Nothing Better: Meet International Affairs Major Kayla Muller
Kayla Muller is an International Affairs major from Bend, Oregon. She is the editor-in-chief of the JCU student-run newspaper, The Matthew, and is the first RA representative for Student Government.
Tell us about your background and how you ended up at JCU.
I was originally born in California, but my family moved to Bend, Oregon when I was five months old, so I’ve lived there ever since. In high school, I was a very avid reader and learner, and that has continued throughout my time at John Cabot University.
During lockdown, I spent a lot of time on the internet and reading, and I eventually started to look at colleges. I always wanted to travel the world, and this was my chance. So I figured, why not study abroad? It was a better experience for me, especially for international affairs; I got a much different learning atmosphere than I would have in America. All my friends here are from all over the world, and my professors, too. It was a really great way to get new perspectives that I wasn’t exposed to as a kid.
Was international politics something you had always been interested in?
I was actually more interested in sociology. When I first got here, I took some political science courses and realized that a major in International Affairs combines all the things I love. It is a perfect blend of history, politics, economics, and sociology, all tied in together. It felt like a very well-rounded course of study for me.
Was life in Rome a big adjustment to make for you?
What’s funny is that I never really got any culture shock moving to Italy. However, every time I go back to Oregon, I get reverse culture shock. Growing up in a small town, I think it’s natural that sometimes you just really want to move to a big city. In Bend, I was surrounded by forests, lakes, and rivers. Coming to Italy was my first time on a plane, but looking back I can say it was totally worth it.
Coming to Rome is my first time living in a big city, and I love it. Honestly, it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. It’s offered me an opportunity to grow. When I was living in Oregon, I didn’t know much about the rest of the world, and coming here completely changed that for me.
You are the first Resident Assistant representative in the Student Government. How did that happen?
It was a crazy experience to be selected for that. The President, Sebastian Terrazas, and the Vice President, Harman Singh, spoke with the RA supervisor, as well as with some of the other RAs, and my name came up. They reached out to me, we went through the interview process, and they decided that I was a good candidate for the position. Being a brand-new position, it definitely comes with its own hurdles. The RAs are students, but we also work for the University, and we rely on the University for our housing. So it can be a bit of a sensitive subject to navigate, especially how to bring forth any concerns in a way that maintains confidentiality. That has been my main goal – to give the RAs a voice and figure out the best way to represent the rest of the community. And so far, I believe it’s been a really big success. After only one semester, seeing all of the changes that have already happened has been very rewarding.
You are the editor-in-chief of The Matthew. How did you decide to be a part of this club?
I wanted to get more involved in student life. I felt like I hadn’t met many people, so I was looking for something that would be a good place for me to start. In my first semester, I went to the Matthew meetings with a friend and then I began as a writer and an editor for the paper. The following semester, I wanted to get more involved, so I applied for a position on the board, and I was selected as head of editors. After the editor-in-chief graduated, I took over her role.
We are on pause right now. The Matthew has grown so much, which is amazing. When we first started, our advisor, Professor Elizabeth Gutierrez, said that we only had 10 articles on average for each publication. For our last Fall 2024 issue, we had a record number of submissions, which was 35 articles. There are only four people involved in the entire publication process, me, two layout designers, and Vittoria Caroli, the president. It became a lot to handle – which is a good sign. We have many people pitching new ideas and writing new articles, so we are taking this semester off to restructure and, hopefully, in the future, have a newsroom. Running a paper is a full-time project. Right now, it is just a club, but we are hoping to integrate our activities with academics.
Do you have a favorite story that you covered for the paper?
I have always loved the spotlight pieces that focused on professors, students, or staff members at JCU, to talk about a new department or a new course. I loved interviewing Professor Michael Driessen as the Director of the new M.A. in International Affairs. It’s one of my favorite pieces because he is the reason that I am studying International Affairs. I took his Comparative Politics class my second semester, and that led me to switch major from Business Administration. It was a great opportunity to interview him since the new M.A. is a big sign of growth for JCU.
What are your plans for the future after graduation?
I really want to go to Trinity College in Dublin, because they have an amazing master’s program in international politics. I want to go into either foreign policy or diplomacy, which is something that you definitely need a master’s degree for. But I also like to keep my options open. I will, however, take a break from studying after my B.A. and save some money first.
Do you have any advice for prospective students?
Don’t be embarrassed to reach out if you need any help, be it people on staff or your professors, or even people who already went to JCU, if you’re in the process of applying. What made me feel so much more comfortable was attending all of the orientation workshops and having my orientation leader and RAs just an email away.
In general, I would say, just open your mind to new opportunities. When I was a freshman in high school, I was chosen to study in a program in Spain. I was going to do it – then I got too nervous, and I backed out. It was the biggest regret of my life, and it’s part of what pushed me to apply again for a learning experience abroad. I promised myself I wouldn’t miss out on that opportunity again.
Don’t be scared of the language barrier. Italians are very, very sweet. If you even make any attempt to try to speak their language, they are very understanding. Italian is an easy language to learn, as long as you practice. There are so many resources here that can help you settle in. Also, don’t be afraid to take the more difficult courses because at a school like this, there are so many qualified professors who have done so much in their respective fields.
By coming to a university like JCU, you’re also signing up for an international environment. I have friends that represent different cultures from all over the world. Also, get involved in student life; it has definitely helped me.
You’re going to learn so much here. I cannot recommend anything better.
