Just a classic first day of school picture to ring in my last year of my undergraduate degree! This year I will be applying for graduate programs to get my Master’s in Teaching to have the honor of teaching middle school history and English or any age Special Education.

This year at Evergreen State College I am taking a program called the Spanish Speaking World. We are learning about the peoples’ history of Latin America, studying Spanish language, and doing creative writing, ethnography projects, and furthering our cross cultural skills. During spring quarter there is an option to study abroad to Mérida, México on the Yucatán peninsula that I am excited about. It includes a home stay with a family there, studying at a language school that focuses on arts as a way to further language acquisition, along with volunteering in local organizations. While visiting my roommates extended family this past summer, we passed through Mérida and got to visit a Mayan community and swim in a cenote (underground swimming hole).

It was my goal to become a fluent Spanish speaker before I became a teacher in order to serve my students the best that I possibly can so I am excited to take this opportunity to do so! My Spanish practice will probably end up here in the scrapbook of my life in the coming weeks and months.

Yay! I am excited for the year of running into friends at Evergreen on a daily basis, eating lunch with people, admiring everyones amazing style and clothing, furthering justice work, growing with Jesus and as a person, etc. etc. College is fun.