I have seen many families in my neighborhood work hard and overcome adversities in order to live as American citizens. These people juggle multiple jobs, complete multiple documents to apply for government benefits, and, arguably most importantly, they prioritize learning the English language. As a student, I had multiple opportunities to collaborate and volunteer for organizations and centers in Louisville that contribute to helping immigrants, refugees, and other people who need help with English and their studies. All these experiences have deeply inspired me to learn a new language. I believe that one way to become a more compassionate and open-minded person is by learning a new language.
It has always amazed me that billions of people could exist around me, but I could never have the potential of understanding and learning about their life due to the language boundary. Over five million people in the world can speak Spanish. As I mentioned previously, I have been learning Spanish in a classroom setting. But I am yet to feel as though I’ve truly learned this language. Learning a language isn’t simply learning the words and grammar. Learning a language comes with learning the culture, dancing to its music, eating its food, appreciating its traditions, and celebrating its holidays. Learning a language can be a transformative experience in terms of how you understand others and yourself.
With this belief in mind, I took it upon myself to apply to scholarships and find programs that would allow me to study Spanish at a more personal level whilst completing my bachelors' degree on time.
