Global UGRAD success story: A Filipino perspective on leadership and service
Jan Edrian Ariola, a junior at De La Salle University-Manila, in the Philippines, recently made history as the first-ever Filipino in the prestigious Global Undergraduate Exchange program (Global UGRAD) to be placed at Mercyhurst University. And he couldn’t be happier about where he landed.
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and administered by World Learning, Global UGRAD brings future leaders to the United States to experience U.S. higher education, gain critical professional skills, and explore new cultures and values. Since 2008, the organization has provided this opportunity to more than 2,500 Global UGRAD students, who later go on to receive Fulbright grants, obtain prestigious international internships, and work in business and government in their home countries.
Majoring in psychology, Ariola spent the fall semester at Mercyhurst and took courses related to clinical and developmental psychology, diversity, and governance. As a cultural ambassador for the Philippines, he shared pieces of his homeland by teaching the Filipino language and introducing the rich flavors of traditional Filipino cuisine. He also successfully lobbied for the university to formally recognize Filipino American History Month as a testament to his passion for celebrating diversity and fostering cross-cultural appreciation. Likewise, he was able to discover the American culture through exploring different museums and national parks across the country.
Beyond his academic and cultural pursuits, Ariola took the opportunity to explore community service, a passion of his, as a volunteer and intern at the Erie Multicultural Resource Center. There, he provided educational support to immigrant and refugee children, particularly in mathematics and English for non-native speakers. That role resonated with his longstanding advocacy for educational equity, rooted in similar volunteer work he began in the Philippines in 2020.
In his home country, Ariola founded Haligi, a volunteer-based initiative dedicated to providing free tutoring sessions for underprivileged children. He said the endeavor has given him profound insights into the educational challenges faced by underserved communities and enriched his academic focus in psychology.
He also worked closely with the university's Sustainability program, where he gained a deeper understanding of the importance of sustainable practices in today’s world by partaking in the Benedictine Sisters Meadow Conversion Project. This project aimed to enhance the city's local ecosystem and biodiversity, contributing to a healthier and more sustainable environment.
Further, he engaged with initiatives that focus on cultivating mindfulness, motivation, and stress regulation through sports among elementary students, which he said fascinates him because it emphasizes the importance of mental health at a young age—something he hopes to continue to prioritize to help reduce future mental health issues.
Ariola is among numerous beneficiaries of the Global UGRAD program at Mercyhurst, said Dr. Alice Edwards, chair of the Department of Anthropology and World Languages, who called them “exceptional students, very well-vetted, with amazing accomplishments.” She said the university has been a participant in the program for about eight years, and many of its Mercyhurst alumni have gone on to great achievements.
As for Ariola, he hopes to leverage the exchange experience to become a leader in his field and to serve as an inspiration for others to pursue their dreams while giving back to their communities.