Category Archives: Internships

Why study a foreign language?

Many people are confused when I tell them that I chose to study Spanish as my primary major at UMass. The majority of my peers question what successful careers I could possibly qualify for through a degree in a foreign language. The answer? In comparison to some of the experiences I have heard about from my friends in other majors, the bonds that a foreign language concentration allows you to make in both academic and personal realms of life are limitless and bounding. Throughout my time studying Spanish at UMass, I have accumulated several high-demand certifications, resume-building life experiences, strong academic and personal relationships, and have been fortunate enough to travel the world.

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The Beautiful Thing About Plans Is That They Are Meant to Change

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When I applied to college I had no idea what career I wanted to pursue. I knew I was going to major in Spanish because I excelled at learning the language and enjoyed learning about different cultures and wanted to continue to broaden my horizons. I knew that my career probably wouldn’t be centered around Spanish, but I thought it would be helpful to apply a second language to whatever career I landed on. Fast forward spring semester Freshman year and I’m trying to decide what I should add as my second major. The beauty of the Spanish major is that it is only 36 credits so I had plenty of room to explore different options. I landed on Communication because at that point I still wasn’t sure what path a was headed towards, and this was a broad enough choice with a variety of career options so I didn’t feel trapped in a niche. After taking a few Communication classes I was starting to think I wanted to do something with social media marketing or media production. I was taking classes like Intro to Studio Directing and was my sorority’s Marketing Director so everything seemed to be pointing me in that direction.

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Your Internship is Calling, Are You Going to Pick Up?

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When we think of internships, we often think of the stereotypical internship. You guessed it. Serving coffee, running errands, making copies, etc. But not all internships are like this. In fact, I was even a fellow in one in which I never made a coffee run.

If you’re interested in working in the city, an internship that is geared toward your major, opportunities to grow professionally, gain needed credits, and even earn some money to go on your own coffee run, look no further.

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SBS in DC

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SBS in DC is a professional development program that connects students to DC based internships, mentors, and resources. It takes place every summer and is comprised by a cohort of 20(ish) students. It is led by the Associate Director of Career and Professional Development, Rebecca Bell, and a Fellow who is an alum of the program. There are 2 ‘sections’ to the program– one being the pre-departure course which prepares you for your time in the city and the second being a 10-week internship in DC. The most amazing part about it is that the program director does everything possible to make this financially feasible for every student– and the housing is free!

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Alternative Options to Going Abroad

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Since seventh grade, I have actively been learning the Spanish language. Once I reached high school, I began to grow a love for the Spanish-speaking country, Colombia. I love their food, listening to Colombian music, their history, its landscape, telenovelas, and the overall beauty found within the country. Needless to say, for years, I’ve been wanting to travel to Colombia. Not only to gain fluency and to explore the country, but to pursue my honors thesis. The amount of times I have switched my major at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst) is mind-blowing, but something that has always remained constant in my field of studies is my passion for humane immigration reform in the United States.

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Double Majoring Spanish and STEM

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While choosing an array of diverse classes unrelated to your major inspires growth and intellectual stimulation, it can be even more satisfying for some people to channel that extra time into a second major, as this allows for a deeper dive into the subject matter. I am a senior completing my last semester at UMass, where I’ve been pursuing a dual degree in Spanish and Statistics for the last four years.

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Mi vuelta a los Estados Unidos

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(Brook Hansel se graduó de UMass el año pasado y tuvo que ser evacuada de Ourense, España. Comparte aquí con nosotros un texto que escribió para La Voz de Galicia.)

El viernes 13 de marzo fue mi cumple. Ya yo sabía que iba a ser un cumple inolvidable para mí; era la primera vez que iba a celebrar mi cumpleaños en otro país. Pero nunca me hubiese esperado que fuese un cumple inolvidable por razones tan impredecibles. Nunca me hubiese esperado que ese fuera el día en que tuviese que hacer mis maletas para marcharme de Ourense, la ciudad que se había convertido en mi hogar durante los últimos siete meses.

Ese mismo día por la tarde, yo recibí un correo electrónico de mi beca y el gobierno de los EEUU que decía que debía volver a los EEUU debido al COVID-19. Solo veinte horas después estaba en un tren dirección al aeropuerto. Yo sabía que el día en que tuviese que marcharme de Ourense iba a ser difícil, pero nunca me esperaba que iba a marcharme así- tan repentinamente y sin despedirme de mis alumnos en el instituto Otero Pedrayo, ni de mis amigos ni de toda la gente tan simpática que me había ayudado durante mi estancia en Ourense. Continue reading →

Working at a health clinic with ISA Cusco, Perú

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I volunteered in a health clinic, Santa Rosa, which targeted poorer populations. Here I aided the community through folding gauze (depicted above), rolling cotton balls, recording patients’ information, and communicating with patients. This experience humbled me in teaching me how to work with such few resources while also meeting each person’s medical and emotional needs. I was able to ask questions, form relationships with doctors and nurses, learn about the Peruvian culture, medical system and medical views, all the while practicing my Spanish speaking skills. This program was perfect on many levels. I recommend living with a host family, here you will learn about culture, eat amazing home cooked meals, and learn about Cusco from true Peruvians. In addition, I only volunteered on weekdays, leaving the weekends free to travel. Cusco is the heart of Peru. There is so much Incan history and incredible landscapes to visit. I have never felt more connected to the environment and myself. Every weekend I was there, I traveled to a new tourist attraction. Overall, this experience was like no other. I was able to submerge myself in the culture, learn so much about Spanish and myself, and strengthen my Spanish speaking both in everyday life and in medical settings. After this experience, I am more confident in my cultural competence, my abilities to help a Latinx patient feel comfortable an understood. Continue reading →

Finding an Internship Abroad

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Studying abroad was absolutely the most incredible experience I’ve had thus far in my life. Never have I had the opportunity to let go of the responsabilities I had back in the US and the make my time in Madrid about discovering myself and delving into Spanish culture and language. As a relatively international city, being in Madrid as a Spanish language learner is difficult when it is easy to fall back on English and get too comfortable with your study abroad peers. I knew this coming into the program and was absolutely determined to tailor my experience in order to find a smaller local community and further my Spanish language competency. Continue reading →

How I found my passion through the Spanish major

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I am currently an interpreter at Crocker Farm Elementary in Amherst. I work with first-grade students and love every second of it. I originally had plans to be a Spanish teacher in high school or middle school, but that age is really tough. I like working with younger students. I thought my major in Spanish would only allow me one job, a Spanish teacher. However, being an interpreter, I learned that there is so much more I can do with my major. There are kids that really need extra support and my major allows me to give them that. Continue reading →