Ilse Meiler (center, with friends, at the U.N. Human Rights Council),
now in her Senior year at Smith, has been chosen as the president of her dorm, Laurence House. She is also a student fellow of Smith's Khan Institute, working with faculty and students to research a common theme for an upcoming project, “TranslationS.” The Kahn Fellowship is a work-study program so she will no longer be tutoring in Chemistry.
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Ilse has been torn between a Chemistry major and a major in foreign languages. Her essay describes the process of arriving at her final decision. “During my semester abroad in Geneva, I was able to take courses in French-English translation and Russian Language. I saw the poetry of language and the beauty of transmitting ideas between cultures. I fell in love with the richness and depth of the Russian language. In between classes, I would have long conversations about language with our program director; she would ask me questions about language: “Which do you express yourself the best in?” (English) “Which conveys emotions the best?” (Spanish) “Which do you feel the most yourself in?” (French) “Which language excites you the most?” (Russian). I realized that I could never give language up.
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Over the summer I have been working with the Indigenous Peoples' Center for Documentation, Research and Information (DOCIP) in Geneva. I had the chance to use my language skills to connect people from all over the world during the U.N. Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) and got to try my hand at a little interpretation. Since I’ve been given the chance and the opportunity to learn languages to connect people, why would I ever throw that away?
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So that’s where the grand plan comes in. In order to become a certified interpreter, I need to obtain a graduate degree in interpretation, and spend 6-12 months where the languages I am working with are primarily spoken. I am currently in the process of applying for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Uzbekistan for the 2020-2021 academic year.... If everything goes to plan, then I hope to take my entrance exams and obtain a certification for English booth, with retour in either Spanish or French and with Russian as a passive language. The dream would be to work as a simultaneous interpreter with international organizations.
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I am forever indebted to the Sunflower Initiative for giving me the opportunity to attend Smith, which has given me so many opportunities that I would never have imagined 4 years ago.”
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Maggie Micklo (right, interning on Capitol Hill), now a Junior at Mount Holyoke, continues to pursue her passion for politics. Through the Weissman Center for leadership, she secured a paid internship during her spring semester in the Northampton District Office of Representative Jim McGovern (2nd District of Massachusetts). After touring Austria in May with the Mount Holyoke Glee Club, she spent her summer interning in the Washington, DC, office of Sean Casten (6th District of Illinois).
“Mount Holyoke constantly reminds me that interdisciplinary studies are an essential part of understanding the world especially when studying something as broad as politics. In addition to my coursework, the opportunities granted to me at Mount Holyoke have affirmed my love of politics and given me an inside look into the political system in our country.... Next year, I hope to continue this learning through my studies of Politics and French as I prepare to spend Spring 2020 abroad in Montpellier, France. In the fall, though, I will continue my role as a Speaking, Arguing, and Writing Center tutor and begin my roles as the Business Manager for the MHC Glee Club and the Communications Director for the Mount Holyoke Democrats. Here’s to a great Junior year!”
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Adrianna Carranza (left, exploring New York City), now a Sophomore at Barnard, spent her summer volunteering with a local hospital, learning from doctors, and working to save funds for school. She began her Sophomore year as a P.A.L. (Peer Academic Leader) for Barnard’s F.G.L.I. (First-Gen/Low-Income) organization partnering upperclassmen with incoming students. In addition to participating in several clubs (Women In Medicine, Mujeres, and Beauty Deconstructed), her coursework for the fall semester includes Organic Chemistry, Biology: Organismal and Evolutionary, Rethinking Spanish Translation, (an advanced Spanish class) and a computer class for non-majors.
“Barnard has given me the community I was looking for in a college.... I knew that Barnard would give me the resources and opportunities to feel stronger, understood, and confident both academically and socially. What I love the most about attending a women’s school is that I have so many role models and inspirations around me.”
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