Breaking Borders: How KUNA Inspires Students to Make Change
KUNA serves as an opportunity to learn and understand for students of all ages and backgrounds. Everyone who attends the conference walks away with a better understanding of the culture they are representing as well as the culture of others. But some leave the conference having taken away so much more. For those lucky few, KUNA is not only a connection to the world’s cultures and the Commonwealth’s students but their future, because KUNA has helped those lucky few realize that their passion lies beyond the borders of their home country.
Sam Showalter, a candidate for Presiding Officer from Scott County, has always been passionate about unity and wants to explore that passion through linguistics. “I feel like we can’t achieve unity if we don’t understand each other,” he said. “Ideally I’d like to be a translator for the United Nations for French and Russian. My mom used to live in Russia, so she’s taught me a little bit of Russian, and that’s where I got my interest in the language from…[linguistics] just feels right to me.”
Showalter feels right at home at KUNA, where unity between countries is encouraged, and immersion into culture is part of the norm. “I am actually embracing the culture of the different countries that I’m trying to represent by learning their language,” he said, “because language is absolutely essential to a country’s culture, and their political culture, and by understanding their culture and the problems that the country faces, I feel it’s easier to understand the language of the country, and vice-versa.”
Allison Miller, another candidate for Presiding Officer, has also discovered a passion for language but is planning on applying it differently. Miller, who plans on double majoring in international affairs and Spanish, said: “I hope to work in South and Central America with victims of human trafficking, as well as doing some sort of legal work with the prevention of child labor in large industries.” Miller has always been passionate about children, and after discovering her love for the Spanish language and culture, the path seemed clear. “When I was thinking about what issues are important to me, I thought of the exploitation of children,” she said, “and I would really love to have a job in the future where I can make a difference in these children’s world.”
KUNA has provided Miller an opportunity to not only realize her passions, but connect with equally passionate students from across the state. “When you live in the middle of nowhere, it’s kind of hard to find other people who are interested in what you’re interested in,” Miller said. “Through KUNA, I’ve been able to find so many other people, and learn so many different perspectives about these issues…it’s just furthered my love for this.”
Other ambassadors have discovered their passion for helping others at KUNA. Natalie Sendelbach, a candidate for Presiding Officer, realized her desire to go into international social work with an emphasis on children’s justice while on a trip abroad in Africa. “Over the summer, I went on a program to Ghana, and I was able to work with a group that supports a lot of child justice and social services and that sort of thing,” she said. “It really sparked my interest.” KUNA has helped Sendelbach realize the scope of the issues going on in the world today. “It’s a very eye-opening experience for all nations.”
Haley Buchanan, who is serving as the Chief of Staff for the conference, has also found her calling through KUNA. Buchanan wants to go into the communications field, with an emphasis on international affairs. “I just want to be able to bring a new perspective to the table,” she said, “and help, kind of, mediate controversy wherever it may occur.” Buchanan wants to use her foundation in communications to spread ideas beyond the borders of our country. And like so many other Y conference attendees, the time spent here has influenced her to become the best possible version of herself. “The Y really opened up my voice,” Buchanan said, “and I now want to use it as much as possible in any way I can, to help those that need it.”
It is undeniable that the Y has a profound effect upon its members, and for the ambassadors at KUNA, it is certainly no different. KUNA is home to the greatest minds in the state and in this generation, and wherever its students go, traversing borders and forging bonds, their impact will most definitely be felt around the world.
