Never in a million did I think that coming back to school and going to the Spain Study Abroad Program would have led me to such amazing opportunities, connections, and friendships. SPC has been my home for over 3 years now. I have been enrolled in each semester consecutively since I came back in the spring term of 2014. I initially came back to finish an AA degree that I had never completed. That’s where my love affair with the Spanish language began. I’ll be completely honest; I wasn’t exactly thrilled that my degree required foreign language credits. I agonized over the thought of having to take 8 credit hours of any language course. When it came time to take Elementary Spanish I, the course I enrolled in was with Professor Levin of the Tarpon Campus. From the moment she walked into the room, she exuded energy and enthusiasm. Suddenly the prospect of learning another language seemed a little less taxing.

I had always wanted to travel. When Professor Levin explained to us during a class that we could take our second language course requirement abroad with her in Spain, I jumped at the chance. The decision to participate in the Spain Study Abroad Program is, and will forever be, the most defining part of my education. To explain in depth the amount of change, perspective, and enlightenment studying abroad has brought me, would take entirely too long. That first semester abroad made me feel like I was finally making a meaningful impact towards a career goal that I wanted.  When I came home that first summer, the change in me was apparent to everyone. My time in professor Levin’s class, in combination with my Spain Study Abroad Program, made the Spanish language more than a degree requirement. It made it a personal passion that I deeply desired to have as a part of my future plans.

I took Intermediate Spanish I & II  at Tarpon Campus when I came back from Spain in the summer term of 2015. I went to Spain again for Spanish Conversation and Composition I, and took the study abroad working experience course with it in the summer term of 2016. I’m still not satisfied. I still want to learn more. That’s why I’m going yet again this summer for my final and highest possible course offering of Spanish at SPC, Spanish Conversation & Composition II.

Professor Levin knew that I was hungry for my next challenge and informed me of an opportunity to be a student ambassador with Spanish Embassy here in the United States. A student ambassador’s job is to inform fellow students about the wonderful educational opportunities that exist with foreign study in Spain. The appointment comes with weekly and monthly activity objectives, and is rewarded with a potential week trip to Spain, and an official diploma from the Embassy of Spain. Chances are you will see me on a campus promoting Spain sometime during this year. As I prepare to graduate in the fall of this year, I am beyond thankful for all the opportunities SPC has given me, and continues to give me.  More information about what exactly a student ambassadorship is all about can be found at the link below.

http://www.spainedu.org/sis-study-in-spain/sis-student-ambassadors/2017.html