenwinkel is new undergraduate alum who majored in global studies (focusing on the Middle East and environmental and sustainable development) and supply chain and operations management. She graduated with a BA and BS this May. She is currently an intern for ASIYA Modest Activewear, a startup that makes culturally appropriate active wear for Muslim women and girls so that they can participate in physical activities and sports while also upholding their religious beliefs. She is passionate about public diplomacy, cultural exchange, sustainability, and entrepreneurship. Here, she offers five bits of wisdom she has gleaned so far in her travels:

Do something that excites you every day.

Take up a new hobby you have always wanted to try. Pursue your dream job. Learn a new language. Doing something that excites you will reignite, or strengthen, your spark. It will help you be more productive and enjoy what you intentionally choose to spend your time on.

Do not be afraid of change. Embrace it.

Change is a force that provokes multiple emotions, but it does not need to provoke fear. Change is an opportunity and permits lifelong learning to occur. Altering your mindset about change and embracing it will enable you to undertake challenges in a way that can cultivate progress. Change can create and expose you to opportunities you have likely never imagined could be possible.

Thinking and feeling cannot exist without the other.

Thought and passion go hand-in-hand. If you feel passionate about a particular topic or issue, do your research and learn about it. If you are thinking but there is no spark behind it, is it worth your time? Take steps to align your thoughts with your passions

If not me, who? If not now, when?

Be bold in your intentions. Whenever I am hesitant about making a decision or about sharing ideas, this is the phrase that I consistently turn to. If I don’t speak up or take action, who will? If I wait to do this task, when will I do it?

Be a global citizen.

I’ve learned through traveling, my coursework, and research that globalization is real. Surrounding myself with others who have different backgrounds from my own enables me to understand what I do not know and respect differences among others. This has shaped my worldview. Appreciating human experiences and differences is essential, but what is most important are the commonalities of being human and living in the same interconnected world.