Caleb Jarrett
Ethnicity - African-American
Occupation - Sales/Global Lead Development Rep
Place of Employment - Amazon Web Services
What global experiences have you taken part in when you were a student and/or as a young professional? As an undergraduate student I had the wonderful opportunity to both study abroad and intern abroad in London, UK.
How has Global Education impacted you and your career choices?
My pursuit for a bachelors degree is what lead me to enroll in college. However, my exposure to education on a global scale changed my life completely. As soon as I returned home I immediately narrowed my career choices down only to companies who had a global mission and positions around the world.
What challenges have you had to overcome as you gained your global experience(s)?
I learned the power of persuasive writing through earning multiple study abroad scholarships. I also had a crash course in currency exchange rates. This resulted in quickly learning how to live like the locals to avoid paying tourist prices for goods.
What or who inspired you to take part in a study and internship abroad experience?
I was inspired to study abroad by several people. The most influential person was Kory Saunders. Kory did a wonderful job highlighting all of the great personal and professional development benefits associated with participating in a global educational experience.
How has your cultural identity impacted your global experience(s)?
As a young African-American male living abroad for six weeks in London, I gained a truly unique perspective. Some days I felt at ease blending in with the sea of faces on the train or sidewalk. Other times I felt my presence amplified in a room where I was the only person of color. But overall I found it pleasant to watch people react positively to my American accent.
How has/ had seeing other people of color/diverse backgrounds influenced your decision to study/ intern abroad?
I'm always inspired when I see people of color taking advantage of these fantastic abroad experiences. I'm also motivated to continue encouraging more African-American males to indulge in these experiences.
As a Kultural Kurator, what does culture mean to you?
Culture is the gift of authentic perspectives learned by interacting with other people in society.
Self care is so important as we live our lives and grow in our professions. How do you incorporate self care into your life?
Self-care for me involves making time to serve others, pursing continuous self-development, and of course traveling abroad.
What advice would you give to a future Kultural Kurator as they think about taking opportunities to explore the world around them?
Nike said it best; Just Do It! Ask questions, but also embrace the ambiguous moments. Take plenty of pictures and keep a daily journal. Years from now you will thank yourself for capturing those stories and emotions in real time.
Is there an email address that you'd like to share?
Facebook: CJ Jarrett, Instagram: jarrett_caleb, Email: caleb.jarrett.32@gmail.com