Spanish and my Future by Abram

Spanish and my Future by Abram - July 2026 Scholarship Essay

“Dame la mano,” was something my mom always said in any parking lot when I was little. It means give me your hand. I should’ve known then that I would be required to take Spanish in high school. Many years later, being a shy person when it came to presenting in front of a large group, the idea of having to talk in another language in front of my peers was not something that I was looking forward to doing on a regular basis. I did not realize that taking Spanish would open my eyes to the world and critical thinking like it did. I learned about the importance of valuing other cultures and the impact it can have on my future career, as well as the positive impact it had on my ability to travel and meet new people and learn new things.

Overcoming my fears of learning and speaking Spanish taught me that Spanish class has more to offer than just learning to say things in Spanish. Since taking Spanish, my family has visited Puerto Rico, Spain and Mexico, and the information I learned in class allowed me to connect with other people. When visiting Spanish speaking countries, I have seen firsthand the excitement of locals when I spoke their native language. I learned that it is okay to make mistakes and ask for help if needed because it is how I can continue to learn. I was able to translate for my family, help them navigate public transportation, connect with locals and make friendships with people my age through playing soccer with people from around the world.

In my interest in urban planning and architecture, Spanish class has taught me that I can take different aspect of other countries and cultures and blend them to make new and innovative buildings and community designs. I was able to learn about Gaudi and his unique designs in class, and then seeing the Sagrada Familia first hand created new design ideas in my mind. It taught me that my ideas and my future are not specific to just American traditions and designs, but that I can learn from and be inspired by a variety of cultures and ideas from around the world.

Although I did not enjoy all of my speaking in front of my peers in Spanish class, ultimately, it led me to think beyond myself and what I knew about other cultures. I am hoping that I can take what I learned about language, the importance of people’s customs and beliefs, as well as things like their architecture and designs and use it as inspiration in my future career. I hope to travel the world and learn about urban planning and architectural ideas from many places to create new and innovative projects that help better the world and celebrate diversity.