2010-2011 Study Abroad Scholarship WinnerSpring 2011
"Quien no aventura, no cruza el mar." This Spanish proverb, meaning 'he who does not take risks [adventure] will not cross the sea,' has been an inspiration to me since high school. It pertains not only to my life as a whole, but especially at this stage in my college career. I hope to take my first trip abroad to Ecuador through the Minnesota Studies in International Development (MSID) program in the spring of 2011 and am so looking forward to that adventure.
I am currently a junior Spanish major and have thoroughly enjoyed my classes in the department thus far. One of my favorite classes was 3404 Medical Spanish. Through this class and my involvement in the Community Engagement Scholars Program I volunteered with the preschool program and prenatal classes at Centro. In addition to academics, working with this community has helped me improve my language skills, be more confident, and make a difference for the children there. This volunteer position also sparked a new interest for me in working with Spanish-speakers, especially pregnant women and children in the medical field as an interpreter. All of these elements are why I love service-learning and chose the MSID program over the others. I am hoping that my experience in Ecuador will allow me to grow, learn, and make a positive impact on the community I will be with.
