When I first came to the Cal State University Monterey Bay campus, I never expected to be finishing my degree program with a Bachelors of Arts in Spanish. As a child, I was fascinated with marine life and oceanography, and the complex communal systems and habitats that fill our planets oceans. Of course, Monterey was the perfect place to study such diversity, but as time progressed, well into my first semester, things started to change. I noticed that even though my whole life I was dedicated to being a Marine Biologist, that was not my true calling.
My next best ability, I realized, was in foreign languages; Spanish in particular. My previous experience with the language, like most non-natives, was very little. However, in high school, most of my friends were of Hispanic decent and sometimes only spoke the language at home. I would notice time to time at school, interactions between those that do speak it, and would wonder what was being said. I guess that curiosity of ‘wanting to know more’ was what pushed me to pursue a career in it, especially in state where it’s almost impossible to walk down the street without hearing it.
With the classes I have taken as a Spanish major, I have achieved a very high level of the language, as well as an ability to connect with other cultures. As a language major it really gives you a greater outlook and perspective on different cultures and ways of living, thinking, and being that the CSUMB campus actively promotes for its’ students. The classes that really captured my attention were Intro to Linguistics and Translation. In some courses, I learned about the many different authors, writers and poets, whose work influenced Latin America immensely, and in other courses, how to be a business professional in the context of a Spanish speaking environment. I was able to fully internalize what “being a foreigner” meant and felt like, when I had the opportunity to study abroad in Santiago, Chile. This was perhaps one of the most rewarding experiences because it allowed me to live and breathe in the shoes of someone adjusting to a completely new culture. In Chile, I was able to master my language skills while attending a top notch University (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile). It was an experience that will last a lifetime and will continue to have an impact on my life.
My aspiration now is to find a position with a growth-oriented company that offers challenging responsibilities and the potential for advancement. I am ultimately looking for a position in which I can effectively use my language abilities on a continual basis whether in the translation or interpretation field. I have looked into other options such as, becoming an international teacher of English, volunteering abroad, and also working with non-profits that work directly with other Latin American countries.
My next best ability, I realized, was in foreign languages; Spanish in particular. My previous experience with the language, like most non-natives, was very little. However, in high school, most of my friends were of Hispanic decent and sometimes only spoke the language at home. I would notice time to time at school, interactions between those that do speak it, and would wonder what was being said. I guess that curiosity of ‘wanting to know more’ was what pushed me to pursue a career in it, especially in state where it’s almost impossible to walk down the street without hearing it.
With the classes I have taken as a Spanish major, I have achieved a very high level of the language, as well as an ability to connect with other cultures. As a language major it really gives you a greater outlook and perspective on different cultures and ways of living, thinking, and being that the CSUMB campus actively promotes for its’ students. The classes that really captured my attention were Intro to Linguistics and Translation. In some courses, I learned about the many different authors, writers and poets, whose work influenced Latin America immensely, and in other courses, how to be a business professional in the context of a Spanish speaking environment. I was able to fully internalize what “being a foreigner” meant and felt like, when I had the opportunity to study abroad in Santiago, Chile. This was perhaps one of the most rewarding experiences because it allowed me to live and breathe in the shoes of someone adjusting to a completely new culture. In Chile, I was able to master my language skills while attending a top notch University (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile). It was an experience that will last a lifetime and will continue to have an impact on my life.
My aspiration now is to find a position with a growth-oriented company that offers challenging responsibilities and the potential for advancement. I am ultimately looking for a position in which I can effectively use my language abilities on a continual basis whether in the translation or interpretation field. I have looked into other options such as, becoming an international teacher of English, volunteering abroad, and also working with non-profits that work directly with other Latin American countries.