Facilitator Corner: Emerson Goss

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

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Name: Emerson Goss    
Country: USA
Major: Bioengineering with minors in Korean and Global Health
Class: Sophomore

INTRODUCTION

My name is Emerson Goss, I'm from Seattle and I'm a sophomore studying Bioengineering hoping to minor in Korean and Global Health.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A FIUTS FACILITATOR?

To me, being a FIUTS facilitator means bringing people together to have a good time and learn something. I love meeting new people and being introduced to cultures I don't know, because I can always learn more about the world. I've made lots of friends from FIUTS and being a facilitator helps me connect to so many more people because no matter where we come from there are always ways we can relate and connect. 

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ANECDOTE AS A FACILITATOR?  

My favorite anecdote as a facilitator was my first time facilitating an event going to a pumpkin patch around halloween. Some other facilitators couldn't make it so we only had 2, and we were both very new to facilitating. So many things went wrong during the event such as cold and wet weather, slippery shoes, not enough supplies, and no space for pumpkin carving, but it was still my favorite event because of all the smiles I saw on the students, and how we didn't have to be warm or dry to be happy. A lot of the students got to roast their first marshmallows that day, and in the end we brought pumpkins back to campus and carved them in the HUB. Everyone was so willing to change plans and make friends, and in the end it was a wonderful day that I'm glad I spent with FIUTS.

HOW HAVE YOU GROWN AS A LEADER THROUGH BEING A FACILITATOR? 

Through being a facilitator I've grown as a leader through realizing the power of individual people. In some events I've facilitated, students had better ideas than me, and I learned a lot by listening and acknowledging that part of leading is letting others lead if they have good ideas. I always try to include everyone I can, and seeing people happy and nobody being left out has such an uplifting impact. 

WHAT TIPS OR COMMENTS DO YOU HAVE FOR PEER FACILITATORS?  

For my fellow facilitators, I recommend talking to people who look like they came alone and don't know other people in the event. You can always brighten someone's day by being a friend, and just because they seem happy on their own doesn't mean you can't share in that. Also do your best to engage with everyone you can so you can find out what you can do in order for everyone to have a good time. Also never forget to have fun :)

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Interested in being featured in Facilitator Corner? Contact Annie Lewis at annie@fiuts.org.