Declaring a Major in Hispanic Studies

During the end of my sophomore year, I became curious about the Hispanic Literatures and Cultures (HISP) Major at Wesleyan, particularly through one of my courses: Introduction to Hispanic Literatures and Advanced Practice in Spanish. This course changed my perspective on what studying Spanish meant to me by providing multiple mediums through which we interacted with the language (i.e., writing, reading, listening, speaking) and delving into the depths of literature. I became more proficient, passionate about the culture, and determined to continue practicing the language. In the fall of my junior year, I officially declared HISP as my major and enrolled in a Cuban seminar. 

Colloquial and Interpersonal Spanish > Academic Spanish 

However, the Cuban course reminded me of why I wanted to study Spanish in the first place; for cultural immersion via conversations, relationships, and media rather than engaging in formal academic study. As a first generation Colombian and Ecuadorian, I grew up with Spanish all around me, but was never taught the language at home. Consequently, I have felt a part of my ethnic and cultural identity to be lacking, and in constant search of a way to fill this hole. Though I deeply valued the practice and skills I gained from Intro to Hispanic Literatures, I learned Spanish scholarship in higher education is not for me and would not fill the gap I had been missing for so long. After thoughtful consideration, I decided to drop the Cuban seminar and more importantly, the major.

Transitioning to a Major in Education 

Around the same time I came to this conclusion, I began taking more courses in education, a field that had always piqued my interest. That semester, I was enrolled in two courses with the same professor that changed the trajectory of my Wesleyan experience and inspired me to declare a major in Education (EDST). Aside from her fascinating course content on the intersection between education and psychology, she also brought a certain kind of humanity to teaching I had never seen before. I became especially interested in the social-emotional and individualistic and inclusive elements of teaching. I implemented these passions during my next semester when teaching Spanish at an elementary school. 

Integrating Elements of Spanish into Education 

Despite my struggle to drop HISP, I still found ways to integrate Spanish into my everyday life and my new EDST major. Not taking any more Spanish classes did not equate to not speaking the language anymore. If anything, I was more encouraged to consume hispanic media (music, television, podcasts, and anything else I could think of) and speak to my family members as much as I could in Spanish. The teaching Spanish course also allowed me to discover a fondness for working with children while integrating the language–whether that be teaching Spanish to non-native speakers or vice versa. This was the same form of second language education that I yearned for at a young age yet never received, and I was delighted to discover a way to share this knowledge with new generations. I now feel joy in my decision to change majors, as it empowered me to uncover more about my identity, my preferences, and my professional interests.