Studying Abroad in Costa Rica

            Hello! My name is James.  I'm currently studying Anthroplogy and I will be a senior this coming fall.  I am starting this fundraiser in order to help finance my Study Abroad experience in San José, Costa Rica. I have been accepted in the ISA’s Spanish Language, Liberal Arts & Environmental Studies Fall 2014 program at the Universidad Veritas. This experience will benefit me personally, academically, and professionally.

            Personally, participating in this ISA program will be a challenging experience that will give me a new lens through which to view the world. I will meet new people, make important international connections, and, most importantly, it will help push me to become proficient in speaking the Spanish language.  

            Academically, I will not only complete my Spanish Minor but will also have the unique opportunity of applying what I have learned in the classroom to real world experiences. I will have a month of intensive Spanish courses in Costa Rica before starting the full semester, which will include regular coursework at the University. Moreover, as an Anthropology major, this opportunity to experience another culture outside of the classroom will be invaluable to my education and future career goals. My current academic focus is Environmental Anthroplogy, and Costa Rica has the largest Eco-tourism industry in the world. Anthropologists are also generalists and try to learn about things holistically. This experience will allow me to do that in a way that would not be possible through traditional coursework at Lewis-Clark State College.

            Professionally, this experience is absolutely essential to my future career. Although I have benefitted from my Spanish courses at LCSC, I am at a point linguistically where I will need to leave the country to master the language. Doing so will give me the practical tools to live and work in areas and with people that speak Spanish. It will also give me a competitive edge over others who are competing for jobs in this field. Ultimately, I hope to return to Latin America with the Peace Corps and pursue a Masters in Anthropology with a focus on health care in Central and South America.

            I embrace the challenge of this new experience and the growth that will come from it.  I will use these funds to develop personally, enrich my education, and prepare professionally. Thank you for your time and your support!