Program: UW Chemical & Biological Engineering Summer Lab in Spain, Summer
Maelia’s Majors: Chemical Engineering, Chemistry
What is your most memorable experience from your program?
My most memorable experience from my program was the class excursion that my class took to Santiago de Compostela, a nearby city. This excursion involved an academic and cultural learning component and was a great bonding opportunity for our class. The first stop on the class excursion was a guided tour of an industrial chemical engineering plant that uses yeast to produce ethanol. This plant is one of the only bioethanol production plants in the world, so it was a unique learning opportunity to observe the bioenergy process firsthand since these types of plants do not exist in the US. The second half of the class excursion was focused on cultural learning as we visited and explored the city of Santiago de Compostela. We toured the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela and learned about how people from all over the world complete the “Camino de Santiago” for traditional and religious reasons. Our class also had a group dinner during the excursion during which we were able to try traditional Spanish dishes such as Padrón peppers and Asturian cheeses and meats. This dinner was memorable not only because of the food, but also because of the great conversations and connections I shared with my classmates and professors.
Being able to practice my Spanish while studying abroad was challenging but also rewarding.
What is the moment you are most proud of?
The moment I am most proud of is delivering my final oral presentation. For this laboratory-based course, we completed ten experiments with the last experiment requiring an oral presentation to the class. I occasionally struggle with public speaking, so I was nervous to deliver this presentation to my entire class and the ten-plus professors. However, I am proud that I spoke confidently during the presentation and was well-prepared to answer the questions from the audience. I am most proud of this moment because it was the last assignment for the course and the last assignment of my undergraduate career. When I finished delivering the oral presentation, I felt proud looking back on all the work I had put forth to successfully complete my undergraduate degree.
How did your experience influence your subsequent personal, academic, and professional trajectory?
This experience influenced my personal trajectory as I feel motivated to learn Spanish when I return to the United States. Throughout my time in Spain, I had to communicate in Spanish with the local residents, such as the restaurant workers, taxi drivers, and dorm staff. Although I took Spanish courses throughout high school, it had been a while since I actually used my Spanish knowledge. Being able to practice my Spanish while studying abroad was challenging but also rewarding. I want to continue learning Spanish when I return to the United States, so I can better communicate with Spanish-speaking people in the US because I understand the struggle of not being able to communicate in one’s native language. Also, I want to return to Spain one day and hopefully will return with more Spanish knowledge and skills.