Dylan
Dylan, UIC B.A. in Elementary Education, 2022
I started studying Spanish in middle school and have been in love with the language ever since. By continuing to take Spanish in my schooling career, I was able to travel abroad to Costa Rica my senior year of high school. This was one of the best experiences of my life. Not only was it fun, but I was able to connect with the culture in a way I never would have been able to if I simply went on vacation. I stayed with a host family and had a host brother who I went to school with every day, hung out with him and his friends, and even went to different areas in the country with him and his family. I was able to learn so much in such a short amount of time and I made some of the best friends I had ever met. I still talk to my host brother almost every day and am planning on visiting him soon and he plans to come to Chicago as well. This experience is something I will never forget and I am so grateful I am able to have all these memories all because I continued to take Spanish in my education career. I definitely will be able to use Spanish as an elementary educator. By understanding the language and aspects of different cultures I will be able to connect more with my students and their families to provide an inclusive education.
—Dylan, UIC B.A. in Elementary Education, 2022