Education

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Despite being born in the U.S., Spanish is my first language. My father’s side of the family is from the Dominican Republic, so we spoke our language at home. I nearly lost my Spanish, however, once I started speaking English in grade school. When I realized something was missing, I decided to relearn my native language, but this didn’t lead to fluency. When I took a job at a local gelateria and interacted with Spanish-speaking customers from around the world, I saw my opportunity. It was challenging to understand the different accents. However, whenever I related to the customers in Spanish, I made better tips and I improved my language skills at the same time. My sociology and psychology courses were paying off. 

Now, I feel more confident in a bilingual environment and am better equipped to thrive in Miami. Speaking Spanish has opened new opportunities for me to connect with others, which is essential as I pursue my goal of becoming a future entrepreneur.