From the very beginning, I felt welcomed by the faculty in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at IU. My instructors not only challenged me academically but also took the time to invest in my growth as a person. In Introduction to Hispanic Literature, Professor Giles helped me approach the complex material with curiosity and confidence. Spanish Phonetics with Professor Willis remains one of the most memorable courses I have taken not only because of its fascinating content, but because his enthusiasm for the subject was truly contagious. I regularly think back to every class with Professor Dove, where his genuine interest in his students created an atmosphere where learning felt both engaging and supportive. Even beyond the professors I had in the classroom, faculty like Professor Israel Herrera-Cárdenas played an enormous role in my journey. Though I never took a class with him, Professor Herrera’s encouragement and recognition during my senior year reminded me how fortunate I was to represent such a caring and committed department.

Throughout my time at IU, I was honored to be inducted into Sigma Delta Pi as a sophomore, to be chosen as the department’s Outstanding Graduating Senior, and to be nominated by Professor Herrera for the Elvis J. Stahr Distinguished Senior Award. These recognitions are not just measures of hard work and academic achievement — they are also reminders of the countless ways the faculty in this department have supported me, believed in me, and given me opportunities to grow in ways I never imagined. I am also grateful to have been chosen to deliver a speech at the department’s graduation ceremony, which was a meaningful way to reflect on all I had learned inside and outside of the classroom.

While I was unable to study abroad, I am thankful for the opportunity to explore the cultures and histories of many Spanish-speaking countries through resources right here on campus like La Casa, IU’s Latino Culture Center, and through my coursework. In the Mexican Culture in Service Learning Context course, we taught local preschoolers about Mexican culture. Our professor left us with a short but powerful message to incorporate in our lesson plans: “Language is culture”. This phrase has stayed with me, influencing how I see communication, identity, and the role of culture in language learning. 

Now, as I prepare to begin my master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology at Vanderbilt University, I will carry forward everything I have learned from this department. I hope to integrate my Spanish knowledge into my clinical work, providing care that is both linguistically and culturally responsive. More than anything, I am grateful for the professors and peers who made these past four years so transformative, memorable, and rewarding.