Ovie Kabba’s experience at Occidental has truly been a global one. On her path to global citizenship, she participated in both a semester abroad in Madrid, and the Kahane United Nations Program.
Originally from New York, a liberal arts college in California was what Ovie had in mind, and Oxy was the perfect fit. She has been active on campus as a member of the basketball team, host of a KOXY radio show, staffer at the Green Bean, and now a part of the women’s rugby team. But it’s the academic program, combined with global experiences, that have helped shape her future plans.
Ovie says her diplomacy and world affairs (DWA) major combines all of her interests. “Being able to strip down what we see in the news and really understand what is at the core of it is really interesting to me,” she says. Ovie added a Spanish major in order to perfect her fluency.
On her path to global citizenship, she participated in both a semester abroad in Madrid, and the Kahane United Nations Program, where she gained practical work experience and a greater understanding of global affairs. These opportunities, paired with the academic components of her majors, have made her experiences truly transformational.
“I've always known that I like to travel, but I think DWA really taught me why. I want to see different things that have happened around the world in person, and see if I can make an impact in some way,” she says.
Her semester in Madrid was so positive, she couldn’t wait to go back. She applied for a Young Grant to return for a summer internship. “I studied abroad for four months, came back home for ten days, and then went back with that grant to do an internship,” she says.
During her semester at the U.N., Ovie interned for the U.N. Refugee Agency, primarily working on things like human rights, women’s advancement, and the rights of children and people with disabilities. “The U.N. taught me a lot. It taught me how to be professional, how to conduct myself, and exposed me to a real work environment,” she says. “I'm really grateful for that.”
Scholarships have supported many of Ovie’s experiences on and off campus, and she’s thankful to the donors who made her education possible. “There are so many smart people in the world that aren't able to go to college because of how much it costs. I think that letting those minds have a chance to blossom is super important,” she says.
As Ovie looks ahead, her international experiences have shaped her future plans. “I know for sure that I would like to live abroad,” she says. I’ve thought about teaching in Spain or trying to work for an international organization.”
She believes that education is critical in teaching tolerance and helping to understand broader issues. She says that her experience at Oxy has helped her grow as an individual, which will help her to make her mark on the world.