In the Fall of 2020, I was lucky enough to study abroad in Granada, Spain. I lived with a host family and immersed myself in the rich culture and history of this beautiful city. Through my coursework, I learned about the origins of Granada's stunning Islamic art and architecture, Islamic civilization in the Iberian Peninsula prior to 1492, and the memory and tradition of the Sephardic Jewish community. I also took a class about one of the most famous Granadinos, Federico García Lorca, studying his moving poetry, literature, and theatrical works.

After my time in Granada, I was eager to continue speaking Spanish as often as possible and began volunteering at the Monroe County Public Library as a tutor with La Escuelita. Here, I worked with two Latina elementary school kids, helping them with Spanish reading, writing, and mathematics.

All my Spanish-speaking experiences have enriched my own life and have only reinforced my intent to continue studying and speaking Spanish in my future career endeavors. As an aspiring physician, I really hope to work within Spanish-speaking communities as someone who can cross any existing language barriers and be an advocate for the US Latinos who may face major inequities in healthcare access. I look forward to taking the first steps toward achieving this goal next year as a medical student at the Indiana University School of Medicine.