Global Studies distinction provides Lakeland Collegiate High School students with competitive edge

The Global Studies Program at Polk State College provides an enriching experience for students to develop subject-area knowledge on global issues. At Polk State Lakeland Collegiate High School, students are doing this on top of completing their requirements for high school diplomas and college degrees, simultaneously and at no cost to them.

While Global Studies is a College-wide program, all five of the May 2024 graduates who received Global Studies distinction came from Polk State Lakeland Collegiate High School. They shared how the program provided them with a strong foundation and competitive edge as they move on to the university level and pursue their career goals.

“My goal is to become a physician and Polk State’s Global Studies Program helped me with this goal because it exposed me to different cultures and different perspectives,” explained Zaim Merchant. “It provided me with a strong foundation of understanding other people – other communities – and that people experience different lives outside of what we have in America. These could be my future patients and I am now better prepared to help them.”

“It’s very important that we look at subjects through a global lens and consider how they affect everyone in the world.”

“It’s very important that we look at subjects through a global lens and consider how they affect everyone in the world.”

Merchant, Caeden DeBoer, Connor Dumke, Jodel Garcon, and Tanzeela Osmani represented Lakeland Collegiate and the Global Studies Program during Polk State College’s 130th Commencement Ceremony, where they donned Global Studies medallions and received Associate in Arts (AA) degrees before they even had their high school diplomas in hand.

Polk State’s three collegiate high schools, including Chain of Lakes Collegiate and Lakeland Gateway to College Collegiate, provide students with the opportunity to complete college credits while fulfilling their high school requirements. In most cases, students have completed a college degree at the time of their high school graduation.

Starting in the fall of 2024, Lakeland Collegiate and Chain of Lakes Collegiate will serve 10th-grade students in addition to 11th and 12th. Students also benefit from a variety of extracurricular and enrichment experiences including the Global Studies Program.

To receive Global Studies distinction, a student must complete 15 credit hours of global coursework, attend and write about five presentations and cultural events, and develop a global e-portfolio that highlights their program experience including travel abroad.

Osmani expressed how these experiences “build character, make more interesting people, and are just really fun.”

“I am grateful to have the opportunity to graduate with my AA with Global Studies distinction. A lot of people don’t even know we have something like that here (in Polk County at Polk State),” she added. “This felt like it was really personalized to what I wanted to do but I believe that it would benefit any student no matter what field they are interested in.”

Osmani will continue her education at the University of Florida where she plans to pursue an International Studies degree. She aspires to work in immigration.

“I’m Muslim with a lot of different cultural backgrounds,” she explained. “I have always been interested in learning about different cultures and perspectives, so the Global Studies Program was perfect for me because it was exactly what I needed, from the curriculum and cultural activities to the opportunities to reflect on my adventures to new places.”

“The Global Studies Program was perfect for me because it was exactly what I needed, from the curriculum and cultural activities to the opportunities to reflect on my adventures to new places.”

Osmani and Merchant both traveled abroad with their families during their time in the Global Studies Program and used their experiences to complete coursework and parts of their portfolio.

“The program is not only beneficial by helping you understand cultures and community; it also helps you with the ability to collect your thoughts and experiences and speak about it at a professional level,” Merchant shared. “You create a portfolio that you can use when you apply for jobs or opportunities, and you can use it as a talking point in future interviews.”

Merchant will continue his education in the University of Central Florida’s Medicine-Engineering Double Degree (MEDD) Program. He added that his experience at Polk State Lakeland Collegiate High School has provided him with invaluable college preparation.

“Polk State helped me understand what the college environment is like and gave me a head start on my college career,” he said. “It saved me a lot of time and a whole bunch of money, and I feel ready going to a four-year university.”

His peers echoed this sentiment.

“By doing this, I feel like I got a glimpse into what my future could look like,” Osmani said. “Collegiate and the Global Studies Program allowed me to build and practice my skills, explain what I learned and how I feel, and prepare for college and my future career.”

“I would encourage other students to pursue this distinction because it helps get you out of your comfort zone, explore different cultures, and meet new people,” she added. “Even on our college campuses, our viewpoints are different, and they are going to change. It’s a positive thing to be exposed to new ideas and I really value and appreciate that.”

More information on Polk State College’s Institute for Global Initiatives and the Global Studies Program is available at polk.edu/institute-for-global-initiatives. Interested students can contact Program Coordinator Kim Simpson at ksimpson@polk.edu.