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I am from Asuncion, the capital of Paraguay. Before coming to Smith, I attended the Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific near Victoria, B.C., in Canada. I spent two amazing years there and I decided that I wanted to continue studying abroad.
I've always wanted to study in the United States but I had no idea where to apply. My best friend and my high school university counselor told me about Smith and I'm really glad they did! Smith is a great place with a million opportunities available! During my first year I was a senator for my house, I helped to set up the Smith Student Alliance for Middle East Peace, and during my sophomore year I was Cultural Chair for the International Students Organization as well as President of the United World College Organization at Smith. Last summer, I went home thanks to the Smith Praxis Internship Program and I worked at an NGO called "TierraViva a los Pueblos Indigenas del Chaco". This is a human rights NGO that provides domestic and international legal support to the land claims of the Enxet native communities of the western region of Paraguay known as the Chaco. I was basically helping in the research and investigation area conducting interviews with indigenous leaders from the different communities in order to find out what their desires and expectations are and with this knowledge improve their relationship that the NGO workers have with them. I got to travel a lot within my country to places that I have never imaged I could go to, including a very isolated community that requires a long trip on a boat as well as a donkey ride! This was a fantastic experience that made me realize that I am truly interested in pursuing a career in development studies to work with native peoples. I am already starting to look at grad school options abroad!
Even though I am anthropology major, this semester I am taking most of my classes in other departments because I am done with all the requirements for my major!
I work at the Jacobson Center for Writing Teaching and Learning as a Receptionist as well as at the Office of Admission as the international intern, so I'm really looking forward to find out who are going to be the international members of the class of 2013!
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