When I first came to UMass as a freshman, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. It made me a little nervous when I still didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do even after I had declared my Spanish major, after switching from Communication Disorders. I have always been very intrigued by languages, and Spanish was the first non-native language that I have learned. I have always wanted to incorporate language into my life and my career, because it is something I am very interested in and passionate about. Language is how we are all able to communicate with one another, and in this day and age, global communication is very important and a necessity. After talking to friends who have graduated as well as doing some of my own research, I have decided that what I would be most interested in is teaching. Along with my Spanish major, I am also minoring in Education. If I have enough time, I plan to pick up another minor in Indigenous Studies.

What I would most like to do is live in a Spanish-speaking country and teach ESL. English is a widely used language around the world and there are many people who are trying to learn. I think it would be very rewarding to be able to help Spanish-speakers to learn English. I would want to teach people who actually want to learn, and so I think ESL would be a good choice for me since there are many people who really want to learn English. I have several friends who have graduated in the past couple of years who have been teaching ESL around the world via various programs. I will be looking into these programs to see which one is most suited for me. Hopefully, I will be able to teach in Costa Rica, which is my first choice for a destination.

My career goals are not based around making lots of money. I don’t prioritize it. What would really make me happy and fulfilled is to be able to help other people with my skills. After I graduate, that is what I plan to do.