Hello everyone,

I am a 4th Year Psychology and Spanish double major with a minor in Education at UC Davis. This upcoming fall quarter I will be studying abroad in Mendoza, Argentina. While in Argentina, I will be taking Spanish classes that will fulfill my major. In addition to that, I will be participating in various outdoor excursions as well as staying with a host family which will help the integration and immersion into the Argentinian Culture and daily living routines.

I am the first in my family to go to college, and not only do I feel fortunate to have this opportunity accessible to me, my goal is to show my family, including my 3 younger brothers that there are so many life learning opportunities -- many of which I did not know existed until I attended college.

Not only am I excited to learn more about what there is beyond UC Davis, but I am also eager to learn more about myself in a country that is new to me. This experience will not only increase my openness to experience, but I will also become more independent and build relationships with my cohort, the host family I will be staying with, and the faculty at the university I will be attending.

My favorite things include exercising and being in the outdoors as well as learning and experiencing new things. What's a good way of doing all of this? Studying abroad will not only bring exposure to new foods, but I will also be exploring many scenic areas, hiking, rock climbing, and so many other outdoor adventurous while practicing and becoming more confident speaking Spanish. This opportunity will allow me to build meaningful relationships,  as I will gain many experiences of a lifetime that I can carry with me beyond college.

I come from a low-income background, and my family does not have the financial resources to help me with this trip. I am an independent student who works as a Peer Advisor for Low Income/First Generation students, participates in extra-curricular activities, and studies full time to obtain my degree and be the first in my family to not only attend college but also study abroad. With that said, I take care of myself financially and have to obtain the money on my own.

I thought I had more time to save up for the round ticket plane ticket, and my plan was to get a second job in the summer to save up for my plane ticket. However, the deadline to buy the ticket is May 10th, which puts me in a financial bind because I do not have the funds to purchase the ticket, especially after having been in a near-death car accident approximately one month ago, that left me with additional and unexpected expenses to take care of with the savings I had. 

I hope you can consider donating to this. Anything helps, even if it means sharing it with friends, family, etc. 

Thank you for your time, I appreciate you all.