A continuación mi ensayo sobre lo que logré con mi Follow-Up Project.
El mismo es en Inglés. Pronto compartiré con ustedes el ensayo en Español.
Follow-Up Project for the Gilman Scholarship Program
To describe a four-month experience in vivid detail is tricky. Some of the memories may get lost in translation, while others will be recalled with great enthusiasm. Nevertheless, the overall experience gained will forever stay with me, in both heart and mind. My study abroad experience became so much more than just studying in a foreign place: it became a chance, a hope and an opportunity to grow as a professional and as a human being.
Before the exchange, I was your typical shy kid: never taking the necessary risks, seeing the glass half-empty and very much comfortable in what we called “the comfort zone”. True, four months in a foreign country in Europe was both a challenge and new. But who hasn’t benefit from both qualities? I realized that I sure wanted to give at try, even scared of a new adventure. The question wasn’t whether I was ready for Spain or not. The real question was if Spain was ready for me. And there I was, about to set sail for the biggest journey this short 20-years of age had ever witnessed. On January 13th, 2010, Janet Rodriguez arrived to the wonderful city of Toledo, Spain.
I rapidly grew accustomed to the city: its walls, streets, people and even the customs I wasn’t that much familiar with, like greeting with two kisses and some words that meant something else in both cultures. I came to love my new surroundings and was astonished with all the beauty and the interesting things it had to offer. ‘La Fundación Ortega y Gasset’ became my home those four months. In it I took courses such as the ‘Arte de Toledo’, ‘Herencia Cultural Española’ and even incurred in an internship where I had the opportunity to work in a prestigious newspaper called ‘Global Castilla-La Mancha’. I also had the opportunity to create a short documentary promoting the Fund as a choice for studies abroad in Spain. I learned so much and met so many wonderful people from all over the world. I could certainly say that this was a unique experience.
Becoming a Gilman recipient most definitely helped me achieving this dream. As a requisite, I had to develop a Follow-Up Project in which to promote Studying Abroad Programs among college students. For my Follow-Up Project I thought best to reach my fellow college students by means of Social Networking, in addition to the traditional way of promotion like flyers across the campus. In this past semester, and with the help of our Internships and Exchange Department, I was able, not only setting forth the ideas I originally had for my Follow-Up, but to use different means to promote Studying Abroad Programs and the Gilman Scholarship. Mediums such as blogging, video recordings and the opportunity to participate as both Studying Abroad/Gilman Scholarship Rep and motivational speaker in different conferences and fairs, definitely helped in getting in touch with the students. As a result, many students have approached me to discuss various internships and exchange possibilities. The impact the project had raised awareness of the opportunities available for the students, resulting in many of them applying for different programs.
Studying Abroad helped me become something I always wanted to become: a leader. It helped shaped the professional and human being I am today. Since my experience abroad, I became more involved in college-related projects such as setting up a resource for students in the creation of blogs, detailing their experiences while participating in study abroad programs. Also, filmmaking projects are being developed such as documentaries and short films about our experiences. These opportunities cemented my aspirations to become both a journalist and a filmmaker. And by helping my fellow students, I fully developed and refined the necessary skills to become a great leader. My future plans are to return to Spain in the 2012 Spring Semester, to fulfill my minor requirements (Spanish Lit). I thank the Gilman Scholarship for its support in achieving my dream of studying in Spain.
