Blogs

For International Women’s Day 2025, we are chatting with students at UD dedicated to intercultural engagement. Kayla Hughes is an American third year student at UD studying mathematics and sociology. She works with UDayton Global to support orientation and welcome international students to UD. She has also been an integral part of the Global Learning Living Community (GLLC) for the past two years. 

What brought you to UD? 

I came to UD because I really connected with the faculty at an event. Furthermore, everyone at the university seemed very welcoming and positive. In today’s world, kindness and optimism are very important.

Why did you decide to work with UDayton Global? What have you learned from that experience? 

Due to my experience living with international students in the Global Learning Living Community, I was made privy to some questions and difficulties my roommates faced as they adjusted to the US (and UD in particular). As such, I believed I could utilize my knowledge to better assist international students in a more formal setting--thus, I worked as an Orientation Leader for UDayton Global. The best part of my position was getting to hear the life experiences and backgrounds of every student I spoke to, and how they had led to them coming to UD.

What have been some of the things you've learned about yourself, about the culture, or about the world that have been important for your life?

About myself, I’ve learned that I’m a lot more adventurous than I think. I’ve tried new foods, been to new places, and met new people. About culture, I’ve learned humans are humans no matter where they are from. We may have differences in religion, history, physical appearance, and/or tradition, but we’re all social creatures who do better in groups than alone. About the world, I’ve learned that it is somehow big and small at the same time. Big physically, but with the internet and social media, people can make close connections halfway across the world and make it seem much smaller. 

When I say "home", what do you think of? 

When I hear “home,” I usually think of my family. I grew up with a parent in the military, so for the first 8 years of my life I moved around a bit–though my family was a constant. It’s always a comfort for me to be around the people who’ve known me for so long and raised me into the woman I am today. 

How have your multicultural experiences influenced you? 

My multicultural experiences have made me more cognizant of how my upbringing and nationality has impacted my perspective and values. Furthermore, they’ve allowed me to expand my knowledge and awareness of cultures different from my own to view life in a different lens. I try to influence the spaces I’m in, in turn, by approaching them with earnestness and a desire to be respectfully inquisitive. 

What does it mean to you to be an international woman on International Women's Day?

To me, being an international woman is to value solidarity and intersectionality. Given globalization, it’s an imperative to stand with each other and be aware of what power dynamics are at play in any given situation.

What are some of the challenges faced by women, in your opinion?

In my opinion, some of the challenges faced by women are bioessentialism, racism, classism, and lack of access to education. These manifest as both institutional and individual issues. Too often we are limited by what other people think we should be or how we should act. This is especially true for women in marginalized groups, such as LGBT+ women and women of color. People try to make the term “woman” into a cage rather than something to be proud of. 

Is there a woman in your life who inspires you? How?

This may be cliche, but my mother inspires me. She is outspoken, confident, witty, and down-to-earth. She has never changed herself for others’ approval and makes her voice heard regardless if someone tries to silence her. She has encouraged my curiosity, resilience, and compassion. I would not be half the woman I am today without her leading by example.