Well-Rounded Student Scholarship

When I first began to learn Spanish, I never imagined the lifechanging opportunities the language would give me. I loved Spanish from the second I stepped into my ninth grade classroom, but in my small town in rural Illinois, I rarely had opportunity to use it. However, when my family hosted a Spanish exchange student my junior year, Spanish gave me a brand new way to connect with a different culture. And when I got to travel to Ecuador as a college sophomore, I realized that I wanted to choose a major where I could continue to use language as a tool for empathy and connection. Our exchange student was from Basque Country, Spain. I was nervous to host Maialen, because I wasn't sure if I would be able to communicate with her. I had only taken two years of Spanish at my high school, and I was still practicing my vocabulary and pronunciation. However, Maialen and I soon became best friends. She practiced her English with me, and I practiced my Spanish with her. Although we often laughed at each other's pronunciation and vocabulary, we both learned each other's languages over the course of the summer. Not only did we become better Spanish and English speakers; we also grew to appreciate our different cultures. We cooked our favorite foods, shared music, and became as close as sisters. After living with Maialen, I had a lot more confidence in my Spanish language skills. I could focus less on my grammar in class, and I grew to appreciate the culture of Spanish-speaking countries that my teachers taught. My teachers were excellent at providing a window into different traditions that Spanish speaking countries hold; one of my favorite days of the year was Dia de los Muertos, where all the Spanish classes celebrated with music, food, and history. I grew to appreciate other cultures on a much deeper level after learning their language. I didn't have space in my college schedule to study Spanish, but I knew I wanted to keep speaking it. So when I found an opportunity Ecuador through my university, I immediately signed up. I was extremely nervous for the trip, because I knew I would be immersed in a culture that did not speak my language. But once again, the lessons I learned in Spanish class stuck with me; not only could I communicate with the families I met in Ecuador, but I also got to experience what my teachers had told me about: the people of Ecuador welcomed me with open arms, and I felt like I joined their family for a week. I cannot wait to go back this spring! When I was sitting in my high school Spanish class in Central Illinois, I never could have dreamed that I would soon make a best friend from Spain and travel to Ecuador. These experiences have taught me that learning someone's language is the best way to connect with them. My dream is to become a journalist, where I can use my love for both Spanish and connection to tell stories both in the United States and abroad.