The best way for me to explain NSE is that it is like study abroad, except you travel nationally instead of internationally.

During the fall semester of my senior year, I was privileged to participate in NSE and attend Queens College, City University of New York. The experience was one of great learning; highlights included forging new friendships, experiencing a smaller community school, and seeing the cultural attractions of NYC.

At Queens College I took several classes towards my Certificate in Environmental Studies. Those courses focused on urban environment and planning for adaptation and mitigation to climate change. I was able to learn a lot about the history and geography of NY State that most people wouldn't have the chance to outside of my program. Furthermore, I did a part-time internship at grassroots environmental justice organization WE ACT.

At WE ACT I joined a team working towards implementing the Northern Manhattan Climate Action Plan - #NMCA. I mostly did secondary research there. Additionally, I chose to participate in the Environmental Health & Justice and Leadership Training (EHJLT) program hosted by WE ACT. The EHJLT group was composed of community members, mostly from West Harlem. The majority of participants grew up in Harlem and are Black and Latino. EHJLT allowed us all to learn, discuss and meet professionals working on issues such as access to healthy food, water and air quality, and climate change. As someone who grew up on a small island, I was previously unaware of the inner-city environmental justice issues so many Northern Manhattan residents face. In December 2015 I graduated from EHJLT and received a certificate of participation.

Another perk of living in New York was becoming acquainted with the Fijian community. Through a connection from my internship at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Fiji during the Summer of 2015, I was able to meet the staff of the Fiji Mission to the UN based in New York. Now that I know many of the diplomats and their families personally, I occasionally get invited to events. For example, I attended the speech by the Prime Minister of Fiji at the UN General Assembly in Septemer 2015 and have gone to many potluck dinners hosted by the Pacific Island community in NY.

Although I only did one semester as an NSE participant, I have remained in New York in 2016 after finding full-time work here. I am doing one online class in the spring of 2016 and will graduate from FIU in May 2016.