¡Hola! I’m Daniela from El Salvador, a small and lively country in Central America. I just graduated from UWC USA in New Mexico after completing my IB diploma.
Life at UWC USA was certainly chaotic filled with a lot of academic requirements but it was a great experience. I met some of my best friends there and the campus was surrounded by mountains and tall pine trees. The complete opposite to my tropical, sea-level, warm country.
My favorite experiences at UWC USA include the cultural showcases where I got to learn a lot about different cultures and I could share mine with my peers. With such a diverse community, problems and discussions could happen, which is why I joined the Constructive Engagement of Conflict (CEC) program, where I learned how to solve conflicts in a way where all parties have a safe space to express their thoughts and be heard.
I considered LC because it has an awesome program in International Relations, which I want to major in, as well as many opportunities to study semesters abroad. I value the culturally rich diversity LC has, as it gives me more opportunities to keep expanding my knowledge on more cultures. Being exposed to many nationalities is what made me consider International Relations. My peers and I would talk about the social and political issues that occur in our home, and that made me realize I had interest in seeking ways to alleviate the issues countries face.
One of my favorite hobbies is creating art. I took Visual Arts at UWC USA and that grew my love for art even more. I like experimenting with new materials but also enjoy the basics like watercolors and acrylics. I also love traveling and meeting new places, hence my excitement to move to Portland. I also like hiking and camping outdoors.
Something interesting about me is that I completed an internship at UWC USA’s agro ecology research center last summer. I never thought I would learn so much about farming and the planning and physical labor that goes into it. It was very rewarding to help growing crops and I definitely value the hard work that happens before receiving food on my plate.
Even though I’m sure about my major, I would like to experiment more with other subjects I haven’t had the chance to take. I would like to try a minor related to environmentalism or even economics.
At LC I hope to truly find something I’m passionate about, career-wise, and continue teaching people about my culture, getting to know my peers, the campus, Portland, and have an awesome time there!