Facilitator Corner: Tom Pham

 

FIUTS Facilitators are student leaders from all over the world who welcome new international visitors, help organize events, and lead activities for hundreds of students each quarter. Read on to find out more about the FIUTS facilitator experience from Tom Pham!

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Name: Tom Pham   
Country: USA
Major: International Studies
Class: Sophomore
FIUTS Facilitator Since: October 2015

Brief Introduction: My name is Tom! I was born and raised in the United States. I have always sought out international experience and travel. Both of my parents came to the United States from Vietnam and I have been fortunate enough to have traveled across the country and around the world. When I was in middle school, I did a short summer exchange program to Japan and I was always looking for some other way to study abroad. I had the chance in high school to spend a year abroad in Turkey where I lived with a host family and got a taste of that international experience I was craving for. When I came to the University of Washington, I was looking for a community I could share my passions with. FIUTS was the perfect fit and the international community where I could share my own perspective as a domestic student and learn more about the world. True to FIUTS mission statement: local connections. global community. FIUTS is a welcoming group of global citizens, for both international and domestic students, looking to make the world a better place.

What does it mean to be a FIUTS facilitator?Becoming a FIUTS facilitator has provided me the opportunity to enhance my experience as a leader and view the diverse community we have here on campus. Through my time as a facilitator I have been able to learn more about the world and myself. I have had the opportunity to participate in the English conversation groups, being part of the Student Programs Committee, and even the Global Getaway to Portland. Through being a FIUTS facilitator I have friends from around the world and being a facilitator has shown me the world here at UW!

Favorite FIUTS anecdote as a facilitatorOne of the most memorable moments I’ve had facilitating a FIUTS event was when I was a driver down to Portland for Thanksgiving weekend. Throughout the traffic and frenzy of Black Friday shopping, I made great friends and made memories that I will never forget!

Tips/comments for peer facilitatorsMy advice for new peer facilitators is to help with as many different things as you can! Make new friends and don’t be afraid to try new things!

 
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