Hi! My name is Rebekah Tavakoli, a fifth-year double majoring in Psychology and Sociology. I was born in Los Angeles and was raised in a multicultural household. My first global experience was navigating both of my cultures, Iranian and Colombian. I was exposed to a variety of different traditions, perspectives, and values through my family members. I had the opportunity to live in Iran for a month, and plan on visiting Colombia for the first time this upcoming summer. 
More recently, I was able to expand my global perspective through the Global Learning Hub, and the wonderful resources that are available. As a recipient of the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship, I had the pleasure of traveling to New Zealand to engage in the UC Davis Summer Abroad Psychology Internship. I was able to gain experience related to my field of study by working at a non-profit organization in South Auckland, while learning about the diverse populations. This includes learning different cultural practices and traditions amongst Māori and Pacific Islanders, and certain issues that they face in their communities.
Traveling to New Zealand was an incredibly transformative experience, and I am grateful for the lifelong connections I developed during my internship. With this, I hope to assist other students in the opportunity to travel and expand their global knowledge. If you have any questions, especially about the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship, please do not hesitate to reach out!