Luckily, you DO have the CHOICE to step up and compete. But get started right away and don’t wait until after graduation. There are TONS of things you can do to better your resume overall, but this column is specifically going to focus on preparing for working within a global economy. Here are some tools and tips you can take advantage of TODAY, while you are still in school.

1.      Learn a Foreign Language. English is not the world’s leading language, as many people may think. In fact, it falls third on a list of the 10 most popular spoken languages in the world. English falls closely behind Spanish while Mandarin Chinese takes the lead. Coincidentally, China and Mexico are the second and third top countries which the United States trades with, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Knowing the language of a major player in the global market shows a sense of respect and understanding of their culture. Some colleges require their students to take a foreign language and often use it as a determining factor when incoming freshman are applying. Many other countries learn multiple languages when they are young, why can’t we?

2.      Take International Business Classes. We know that the economy is forever changing. The only way to stay competitive is to keep ourselves educated with the latest and greatest information. International business and cross culture communication courses are offered at many universities so make sure you are taking advantage of them. Who cares if they are not a required course within your major? Enroll in them as elective courses and you will really stand out among your peers. These courses are a thousand times more valuable to your career than some recreational elective on basket weaving or sailing.  Investigate what your school has to offer. Many colleges have embraced the existence of a global economy and created majors, minors, and other specialized programs in response.

3.      Study Abroad or Travel. Our view of the world is oftentimes limited to our own backyard. Some college students have never even been on an airplane! But taking that chance and exploring a world far greater than imagined is a great way to broaden your experiences and knowledge. According to a survey by the International Education of Students, 98 percent of students that studied abroad better understood their own cultural biases and value, 90 percent said they were influenced to seek out a greater diversity of friends, and 94 percent of the students said it has influenced their international connections. Studying and traveling abroad also allows you to make international connections that will stick with you throughout your career. Not to mention, studying abroad is FUN and looks fantastic on your resume. It shows employers you are flexible, adventurous, and are able to function outside your comfort zone. And don’t buy into the myth that studying abroad is “too expensive.” There are TONS of scholarships available, especially if you choose to study in a non-traditional location such as Southeast Asia or Eastern Europe. The cost of living is also something you should consider when determining a location. For example, when I studied abroad in Thailand, I actually saved money on room and board!

4.      Engage in International Social Media. College students oftentimes use Skype and Twitter in order to stay connected to their friends and family once they go away to school. But the uses of social media do not stop there. On Twitter, follow international businesses and business people for a window inside their life. Engage people of different backgrounds and build your international network of friends. If you feel comfortable, take it to the next level and meet your new friend on Skype to get to know them better. Knowledge of Skype and other video chat mediums are growing in importance. Employers are beginning to conduct job interviews, meetings, and other conferences online so the more comfortable you are communicating this way, the better.

5.      Get to Know Those from Other Countries. Foreign exchange students, visitors, and those new to the country are some of the best people to befriend. They have first-hand experience with other cultures and countries. Get to know them, learn about their culture, and share our American culture with them. Invite them to your home for the holidays and to events with your American friends. They are here for a reason! They want to learn about our culture so be a good ambassador. I think you will find that the relationship is mutually beneficial and you could make a lifetime friend.

These tips and tricks are crucial in order to be well-prepared for the global marketplace. The time is still yours to get out and make the most of the best years of your life!

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We knew it would turn ugly, but on the other hand, we couldn’t not go. Someone has got to go and if it isn’t us, then who is it?

It was December 2009, and Negar had gone to Iran with her parents to visit friends and extended family.  Negar (who, for security reasons, will be referred to by first name only) attends The University of Texas at Austin, and hadn’t been in Iran since before the hotly contested presidential election last June.  At that time, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared victory with 62.6 percent of the vote, prompting challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi and his supporters to take to the streets in protest.

The world watched for the next week as riot police and the Basij, a paramilitary group, used batons and tear gas against the demonstrators, many of whom were under the age of 30. These protests launched the Green Movement, which began as a symbol of Mousavi’s campaign, but soon became a national symbol of unity and hope for those crying out for annulment of what they still regard as a fraudulent election.

“The ‘election’ of Ahmadinejad was disillusioning to say the least,” Negar explained. “It was the end of an era but also the beginning of a new one. For many this is the beginning of a long path of resistance, but also for many, Iran is no longer a place to think about their future.”

Roughly 60 percent of the Iranian population is Generation Y, making it one of the youngest nations in the world. Despite their demographical dominance, however, young adults have struggled to maintain stable lives even before the recent protests began.

“The Iranian youth are desperate. Their social freedoms are very limited. The unemployment rate is skyrocketing, and their university diplomas seem useless in the great ‘brain drain,’” she said. “Their sense of insecurity and uncertainty defines the lives of the younger Iranian generation.”

But she emphasizes that harsh times are not enough to temper a livid and destitute youth. If anything, these setbacks are their driving force—not including what Negar believes to be an inherent will to fight and survive.

“The Iranians born in the 1980s and 70s are the Children of War. Living through the Iran-Iraq war, their childhood memories are tainted with Iraqi missiles hitting their cities, sirens and martyrdom. The trauma of war has prepared them for this.”

And the Iranian youth are holding up to their legacy, showing no signs of political reprieve—chanting, “We are the Children of War. Fight and we’ll fight back.”  They seem to carry the weight of Iran on their shoulders.

Before the presidential election, Iranian Gen Yers, like most 20-somethings everywhere, understood the usefulness of social media to reach out across communities and connect with others. But since the protests started, their use of social media has taken on a deeper significance. With the new technology, the younger generation has taken over the reins for reporters, becoming citizen journalists at a time when Iranian authorities have placed severe restrictions on the presence of foreign independent media.

“To a large extent,” Negar said, “the movement’s organization is delegated to the young people, who use text messages, social networking, Twitter, blogs, YouTube, and other web technologies to show the demonstrations and the injustices.

“This is what makes this movement so unique,” she continued. “Even though Mousavi and [Mehdi] Karoubi  [the most liberal of Ahmadinejad’s opponents in the presidential election] are the faces of the Green leadership, the movement isn’t centered around them at all. Were they to surrender, the movement would still go on.”

And on it goes. Today, opponents to Iran’s current regime continue to gather, speak out, and protest, despite the risks of imprisonment, injury, or death. Just five months ago, thousands of Iranians attended the funeral for Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, 87, who was one of the leaders of the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Skirmishes broke out among the attendees and police. Six days later, on the Muslim holy day of Ashoura, protesters and riot police clashed in multiple locations in Tehran, leaving many injured and between 8 and 37 protesters killed, including the nephew of opposition leader Mousavi.

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Speaking before about 3,500 guests at the event organized by the Fellowship Foundation, also known as The Family, Obama pointed out that he and the attendees “may disagree about gay marriage, but surely we can agree that it is unconscionable to target gays and lesbians for who they are, whether it is right here in the United States or, as [Secretary of State] Hillary [Rodham Clinton] mentioned, more extremely in odious laws that are being proposed most recently in Uganda.”

The president and secretary of state are just two of several U.S. officials from both parties who are critical of the proposed Ugandan legislation that calls for the imprisonment and execution of homosexuals. Bills have been filed in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives condemning the Anti-Homosexuality Act of 2009.

The Ugandan legislation, which should go to parliament late this month or early March, expands upon current statute that outlaws homosexuality by seeking life imprisonment for anyone convicted of having sex with someone of the same sex. The penalty is death when the person tests HIV positive. Additionally, the bill allows authorities to arrest anyone who “promotes” homosexuality or “aids, abets, counsels or procures” someone else to engage in homosexual acts. The bill threatens fines and prison time for anyone who is aware of homosexual activity and fails to report it within 24 hours.

The bill was introduced by first-term Ugandan lawmaker David Bahati, a member of that country’s branch of the Fellowship Foundation. Opponents of the proposal believe Bahati was persuaded to take action after a conference in Uganda last March, where three American evangelical Christians held a series of talks on how to turn gay people straight. The theme of the conference, sponsored by the Ugandan organization Family Life Network, was to expose the hidden and dark agenda of homosexuality.

The three Americans who spoke at the conference admit to preaching against homosexuality, but they are taken aback by the overzealous legislation. Don Schmierer, a board member of Exodus International, whose mission is “mobilizing the body of Christ to minister grace and truth to a world impacted by homosexuality,” published a letter on the organization’s Web site condemning Bahati’s bill.

The bill’s draconian measures have some countries threatening to cut millions in foreign aid to the poverty-stricken East African nation.  In turn, the Ugandan government is suggesting it might back down and change the death penalty provision to life in prison.

But that’s small consolation to the people most affected by the bill. In an e-mail statement, Rea Carey, executive director of National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, said, “It is imperative that the Obama administration and Congress push Uganda to withdraw this bill in its entirety. Simply removing the death penalty doesn’t somehow make this a humane bill. Whether it be the state-sponsored murder of LGBT Ugandans or their life imprisonment for simply being who they are is barbaric and unacceptable. Our political leaders must send the unified and unequivocal message that this measure, in full, needs to go.”

It’s not just human rights violations that have opponents of the bill up in arms. Many are concerned that this legislation, if passed, will make it more difficult to fight against HIV/AIDS. A letter signed by more than 90 U.S. Representatives to Ugandan President Museveni pointed out that should the bill pass, programs, such as the $300 million President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, could be called into question. “By seriously compromising efforts to reach LGBT communities in Uganda, passage of the Anti-Homosexual Act would impede the efficacy of PEPFAR’s programs and the achievement of its goals,” the letter stated.

Ironically, Uganda has been a model country for how to contain the spread of HIV/AIDS among its population. From the 1980s, when the virus first started to spread, to now, Uganda has gone from a country with one of the highest infection rates to one of the lowest.  In 1991, 15 percent of Ugandan adults were HIV positive. In 2001, that number dropped to 5 percent.

The government relied on a range of methods to manage the spread of the disease, including non-governmental organizations that educated Ugandans about HIV/AIDS and de-stigmatized getting tested for the disease. Many fear that if this legislation passes all Uganda’s success will come undone.

The pressure from foreign parties seems to have some effect. President Museveni has taken measures to distance himself from the bill, making it clear that Bahati was not following government policy in proposing the legislation. But in a country that believes rich Westerners are coming to Uganda to pay children to have gay sex, and showing support for gays can ostracize you from your community, it’s a difficult fight.

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