I divide my language-learning journey into two parts: my informal and formal education. While I did take basic Spanish in high school, it’s no surprise for me to say that I barely retained any of it. This is a common experience with many language learners!
My informal Spanish education came in the form of working in food service for approximately 5 years. I worked my way up to managing Spanish-speaking kitchens and really applied myself to learning as much Spanish as possible. Fortunately I had the help of my amazing coworkers who were grateful for my efforts to learn to speak Spanish and bridge the communication gap.
My formal Spanish education began when I attended Virginia Commonwealth University and majored in Spanish. In my junior year, I entered into the Spanish-English Translation and Interpretation (SETI) program. I graduated in 2016 with university honors (summa cum laude), a BA in Foreign Language, concentration in Spanish, and having completed the SETI program.
Ever since I graduated from VCU, I’ve been working in the Spanish-speaking community in and around Richmond, and every day has been a learning experience!
