I am humbled and fortunate for the opportunity to share my ongoing journey towards building a life I am both passionate about and proud of. My curiosity, acceptance of potential failure, and open-mindedness have proved to be my strongest assets, and have guided me down a path ultimately leading to a life where my passions match my purpose.
My first international service experience in Santiago, Dominican Republic, symbolized that transitioning step away from my prior, constrained life — one promising me limited life experiences, job opportunities and personal development. I envisioned those six weeks in Santiago as a test: How can I build a potential career within an international context? Those weeks of self-discovery and genuine happiness provided me with my answer. My stronghold over the Spanish language led to immediate friendships with locals, trust among my peers and myself, and an invitation to attend a human sex-trafficking workshop in the downtown government building. My curiosity led me to ask questions about the impact of current social and financial inclusion projects and about the current Dominican-Haitian relations that negatively affect the livelihoods of Haitian children. My genuine interest and concern, coupled with the immersion experience, proved to me that the new me was already building a life and career within an international context.
With that said, Covid-19 has tested the very foundation of my career in International Development, one that traditionally relies on valuable human interaction. This obstacle has taught me to be innovative, to think more creatively and to recognize the importance of patience and communication. I virtually interned this past summer with an organization based out of Montevideo, Uruguay, that works alongside social entrepreneurs to build up their start-ups. I recently moved back to Santiago and am volunteering again with Acción Callejera, the organization I worked with during my initial study abroad experience. This global pandemic has proved to be a challenge for my line of work, but one which intrigues me and motivates me to continue developing the new me.