Boyu (Ethan) Shen '26

Promoting Cosmopolitanism through Intercultural Dialogue

I am an international student from China, currently involved with the Global Conversations program as a theme leader for conversations relating to political economy and development. I grew up with a strong interest in global cultures and international affairs, so I decided to study in another country and leap into active membership in the BC community. I arrived on campus in August 2022 and was immediately impressed with the campus’s Gothic buildings and the school’s efforts to accommodate its international students. The special international student orientation helped me get acclimated to BC, and I wanted to give back by becoming an international assistant during my sophomore year, helping other international students connect with American campus life.

Throughout my time at BC, and especially with the Global Conversations project, I have become increasingly aware of the importance of interpersonal dialogue, especially between individuals from different cultural backgrounds. For me, intercultural dialogue has been a great source of personal growth and reflection, and I have continuously sought to promote cosmopolitanism and intercultural understanding. For this reason, I joined BC Global Conversations in February 2023. Over the past year I went from a general officer to a theme leader, focusing oneconomy-related issues.

In Global Conversations, I meet fellow students from other parts of the world and discuss topics of common interest from different perspectives. I learned things that I had previously ignored when considering issues, like the complexity of other societies, and I also contributed to the conversations by sharing my own view and experiences. I encourage you to sign up here to join an upcoming Global Conversation.

In the next couple years, I look forward to expanding GC externally by establishing more partnerships with other universities, and internally by working closer with BC students and with other cultural organizations on campus. We are glad to see that more and more of our partner schools are initiating similar programs, accelerating future possible global conversations!

Today, more than ever before, I believe that active, intercultural dialogue has the power to unite us in an increasingly polarizing world. As an international student, I want to continue promoting this dialogue so that we view global events with more compassion and look at each other with more mutual respect.

Boyu (Ethan) Shen '26
February 2024