Integrative Narrative
When I came to California State University Monterey Bay, my goal was never to be a Spanish major. Originally, I wanted to be a Global Studies major. I was captivated by the outlet I would have to the outside world thanks to this major which has been my goal since I traveled to Europe in high school. As I worked through my first semester of my Global Studies major, I prospered as an intellectual but I still felt like there was something missing. Global Studies focused predominantly on the Middle East and Africa. Even though these case studies simulated the theoretical, historical, and humanitarian nerd in me, I felt like I was traveling too far from home. With a Japanese and Spanish minor, a limited budget, and a growing curiosity in the Japanese and Spanish language, I came to the conclusion that these major no longer satisfied my needs as a poor Chicana who knew little of her native language, Spanish. As much as I cared about the problems in the Middle East and Africa, I knew that there were issues here in the United States which are right in front of my face daily. I needed to help the community I grew up in before I could think about saving the world. I changed my major to Spanish with an emphasis in linguistics as the first step.
Through my major, I have learned about Spanish speaking countries as well as deeper knowledge on the Spanish speaking culture in the United States. I am of Mexican descent and Spanish is my native tongue. I was fortunate enough to grow up in an era when bilingual education in Los Angeles was legal and learned English along with the normal curriculum. Under double the workload I blossomed like a rose out of concrete or the lotus blossom which flourishes in a puddle of mudd. Until I reached college, I had never realized how I was very fortunate to have that help throughout my elementary years. There are many children who could not reach their full potential because of the lack of support both in school and home.
When I entered this major, originally I just wanted to be a translator and interpreter. Ever since I was in elementary school, I have been interpreting for both teachers and my parents because of my skill in both languages which made it logical to pursue a career in my native language. Even though I want to save the world, I also had to be logical and think of myself. Translating and interpreting was my best bet at the time. It was a great way to help keep the bridge up between English and Spanish in the United States. The deeper I went in to the Spanish program and as I continued to feverously study translation, I realized it was a bit more complicated than I thought it would be. Through my Service Learning course, my translation course, as well as my job at the tutoring center in my university, I realized how large the gap is between English and Spanish. I knew very little of the theory and cultural impact languages have in translation and interpretation. I needed to start from scratch. I could no longer depend on my street Spanish and English. Even though I felt that I had a strong grasp of the two languages, I had to continue to study harder and practice religiously if I was to ever to help that bridge grow. There is a goal in my journey. Through a new internship I have applied for, I will help migrant farm workers learn English. Through this process I will better understand my community as well as the struggles in translating and learning a new language. Now not only will I be stimulating myself intellectually, I will help those who did not have the same support I did when I was learning English and assimilating to American culture.
Through my major, I have learned about Spanish speaking countries as well as deeper knowledge on the Spanish speaking culture in the United States. I am of Mexican descent and Spanish is my native tongue. I was fortunate enough to grow up in an era when bilingual education in Los Angeles was legal and learned English along with the normal curriculum. Under double the workload I blossomed like a rose out of concrete or the lotus blossom which flourishes in a puddle of mudd. Until I reached college, I had never realized how I was very fortunate to have that help throughout my elementary years. There are many children who could not reach their full potential because of the lack of support both in school and home.
When I entered this major, originally I just wanted to be a translator and interpreter. Ever since I was in elementary school, I have been interpreting for both teachers and my parents because of my skill in both languages which made it logical to pursue a career in my native language. Even though I want to save the world, I also had to be logical and think of myself. Translating and interpreting was my best bet at the time. It was a great way to help keep the bridge up between English and Spanish in the United States. The deeper I went in to the Spanish program and as I continued to feverously study translation, I realized it was a bit more complicated than I thought it would be. Through my Service Learning course, my translation course, as well as my job at the tutoring center in my university, I realized how large the gap is between English and Spanish. I knew very little of the theory and cultural impact languages have in translation and interpretation. I needed to start from scratch. I could no longer depend on my street Spanish and English. Even though I felt that I had a strong grasp of the two languages, I had to continue to study harder and practice religiously if I was to ever to help that bridge grow. There is a goal in my journey. Through a new internship I have applied for, I will help migrant farm workers learn English. Through this process I will better understand my community as well as the struggles in translating and learning a new language. Now not only will I be stimulating myself intellectually, I will help those who did not have the same support I did when I was learning English and assimilating to American culture.