Outreach Activities
This page serves as an overview of some of the extracurricular activities that I was involved in during my time at Clemson, all of which helped to build upon my studies of the Spanish language and greatly benefitted me both personally and professionally.
Spanish Professional Society
I was a member of the Spanish Professional Society for over 2 years, beginning in February 2023. This organization consists of a community of students who are seeking careers in the Spanish-speaking world, and want to build connections and become more informed about this career path. The club would typically meet monthly to discuss study abroad, internship, and job opportunities, networking strategies, language topics, and the Hispanic world from a business perspective, all in a welcoming and highly collaborative environment.
Cocina Económica de Santiago
During my time abroad in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, I had the opportunity to volunteer at a local community kitchen (cocina económica) for 3 months, from September - November 2024. For the first couple of weeks, I spent time in the recreation area during the day, where I played traditional card games with guests and created a Kahoot quiz for them with a fellow student. For the rest of my time there, I was stationed in the dining room itself, where some of my responsibilities included greeting guests at the door, giving them a ticket, and holding onto/returning their personal belongings as they entered and exited. I also worked in the kitchen itself, helping to serve food to guests and wash/dry dishes. This experience was a challenge at first, but became very valuable in that it allowed me to practice my Spanish skills with native speakers for an extended period of time each week. I conversed with my fellow volunteers (made up almost entirely of very friendly and welcoming nuns) and guests throughout my shifts and learned a great deal about the local Galician people and culture through this experience.
¡Hablemos! Spanish Language and Culture Club
This relatively new student-run organization was founded in January 2025, and I have been a member since its inception. The club holds weekly meetings with the sole purpose of creating an environment where students can practice and actively utilize their language skills to engage in conversations entirely in Spanish. After recently returning from my study abroad program in Spain, I struggled to find opportunities to continue to hone my speaking and listening skills by actively engaging in conversations and discussions with others. This club offered the perfect opportunity to do just that every week, through activities, games, debates, and guided discussions. It helped to maintain and further improve the more advanced language skills that I had obtained during my time abroad.