A group of 56 high school students from all across western Pennsylvania spent last week learning about the world and the challenges it currently faces. They learned a bit of history, explored international politics and even tried their hand at finding solutions for global dilemmas. All this took place during a week-long intensive summer seminar at the
World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh.
The daily sessions began with an hour-long briefing from a foreign
policy expert. Then the students were given policy scenarios and asked
to respond.
"Each day we focused on different region," says Christina Unger, education program manager at WAC. "On Monday it was Asia, and Tuesday was the Middle East, with a focus on Iran. It was very timely, because they hear about Iran and the UN sanctions."
One goal, beyond educating the students about specific world issues, was to show them how complicated and delicate international policy decisions can be. Students and teachers discussed how one choice impacts many others, and the ways that global issues overlap. "A speaker on first day described it as layer cake," Unger says, which was an analogy the students enjoyed.
On the final day, while learning about Latin America, the group was given an added challenge: "We chose a crisis scenario, with them being told there's about to be a coup, and the military has come to you as a representative of the State Department, looking for your approval," Unger said. The students were told they had one hour to prepare a briefing for their bosses on how the United States should respond.
At the start of the seminar, a poll was taken: Less than one-quarter of the students had traveled outside the country. But about one-third had valid passports, and all were excited about traveling globally as they grow older.
Where do they want to go? "We asked," Unger says, "and it was neat to hear the places they mentioned. You got things like Italy and Ireland, but also Japan and Africa."
Writer: Melissa Rayworth
Source: Christina Unger, World Affairs Council
Image of seminar students courtesy of World Affairs Council
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