Some journeys in life take you places you never expected. Mine started in a small rural public school in Southern Mississippi, where, as a ninth grader, I enrolled in my first Spanish class. At the time, I had no idea that this simple decision—one largely influenced by my love of languages (I had even bought a Latin-English dictionary at age 8) and the fact that all my friends were taking the class—would shape the course of my life.
We thought it was fun to write notes to each other in our broken Spanish, hoping that if someone found them, they wouldn’t be able to read our secrets! But my true love for the language began to grow thanks to my amazing high school Spanish teacher, Annie Richardson. She may never have realized it, but her passion for teaching and for Hispanic culture deeply impacted my future career and personal identity.
Back then, I never in a million years imagined I would one day speak and write Spanish fluently. In fact, when I first started college, I was a biology major! Science was my passion in high school—I took Biology I, II, and AP Biology, fully intending to pursue a career in nursing or medical school. But fate had other plans. My Latin professor, noticing my natural aptitude for language, encouraged me to take Spanish courses alongside my studies. That encouragement changed everything.
One pivotal moment happened during college while I was volunteering as an English conversation tutor for the university’s English Language Institute (ELI). I worked with international students, meeting with them individually and in small groups to practice their English. One afternoon, my Costa Rican friend, who I had been helping, introduced me to a newly arrived Hispanic student. After greeting me in English, the newcomer turned to my friend and, assuming I wouldn’t understand, commented in Spanish, “She’s hot!” Without missing a beat, I responded, “Y hablo bastante bien el español.”
The poor guy turned beet red with embarrassment, realizing that I had understood every word. We all had a good laugh, but in that moment, I knew my Spanish was like a superpower.
Over the years, I’ve had people assume I have Hispanic heritage. Some ask, “Where are you from?” But mostly, as a pale-skinned, blonde-haired, blue-eyed woman, I get gasps of surprise: “Wow! How’d you learn to speak like that?” What’s even more meaningful to me, though, is how accepted and respected I feel within Hispanic communities. This gift I have—because I truly see it as a gift from God—has opened doors to cultures, friendships, and adventures I never could have dreamed of.
I now have deep, lifelong friendships in Mexico, Argentina, and Colombia, relationships that transcend borders and language barriers. But as much as I feel at home in the Hispanic world, there are times when I don’t feel like I fully fit into my own culture anymore. My worldview is different. I see life through the lenses of multiple cultures, mindsets, and values.
Today, as I transition from a career as a Spanish teacher to advocating for English Learners and teaching ESL to a predominantly Spanish-speaking student population in Southern Mississippi, I feel like my journey is only just beginning.
Why I Advocate for EL Students
These kids are brave, hardworking, and full of dreams—just like all children. But they also need someone to remind them of how special they are. Being bilingual is a superpower.
I constantly encourage my students to preserve and develop their Spanish skills—to read in Spanish, write in Spanish, and become fully biliterate. Many Americans never master a second language, but these students already have an incredible advantage. They just need to learn how to harness and leverage their bilingualism for their future. With strong literacy in both languages, they can open doors to limitless opportunities.
How Spanish Has Changed My View of the World
Learning Spanish and traveling throughout Latin America has completely shifted my definition of success. Many Americans measure success in terms of wealth, job titles, or material possessions. I see it differently. To me, success is having friends and family across the globe—people who welcome me into their world, their homes, and their culture without hesitation.
No matter where my travels have taken me, I have always felt welcomed. And for that, I am forever grateful.
🌍 Thinking about learning a new language? Go for it! The journey might take you places you never expected. What’s a language or culture you’d love to dive into? Let’s talk in the comments!
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