Rylie O'Neil '24

Finding Your Purpose:
A Reflection on my Journey as an IS Major

Coming to Boston College, I really had no thoughts on what I wanted to do with my studies and life post-graduation. I began my journey at BC as a communications major, but I knew that something was still missing. Having been studying Mandarin since a very young age, I have always been intrigued by cultures and people with different lived experiences. Therefore, when the International Studies Major was brought to my attention freshman year, I applied. It's crazy to think that I made this decision a few years ago, and here I am embarking on my last few months as an IS major and Boston College student.

The International Studies professors, curriculum, and community have taught me an invaluable amount of knowledge. From “Intro to International Relations,” to “International Law,” to “Religion and Espionage,” I have learned about many facets of international studies and what the interdisciplinary major truly encompasses. The most standout class for me has to be “Ethics, Religion and International Politics” taught by Professor Erik Owens. This class, well known as ERIP, looks at diverse religious and secular models for ethical analysis of current international affairs, along with specific areas of international politics like sovereignty, international tribunals, peacemaking, human rights, economic justice, environmental justice, and the use of force in humanitarian interventions. We concluded our semester together by partaking in a simulation regarding the Rohingya Refugee crisis, where hundreds of thousands of Rohingya people were forced to leave the Rakhine State in Myanmar, and flee to Bangladesh, due to armed attacks from the military government of Myanmar. I played the role of the foreign minister of China to assess China’s position on the state of the Rohingya people at our mock Bangladesh international conference. This role and experience was incredibly unique and allowed me to dive deeper into how China would step into this crisis and what its main objectives would be, and furthermore, how to interact with other states and nonstate actors at a mock conference.

Another irreplaceable experience of my time here at BC and within the IS program is my involvement in Global Conversations, a student-run project that connects BC students with students from universities around the world, through conversations about pressing political, economic, and cultural issues. I have been part of Global Conversations since my sophomore year, ranging from roles like newsletter editor, secretary, and now co-chair. It has been a pivotal part of my BC career to work with fellow students who care about bringing together people from different backgrounds to discuss issues that matter greatly in our world. I have loved getting to know IS majors across grades during my time with Global Conversations, with many older students acting as mentors to me throughout my IS career.

Passing down whatever knowledge I can to younger IS majors and learning from those around me has brought so much value to my Boston College experience outside of the classroom, widening my perspective beyond measures and deepening my understanding of those who have different backgrounds than my own. As I am reflecting on my experiences and parting from Boston College and the International Studies program in a few months, I have learned many things about myself and lessons that will aid me in tackling this next phase of my life.

First, it is vital to learn from and listen to others. Your professors, mentors, peers, family, will teach you things that are applicable in millions of different ways. Second, it is important to want to be a good global citizen. We all have a responsibility in this world, whether you feel that yours is big or small, to engage positively with others and respect our differences. Either by immersing yourself in new places or making an effort to connect with people from different backgrounds, practicing honest and endearing global citizenship is immensely important to keep our world connected today. Finally, recognizing that we tend to live in a bubble at Boston College, and we should always seek ways to step out of our comfort zone and leave the bubble. BC is obviously amazing in numerous ways, but the world has a lot more to offer than our small community. We should take the lessons we have been so grateful to learn at BC, and apply them to larger communities in order to expand our perspectives and connect with others.

Rylie O'Neil '24
February 2024